Free English Test

Software For English Grammar

2009-09-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

Proofreading and or editing for non-professional proofreaders and editors can be a very frustrating thing to do. It is to your advantage if you are a native speaker, but it is not a guarantee that your writing is already very good. For non-native speakers, writing in English can give you headache especially if you wish to write a significantly good letter or article. It simply means that writing in English is not as easy as you think. While it is a smart move to let the professionals do the work for you especially proofreading and editing, but using software for English grammar is a smarter move. You will not only save money but it will also enhance your writing skills.

If you wish to improve your writing skills, then software for English grammar is the solution. This type of software which uses Natural Language Processing system (NLP) can actually enrich your texts. This new technology instantly checks spelling, verifies the proper us of English grammar, and analyzes your complete document to provide you context-based recommendations to enhance your vocabulary with synonyms, adjectives and adverbs.

With this state of the art online software, the smart algorithm of all software for English grammar enriches your English writing skills. All you need to do is simply write normally and the software automatically checks for error in spelling, grammar and punctuation to improve your text. If you will continuously use this software in your writing, you will soon have a wide range of vocabulary, and you will slowly learn the process of proofreading and editing your text. The use of this software program will give you the following advantages:

* Enhance your vocabulary.
* Improves your writing skills
* Boosts your ego as soon as people will recognize how good you are in your writing skills.
* Improves your speaking skills as well as making you a good public speaker.
* You will be trusted more by your boss
* Will get you a high paying job
* If you are a businessman, you will learn how to make letters, emails etc. using correct and proper use of grammar.
* Helps you make your thesis if you are a student
* And more...

For every writing purpose, accuracy is very important for successful communication. According to experts, English is complicated and there are many issues you need to check and take into consideration. Each of the elements in writing (proofreading, grammar rules, spelling, and punctuation) contributes to a solid and comprehensible finish document. Your reader is at risk not to understand what you want to convey once one of the elements is missing or incorrect. This will cause you a lot of trouble someday.

Major word processing programs nowadays include some form of grammar checking software. These handy tools have therefore become the de facto standard of grammar checking tools. However, they are not the ultimate grammar checking tools available in the market today. Actually, there are a lot of grammar checking software available. Some of these grammar checking software are actually better than the more popular ones. Because it is made specifically to provide accurate grammar checking, a specifically made grammar checking software can offer better results than the ones that are found in more popular products.

The impact of grammar checking software is widely felt. In the education sector, grammar checking software has allowed students with only moderate writing skills to submit fairly well done compositions. In the corporate world, grammar checking software has made sure that communications within a company and between the company and the outside world remain clear and precise. Grammar checking software has also made the English language more accessibly to people who do not speak English natively. It has made communications between different cultures much more easier.

The Case for English Only

2009-09-06T14:34:00.001-07:00

Enough already! How many languages should we be expected to speak in America? And, how many languages should our government and other institutions, such as hospitals and schools, be required to accommodate? The problem is not just Spanish speakers. It’s the 322 tongues that are spoken in America today.

I ran the local hospital in the late 1980s and early 90s, and we were required to have translators available for about 16 different languages at that time. You may wonder how on earth could we do that in an area that had a population of less than 20,000 people at the time? Fortunately, because we happen to have many residents and visitors from other countries, it was not an impossible task for us. But, what about other small communities that do not have the resources that are available here in Santa Ynez Valley? Alameda County (CA) Medical Center, which “has 18 full-time interpreters or staff in addition to 19 on-call translators,” is another example of the burden that such laws can place on public institutions.

Because of the huge influx of Spanish speakers from south of the border, Hispanics now comprise about 40% of the population in Santa Barbara County, many of whom do not speak English. So, should we be required to print all government documents in both English and Spanish, teach school in Spanish, give civil service exams in Spanish, hire people who don’t speak English?

It's not just about communication, although that’s certainly important. It’s also a pocketbook issue, about the economic impact that trying to accommodate multiple languages has on our society. U.S. English, Inc. offers some interesting facts that surely should be considered in any discussion of the “English Only” issue.

>“Since 1980, the number of U.S. residents who are limited English proficient has more than doubled, from 10.2 million to 21.3 million.” (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

>“In 2000, 11.9 million U.S. residents lived in linguistically isolated households, meaning that no one in the household spoke English at home or spoke English ‘very well.’” (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

>“Immigrants who speak English ‘not well’ or ‘not at all’ have median weekly earnings approximately 57 percent of those of U.S. born workers.”

>“Poverty and the need for public benefits, such as food stamps, are more closely related to limited English proficiency than with citizenship or legal status.”

>“The Canadian Government spends $260 million annually to do government business in both of the nation’s official languages.”

>“The cost of multilingual ballots and translations represented one-eighth of Los Angeles County’s $16 million expense in the Nov. 2004 general election.”

>“The City of San Francisco must spend $350,000 for each language that a document is translated into under the city’s bilingual government ordinance.”

>“79 percent of Americans, and 81 percent of first and second generation Americans favor making English the official language of the United States.”

>“Air Canada spends more than $9,265,000 per year conforming to Canada’s bilingual requirements, requiring the airline to generate an additional $185,000,000 in additional sales to cover these costs.”

It’s clear that trying to accommodate all cultural groups costs big bucks. For example, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences 1997 reported, “More than $100 million have been spent in the last 30 years to assess the value of bilingual education. Two startling conclusions made in the study include:

(1) There is no evidence that a program of native language instruction has greater benefits than any other type of education program and

(2) Teaching children to read in English first, instead of in their native tongue, has no negative consequences.” At that point the federal government was already spending $665 million a year on bilingual programs.

Furthermore, there are healthcare consequences for non-English or limited-English speakers. The Commonwealth Fund found that “limited English proficiency Latinos are 3-1/2 times more likely not to have had their blood pressure checked in the last five years, three times more likely not to have a dental exam in the last five years and twice as likely not have had their cholesterol checked in the last five years.”

Multi-language also means multicultural, and such societies often engender a view of their fellow citizens that can easily lead to strife among the various factions. “My culture and my language are better than yours” often becomes the unspoken mantra of those on all sides. But, is the Chinese culture better than Mexican? Or French better than English? Or Hmong better than Vietnamese? Or Japanese better than Italian, German, Russian, or Slovak?

We may not hear it verbalized very often, but it’s clearly present in the attitudes, beliefs, and relationships of the many ethnic groups that make up our population today. It’s only natural. People tend to associate with those who are more like themselves, instinctively understand them, have a common history, the same cultural values and attitudes, and no legislation can change that. The saying, “Birds of a feather flock together” describes this simple reality quite clearly.

In my opinion, passing laws to accommodate cultural and language differences merely accentuates the differences and tends to separate people. All too often, it engenders or increases hostility between groups, such as we see today between certain ethnic groups and with many of those Americans who support “English Only.”

It seems to me that the goal is, or should be, to integrate everyone who immigrates to our country to become as American as possible as quickly as possible. And, speaking English is the cornerstone for accomplishing this. The idea of labeling ourselves as hyphenated Americans that has become vogue in recent years is anathema to me. Why do we want to identify people as African-American, Italian-American, Irish-American, Mexican-American, Chinese or Japanese-American, etc.?

Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on immigrants and being an American spoke to this issue very clearly in 1907: "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes

here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming

in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

So, what is the “English Only” movement all about? Quite simply, it’s about making English the official language of the United States. A bill to accomplish this (H.R. 997) was introduced in the House of Representatives in February of this year, and U.S. English, Inc. reports that it is supported by more than 80%of all Americans and almost two-thirds of Hispanics, according to polls taken in 2006.

Thirty states already have some sort of English only law and, to my knowledge, it hasn’t had any significant negative impacts in any of them.

“The English Language Unity Act of 2007 would require the United States government to conduct official business in English,” while still retaining the flexibility to permit or require that other languages be used to protect public health and safety, national security, or for the needs of commerce and the criminal justice system.

Learning English the Easy Way

2009-09-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

One thing that keeps people from learning a new language is lack of incentive. They think they want to learn to speak another language, but what really pushes them to do it? What makes a person do everything required to learn a new language. Listen to this.

My brother, Andy, was never good in school. He did poorly in grade school, was said to be riddled with learning disabilities, and never even finished high school. The idea that he could learn a new language was outrageous! He really didn't know much about his own language! Then, something happened. He met a girl who only spoke Spanish. Within days, seriously, days, he was speaking some Spanish. After several month, he could read, write, and speak Spanish fluently. Why? Because he had a strong incentive - a beautiful woman!

