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The first rule of speaking English is to speak clearly, concisely and use simple vocabulary. KISS - keep
it short and simple.
Remember you probably won't just speak to native speakers. There are roughly 380 million native
speakers, but as many as a billion people speak it as a second language. So it's a good idea to avoid
idioms and slang (I always say learn it, but don't use it). It might sound clever to say "You're barking
up the wrong tree," but if you misuse it or if the other person doesn't understand you, you'll only look
silly when you try to explain what you meant to say, or what it actually means.
There's also a saying in English "Have you swallowed a dictionary?" It is applicable to anyone who
uses long, complicated words when a shorter word will do. Short sentences are just as good (if not
better) than long explanations. The value in what you have to say is what you say, not how clever you
look or sound when you say it.
Get over any fear you might have of making mistakes. You will make mistakes.
Be patient with yourself. Learning any language can be frustrating, but frustration won't help you, so
let it go.
Talk to friends who are also learning English. Go out together for coffee and only speak
English to each other!
Read short stories out loud and try to see, say and hear the words to reinforce your memory. Record
yourself and play it back later, how does it sound?
You might not be able to find any friendly native speakers where you live, butYou can find
English speaking people on the Internet! If you can't find anyone who'll actually help you,
don't worry, you'll still be able to figure out if they can understand you.
Look for people with the same interests as you. It's no good asking everyone you meet to help
you with your English, rather develop natural friendships based on your hobbies etc.
Eventually you will make friends and they will be much more likely to give you correction /
guidance.
Join an English club or conversation group. Around the world there are many English
speaking clubs, these clubs aren't just for expats but for people interested in the
English way of life. They can be friendly and fun. For a list of English clubs click here.
Check magazines as well as your phone book, your local newspaper and your local
university. Or if there isn't one in your area - start one! Place an advertisement in your
newspaper for people interested in starting a group or go to Meetup.
Visit an Irish/English/Australian theme pub or British food shop, you can usually find
one in the larger cities. Often, the waiters and waitresses come from English-
speaking countries, the menu is often in English too!
Once your English is good enough, go shopping in some tourist areas. You'll find lots
of shop assistants speak very good English.
If you can travel to an English speaking country, do it.
There are several internet based voice chat programmes out there: iVisit | Pal Talk | MSN
Web Messenger | Yahoo! Messenger | Google Talk | Skype and lots more.
Singing
Try singing along to English songs. With friends or in the privacy of your own bathroom. Lots of the
major games consoles have karaoke games nowadays, like Sing Star on the Playstation.
!On the internet :- You can speak to me on iVisit (see the forum calendar for times and
dates) - you can also listen to or chat with other learners and native speakers there. There are
no more excuses.
!On the network:- Use the pronunciation pages to improve your understanding.
!On this site:- You can find some karaoke resources and ideas on the learn English through songs
page.
!On the Network: You can find the words to some popular songs on the English magazine.
Pronunciation skills
Don't get too hung up on trying to sound like a native speaker. Would you start learning the piano in an
attempt to sound like Mozart? Probably not. Accents don't matter, as long as people can understand
you, but pronunciation is important.
List words that have the same sound add to the lists as you learn more words.
Work on one problem sound at a time. Read slowly concentrating on the pronunciation of
particular words. Record yourself, keep the tape and record yourself later, have you
improved? Don't be shy - ask a friend to listen to the tape too.
Don't worry about sounding like a native, it is more important to speak clearly and pleasantly
than it is to sound like the Queen of England.
The most important thing to think about is can people understand you? If you have a problem
being understood then find someone who speaks English clearly and try to copy the way they
speak. Pay particular attention to speed and diction.
Learn It
Learn your alphabet (requires Real Player Basic )
The alphabet
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh
Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp
Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx
Yy Zz
Vowels
A E I O U
Consonants
B C D F G H J K
L M N P Q R S T
V W X Y Z
T
V
The Phonetic Alphabet
When spelling (especiallyover the phone) use the phonetic alphabet to avoid confusion.
A Alpha B Bravo
C Charlie D Delta
E Echo F Foxtrot
G Golf H Hotel
I India J Juliet
K Kilo L Lima
M Mike N November
O Oscar P Papa
Q Quebec R Romeo
S Sierra T Tango
U Uniform V Victor
W Whisky X X-Ray
Y Yankee Z Zulu
Names
Naturally speaking
When two letters appear next to each other we say "double __"
"My
"............................"
"?" "My name
is ????."
name is
Mr.
