The Experience of Learning English

My friends say that I'm good in English, because I always get good marks in English tests and I have just scored the highest points in the interview. They think I'm a talented girl and I'm clever at English from the beginning.
　　But in fact, I'm not a talented girl. I'm just a common girl. I'd like to say something about my experience of learning English.
　　I didn't do well in English in the beginning. I started my English course at the age of 10. Maybe you can't imagine, I couldn't say a whole sentence at that time. I couldn't catch up with my classmates because of my bad base. Having a bad base may be many students' problem. I was sad about it, but I wasn't afraid of it.
　　The next summer holiday, I spent almost all of my free time practicing English by listening to the tape and repeating after it. Whenever it was, wherever I was, I kept the tape on. I listened carefully and I tried to recite the article.
　　Soon, I found I had made a good progress in my English. At least, I could understand what the teacher said in class. Then slowly, I could get good marks at times. This taught me a good lesson. That is not to be afraid of setbacks, hard work makes progress. This is the first part of my English learning.
　　When I was in Grade Six and Seven, my English was much better than it was. I could always get good marks in tests. My English skills still couldn't compare with the top students in my class. My spoken English was really poor. I got a 'B' in my spoken English at the end of the first term.This showed what I was weak at. I decided to improve it. This was the second part. I knew that study is a process. If I want to improve my spoken English in one or two days, that's impossible. I must spend a long time reading more, listening more, writeing more and talking more.
　　The third part is the hardest. English is really important today, so I wanted to make myself excellent. I take an English course called New Concept English by myself. Maybe you have heard about it. This is a good English course and I learn it by myself. I think it's really important for you to learn how to learn English by yourself. You can try English course or other ways which matches you.I think it's necessary to be outgoing and confident. Don't be shy, don't be silent. I want to improve my English skills, so I need to talk and write. This isn't a problem for me, because I'm always confident and like to try. I talk to foreign teachers.
　　I have some other advice as well.
　　I must say don't be nervous, try to be relaxed when you write articles or talk to foreign teachers or just talk to your English teacher. Remember: Don't pay too much attention to details when you are talking. If you have some mistakes, that's all right. Thinking and talking in English, this creates a wonderful feeling to me. I can see my progresses during these years. I spent many years improving my English and I never give up. So, it's never too late to practice English, from now on.

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:

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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
Understanding how you learn best may also help you.

How to Improve your English via the Internet

Here are some tips to improving English both in how your learn and via the internet.
Remember that learning a language is a gradual process - it does not happen overnight.
Define your learning objectives early: What do you want to learn and why? - Take this quiz to find out what kind of English learner you are.
Make learning a habit. Try to learn something every day. It is much better to study (or read, or listen to English news, etc.) 10 minutes each day than to study for 2 hours once a week. - Take the English tip of the day newlsetter to help you.
Choose your materials well. You will need reading, grammar, writing, speaking and listening materials - Beginners can use this starting English guide, intermediate to advanced learners can use this continue learning English guide.
Vary your learning routine. It is best to do different things each day to help keep the various relationships between each area active. In other words, don't just study grammar.
Find friends to study and speak with. Learning English together can be very encouraging. - Soziety can help you find friends to speak English over the inernet.
Choose listening and reading materials that relate to what you are interested in. Being interested in the subject will make learning more enjoyable - thus more effective.
Relate grammar to practical usage. Grammar by itself does not help you USE the language. You should practice what you are learning by employing it actively.
Move your mouth! Understanding something doesn't mean the muscles of your mouth can produce the sounds. Practice speaking what you are learning aloud. It may seem strange, but it is very effective.
Be patient with yourself. Remember learning is a process - speaking a language well takes time. It is not a computer that is either on or off!
Communicate! There is nothing like communicating in English and being successful. Grammar exercises are good - having your friend on the other side of the world understand your email is fantastic!
Use the Internet. The Internet is the most exciting, unlimited English resource that anyone could imagine and it is right at your finger tips.
Be patient with yourself.
Practice, practice, practice

How to Write an Essay in English?

There are many ways to write an essay. However, the standard essay form follows the same basic patterns as discussed in this "how to".