Just because you study English in class, you know, it doesn't always help in real life. Even if you do well in English class, what happens when you want to talk to a real woman, out in the real world? Is there a textbook anywhere on the planet that will teach you how to woo a woman? Get her to go home with you? Get her into bed? You will learn English faster, if there are things you really want to know how to say, and things you really want to understand.

Finding books, magazines, or internet materials that use the kind of English you are interested in speaking, will help you stay motivated, and teach you the things you really want to learn. The more English that you have around you, the faster you will learn, and the more likely it is that you will begin ?thinking in English.? .

A great way to begin, is to be around native speakers as much as possible. How are you going to do that if you live in a non-English speaking country? There are many ways to surround yourself with English. English television, movies, and pod casts can help. But what if you want to say something..., um..., inappropriate? You have to look hard for English materials that will teach you the vernacular necessary to pick up women.

English erotica is fun way to learn, but it is also very effective. By reading or listening to erotica in English (sexy stories) you can add to your vocabulary, and hear the natural rhythm of English speech. You can also pick up key words, and learn to understand different accents.

English Speaking skills for new citizens

2009-09-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

What level of English Speaking Skills Should be Required of New Citizens?

As the immigration debate moves forward, a common mantra across the spectrum is that illegal immigrants (and possibly citizens) would have to learn English to become naturalized. The question is, what level of English is required? The naturalization law clearly states that individuals must read, write, and speak English before becoming naturalized U.S. citizens. As a former director of a citizenship program back in mid-1990s, I can verify that the Clinton administration's standard didn't go beyond answering a few set questions in English and writing two sample sentences that were dictated.

The most common sentences were "I love the U.S." and "My family lives in the U.S." Wow! What standards! But the ruse worked, and over six million folks became naturalized before the 1996 election. Of course, the new citizens were overwhelming Democrat… and were concentrated in five key states: California, New York, Illinois, Florida, and Texas. Clinton won re-election, many Republicans cried foul, and immigration became even more politicized. Eventually, Congress ordered new standards. PriceWaterhouse did a study to revise and modernize the naturalization system.

So what does the Obama administration plan? The preliminary indications are not much better than the Clinton standard. (For historical perspective, immigrants after WWII had to write two long essays on a principle of the government or historical event.) Here's another question: will the next immigration bill include a minimum number of classroom hours of instruction in English? The amnesty bill of 1986 required 40 hours of classroom instruction. What will the 2009 bill require? If the answer is anything less than 100 hours, then you know that moving millions of immigrants to a fast track toward citizenship has a higher priority than maintaining English as a common language. Is that a good idea? Perhaps not.

First, the failure to mandate English classes will hand immigration opponents a huge advantage. Let's be clear: every new United States citizen should be able to read a USA Today newspaper article, fill out a job application, understand safety warnings, talk to their co-workers, discuss their children's grades with their teachers, take a driver's license test, respond to a police officer's questions, and describe their medical problems in English. Second, increasing English speaking skills for immigrants won't happen overnight. We need to dramatically increase the incentives and opportunities for immigrants to improve their speaking skills by opening more English as a Second language classes in churches, schools, and community centers.

After all, if we want to enforce higher standards for future citizens we must first create open more adult school classrooms. English has become the common global language for business, culture, and research. It's reasonable to ask new American citizens to actually speak the common language. It is disheartening to know that a measly $400 million has been appropriated for one full year of Adult Education needs. That looks like a state budget - for such a Herculean task. Rep. Raul Grijalva, a democrat from Arizona, is asking his fellow members in the House of Representatives to co-sign a letter that will be sent to appropriators asking for:

$750 million for funding under Title II of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

$850 million for funding under Title III of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

That makes a lot of sense in terms of allocation of funds for two different areas of concern. The Obama administration will also have to provide far more funding in the future to make comprehensive immigration reform popular.

What about those adults who are the bread winners but are still not comfortable with English as a medium of expression? As the Obama administration begins pushing for a new citizenship bill which will face considerable political opposition, it should prepare the immigrant advocates for the probability of higher English speaking standards. Some sort of mandatory classroom attendance, especially for healthy workers, seems likely. Of course, the tests will also have to flexible for the disabled and seniors who face more hurdles in learning a new language.

Joseph Conrad, who learned English as a fourth language, stated "English saved my life." Shouldn't we give every naturalization candidate the same chance to realize their potential and learn English before joining our national family?

Learn Spoken English Through the Correct Method

2009-09-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

“Why am I not able to speak English fluently even though I learned English all through my years at school?”.

This question was asked by an engineering student when he lost a campus placement interview simply because he lacked even the basic English skills need for the job.

My answer to him is this: “You learned to speak English in the wrong way, just like thousands of others who have spent a fortune just so that they can speak English without hesitation.”

I will explain. Just think of your past when you where in the third grade. How did you learn to speak in English? You were given ( if you had gone to a top class school) word puzzles, vocabulary tests, spelling tests, flash cards showing word pictures and what not. Yes all of them may help you to improve your English.

But will they improve your English speaking skill. No. Why? Since all these methods deal only with individual words. They don’t help you to combine these words to form meaningful sentences.

Our brain is naturally programmed to think in terms of ‘word groups’, and not in terms of individual words. That is because of the fact that our normal conversation revolves around groups of words. We hardly think and speak using individual words.
Then again, our memory is enforced by an association of one idea to another. You must have read about the various memory improvement techniques. They all revolve around one basic idea, commit things to memory by linking individual bits of information together.

But in school, we learn English in an unnatural way. By concentrating on individual words our brain loose their power to link all the words together. Even grammar lessons wont help us to learn spoken English as grammar rules are more applicable to written language rather then speech. We hardly think of capitalization of the first letter of a sentence rule when we speak in English.

So what is the correct method of learning to speak in English? The best method is to learn English by linking words that occur together and using them as a template for your speech.

Memory Guru ways to improve your English

2009-09-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

1. Start your own English language blog. Even for people who don't have to write in English, writing can be a great way of properly learning the kind of vocabulary you need to describe your own life and interests, and of thinking about how to stop making grammar mistakes. The problem most people have is that they don't know what to write about. One traditional way to make sure you write every day in English is to write an English diary (journal), and a more up to date way of doing this is to write a blog. Popular topics include your language learning experience, your experience studying abroad, your local area, your language, or translations of your local news into English.

2. Write a news diary. Another daily writing task that can work for people who would be bored by writing about their own routines in a diary is to write about the news that you read and listen to everyday. If you include your predictions for how you think the story will develop (e.g. "I think Hillary will become president"), this can give you a good reason to read old entries another time, at which time you can also correct and mistakes you have made and generally improve what you have written.

3. Sign up for a regular English tip. Some websites offer a weekly or even daily short English lesson sent to your email account. If your mobile phone has an e-mail address, it is also possible to have the tips sent to your phone to read on the way to work or school. Please note, however, that such services are not usually graded very well to the levels of different students, and they should be used as a little added extra or revision in your English studies rather than as a replacement for something you or your teacher have chosen more carefully as what you need to learn.

4. Listen to MP3s. Although buying music on the internet is becoming more popular in many countries, not so many people know that you can download speech radio such as audio books (an actor reading out a novel) and speech radio. Not only is this better practice for your English than listening to English music, from sources like Scientific American, BBC and Australia's ABC Radio it is also free.

5. Listen to English music. Even listening to music while doing something else can help a little for things like getting used to the natural rhythm and tone of English speech, although the more time and attention you give to a song the more you will learn from listening to it again in the future.

6. Read the lyrics to a song. Although just listening to a song in English can be a good way of really learning the words of the chorus in an easily memorable way, if you want to really get something out of listening to English music you will need to take some time to read the lyrics of the song with a dictionary. If the lyrics are not given in the CD booklet, you may be able to find them on the internet, but please note that some lyrics sites deliberately put a few errors into their lyrics for copyright reasons. Once you have read and understood the lyrics, if you then listen and read at the same time, this can be a good way of understanding how sounds change in fast, natural, informal speech.

7. Sing karaoke in English. The next stage after understanding and memorising a song is obviously to sing it. Although some words have their pronunciation changed completely to fit in with a song, most of the words have the same sounds and stressed syllables as in normal speech. Remembering which words rhyme at the end of each line can also be a good way of starting to learn English pronunciation.

8. Write a film, music, hotel or book review. Another motivating and easy way to make yourself write in English is to write a review for a site such as Amazon or Internet Movie Database. Many non-native speakers write reviews on sites like this, and if you have some special understanding of the book, music or film due to your first language or knowing the artist personally, that would be very interesting for the English speakers who read and write reviews on the site.

9. Only search in English. Switching your search engine to the English language version of msn, yahoo, Google etc. can not only be a good way of practising fast reading for specific information in English, but could also give you a wider choice of sites to choose from and give you an idea of what foreigners are writing about your country and area.

