How to Learn English

{ June 11, 2010 @ 2:58 pm } · { How to Learn English }
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How to Learn English

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.
Finally
Have fun!

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{ June 9, 2010 @ 7:15 pm } · { Vocabulary Exercises }
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VOCABULARY EXERCISES

The alphabet (letter sounds)

Numbers (number sounds)

Animals (matching)

 Parts of the body (matching)

My family ( fill in the gaps 1), (fill in the gaps 2)

Phisical appearance ( Voc. list and fill in the gaps)

 Jobs ( Crossword)

Ocupations (Hangman)

 Tools (Find the pairs)

  Seasons (Options)

Clothes 1 (Exercise)

 

Clothes 2 (Multiple Option)

 

Male and Female (Ordering)

 

Opposites (Ordering) 

 

Appliances (Multiple Option) 

Reading Exercises

{ June 9, 2010 @ 7:12 pm } · { Reading Exercises }
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Reading Comprehension Exercises

Reading and listening (Short story) 

Reading comprehension 1 (Two sisters and the cat) 

Reading comprehension 2 (Patufet reading), (Patufet activities) 

Reading comprehension 3 (The rainbow fish reading), (The rainbow fish activities) 

Reading comprehension 4 (Nasredding goes shopping) 

Reading comprehension 5 (A special christmas present)

{ June 9, 2010 @ 7:10 pm } · { Listening Exercises }
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Listening Comprehension exercises

Listening Comprehension 1 (Greetings and Introductions)

Listening comprehension 2 (Daily Planners and Scheduling)

Listening Comprehension 4 (Memory/Months of the year)

Listening Comprehension 3 (Not All Carrots Are Orange)

Listening Comprehension 4  (Family)

Listening Comprehension 4 (Giving directions)

VIDEOS

Video 1 (Desert Museum in Arizona Exhibits Native Plants and Animals)

Video 2 (Bolt)

{ June 9, 2010 @ 7:06 pm } · { Grammar Exercises }
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Grammar Exercises

Simple present 1 (Fill in the gaps)

Simple present 2 (Fill in the blanks)

Simple present 3 (Usage)

Simple past 1 (Fill in the blanks)

Simple past 2 (Finding mistakes)

Simple past (Negative form)

Fitute tense (Fill in the blanks)

There is, There are (Options)

Adverbs of frequency (Position)

Prepositions of place (Multiple option)

Confusing Words

{ June 9, 2010 @ 6:43 pm } · { Confusing Words }
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Confusing Words

There are many words that sound similar but have different meanings and are spelled differently. Then there are other words that even sound exactly the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Here are some examples:

1) custom vs. costume:

Custom refers to repetitive, traditional activities e.g.
The celebration of the Day of the Dead is a typical Mexican custom.
A costume is something that you wear e.g.
The costumes in Shakespeare in Love are very well made.

2) loose vs. lose:

Loose is the opposite of tight. It’s an adjective. Imagine Michael Jackson in Pavarotti’s clothes.
Lose is a verb and refers to objects that have disappeared. Example:
“I can’t find my wallet, I have lost it.”

3) guy vs. gay

This one can cause a lot of confusion. The mistake normally occurs in writing only, because students know the difference in pronunciation between guy and gay. They also know the difference in meaning:

guy = boy/ young man as in: he’s a very nice guy.
gay = homosexual (it used to mean something like: lively or bright, but that’s old fashioned and common in the works of, say, Charles Dickens.

4) earn vs. win

The problem with these two is that they are both translated into Spanish with ganar. Thus, you get questions like: “How much do you win?” when referring to your salary. However, you win money in the lottery and you earn (or make) money at your job.

5) I am agree

A common error among Spanish speakers is the translation ‘I am agree for Estoy de acuerdo. One should keep in mind that agree is a verb, whereas de acuerdo, as in estoy de acuerdo, is an adjective. Therefore, one should say:
– I agree
– He agrees
– We agree

And in past for example:

– I agreed

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/espanglishtips/#false

False cognates

{ June 9, 2010 @ 6:36 pm } · { False Cognates }
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False Cognates

There are several words in Spanish that are similar in English, but have a different meaning. Here are a few examples:

  • actually is similar to Spanish actualmente; however, actualmente is better translated with e.g. currently, as actually actually means in reality. Confusing, eh?
  • embarrassed is not the same as embarazada. A translation for embarrassed could be apenado. In some situations it can be embarrassing to be embarazada, i.e. pregnant!
  • realize should not be confused with Spanish realisar. When Mexican students use the English word realize, they normally use it meaning to say something like: to give an idea physical form. They mostly don’t realize that realize also means that you become aware of something.
  • approve is sometimes confused with aprobar:”Teacher, did I approve the exam?” aprobar means pass as in ‘pass an exam’, whereas approve means to agree to something.
  • eventually is not the same as eventual(mente). Eventually could be translated with finalmente, as it means: in the end, in the long run. The Spanish cognate eventual is in meaning similar to English temporary or conditional.
  • Mexican students often use the word career to refer to their studies (Spanish carrera):”When I finish my career, I want to go to United States (sic)”. Career, refers to professional work. When you finish your career you’ll be an old person!
  • lecture is not the same as lectura. A lecture is a talk about a particular topic. A translation for lectura could be reading or simply text.
  • apartment in Spanish is departamento; department is also departamento. Therefore it is understandable that speakers of Spanish frequently use department when referring to an apartment.
  • Spanish speakers often confuse by and for in passive voice. The reason is that they use por and that looks and sounds like for.
  • another ‘false friend’ is try with Spanish tratar, as in this sentence:”the movies tries with the problems of a strange man,” or:”in business, you have to try with people.” Again, the confusion is understandable. In Spanish you would use tratar in both cases; however, in English you might consider using is about and deal with respectively.
  • Speakers of Spanish also tend to confuse win with ganar. Teachers frequently read or here things like:”They win a lot of money,” instead of “They make/earn a lot of money.” You win money in the lottery. Making or earning money refers to your salary/ income.
    Now that we’re talking about win, we should also mention the difference between win and beat. Here’s how they should be used:
    América beat Guadalajara 9-0! (beat the opponent)
    América won the game (win the game)
  • Politics/ Politician: When referring to the authorities, speakers of Spanish normally confuse Spanish politico(s) with English politics. A politician is a person who has a job in politics. Politician = politico. Politics refer to, say, the regulation of a country.
  • Here’s another good one: the other day I bought a bookcase and on the box it said: library with three shelves. Now, where’s the mistake?
    The problem is that library is not the same as librero. Look:
    library = biblioteca
    bookstore = libreria
    bookcase = librero
     
  • Compromise and compromiso aren’t equivalents either. Compromiso should be translated with commitment. Compromise refers to making concessions to come to an agreement, a settlement.
  • The word familiar exists both in English and Spanish; however, the meaning is completely different. Familiar in Spanish refers to a member of your family (in English you would use the word relative(s)). It’s a noun. Familiar in English is an adjective and it means that you know something about something eg:
    – Are you familiar with Shakespeare’s work?
  • The Spanish word cientifico is both noun (profession) and adjective. Therefore students often use the word scientific to refer to the person:
    He is a famous scientific.
    However, scientist should be used to refer to the person:
    He is a famous scientist.
  • Parents only refers to your father and mother.
    parientes, on the other hand, refers to your extended family, cousins, uncles, aunts etc. Therefore, parientes is relatives in English.

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/espanglishtips/#false

How to improve your English Skills

{ June 9, 2010 @ 6:25 pm } · { How to Improve your English Skills }
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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:-

Improve your Learning Skills

Learning is a skill and it can be improved.

Your path to learning effectively is through knowing

  • 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:-

  • Why do you need to learn/improve English?
  • Where will you need to use English?
  • What skills do you need to learn/improve? (Reading/Writing/Listening/Speaking)
  • How soon do you need to see results?
  • How much time can you afford to devote to learning English.
  • How much money can you afford to devote to learning English.
  • Do you have a plan or learning strategy?

Set yourself achievable goals

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.

Here are some goals you could set yourself:-

  • Join an English course (and attend regularly).
  • Do your homework.
  • Read a book a month.
  • Learn a new word every day.
  • Visit an English speaking forum every day.
  • Read a news article on the net every day.
  • Do 10 minutes listening practice every day.
  • Watch an English film at least once a month.
  • Follow a soap, comedy or radio or TV drama.

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.

  • A bottle of your favourite drink
  • A meal out / or a nice meal at home
  • A new outfit
  • A manicure or massage

http://www.learnenglish.de/improvepage.htm

What is the Importance of Learning a Second Language

{ March 23, 2010 @ 3:53 pm } · { What is the Importance of Learning a Second Language }
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What is the Importance of Learning a Second Language?

 

The easiest way to answer this question is to list the benefits and advantages to those who take the time to explore the language of a culture different than their own.

On a personal level, learning a second language takes people out of their imprinted mindset and exposes them to the mores and customs of an entirely different group of people. Their view of the world expands beyond blurbs on the nightly news and into a deeper understanding of how other people think.

While this can be difficult, the effort pays off in more than simply a new list of vocabulary words. Like a muscle being exercised, the brain is able to function better in terms of organization, memory, and expression. When someone has to express themselves in another language, it automatically improves their ability to express themselves in their native tongue.

In terms of community, learning a second language will also increase understanding and compassion for other cultures. This becomes a powerful tool in fighting stereotypes and bigotry. For example, a native English speaker who takes the time to learn some Spanish before traveling to Mexico will have more than simply a greater chance of understanding the street signs and menus. By making the effort to speak to people in their language, rather than assuming they should speak English, the traveler is validating the Mexican culture. The simple act of trying to express oneself in the other language shows a respect that is usually appreciated.

Pragmatically, with the advent of the global marketplace, having a second or even third language on a resumé is almost a requirement of the job-seeking professional. Especially in careers where clients may be anywhere on the globe, the ability to communicate with them in their own language increases both the quality of the relations and the ability of the business to meet their needs. Businesses recognize that a person with the ability to speak a second language fluently is a valuable asset. It also shows off the capacity of the aspiring job candidate to learn and assimilate complex systems of information, a talent that is sure to catch the attention of any human resources department.

http://www.yourdictionary.com/esl/Importance-of-Learning-a-Second-Language.html