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Here's How:
1. Select the topic of your essay.
2. Choose the central idea, or thesis, of your essay. For example: Information technology has revolutionized the way we work.
3. Outline your essay into introductory, body and summary paragraphs.
4. The introductory paragraph begins with an interesting sentence. For example: Home workers have grown from 150,000 to over 12 million in the past 5 years thanks to the wonders of the computer.
5. After this first sentence, add your thesis statement from above.
6. Use one sentence to introduce every body paragraph to follow. For example: The Internet has made this possible by extending the office into the home.
7. Finish the introductory paragraph with a short summary or goal statement. For example: Technological innovation has thus made the traditional workplace obsolete.
8. In each of the body paragraphs (usually two or three) the ideas first presented in the introductory paragraph are developed.
9. Develop your body paragraphs by giving detailed information and examples. For example: When the Internet was first introduced it was used primarily by scientists, now it is common in every classroom.
10. Body paragraphs should develop the central idea and finish with a summary of that idea. There should be at least two examples or facts in each body paragraph to support the central idea.
11. The summary paragraph summarizes your essay and is often a reverse of the introductory paragrah.
12. Begin the summary paragrah by quickly restating the principal ideas of your body paragraphs. For example: The Internet in the home, benefits and ease of use of modern computer systems...
13. The penultimate sentence should restate your basic thesis of the essay. For example: We have now passed from the industrial revolution to the information revolution.
14. Your final statement can be a future prediction based on what you have shown in the essay. For example: The next step: The complete disappearance of the workplace.

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Tips:
1. Use strong verbs and avoid modals to state your opinion. It is better to write: The workplace has evolved than THe workplace seems to have evolved
2. Do not apologize for what you are saying. An essay is about your opinion.
3. Do not translate from your mother tongue, it will quickly get you into trouble!

SELF-TEST ON LEARNING ENGLISH

This test will help you to test yourself. It will show you how quickly you will learn English.Do not send the answers to us! It is just to help you.
It asks you a number of questions within each of these sections. Write your answer on paper. Then look at the "HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR SCORE" section and add up your score for each section.
Which country do you come from ?
What is your mother tongue ?
How old are you ?
Why do you want to learn English ?
Have you learned other languages before ?
Have you studied English before ?
If you have studied English, then how long?
What level did you study at ?
Have you ever been in an English speaking country ?
If you have lived in an English speaking country, how long was it for?
How fast do you want to learn ?
How do you like to learn ?
Do you like to do a lot of written work ?
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR SCORE . . .For each question, note the number on the left hand side and give yourself a score form 1 to 5 from the following:-
The following are statements which are assumed to be true IN GENERAL and which give a good indication of learning speed when considered together. However, everyone is an individual and everyone is different.
A. Which country do you come from ?
Students from some countries learn English more slowly - cultural differences and language differences play a large part in this.
1.Countries with a very different language & culture e.g. Korea, Brazil, African countries, Arab countries.
2.Countries with a very different language but an international culture e.g. Japan, Finland
3.European countries where English is little used e.g. France, Spain, Italy
4.European countries where English is important e.g. Switzerland, Germany
5.Western European countries where English is widely spoken e.g. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland
B. What is your mother tongue ?
Students whose mother tongue has a non-roman alphabet are often slower learners at first. Mistakes based on your first language are greater where the language is very different e.g. Japanese or Korean, or where it is very similar but differences are culturally important e.g. Spanish & Portuguese.
1.Languages or dialects which you do not normally write down
2.Languages with a non-roman way of writing e.g. Korean, Arabic, Thai, Japanese
3.Non-European languages with a roman alphabet
4.Romance languages e.g. French, Spanish, Italian
5.Languages from the Germanic family e.g. German, Norwegian, Dutch, Danish
C. How old are you ?
IN GENERAL, older students learn more slowly and younger students faster.
1.50+
2.40-50
3.30-40
4.20-30
5.under 20
D. Why do you want to learn English ?
Your reason for learning will affect how fast you will learn.
1.'My parents want me to'.
2.'To go on holiday to an English speaking country' OR 'To write to a penpal'.
3.'It's my hobby' OR 'I need it for my job'.
4.'To pass an exam' OR 'My employer wants me to learn English'.
5.'My husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend speaks English'.
E. Have you learned other languages before ?
People with a history of learning languages learn faster than those without.
1.No.
2.I studied a language at school.
3.I have already learned one language as an adult.
4.I have already learned two or more languages as an adult. OR I am fluent in at least one foreign language.
5.I am fluent in two or more languages.
F. Have you studied English before ? How long ? What level did you study at ?
Students who have studied more tend to learn faster as they start to remember what they learned before.
1.No.
2.I have only studied on my own.
3.I recently studied English at school in my country.
4.I took a full-time course in English recently.
5.I passed an English exam recently.
G. Have you ever been in an English-speaking country ? How long ?
Students who have been in an English-speaking country longer have become accustomed to hearing English and will learn faster.
1.Never.
2.One or two weeks.
3.A month at least.
4.A few months.
5.More than 6 months.
H. How fast do you want to learn ?
People may prefer to learn fast, others to learn slowly. Some people have more confidence.
1.Very slowly.
2.Slower than average.
3.Average speed.
4.Faster than average.
5.Fast.
I. How do you like to learn ?
Students with a background of 'academic' study will learn faster.
1.I want to learn grammar and vocabulary on my own.
2.I want to have a teacher to tell me what to do.
3.I want to learn in a class with other students.
4.I learn by talking to my friends.
5.I learn by talking with people who speak English well.
J. Do you like to do a lot of written work ?
1.None.
2.A little.
3.Some.
4.Quite a lot.
5.A lot.