Bean."
"Could you
"I'm sorry I didn't hear that. Could you
"I'm sorry, I don't repeat your
Could you speak a little spell that
understand." name
louder please?" please?
please?"
Capitalisation
When spelling a word for someone it is sometimes necessary to let the person know when letters need
to be written in CAPITALS and when they need to be written small.
"How do you spell UNESCO please?" "Capital U-N-E-S-C-O."
"How do you spell T-Online please?" "Capital T dash capital O small n-l-i-n-e."
"How do you spell 1&1 Profi please?" "1 ampersand 1 capital P small r-o-f-i."
Improve your listening skills, writing skills, reading skills, spelling and
punctuation!
You will need a pen and some paper. The files are large, so be patient.
Instructions:-
Listen to the first file - Just Listen. I will speak, quite quickly, in a natural voice.
Listen to second file - listen and write. I will speak more slowly.
Check what you have written. You will find the text at the bottom of each dictation page.
Learning Styles
This chart will help you determine your learning style; read the word in the
left column and then find the answer that most fits you in the three columns to the
right. Your answers may fall into all three columns, but one column will likely contain
the most answers. The dominant column indicates your primary learning style.
Knowing what kind of learner you are can help you to develop a learning strategy.
When you Visual Auditory Kinesthetic & Tactile
Do you sound out the Do you write the word
Do you try to see the
Spell word or use a down to find if it feels
word?
phonetic approach? right?
Do you do so sparingly but Do you enjoy listening Do you gesture and
dislike listening for too but are impatient to use expressive
Talk long? Do you favour words talk? Do you use movements? Do you
such as see, picture , and words such as hear, use words such as
imagine? tune , and think? feel, touch , and hold?
Do you become distracted Do you become Do you become
Concentrate by untidiness or distracted by sounds distracted by activity
movement? or noises? around you?
Do you forget faces
Do you forget names but
Meet someone but remember names Do you remember best
remember faces or
again or remember what you what you did together?
remember where you met?
talked about?
Do you talk with them
Do you prefer direct, face-
Contact people Do you prefer the while walking or
to-face, personal
on business telephone? participating in an
meetings?
activity?
Read Do you like descriptive Do you enjoy dialog Do you prefer action
scenes or pause to and conversation or stories or are not a
imagine the actions? hear the characters keen reader?
talk?
Do you prefer verbal
Do you like to see
Do something instructions or talking Do you prefer to jump
demonstrations, diagrams,
new at work about it with someone right in and try it?
slides, or posters?
else?
Do you ignore the
Put something Do you look at the
directions and figure it
together directions and the picture?
out as you go along?
Do you call the help
Need help with Do you keep trying to
Do you seek out pictures or desk, ask a neighbour,
a computer do it or try it on
diagrams? or growl at the
application another computer?
computer?
What are your study habits? How did they evolve? Which worked best?
worst?
How did you communicate what you learned best? Through a written test,
a term paper, an interview?
Get the most out of your dictionary by understanding how to use it correctly . You can use a good
English dictionary to find words, for meaning, for pronunciation, to check your spelling and to
understand explanations.
Copy out short passages of English text from newspapers, magazines or books.
Try dictation exercises. You can do this online or get friends to read out text for you to write and then
check your writing - concentrate on spelling and punctuation.
There are many forums on the net, find one about your interests or hobbies. Observe the niceties of
forum use , and apologise if you think you have made any mistakes.
Use a blog to create a diary about your life. Write it in English and if you have a thick skin, ask for
feedback. Remember blogs are not private, so do not write anything there which you do not want the
whole world to read. I recommend http://www.blogger.com , it is free and very easy to use.
Be careful about using abbreviations when writing on forums and in chatrooms, they are fun and quick,
but can cause bad habits to form.
If you are using a computer, use an English spell checker (but don't rely on it). There are spell checkers
built in for Google and Firefox browsers.
Check what you've written. Even better, get someone else to proofread what you've written. Check for
spelling, capitalisation and punctuation.
Try to find English speaking pen friends and write to them or, use a messenger service like MSN,
Yahoo, Google or find a chatroom. If you can't get in touch with native speakers then contact other
learners:-
!On the Network :- Use the Learn English Network Forum pages to practise your writing.
! Note - If you are going to use forums and chat services, it's as well to brush up on the niceties -
otherwise known as Netiquette.
Use self-study vocabulary books, these should include a good dictionary, and a thesaurus.