10. Read a book you've already read or seen the movie of in your own language. Although most language learners under Advanced level would probably learn more from reading a graded reader or something from the internet than they would from reading an original book written for English speakers, for some people reading something like Harry Potter in the original can be a great motivator to improve their English. To make this easier for you and make sure that it motivates you rather than just making your tired, try reading a book that you already know the story of. This not only makes it easier to understand and guess vocabulary, but you are also more likely to remember the language in it. If you have not read the book before, reading a plot summary from the internet can also help in the same way.

11. Read a translation into English. Another way of making sure books are easier to understand is to choose a book that was originally translated into English, preferably from your own language. Even if you haven't read the book in your own language, you will find the English is written in a slightly simplified way that is more similar to how your own language is written than a book originally written in English would be.

12. Skip the first ten pages. If you have given up with a book in English or are reading it very slowly, try skimming through the first ten pages or skipping them completely. The start of most books tend to be mainly description and are therefore full of difficult vocabulary and don't have a clear story line yet to help you understand what is happening and to motivate you to turn the next page. If the book is still too difficult even after the introductionary part is finished, it is probably time to give that book up for now and try it again after you have read some easier things.

13. Read a book with lots of dialogue. Opening up books before you buy one and flicking through them to find one with lots of direct dialogue in it has several advantages. If there is less text on the page due to all the speech marks etc, this can make it easier to read and easier to write translations on. Dialogue is also much easier to understand than descriptive parts of a book, and is much more like the language you will want to learn in order to be able to speak English.

14. Read English language comics. Even more than books with lots of dialogue, comics can be easy to understand and full of idiomatic language as it is actually spoken. There can be difficulties with slang, difficult to understand jokes and/ or dialogue written how people speak rather than with normal spellings, so try to choose which comic carefully. Usually, serious or adventure comics are easier to understand than funny ones.

15. Read English language entertainment guides. Nowadays most big cities in the world have an English language magazine and/ or online guide to the movies, plays, exhibitions that are on in the city that week. Reading this in English is not only good value, but it could also guide you to places that English speakers are interested in and where you might hear some English spoken around you.

16. Read English language magazines. Like books, if you can read two versions of the same magazine (Newsweek in your language and in English, for example), that could make understanding it much easier.

17. Take a one week intensive course. Although you cannot expect to come out of a very short course speaking much better English than when you started it, if you continue studying a little over the following weeks and months, the knowledge you gained then will gradually come out and mean that your level of speaking, listening etc. are better than they would have been if you hadn't taken that course. This positive effect can still be true up to a year later.

18. Follow your intensive course up with an extensive course. The more time you can spend studying English the better, but studying periodic intensive courses with a few hours of study a week in between is probably better value for money than any other system as it gives your brain time to subconsciously learn and start using the new language you have learnt before you introduce the next new "chunk" of language.

19. Supplement your group class with a one to one class. Another good way to combine two different kinds of classes is to study both in a group class and one to one. Having a one to one teacher, even if just a couple of times a month, will mean that you can be taught exactly the language that you need, that you will have more time to speak, and that you can have as much error correction as you like.

20. Supplement your one to one class with a group class. The benefits of having a group class are often less clear to students, but they include the fact that you will learn to deal with several people speaking at once, have a chance to practice skills such as interrupting people, and will hear a range of different viewpoints and topics.

21. Teach your children or friends some English. Recent research has shown that elder children tend to be a couple of IQ points above their younger siblings, and the most likely reason is that explaining things to their little brothers and sisters gives them an intellectual boost. In the same way, teaching someone lower level than you the English you already know is a great way of permanently fixing that knowledge in your own brain.

22. Ask your company to start English lessons. Even if you don't need to speak English at work, English lessons can be a fun and reasonably priced way for your company to spend their training budget in a popular way.

23. Have English radio on in the background while you are doing your housework. Even if you are not listening carefully, it will help you get a feel for natural English rhythm and intonation.

24. Play English language learning games on your Nintendo DS. Although such games can have quite random language and are unlikely to improve your ability to speak English on their own, the next time you hear or read the same language elsewhere it will be really fixed in your brain by the fact you have played a game with it in already. It is also a nice way of taking a break from your other English studies while also doing some English. To make sure it really is a break and to avoid wasting time learning language from the game that is not much used in daily life, don't bother writing down any new language you see in the game, but just try to learn it from playing the game again.

25. Say or think what you are doing in English as you do your daily tasks. As you are doing your chores, try creating sentences describing what you are doing, e.g. ‘I am unscrewing the ketchup bottle cap'. This gets you used to thinking in English without translating, and can be a good way of seeing what simple vocabulary that is around you everyday you don't know. yet

26. Watch English language films with English subtitles. For people who can't understand a film without subtitles but find themselves not listening at all when reading subtitles in their own language, this should be the way of watching a film that you should aim for. If it is too difficult to watch the whole film this way, try watching the (usually important) first 10 or 15 minutes of the film with subtitles in your own language, switch to English subtitles after that, and only switch back to subtitles in your own language if you get totally lost following the story of the film.

27. Watch films in your language with English subtitles. If you are finding English films with English subtitles too difficult or you can't find English films with English subtitles in your local video shop, this is a good second best option. Looking for local films with English subtitles can also sometimes be a good sign of quality, as it means the producers of the film are expecting it to be popular internationally as well.

28. Watch English films with subtitles in your language. Again, this is not as good practice as English language films with English subtitles, but is more relaxing, can be easier to find suitable DVDs for, and is also possible with VHS.

29. Watch the same film or TV episode over and over again. This can not only save you money on DVDs, but will mean that you can really learn the language without having to study it. Some comedies can also get funnier the more you watch them, especially if you watch them with no subtitles and so understand a little more each time you watch it.

30. Be realistic about your level. One thing that holds many language learners back is actually trying too hard and tackling something that their brain is not ready for yet. Checking your level with a level check test on the internet, by taking an English language test (FCE, CAE, IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL etc.), or by taking a free trial level check and/ or lesson in a language school will help you find out what your level is and so choose suitable self-study materials.

31. Be realistic about your reading level. Most researchers agree that people learn most when reading something they understand almost all of. If there are one or two words per page that you have never seen before, that is about the right level. If there are three or more on every page, you should switch to something easier and come back later.

32. Read graded readers (= easy readers). These are books that are especially written for language learners like you, e.g. Penguin Readers. Although it can be difficult to find something as interesting as things written in newspapers or on the internet, in terms of learning the language only people who need to read for their work or an exam usually gain more from reading things written for graded readers. Graded readers of classic books like Charles Dickens also have the benefit of giving you a lot of knowledge about the literature, and culture more generally, of English speaking countries in a short time.

33. Read the whole thing with no help. Although using a dictionary has been shown to help with both short term and long term learning of vocabulary, the fact that using it slows reading down can stop some people reading in English at all. Reading a whole book quickly through just for pleasure from time to time will help you remember how fun reading in another language can be.

34. Read and learn everything. At the opposite extreme, it can be hard work but very satisfying to get to the end of a book knowing that you have learnt every word in it. See other tips on this page to make sure it is a book that is easy enough to do this with and to ensure that the vocabulary you learn is useful.

35. Watching English children's films or TV programmes. Although some of the vocabulary you can learn from things made for children can be a bit strange (lots of animal names and maybe animal noises, including baby names for things), the fact that not only the language but the structure of the story is simplified can make it an easy and motivating thing to watch. Like good language learning materials, the same language is also often repeated to make it memorable, and the use of catchy songs etc. can increase this positive effect on your memory.

36. Read English children's books. This is very similar to watching English children's movies, but with the added advantage of there being more illustrations than adult books, which both helps you to understand the story and makes the page brighter and more motivating to read.

37. Keep a list of language to learn, e.g. a vocab list. Even if you don't often find time to go though your vocab list and it keeps on building up, just the act of choosing which words you need to learn and writing them down on a special list can help you learn them.

38. Go through your vocab list several times every day. If ticking off words on a vocabulary list on the train to work is inconvenient or embarrassing for you, you can keep your list of words to learn as an entry in your electronic dictionary, as a mobile phone to do list or as a text file in your MP3 player (e.g. iPod). Although the time spent transferring the information between different formats like these may seem wasted, in fact any time you spend using the vocabulary like this will help you learn it.

