Real ESL

If you want to write a strong TOEFL essay or even a good email, you have to get good at using details in your writing. In this blog post, I talk about an experience I had in which a really sweet transvestite did my makeup. (sweet = nice) (transvestite = a man dressed as a woman) Use the experiences in your life to improve your writing! If you get better at writing interesting emails with lots of details, your TOEFL essay will improve too. Check out (to check s.t. out = to look at s.t.) the partial transcript and vocabulary explanation below!

Transcript/Vocabulary explanation

I’m running some errands today.(to run some errands = to do personal jobs outside the house like grocery shopping and going to the bank)

I’ve done a bunch of things. (a bunch of things = a lot of things)

I’m going to use one of these things to talk to you about using details in your writing. How do you use details?

Well, you’ve got to use your sense of smell, your sense of touch, your sense of sight, your sense of hearing…you’ve got to use all those things and put it/them in your writing.

We’re not going to talk about using these details in your TOEFL essay, though of course that’s what you’re gearing up for. (to gear up for s.t. = to get ready for s.t.)

Focus on an email. (focus on = concentrate on)

I went to the MAC counter at Nordstrom. (the MAC counter = the makeup stand that sells MAC products)

I got my makeup done because I needed to buy some makeup.

This is the first time I had a transvestite do my makeup. (to have s.o. do something = to ask s.o. to do something for you)

The funny part was he had these huge hands and he kept bringing them close to my face. (to keep doing s.t. = to do s.t. again and again)

He smelled fine, almost sort of flowery, like lilacs. (flowery= like flowers) (lilacs = a type of flower)

I kept worrying his hands would stink. (to stink = to have a bad smell/odor)

Guys’ hands are sometimes stinky. (stinky=having a bad smell)

That would be really gross if he didn’t. (gross = disgusting, describes something that makes you feel sick)

He had this bright yellow eyeshadow.

I worried he was going to make my eye makeup look the same.

Think of one specific experience and write about it.

Send your email to me if you want.