Expose yourself to as much English as possible by reading, watching the TV, films or the
news and listening to the radio or music.
Read an English magazine. If you can afford it take out a subscription to a magazine or newspaper.
Do online exercises. Keep a note of how you did and go back in a few weeks to see how you
have improved.
Create or play word games. Scrabble, Crossword Puzzles, Hangman, and Dingbats are all great was to
play with words.
Notebooks
Vocabulary webs
Flash cards
Paste the pictures onto one side of the card and write the correct word on the other side.
!On this site:- You can use my on-line flash cards to practise your vocabulary.
Singing
Try learning the words to English songs, and even sing along with them. With friends or in the privacy
of your own bathroom.
!On this site:- You can find some karaoke resources and ideas on the learn English through songs
page.
!On the Network: You can find the words to some popular songs on the English magazine.
Make a habit of reading regularly. Read as many English books, newspapers and magazines
as you can get your hands on.
Reading should be fun, so make sure the texts you choose are not too too difficult for you. If
the book or article you are reading is a chore, then find something easier. Try reading graded
books written especially for ESL learners. I've written a guide on how to choose a book here.
Find an author you like and read all their books. By doing this you will get used to the style of
a particular author and the typical vocabulary and grammar they use. As you read more of
his/her books you will find it easier and easier.
If you have a local library find out if they stock English books or if they have bilingual editions
of English classics. Or ask them to stock English translations of books you are already
familiar with.
Try reading things more than once. Read something and then read it again a few
weeks/months later. You should find your understanding has improved.
Try to discuss a book you've enjoyed with other people. You can even discuss books with me on the
forum, or there are lots of online book clubs and you can even write reviews on book selling sites.
Don't try to read "the classics". Save them for later, start with contemporary short stories. And don't
forget, there are loads of excellent comics out there too. I actually started learning German by reading
Winnie the Pooh!
!Learning Tip - don't try to understand every word. Try to understand the overall
meaning of a sentence or passage.
!Learning Tip - don't translate - only use a dictionary if a word keeps appearing in a
text and you still don't understand it.
!Learning Tip - don't just read a book and then forget about it - try to analyse it. You
can use this reading log to help you.
! On this site:- Use the English Magazine to find some interesting articles, poems and jokes
to read. If there's a word you don't understand double click it with your mouse and the definition will
pop up. There are no more excuses.
Make sure you have the right software to take advantage of what is available on the www.
You can download players and find links to online radio stations at real.com ,
windowsmedia.com and winamp.com . You can try some of the English radio stations I
recommend on my broadcasts page. You can subscribe to podcasts and radio stations on
iTunes too.
Films in English are an excellent language resource. Follow my tips on how to use films to
improve your English. If you're not sure what films to watch, look at my recommended films pages.
Listening whilst reading is a good idea, there are lots of audio books on the market, I mention
some on my recommended books pages, there are also some fun podcasts on the Have Fun
with English site and two weekly podcasts on the Interesting Facts site.
Keep up to date with current events and watch an English-language news station, such as
BBC World. Watch news reports on events you are already aware of.
Find out how to switch languages on your TV. If you have digital or satellite TV there are
several channels that broadcast in multiple languages. Eurosport is one and Euronews is
another, you should be able to set these to the English language.
!On this site:- Use the vocabulary pages to listen to simple vocabulary.
!On this site:- Use the dictation pages to test your understanding.
! On the Network:- Every Wednesday I run a listening session on iVisit. There are no more
excuses.
!On the Network:- Little and often is a good idea, so try my Interesting Facts pages. Every week I
write some interesting facts and there are accompanying sound files for the most interesting facts.
!On the Network:- Use my English magazine Ezine pages to find some interesting articles,
poems or stories to listen to.
!On the Network:- Listen to the poem of the month or joke of the month.
! On the Network:- A bit of light-hearted fun on the Have Fun with English page. There are new
videos or listening files every month.
! On the forum:- Join the forum and ask me to read a short piece of text out loud.
! On the web:- Go to some TTS (text to speech) web sites and use their free services. Some of the
results are surprisingly good. I particularly like Acapela TV for their talking fluffy bunnies.
Practice forming meaningful sentences. Make positive statements negative, turn statements
into questions, make active statements passive. Turn past tense sentences into present tense
sentences etc. etc.
Learn the different tenses. Learn by heart a simple example sentence using each tense.
Do online exercises. Keep a note of how you did and go back in a few weeks to see how you
have improved.
!On this site:- Use the grammar pages to learn new grammar and then test yourself.