39. Convert your vocab list to English only. One way to stop yourself translating and therefore increase your speed of comprehension and production is to learn all your vocabulary without the use of your own first language. Ways you can write a vocab list in only English include with synonyms (words with the same meaning, e.g. "tall" and "high"); with opposites ("high" and "low"); with pronunciation factors such as number of syllables (the number of beats, e.g. three for "de- ci- sion") and the word stress (the syllable that is pronounced louder and longer, e.g. the second syllable in "baNAna"); and gapped sentences (e.g. "I am not _________________ in science fiction" for the word "interested").

40. Cross out and delete. Crossing out or deleting words, sentences or whole pages that you have learnt can be a great motivator, and save your list of things to learn becoming too big to handle.

41. Throw everything away and start again. One of the things that can put most people off learning is a stack of half finished books or a huge list vocabulary waiting to be learnt. Simply getting rid of all that and starting again with something new from zero can be a great motivator and get your studies underway again.

42. Label things in your house or office with post-its. The easiest vocabulary to learn is the vocabulary of things you see and use everyday. If you can write the names of things around you on slips of paper and stick them on the real thing, this is a great way of learning useful vocabulary. If you can leave them there over the following days and weeks, this is a very easy way of revising the vocabulary until it is properly learnt.

43. Label a drawing. For people who can't put labels on real things, the next best option is to take a photo of a real place in your life like your office, print it out, and then draw lines to all of the things you can see in the picture and label them in English with the help of a dictionary. You can do the same thing with places you pass through everyday like the station. Because you will see the same thing again and again, it should be easy to really learn the words for those things.

44. Keep a diary in English. This is a popular method of making sure you use English everyday for people who don't often speak English and can't think of things to write about. The fact that you are writing about real things that have happened to you means that any words you look up in the dictionary will be vocabulary that is useful for you and easy to learn.

45. Online chat. The closest thing to speaking for people who don't have the chance to speak English is online chat, as you have to think and respond quickly, and the language is short and informal just like speech.

46. Listen to the radio news in English. You can make this easier by reading the news in English first, or even just by reading or listening to the news in your own language.

47. Read an English language newspaper. Freebie newspapers like "Metro" in London are usually the easiest to understand, followed by mid-brow titles like "The Daily Express" or "The Daily Mail" in English. Popular newspapers like "The Sun" are more difficult because of the idiomatic, slangy use of language and the number of jokes in the headlines and articles.

48. Write fiction in English, e.g. short stories. For people who find writing a diary about things that happen to them everyday boring, the best thing is to let your imagination go and write about whatever comes into your head. The advantage of this is that if you can't think of how to say something in English, you can just change the story to something that is easier to explain. Perhaps the easiest way to start writing fiction in English is with a diary, changing any details you like to make it more interesting and adding more and more fantasy as the weeks go on.

49. English language exercise videos. This is quite similar to how babies learn, by listening, watching and copying. It is also good for your health!

50. Learn a famous speech or poem in English by heart. Although you may never hear or get the chance to say exactly that line, having one memorable example of an English grammatical form in your head can make it much easier to learn other examples of the same grammar as you hear them. It is also something you can practice over and over without being as boring as grammatical drills.

51. Get tipsy (= a little drunk) before speaking English. This can not only improve your fluency while you are drinking, but can also improve your confidence in future days and weeks by showing you that you can communicate what you want to say.

52. Use a dictionary while you are watching a movie. Films often have the same words many times, so if you look up important words the first or second time you hear them, you should have learnt them by the end of the film. It is easier to use a dictionary if you watch with English subtitles.

53. Learn and use the phonemic script. Although there are many sounds in English, there are even more spellings. By learning the phonemic script and writing vocabulary down with it, you can both add another stage to your vocabulary learning that should help you learn it more thoroughly, and improve your pronunciation. It can also make things easier for you by stopping you trying to pronounce different spellings of the same pronunciation different ways.

54. Learn some spelling rules. Many people think that English spelling is random, but in fact most words follow some kind of rule, e.g. the "magic E" that changes the pronunciation of "mad" and "made".

55. Record your own voice. For people who don't have much or any correction of pronunciation from a teacher, recording yourself and listening back makes it easier to hear whether you are really making the English sounds that you are trying to or not.

56. Use computer pronunciation analysis. Although most programmes that claim to tell you when you are pronouncing correctly or not don't actually do that, listening many times and seeing how your voice changes as you try to match the sounds and waveform given by a pronunciation CD ROM can be good practice and more motivating than just recording your own voice.

57. Learn as many words as you can of one category, e.g. animal words. Learning similar words together can both expand your overall vocabulary and make them easier to learn by forming links between the words in your brain.

58. Take holidays abroad. This is not only a good opportunity to speak English in situations where you really have to make yourself understood in order to live, but it is also a good motivator to study English seriously in the weeks and months before your trip. If possible, also try to use English even when you could use your own language, e.g. when you pick a guided tour of a museum or historic place or when you book a flight on the internet, and try to avoid package tours.

59. Draw pictures of the words you want to learn. Especially if you are artistic, this can be a better way of learning vocabulary than writing translations or example sentences.

60. Find a foreign boyfriend or girlfriend. No tips on how to do this here, but everyone agrees that getting or even just looking for a date in English can be a great motivator to improve your language skills.

61. Arrange a conversation exchange. Swapping lessons and conversation with someone who wants to learn your language can be a good alternative for those who aren't looking for romance, or can sometimes lead onto dating for those who are!

62. Sign up for an English language exam. Even if you don't need to take an exam and don't want to or can't take a special course to study for it, paying to take an exam like TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS or FCE can really motivate you take your English studies seriously.

63. Model your accent on one particular actor. e.g. try to speak like Robert De Niro. Students who say they want to sound more like a native speaker have the problem that native speakers don't sound all that much like each other. Choosing one model can make the task of improving your pronunciation more clear, and is quite fun. Doing an impression of that person also makes a good party trick.

64. Use an English-English dictionary. Trying to use a bilingual dictionary less and switching to a monolingual one can help you to stop translating in you head when you are speaking or listening, and other useful English vocabulary can come up while you are using the dictionary.

65. Occasionally talk to or e-mail your friends in English. Many people find this a bit false or embarrassing, but if you think of it as a study club and set a particular time and/ or place, it is no different from studying maths together.

66. Go to an English or Irish pub. As well as having a menu in English and being a good way of finding out something about the culture of English speaking countries, you might also find there are free English language listings magazines, English language sports on the TV and/ or foreign people you can speak to.

67. Buy a speaking electronic dictionary. Although most electronic dictionaries are not as good as paper ones for the amount of information they give you about each word, some of them have the very useful function of saying the word with the correct pronunciation.

68. Learn your electronic dictionary vocabulary list. Most electronic dictionaries also have a button which you can push to see the last 30 or more words you looked up. By deleting words you decide are useless or you have already learnt from this list, you can use it as a "to do list" of words to learn that you can look at several times a day in the train etc.

69. Switch operating system to English. Changing the operating language of your mobile phone, video recorder etc. to English can be an easy way of making sure you use the language everyday.

70. Set goals. Deciding how many hours you want to study, how many words you want to learn or what score you want to get in a test are all good ways of making sure you do extra study.

Better English Speaking Skills

2009-09-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

Improving your English speaking skills will help you communicate more easily and
effectively. But how do you become a more confident English speaker?

Practice where you can, when you can. Any practice is good - whether you speak
to someone who is a native English speaker or not.

It's important to build your confidence. If possible, use simple English sentence
structure that you know is correct, so that you can concentrate on getting your
message across.

Try to experiment with the English you know. Use words and phrases you know
in new situations. Native English speakers are more likely to correct you if you use
the wrong word than if you use the wrong grammar. Experimenting with vocabulary
is a really good way of getting feedback.

Try to respond to what people say to you. You can often get clues to what
people think by looking at their body language. Respond to them in a natural way.
Try NOT to translate into and from your own language. This takes too much time
and will make you more hesitant.

If you forget a word, do what native English speakers do all the time, and say
things that 'fill' the conversation. This is better than keeping completely silent. Try
using um, or er, if you forget the word.

Don't speak too fast! It's important to use a natural rhythm when speaking English,
but if you speak too fast it will be difficult for people to understand you.

Try to relax when you speak - you'll find your mouth does most of the pronunciation
work for you. When you speak English at normal speed, you'll discover that many of
the pronunciation skills, such as linking between words, will happen automatically.

Remember, when speaking English…

Try to become less hesitant and more confident.

Don't be shy to speak - the more you do it, the more confident you'll become.
Remember to be polite - use "please" and "thank you" if you ask someone to do
something for you.