FINAL SCORESIf you have scored over 35 you are very likely to learn fast and you are probably not a Beginner. You probably enjoy learning and will be successful quickly.
If you have scored between 20 and 35 you are very likely be an average learner - you will need to work hard but within a few months you will have learned a lot.
If you have scored between 10 and 20 you will find it much harder to learn - it may take you a long time to learn - up to a year. Be patient and keep practising!

Why English Is Hard To Learn?

We'll begin with box; the plural is boxes,

But the plural of ox is oxen, not oxes.

One fowl is a goose, and two are called geese,

Yet the plural of moose is never called meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a house full of mice;

But the plural of house is houses, not hice.

The plural of man is always men,

But the plural of pan is never pen.

If I speak of a foot, and you show me two feet,

And I give you a book, would a pair be a beek?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,

Why shouldn't two booths be called beeth?

We speak of a brother and also of brethren,

But though we say mother, we never say methren.

Then the masculine pronouns are he, his, and him;

But imagine the feminine... she, shis, and shim!

Speaking Strategies for English Learners

Many English students complain that they understand English, but don't feel confident enough to join a conversation. There are a number of reasons for this including:
Students are trying to translate from their native language into English.
Production "blocking" is occurring due to nervousness, lack of confidence, etc.
The speaker is looking for a specific word, rather than using simple language to describe what is meant.
There aren't enough conversation opportunities in or outside of class.
Students aren't able to speak to peers (for example: mixed classes of adults and teenagers).
Exam preparation focuses on grammar, vocabulary, etc. and leaves little time for active use.
Here are a number of resources, lesson plans, suggestion pages and more which will help you and your students improve English speaking skills in and outside of class.
Speaking Strategies
The first rule of improving speaking skills is to speak, converse, talk, gab, etc. as much as you can! However, these strategies can help you - or your students - make the most out of your efforts.
American English Usage Tips - Understanding how Americans use English and what they expect to hear can help improve conversations between native and non-native speakers.
These next two features help you understand how words stress plays a role in both understanding and being understood:
Intonation and Stress: Key to Understanding
Word Stress - Changes in Meaning
Register use refers to the "tone" of voice and words that you choose when speaking to others. Appropriate register use can help you develop a good rapport with other speakers.
Register Usage
Register Use in English
Teaching Conversational Skills will help teachers understand specific challenges involved when teaching speaking skills in class.
Social English Examples
Making sure that your conversation starts well often depends on using social English (standard phrases). These social English examples provide short dialogues and key phases necessary.
Introductions
Greetings
Special Days
Speaking to Strangers
Traveling phrases
Dialogues
Dialogues are useful in learning standard phrases and vocabulary used in common situations. These situations are some of the most common you'll find when practicing your English.
A Busy Day
A Great Workout
Weekend Sports
Here are a number of dialogues based on level:
Beginner's Dialogues
Intermediate Dialogues
Conversation Lesson Plans
Here are a number of lesson plans which have proven quite popular in ESL / EFL classrooms around the world.
We'll start with debates. Debates can be used in class to help motivate students and use phrases and vocabulary that they may not use on an everyday basis. Here are a few to start off with:
Men and Women - Equal at Last?
Multinationals - Help or Hindrance?
Games are also quite popular in class, and games which encourage to express their point of view are some of the best:
Creating a New Society
Guilty!
Lego Blocks
This page will lead you to all the conversation plans located on this site:
Conversation Lesson Plan Resource
Places to Practice Your English Online
Finally, you'll need to find as many English speaking opportunities as you can. Here are a few sites that will help you make English speaking friends over the Internet.

http://esl.about.com/od/speakingenglish/a/speaking_hub.htm

50 Basic English Questions

Ask and Answer Questions - 50 Basic English Questions

Here are 50 basic English questions with responses. These basic questions are among the most important in English. They provide a base of questions to ask and answer for any conversation. These 50 questions are ideal for beginning English classes and learners. Each question has an appropriate answer or response. They are divided into related categories. Once you understand these questions try the 50 basic English questions quiz.
Personal Information
What's your name?Peter.