Most importantly, try to develop a feeling for English.
How to improve your English skills
My most important piece of advice is: "Do something (anything). If you don't do anything, you
won't get anywhere. Make it your hobby, not a chore, but above all have fun!"
Don't be in too much of a hurry. You're setting off on a long journey and there'll be delays and
frustrations along the way. Sometimes you'll be in the fast lane and other times you'll be stuck in
traffic, but there will also be lots of interesting things and interesting people along the way. Take your
time to really enjoy the experience.
There are many ways to improve your level of English, but only you can find the right way for
you. Here are a few tips that might help:-
yourself
your capacity to learn
processes you have successfully used in the past
your interest, and knowledge of what you wish to learn
Motivate yourself
If you are not motivated to learn English you will become frustrated and give up. Ask yourself
the following questions, and be honest:-
You know how much time you can dedicate to learning English, but a short time each day will
produce better, longer-term results than a full day on the weekend and then nothing for two
weeks.
Joining a short intensive course could produce better results than joining a course that takes
place once a week for six months.
A good way to meet your goals is to establish a system of rewards and punishments.
Decide on a reward you will give yourself for fulfilling your goals for a month.
There are different ways to learn. Find out what kind of learner you are in order to better
understand how to learn more effectively..
Do you need to see your teacher during lessons in order to fully understand the content of a
lesson?
Do you prefer to sit at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people's
heads)?
Do you think in pictures and learn best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated
text books, overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs?
During a lecture or classroom discussion, do you prefer to take detailed notes to absorb the
information?
!Learning Tip - you may benefit from taking part in traditional English lessons, but
maybe private lessons would be better.
Do you learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through and listening to
what others have to say?
Do you interpret the underlying meanings of speech through listening to tone of voice, pitch,
speed and other nuances?
Does written information have little meaning until you hear it?
!Learning Tip - you may benefit from listening to the radio or listening to text as you
read it. You could try reading text aloud and using a tape recorder to play it back to
yourself.
Do you learn best through a hands-on approach, actively exploring the physical world around
you?
Do you find it hard to sit still for long periods?
!Learning Tip - you may benefit from taking an active part in role plays or drama
activities.
Spend your time on things that interest you. If you like cooking then buy an English-language
cookbook or find recipes on the net and practise following the recipes. You'll soon know if you
have made a mistake!
If you are too tired to actively practice just relax and listen to an English pop song or talk radio
station.
English Grammar
Adjectives
Adjectives describe or give information about nouns or pronouns.
For example:-
The grey dog barked. (The adjective grey describes the noun "dog".)
The good news is that the form of an adjective does not change. It does not matter if the noun
being modified is male or female, singular or plural, subject or object.
Some adjectives give us factual information about the noun - age, size colour etc (fact
adjectives - can't be argued with). Some adjectives show what somebody thinks about
something or somebody - nice, horrid, beautiful etc (opinion adjectives - not everyone may
agree).
If you are asked questions with which, whose, what kind, or how many, you need an adjective
to be able to answer.
!Note - The articles a, an, and the and the possessives my, our, your, and their are also
adjectives.
Opinion
good, pretty, right, wrong, funny, light, happy, sad, full, soft, hard etc.
For example:
Size
For example:
Age
For example:
For example:
Colour
For example:
Origin
For example:-
Material
Distance
For example:
"She went for a long walk." or "She went for lots of long walks."
Temperature
For example:
Time
late, early, bed, nap, dinner, lunch, day, morning, night, etc.
For example:
Purpose
Adjectives can be used to describe purpose. (These adjectives often end with "-ing".)
For example:
"She gave them a sleeping bag." or "She gave them sleeping bags."
!Note - In each case the adjective stays the same, whether it is describing a masculine,
feminine, singular or plural noun.
When using more than one adjective to modify a noun, the adjectives may be separated by a
conjunction (and) or by commas (,).
For example:
"Her hair was long and blonde." or "She had long, blonde hair."
More examples:
!Note - Adjectives that go immediately before the noun are called attributive adjectives.
Adjectives can also be used after some verbs. They do not describe the verb, adverbs do that.
Adjectives after a verb describe the subject of the verb (usually a noun or pronoun). They are
called predicative adjectives.
For example:
"David looks tired." The subject (in this case David) is being described as tired not
the verb to look.
http://www.learnenglish.de/
http://www.learnenglish.de/grammarpage.htm
http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/adjectivetext.htm
-Presented By
N.SIVA