Four Tips To Improve Your Spoken English And Speak With Confidence

2009-08-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

Strengthen your English grammar: The first step towards mastering English is to learn English grammar and strengthen your fundamentals in the language. Let’s take a simple test and first look at the phrase “english speaking classes mumbai”. Do you think this is good English - or the “spoken english classes in mumbai” would be better? If you are not sure, it’s time to revisit grammar (The right answer, by the way, is “spoken english class in mumbai”). You may not spend years in learning English grammar - the key is to study the most important and frequently used or applicable sections of grammar.

Focus on basics such as correct usage of verbs, adverbs, adjectives, nouns, tense formation and active and passive voice. That will put you off on a great start in learning the English language. Remember: most of the people with perfect English never memorize grammar – English grammar rules are complicated and have many exceptions. The best way to learn English grammar is by hearing and reading as much natural English as you can.
Use every opportunity to speak in English: Why not use every single day as an opportunity to practice. Do you have fear of making mistakes and sounding embarrassed? The same fear could stop you forever! Take your chances everyday – start from home, with friends and then finally with colleagues at work.

At our English speaking courses in mumbai (spread over multiple locations - Dadar, Borivli, Thane, navi mumbai and Dombivli), we encourage students to come forward and speak extempore (in English). This provides the first, safe platform where you can comfortably face your fears and even develop your verbal presentation skills
Constantly build your vocabulary in English: Whenever you read an English newspaper, newsletter, article or magazine, ensure that you mark out the words that you do not follow. Start this practice with newspapers where the level of English is moderate and thus easy to grasp. One of the best periodicals for this is the reader’s digest which carries 15-20 new words to add to your vocabulary. Another great way is to get a copy of “word Power made easy” by Norman Lewis – the most practicable book in word power development.

Vocabulary directly impacts your Spoken English skills and is must towards learning English language. At our English speaking courses in mumbai (spread over multiple locations - Dadar, Borivli, Thane, navi mumbai and Dombivli), we ensure that all word power building materials are made available with periodic tests on English vocabulary.
Simple, Crisp English is the Best English, Worldwide: As you go ahead with mastering spoken english, avoid complex sentences which may confuse you, your listeners and make things even more difficult. And probably embarrassing! Stick to the basic rules of English grammar and use proper sentences and word forms. This is the best way to speak flawless English. Once you are comfortable with your basics and practiced English speaking, move to the complex sentences. Also, first work towards improving your English speaking capabilities and then move to other areas.

No Worries. They Speak English

2009-08-22T03:22:00.000-07:00

Many business professionals who travel overseas feel comfortable in knowing that the majority of people in other countries speak English. They know that even if a country's official language is German or Cantonese, they will undoubtedly be able to speak in English and easily communicate with their business associates, as well as the hotel and taxi drivers. No worries, they speak English.While it may be true that simple communications are relatively easy, more complex communications may present more of a challenge.

When working with clients, colleagues, superiors and staff, it's critical that when you communicate, your intended meaning comes across successfully. When you are conducting business in a foreign country, whether English is your first language or not, you will want to ensure a clear and successful communication. You can achieve this if you think carefully before you speak and apply some of the tips below.The most obvious yet very important tip is to avoid the use of slang and buzzwords. When an American English person says "I'll fill you in later" or "let's play it by ear," they really mean, "I will provide the details later" and "Let's wait for further information before taking further action." If this is what you mean, then these are the words you should use.

Speak slowly and distinctly. You may be speaking to a colleague and trying to read their reaction to what you are saying. If they look disagreeable, you may be wondering if it's because they disagree with the content of what you're saying to them. But in reality, it may be that they do not understand or misunderstand your message altogether. While they are thinking about the words you've chosen, they have stopped listening to your core message. Try to learn some of the local language and use it during your communications.

It will show your international colleagues that you have taken an interest in their culture and are making an effort to communicate as effectively as possible. Be mindful of your vocabulary. Certain words that are used in different cultures, while all in English, may have the same definition, but have a slightly different meaning. Americans, for example, may use the word "leverage" to describe a method of "taking advantage" of a market or competitive situation. Chances are high that this particular word is not used the same way in the country you are visiting. Emphasize clarity over grammar.

While grammar is always the first rule in writing and speaking English, or any language, what's more important for global communications is clarity of the message. Focus on your point and strive to communicate your message as succinctly as possible. Stay alert. Avoiding slang, speaking clearly and learning local language phrases can be difficult to do, especially when you are traveling and feel jet lagged, in need of sleep and enduring some of the stress that comes along with international travel.

Try to stay alert and keep your communication skills sharp. It's one thing to have a native accent but quite another to speak English in a way that is not being understood and is causing a communication breakdown. In order to build effective global work teams and manage projects across international borders, clear and precise communications are a necessity, and cultural communication breakdowns are no longer acceptable.

The Secret To Speak English Well

2009-08-22T03:15:00.001-07:00

In an ideal world, nobody would have problems learning a new language. After all, the different languages of the world indicate the rich cultural history that the human beings of Earth have created over the years and being able to experience a new culture through its own language is one of the greatest experiences a person could ask for. Unfortunately, most of us do have problems learning new languages and in the case of people that are trying to learn English this can really hamper their progress in terms of making a career for themselves in the global community.Whether you like it or not, English is the language that the global community has adopted.

It is the language that is spoken in the most powerful countries of the world and it is the language that is spoken primarily at all of the different international organizations that exist. For this reason, if you want to go anywhere in the world, you are going to need to learn how to speak English well. While there is no specific secret behind speaking English well, there are some tips and tricks that will certainly make the road ahead of you a lot easier to traverse.DedicationThe single most important faculty that you need when learning a new language is dedication. Unlike a card game or a computer game, learning a language is a multi-step process that really takes everything that you can hurl at it.

You need to learn the vocabulary, the syntax and all of the idiomatic ways of saying things that the different dialects of that language might have. For this reason, you need to dedicate a lot of time to learning how to speak English and you need to make it the primary activity in your life. This is the only way to truly ensure that you will learn fluent English, because any distractions from that goal might result in you missing a couple of classes that would have taught you vital information.Resource UseAnother thing that you should do when learning how to speak English is to make sure that you use all of the different resources you have at your disposal. While many people take classes in English, they are ignoring the internet.

The internet is in fact the single greatest resource for learning languages that has ever existed. Not only are there websites that you can practice your reading skills on, but there are also downloadable audio files as well as online exercises at many websites that you can do to help yourself learn how to speak the language. Resource use is a very important part of learning a new language and if you want to make the learning process easier, using the online learning tools at your disposal is definitely a very good idea.OptimismAs with anything else in life, attitude does play a large part in the final result of any activity that you take on. You surely know people in the different walks of life that can't seem to get anything done.

Every time they try to take on a new activity, they eventually end up giving up and it gets relegated to a dusty corner of their closet. These people do not have the attitude for success and because they are mentally trying to guard themselves against defeat, they end up making defeat a self-fulfilling prophecy.Make sure that you are not one of these people. Resolve right now that you are going to learn how to speak English perfectly. Once you have that resolve in you, go out and make it a reality. That's the only way to do it.

Tips To Learn English Effectvely

2009-08-22T03:15:00.000-07:00

Do you have any plan to pursue your further education abroad? Will you need English for your career or your education? If so, you may wish to investigate your options for learning, or improving, your English skills. The TOEFL Test: TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) is a test used by many colleges, universities, government agencies and exchange and scholarship programs in the US, UK and Canada as a means of evaluating the language skills of a person whose first language is not English. You can find TOEFL study guides easily online with other recommended resources listed.

You may be able to access some of the sample tests and prepare with personal study. Or you may look for a class with an instructor to help you prepare for the test. ESL Classes: ESL classes are a common means for students to learn English with group of classmates. These can be in the form of an evening class with various individuals attending or may be part of a college program during the day. The course length and the topics covered will differ from country to country and school to school. Some summer programs are geared for international students to gain a basic grasp of the language before starting studies in English taught classes of the college or university.

Since the standards of passing a course, or the course material itself, will vary drastically, some students may feel that the language skills gained upon completing the course does not equip them to handle school work or social interactions adequately. Some schools offer students and alternative of home-stay programs for students. Home-stay programs benefit the student by placing them for several weeks or months with a host family that speaks English. The student is then able to immerse him or herself in the culture and social speaking of the English country they are living in.

There are also online ESL programs that may be suitable for distance education, especially if programs are not readily available in your area. Private Tutors: Another popular method of learning English is with private tutors. The materials and methods used by ESL tutors will vary greatly and it is important to establish what material will be used and to feel comfortable with the tutor. Asking friends or other students for references can be helpful in finding a good tutor. A combination of these English learning methods will be effective as well.

You can take a summer course while staying with a home-stay host family and then arranging for private tutoring during the school year. Making an effort to use your new language skills regularly in social situations will improve your progress regardless of the program or course you are using.