Where are you from? / Where do you come from?I'm from ... I come from ...
What's your surname / family name?Smith.
What's your first name?Tom.
What's your address?7865 NW Sweet Street
Where do you live?I live in San Diego.
What's your (tele)phone number?209-786-9845
How old are you?Twenty-five. I'm twenty-five years old.
When / Where were you born?I was born in 1961 / Seattle.
Are you married? / What's your marital status?I'm single.
What do you do? / What's your job?I'm a librarian.
Where did you go?I went to a friend's house.
What did you do?We played video games.
Where were you?I was in New York for the weekend.
Have you got a car / job / house / etc.?Yes, I've got a good job.
Have you got any children / friends / books / etc.?Yes, I've got three children - two boys and a daughter.
Can you play tennis / golf / football / etc.?Yes, I can play golf.
Can you speak English / French / Japanese / etc.?No, I can't speak Japanese.
Could you speak English / French / Japanese / etc.?when you were five / two / fifteen / etc. years old?Yes, I could speak English when I was five years old.
Introducing Yourself / Saying Hello
How do you do?How do you do. Pleased to meet you.
How are you?Fine, thanks. And you?
Shopping
How can I help you? / May I help you?Yes. I'm looking for a sweater.
Can I try it on?Sure, the changing rooms are over there.
How much does it cost? / How much is it?It's $45.
How would you like to pay?By credit card.
Can I pay by credit card / check / debit card?Certainly. We accept all major cards.
Have you got something bigger / smaller / lighter / etc.?Certainly, we've got a smaller sizes as well.
Asking Something Specific
What's that?It's a cat!
What time is it?It's three o'clock.
Can / May I open the window?Certainly. It's hot in here!
Is there a bank / supermarket / pharmacy / etc. near here?Yes. There is a bank on the next corner next to the post office.
Where is the nearest bank / supermarket / pharmacy / etc.?The nearest pharmacy is on 15th street.
Who wrote / invented / painted / etc. the ...?Hemingway wrote "The Sun Also Rises".
Is there any water / sugar / rice / etc.?Yes, there's a lot of sugar left.
Are there any apples / sandwiches / books / etc.?No, there aren't any apples left.
Is this your / his / her / etc. book / ball / house / etc.?No, I think it's his ball.
Whose is this / that?It's Jack's.
Questions with 'Like'
What do you like?I like playing tennis, reading and listening to music.
What does he look like?He's tall and slim.
What would you like?I'd like a steak and chips.
What is it like?It's an interesting country.
What's the weather like?It's raining at the moment.
Would you like some coffee / tea / food?Yes, thank you. I'd like some coffee.
Would you like something to drink / eat?Thank you. Could I have a cup of tea?
Asking for an Opinion
What's it about?It's about a young boy who encounters adventures.
What do you think about your job / that book / Tim / etc.?I thought the book was very interesting.
How big / far / difficult / easy is it?The test was very difficult!
How big / far / difficult / easy are they?The questions were very easy.
How was it?It was very interesting.
What are you going to do tomorrow / this evening / next week / etc.?I'm going to visit some friends next weekend.
Suggestions What shall we do this evening?Let's go see a film.
Why don't we go out / play tennis / visit friends / etc. this evening?Yes, that sounds like a good idea.

http://esl.about.com/od/beginnerpronunciation/a/basicquestions.htm

Beginner Dialogues (2) - Telling the Time

Beginner Dialogues (2) - Telling the Time

What time is it? - I
Excuse me. Can you tell me the time, please?
Yes, of course. It's seven o'clock.
Thank you.
No problem.
What time is it? - II
What time is it?
It's half past three.
Thanks.
You're welcome. Key Vocabulary
Excuse me.Can you tell me the time, please?What time is it?It's half past...It's quarter past...It's ten to...It's quarter to...o'clock

How to Tell Time in English

I usually get up at a quarter past seven - that's seven fifteen in the morning. I have breakfast at eight o'clock and then take the bus to work at half past eight. I usually arrive at work at a quarter to nine. Sometimes, the bus is late and I arrive at about nine. My morning is usually pretty busy and I like taking a coffee break at twenty to eleven if possible. I then work to lunchtime at noon. In the afternoon, I usually have another break at three fifteen. I usually finish work at a quarter to five and arrive home around six in the evening. At night, I usually go to bed at eleven o'clock.