Speak English Clearly and Grammatically

2009-08-22T03:02:00.000-07:00

Of course you speak English - who doesn't? But how well do you speak this international language? Are you clear, concise and grammatically correct? Do people talk about you and the things you say? And are they talking for the right reasons? It used to be that just speaking English (at any level) was enough to open the doors of opportunity, but times are quickly changing. Most recent estimates place speakers of English as a fluent second language or additional foreign language at over one billion. It is no longer an advantage to speak English, but a requirement! Just speaking English isn't so impressive anymore - unless you speak it really well.

Many talented and competent professionals who are doing their best to speak good English are left behind. Many don't even realize why. How many times have you heard a colleague make the same mistake over and over again and never corrected him?

Perfecting the way you speak is challenging, but by applying these tips and tricks, you will ease communication, speed up your work flow and become a more effective business leader.
Speak Clearly
Since English is being used as a lingua franca by more and more non-native speakers, clarity should always be your first priority (whether English happens to be your native language or not). There are a number of things you can do to improve the clarity of your speech.

Slow down
We all speak too fast. It's a terrible habit! And the faster we speak, the more mumbled our speech becomes.
Slowing down the pace of your speech is vital in situations where visual communication is lacking, for example an international conference call. It is just as important however, while running a meeting or delivering a presentation.
Make sure everyone can follow what you are saying at all times. Otherwise, what's the point of saying it?

Enunciate
Colloquial speech is littered with signs of laziness. We drop word endings, run our words together and create sentences that never seem to end. Sometimes it is too easy to take this style of speech into the boardroom. Be sure to enunciate your words. Put a special focus on word endings such as 'ed' and 's' that act as grammatical markers. If you leave the 'ed' off of a past tense verb (Our profits increase last year instead of 'increased') it sounds as though you are making a very basic mistake in English.
Your education, aptitude and credibility could be questioned.

Practice vowels & consonants
An additional challenge in English is that we have so many words that are identical except for the vowel. Take this string of words for example: mat, met, mitt, mutt, mate, might and moot. Do they all sound different when you say them? They should! Read the words in random order and have someone write down what they hear. Did they hear what you said? Create other lists of words like this to identify your problem sounds and practice, practice, practice! Consonant sounds can be just as tricky. Be sure you differentiate between voiced and unvoiced sounds, for example, 'd' and 't.' The words 'said' and 'set' should sound different. You should be using your voice to make the 'd' sound, whereas the 't' sound only uses air. You can create word pairs similar to the vowels above to practice these sounds and others like 'v' and 'f,' 'z' and 's,' 'b' and 'p,' and 'g' and 'k.'

Speak grammatically
For most, grammar lessons are thankfully a thing of the distance past. Although lessons usually weren't fun or interesting, there was a reason why we were drilled in English grammar. Have you ever thought about what your grammar says about you? Proper grammar signals a higher level of education, professionalism and, in many cases, success. Breaking grammar rules can signal a lack of attention to detail, laziness and can be a general irritant and distraction for those who do observe grammar rules. Not to mention the miscommunication that can happen in written correspondence like email. Think how much time is wasted clarifying the meaning of mails where the structure is so mangled that the message is lost. If you feel like you never really learned grammar properly or think you might be making mistakes, but don't really understand why, seek out answers to your questions.

1. Ask a colleague whose language skills you admire to proof-read some of your written work. Ask them to be honest with you about your mistakes. If you're making the mistakes in your writing, you can assume that you are making the same mistakes (and then some) in your speech.
2. Have a grammar reference on hand at all times - right next to your English dictionary. Local book stores have plenty of references in the language and linguistics sections.
3. Enroll in a refresher course in English. The right teacher can make the subject interesting and enlightening. And speaking better English is definitely worth the investment! Your colleagues and clients will thank you!

English Traslation Books

2009-08-20T23:51:00.000-07:00

English Grammar

Practice the skills of English

2009-08-20T00:54:00.000-07:00

Speak without Fear
The biggest problem most people face in learning a new language is their own fear. They worry that they won’t say things correctly or that they will look stupid so they don’t talk at all. Don’t do this. The fastest way to learn anything is to do it – again and again until you get it right. Like anything, learning English requires practice. Don’t let a little fear stop you from getting what you want.

Use all of your Resources
Even if you study English at a language school it doesn’t mean you can’t learn outside of class. Using as many different sources, methods and tools as possible, will allow you to learn faster. There are many different ways you can improve your English, so don’t limit yourself to only one or two. The internet is a fantastic resource for virtually anything, but for the language learner it's perfect.

Surround Yourself with English
The absolute best way to learn English is to surround yourself with it. Take notes in English, put English books around your room, listen to English language radio broadcasts, watch English news, movies and television. Speak English with your friends whenever you can. The more English material that you have around you, the faster you will learn and the more likely it is that you will begin “thinking in English.”

Listen to Native Speakers as Much as Possible
There are some good English teachers that have had to learn English as a second language before they could teach it. However, there are several reasons why many of the best schools prefer to hire native English speakers. One of the reasons is that native speakers have a natural flow to their speech that students of English should try to imitate. The closer ESL / EFL students can get to this rhythm or flow, the more convincing and comfortable they will become.

Watch English Films and Television
This is not only a fun way to learn but it is also very effective. By watching English films (especially those with English subtitles) you can expand your vocabulary and hear the flow of speech from the actors. If you listen to the news you can also hear different accents.

Listen to English Music
Music can be a very effective method of learning English. In fact, it is often used as a way of improving comprehension. The best way to learn though, is to get the lyrics (words) to the songs you are listening to and try to read them as the artist sings. There are several good internet sites where one can find the words for most songs. This way you can practice your listening and reading at the same time. And if you like to sing, fine.

Study As Often As Possible!
Only by studying things like grammar and vocabulary and doing exercises, can you really improve your knowledge of any language.

Do Exercises and Take Tests
Many people think that exercises and tests aren't much fun. However, by completing exercises and taking tests you can really improve your English. One of the best reasons for doing lots of exercises and tests is that they give you a benchmark to compare your future results with. Often, it is by comparing your score on a test you took yesterday with one you took a month or six months ago that you realize just how much you have learned. If you never test yourself, you will never know how much you are progressing. Start now by doing some of the many exercises and tests on this site, and return in a few days to see what you've learned. Keep doing this and you really will make some progress with English.

Record Yourself
Nobody likes to hear their own voice on tape but like tests, it is good to compare your tapes from time to time. You may be so impressed with the progress you are making that you may not mind the sound of your voice as much.

Listen to English
By this, we mean, speak on the phone or listen to radio broadcasts, audiobooks or CDs in English. This is different than watching the television or films because you can’t see the person that is speaking to you. Many learners of English say that speaking on the phone is one of the most difficult things that they do and the only way to improve is to practice.

Learning English Grammar

2009-08-15T23:37:00.000-07:00

English Grammar

Don't worry about your active vocabulary

2009-04-20T23:36:00.000-07:00

Many advanced English learners have a large "passive vocabulary", but they worry about the size of their "active vocabulary". They can understand many difficult English words when reading or listening, but they don't use most of them when speaking or writing in English. They feel this is a problem. They would like to use all the difficult words that they know.

If you are a learner who worries about his active vocabulary, this article may convince you to stop worrying.

People understand many more words than they use in their own conversations. One's passive vocabulary is much larger than one's active vocabulary. The total number of words actively used in one's whole life is much smaller than the total number of words understood in one's whole life.

This statement has nothing to do with foreign languages. It is about how people use their native language.

We think that in your native language, there are thousands of words that you don't use (but you understand them all). There are literary words, formal words, scientific terms, slang phrases, etc. which you understand, but you don't use. If you open a book written in your native language, you will see many such words.

So your own active vocabulary in your native language is much smaller than your passive vocabulary. And we guess that you don't mind it. We guess that you are not worried about the difference between your active and passive vocabulary in your native language.

But you're learning English as a foreign language. And you notice all the words that you understand but never use. Your perspective as a learner makes you regret this fact.

You don't need to worry about using "too few" English words. You will learn to use some number of English words and they will be enough for you! At some point, your English active vocabulary will simply let you express anything you want. Just like your active vocabulary in your native language.

The next time you see a difficult English word, you don't need to worry "Will I be able to use this word in conversation?". If you can say anything you want with your active vocabulary, you should be happy with your English. And you don't need to worry about those thousands of words which you will never use.

English makes you feel good

2009-04-20T23:34:00.000-07:00

If you have read our article "Why learn English", you already know that English can improve your life. It can let you get smarter, meet people, earn more money, etc. But have you ever wondered how it would feel to know English well?
Imagine...

You're at an English class. Everybody is doing an exercise. People are all talking about the exercise; there is a lot of noise. You finished two minutes ago, and now there are people around you asking questions. "What does extemporaneous mean?", "What's the answer in point 2?". You know the correct answers and you help them. You know why they asked your help — because they know you are good. You feel respected and admired. The teacher has noticed your skills, too. He looks at you with admiration.

You're flying on a plane, coming back from your vacation. You see the person next to you reading an American newspaper. Since the flight is going to take a long time, you decide to have a conversation. "The engines are awfully loud, aren't they?", you say. "Yeah. It looks like the airplane may break into pieces at any moment", he laughs. The conversation goes on. You speak easily and you enjoy it. A moment before touchdown, your neighbor says: "You speak just like an American. Your pronunciation, your grammar — it's amazing!" You get off the plane smiling. What a great day!

You're on a bus to school, just like every day. You decide to spend the time reading a few pages out of a book. You take it out. The book is in English. As you start reading, the person sitting next to you looks at the book's cover and notices the English title. The person gives you a long look of admiration and envy. A moment later, some other people in the bus start staring at you. They would like to be able to read an English book, but they can't. You feel satisfaction. You're glad you've spent time on learning English.

You're at an international airport. You walk quickly, and you look confident. You understand all the signs around you, you understand the announcements. You know that if there were any problems you could easily communicate with the airport's staff in their own language. You walk to your gate, thinking how much more difficult it would be if you didn't know English.

You're having a great moment with your girlfriend. You're sitting close to each other, your hand is around her back. The radio is playing a beautiful song. You can understand every word of it. Your girlfriend asks: "What's the song about?". "It's about love, honey", you reply. "You're so smart. I wish I knew English like you do", she says. You feel loved and admired.

Why learn English

2009-04-20T23:25:00.000-07:00

Learning to speak English well may be the best thing you can do to improve your life.

That's right. Do you think it would be fun to have access to information that other people can't get? Talk and write letters to interesting people that others can't communicate with? Impress people around you whenever you opened your mouth? Make big jumps in your career, leaving others miles behind?

You can get all this if you speak English well.

Get access to knowledge

What are you interested in? Is it science? Music? Computers? Health? Business? Sports? Today's media — such as the Internet, television, and the press — give you almost unlimited access to knowledge about your favorite subjects. After all, we live in the information age, don't we?

There's only one problem. Most of this knowledge is in English.

Here are some examples of knowledge you can use if you know English:

Most pages on the Web. That's over a billion (1,000,000,000) pages of information! It's amazing that learning just one language gives you access to almost all knowledge on the Internet.
Books — on any subject, from all over the world. Read books by British or American authors, and books translated from other languages. Whatever you're interested in, you can read about it in English!
The press. Only English-language magazines and newspapers can be bought in every part of the world. You don't have to search for Time, Newsweek, or the International Herald Tribune!
Science. English is the key to the world of science. In 1997, 95% of the articles in the Science Citation Index were written in English. Only about 50% of them were from English-speaking countries like the USA or Britain. (source)
News reports. Watch international television networks, such as CNN International and NBC. They broadcast news much faster, and more professionally, than smaller, national networks. And you can watch them everywhere in the world.

Communicate with people

We like to call English "the language of communication". Why? Because it seems all the people in the world have agreed to use English to talk to each other.

About 1,500,000,000 people in the world speak English. Another 1,000,000,000 are learning it. (source)

75% of the world's letters and postcards are written in English. (source) Almost all international conferences and competitions are conducted in English. For example, the Olympics and the Miss World contest. Diplomats and politicians from different countries us

e English to communicate with each other. English is the main language of organizations like the United Nations, NATO, and the European Free Trade Association.

If you can communicate in English, you can:

Contact people from all over the world. Talk about your ideas and opinions on Internet discussion groups. Send e-mail to interesting people. Learn about their life and culture.
Travel more easily. Communicate with people wherever you go — English is spoken in more than 100 countries (source). Ask directions, have a conversation, or... ask for help. Who knows, maybe English will save your life someday!

Push your career forward

If you want a good job in business, technology, or science, get out of that armchair and start learning English now! (If you already have a good job, start learning before you lose it!)

Knowing English will let you:

Put "excellent knowledge of English" on your CV. Get your dream job, and earn more money.
Gain technical knowledge. English is the language of technology, especially high technology like computer science, genetics, and medicine. If you're going to read about technology, you'll probably have to do it in English.
Learn computer science. Read technical articles without difficulty. Or write your own articles!
Be a world-class businessman (or -woman). It's simple. International business is done in English. And all business today is international. So if you want to play, you have to know English — to contact other businesspeople, go to conferences, read international business newspapers and magazines, etc.
Become a better scientist. Contact scientists from other countries, go to international conferences, visit academic centers abroad. Learn about new scientific discoveries by reading papers, books, and magazines.
Use your computer more effectively. Most computer applications are in English, so you will understand them better — and become a better employee.
Learn new skills for your job. The section "Get access to knowledge" explains how English helps you learn.

Enjoy art like never before

English lets you feel the culture of the world like no other language. With a good knowledge of the English language, you can do wonderful things:

Watch American and British films in the original. Once you try it, you'll never go back to dubbed versions!
Read great books. Every famous book was written in English or it was translated into English. There is an amazing number of titles — from classic plays like Hamlet to modern thrillers like Jurassic Park.
Enjoy English-language music more. Believe us: music is much better if you can understand the words.

English is easy to learn

English is not only the most useful language in the world. It is also one of the easiest languages to learn and to use:

Simple alphabet — no special symbols such as é or ä. Type in sweet, part, film on your computer. Now try süß (German), (Polish), (Russian). Which is easier?
Easy plurals — simply add s to a word. One car, five cars; one telephone, two telephones... There are very few exceptions.
Words are easy to learn. In French, it's la fille and le chien. In German, it's das Mädchen and der Hund. In English, they're just a girl and a dog. And that's all you need to know.
Short words. Most of the basic words are short: run, work, big, go, man. Long words are often shortened: sitcom = situational comedy, fridge = refrigerator, OS = operating system. Speaking English saves you time. :-)
Words don't change. But in many languages, one word has many forms:
English: The man is blind.
German: Der Mann ist blind.

English: This is a blind man.
German: Das ist ein blinder Mann.

English: I see a blind man.
German: Ich sehe einen blinden Mann.
Call everybody "you". You can say "Do you speak English?" to your friend or to your teacher. In other languages, you have to use the right word for the right person. In English, everybody is equal. :-)
English is everywhere. You can easily access English-language television, music, websites, magazines, etc. You don't have to learn from boring textbooks. You can learn and use your English at the same time. Using your English is especially important because it increases your desire to learn.

Get satisfaction

English is not only useful — it gives you a lot of satisfaction:

Making progress feels great. We'll never forget the moment we discovered we could speak with Americans or watch TV in English.
You will enjoy learning English, if you remember that every hour you spend gets you closer to perfection.
Using English is fun, too, because every sentence you speak or write reminds you of your success.

Speaking versus Writing

2009-04-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

The purpose of all language is to communicate - that is, to move thoughts or information from one person to another person.

There are always at least two people in any communication. To communicate, one person must put something "out" and another person must take something "in". We call this "output" (>>>) and "input" (<<<).

I speak to you (OUTPUT: my thoughts go OUT of my head).
You listen to me (INPUT: my thoughts go INto your head).
You write to me (OUTPUT: your thoughts go OUT of your head).
I read your words (INPUT: your thoughts go INto my head).

So language consists of four "skills": two for output (speaking and writing); and two for input (listening and reading. We can say this another way - two of the skills are for "spoken" communication and two of the skills are for "written" communication:

Spoken:
>>> Speaking - mouth
<<<>

Written:
>>> Writing - hand
<<<>

What are the differences between Spoken and Written English? Are there advantages and disadvantages for each form of communication?

Status

When we learn our own (native) language, learning to speak comes before learning to write. In fact, we learn to speak almost automatically. It is natural. But somebody must teach us to write. It is not natural. In one sense, speaking is the "real" language and writing is only a representation of speaking. However, for centuries, people have regarded writing as superior to speaking. It has a higher "status". This is perhaps because in the past almost everybody could speak but only a few people could write. But as we shall see, modern influences are changing the relative status of speaking and writing.

Differences in Structure and Style

We usually write with correct grammar and in a structured way. We organize what we write into sentences and paragraphs. We do not usually use contractions in writing (though if we want to appear very friendly, then we do sometimes use contractions in writing because this is more like speaking.) We use more formal vocabulary in writing (for example, we might write "the car exploded" but say "the car blew up") and we do not usually use slang. In writing, we must use punctuation marks like commas and question marks (as a symbolic way of representing things like pauses or tone of voice in speaking).

We usually speak in a much less formal, less structured way. We do not always use full sentences and correct grammar. The vocabulary that we use is more familiar and may include slang. We usually speak in a spontaneous way, without preparation, so we have to make up what we say as we go. This means that we often repeat ourselves or go off the subject. However, when we speak, other aspects are present that are not present in writing, such as facial expression or tone of voice. This means that we can communicate at several levels, not only with words.

Durability

One important difference between speaking and writing is that writing is usually more durable or permanent. When we speak, our words live for a few moments. When we write, our words may live for years or even centuries. This is why writing is usually used to provide a record of events, for example a business agreement or transaction.

Speaker & Listener / Writer & Reader

When we speak, we usually need to be in the same place and time as the other person. Despite this restriction, speaking does have the advantage that the speaker receives instant feedback from the listener. The speaker can probably see immediately if the listener is bored or does not understand something, and can then modify what he or she is saying.

When we write, our words are usually read by another person in a different place and at a different time. Indeed, they can be read by many other people, anywhere and at any time. And the people reading our words, can do so at their leisure, slowly or fast. They can re-read what we write, too. But the writer cannot receive immediate feedback and cannot (easily) change what has been written.

Listening: A good way to learn English

2009-04-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that there are four skills in learning a language, namely listening, speaking, reading and writing. They are always related in terms of usage, and speaking is viewed by learners as the most desirable skill in face-to-face communication in the globalization era. However, what is the answer to the following questions?

What do you have to do before you can speak?
What does a child learn before he talks?
What do we do before chatting?

Listen, of course!

Naturally, children begin listening to their parents when they are babies. They are often greeted, spoken to and admired without any response expected. Though nobody knows if the baby understands the spoken words, the process continues. Children automatically acquire such language over some time, and later on gradually produce it through actual experience. The production may be incomplete at first, but successful at last. That leads to speaking skill which is quite applicable to daily conversation.

In learning English, listening can help improve speaking considerably. Although it is the first of all skills, it is neither the easiest nor the most meaningless. We need to hear various types of English repeatedly and continuously if we want to communicate properly, meaningfully and naturally.

Why is listening good?

When listening, we are reviewing a lot of English usage such as vocabulary, grammatical structures, intonation, accent and our own interpretation.
We can learn new words and expressions by hearing them frequently.
Besides the English revision, general knowledge from news, features, or even advertising spots is certainly beneficial for regular listeners.
We can imitate what we hear and apply it with great confidence.
Listening can be a good "hobby" while we do other things such as cooking, ironing, exercising, relaxing etc. In other words, we have no wasted time at all.
Listening is also a great way to train our attention.

How can we listen to English?

Nowadays, radio cassette recorders are household appliances, but we often overlook their radio function. We can experience English language radio programmes almost anywhere in the world. They are usually picked up on FM bands and aired particularly for foreigners. Short wave radio programmes are another option. Two of the most easily found English language broadcasters are the BBC and Voice of America. Today, you can even access them by internet. You'll find some useful links for listening to the radio by internet, including "News in Easy English".

Weena Kanadpon is a Thai teacher of English. She teaches at Thap Put Witthaya School in Phagnga, southern Thailand. She discovered for herself the value of listening to the radio, and how to find English language radio programmes in Thailand.

About the English language

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Over 350 million people speak English as their first language, including 55 million in the UK and more than 200 million in the USA. It's an official language in over 50 countries around the world.

The total number of people who can speak English, including those who speak it as a second language, is well over a billion.

English is a relatively easy language to learn. With a little practice, you should soon find yourself able to get by in most everyday situations.

An international language
Learning to speak English will allow you to communicate with a massive number of people around the globe.

Boost your job prospects
In an increasingly inter-connected world, a good knowledge of English is a great advantage for many jobs. English is the most widely used language for international business.

Travel
Any trip or stay in an English-speaking country will be greatly enriched if you can speak a little of the language. Even in countries where English isn't the local language, you will still find it enormously useful on your travels.

Comparing Communication and English Conversations Skills

2009-04-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

English Language Conversation Skills include language abilities, conversation skills, social skills, culture knowledge and non-verbal communication skills.

Non-verbal communication skills are classified as posture, body movements, gestures, facial expressions, proximity and eye contact.

In English speaking countries the non-verbal messages can represent from 50-93% of the meaning.

Social skills and culture knowledge can be generalized as "what to say, when to say it, where and why to say it, and most important how to say it".

When learning English Language Conversation Skills ESL students must learn: language abilities, conversation skills, social skills, culture knowledge and non-verbal communication skills. ESL Students need everything if they actually want to converse with native English speakers.

ESL Students can not just learn English vocabulary or English pronunciation as it represents less than 50% of most conversations.

What are some of the Professional Communication Skills?

The ability to add charisma to your speaking and interpersonal communications.

The ability to create initial rapport even on first phone calls or meetings.

The ability to build rapport easily in meetings, networking functions, or conversations.

The ability to use specialized industry or business English using industry-specific vocabulary for accuracy.

The ability to emote the appropriate emotion at the correct level.

The ability to create and deliver persuasive and dynamic presentations and speeches.

The ability to display confident leadership and competent management or knowledge.

Other specialized skills include customer service, handling complaints, conflict management.

There are many similarities between conversation and communication skills. Both are very important. One could generalize that communication skills add extra dimensions to conversation skills. One example: Conversations can transmit information where communication skills can transmit trust.

English Book for Learning Speaking

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English Book for Learning Speaking

English Speaking Book

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English Speaking Book

How to speak English Well

2009-04-06T06:33:00.000-07:00

Do you get tongue-tied while speaking to strangers or office-colleagues? Or, the thought of giving a presentation/speech to a group of people sends a rattle snake up your spine? Your voice turns viscous, your knees go weak, and your spirit leaves you to stroll on another planet?

Don't worry; you are not in a minority.

The greatest of men and women have gone through this harrowing experience. The fear of speaking is rated as only second to the fear of snakes and before the fear of dying. Ok, I must confess that I stole the previous line from another article.

But believe me, most of it is stereotypical. People who can speak in the presence of many people are considered to be smart, intelligent and outgoing; whereas those who prefer to be quiet are considered to be not very intelligent. Effortless ability to speak is construed as smartness. This is not so. Your intelligence has got nothing to do with your public speaking verve.

It's all in the attitude. Once you can make yourself believe it's no big deal, you can speak in front of 10s, 100s, 1000s of people. Just, don't give your mind to scary speculations. Be yourself, be clear of your words, and try to like people sitting in front of you.

Here are a few tips you can use to improve your speaking skills. They can also be implemented on day-to-day work-place interactions.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK?

Once you know why you want to speak, your confidence gets a boost. Is it important for your business? Is it important for your job? Are you pursuing a noble cause that you want to promote through your speech? Do you want to join politics in the near future? Do you just want to put a point across?

Think hard why you want to speak and write it down on a piece of paper and then read it again and again. Is it worth taking the risk (the word "risk" is misplaced here, but I'm trying to drive in a point)? If you find yourself saying "yes," then half the battle is won.

MAKE YOUR INTENTIONS CLEAR ASSERTIVELY

You, on your own, become assertive once you know why you want to speak. Put emphasis on your words, but don't over-do it. I remember attending a workshop where an e-learning expert was giving a presentation. She was so assertive that in a few minutes she became a nuisance and everybody was feeling awkward and funny.

MAKE EYE CONTACT

Look in the eyes of your audience. Try to make as much eye contact as possible. It will put you at ease. It also shows whatever you are saying you are saying it with a conviction.

BE FLEXIBLE

To keep yourself in a relaxed state, keep your body flexible. Don't stiffen your shoulders, arms and legs. Take deep breaths. Imagine a soothing beam of white light permeating your limbs and feel its serene touch from within. Does it sound superfluous?

USE QUESTIONS

Asking questions makes your speaking session interactive. Get their input. You begin to converse with your audience and this makes you comfortable. You strike a friendly note and your audience no longer seems intimidating. Most precarious issues in the international politics have been resolved through two-way communication.

POSTURE WELL

Use your posture and body language to your advantage. A few points above I had mentioned that you should keep your limbs relaxed while talking. A relaxed posture is a good posture.

LISTEN

If you listen well, then you speak well. All good speakers are good listeners too. If you listen, you know what other people are thinking of. By listening, you gauge the atmosphere in the room and adjust yourself accordingly.

Speaking is not an art, it is not a skill. It is just an expression. The moment you are true to yourself and the people around you, you can speak well.