In English we use "past" to say times after the hour until half past, or 30 minutes past the hour.We use "to" to say times before the hour from 31 minutes until the full hour.In English we use o'clock only at the full hour. Example: It's eight o'clockWe can also just say the numbers in groups of two. Example: It's seven twenty-fiveWhen speaking about the different times of the day we often use: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the eveningBe careful! In English we use at night NOT in the night

Beginner Dialogues ( 1 ) - Introducing Yourself

Introductions

Hello. My name's Peter. What's your name?
Janet.
Where are you from Janet?
I'm from Seattle. Where are you from?
I'm from Madrid.
Are you American?
Yes, I am. Are you Spanish?
Yes I am.
Key Vocabulary
My name is...What's (is) your name ...Where are you from?I'm from... Are you (Spanish, American, German, etc.)
Hello and Goodbye - Three Short Conversations
Hello
Hello, Peter. How are you?
Fine, thanks. How are you?
I'm fine, thank you.
Goodbye
Goodbye, Janet. See you tomorrow!
Bye bye, Peter. Have a nice evening.
Thanks, you too!
Thanks. Key Vocabulary
Hello... How are you?I'm fine, - OK, - well, thank youGoodbye, - bye byeSee you tomorrowHave a nice evening, - day

Good English Learning Web sites

English Learner's Movie Guides

http://www.eslnotes.com/

ESL Cyber Learning Lab

http://www.esl-lab.com

GRAMMAR Sites1. Guide to grammar and writing - the best grammar web site!intermediate & advanced
http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar
2. Grammar When You Need It - very helpful for beginners
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/7583/
3. The American Heritage - Book of English Usage
http://www.bartleby.com/64/
4. Peak English - required registration
has some free lessons.
http://www.peakenglish.com/index.jsp
6. Common Errors in English
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
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WRITING Sites
1. Purdue's Writing Lab
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
==================================
DICTIONARY Sites
1. Answers.com - the best!
http://www.answers.com/
2. Encarta
http://encarta.msn.com/
3. merriam Webster
http://www.m-w.com
4. dictionary.com
http://www.dictionary.com/
5. The Free Dictionary
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Dictionary.htm
----slang dictionary
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wrader/slang/index.html
--dictionary software
http://www.betabbs.com/index.php?showtopic=33355&hl=wordweb
- word menu
http://www.betabbs.com/index.php?showtopic=65499

A site to download many english learning books

http://www.englishtips.org

English Study Skills - For Beginners

Learning any language takes practice - lots of practice! Often, it's difficult to know what you should practice. Should you watch a video? Perhaps, it would be a good idea to do a few quizzes. Of course, you should try to speak English with your friends. All of these are great ideas, but it's also important to build a routine. A routine will help you make studying English a habit. That's the best way to improve your English!
Make Learning a Habit
It's important to be exposed to many different areas every day. However, you shouldn't try to study too many different subjects. These suggestions take a short listening and reading as the basis for daily practice. You are trying to learn many new things, so don't try to learn too much in any one area too quickly!
Listen - 10 Minutes
There are a number of beginning level listening selections that you can use on this site. Books written for children are also a great idea. Here are some suggestions for free children's books that you can listen to on your computer:
StorynoryAudio Books for Free
Read - 10 Minutes
Choose a subject you like to read about and read for fun. You can find beginning level reading here on the site. These sites also offer 'easy' English reading selections.
Simple English NewsEasy English Times
Improve your Vocabulary - 5 Minutes
Take five minutes to write down all the new words you find in your listening and reading exercises. Keep a notebook, and write in the translation in your native language.
Grammar - 5 - 10 Minutes
Think about what you are studying in English class (if you are taking it). Or, if you are studying by yourself, take out your grammar book and find one grammar point to review. You can also use the beginner grammar resources at this site. Take a quick look at the grammar and then think about the listening and your reading. Did you hear or read these forms? How were they used?
Speaking - 5 Minutes
It is very important to move your mouth and speak! Even if you only speak to yourself. Take five minutes and speak out loud (not silently). Try to quickly summarize what you listened to and what you read. Can you do it? Of course, it's better if you can do this with a friend. Find a friend and study together a few times a week. You can practice together.
That's it! Approximately thirty minutes a day, every day - or at least four times a week! If you continue to do this, you will be surprised at how quickly your English improves!
Of course, there are many more ways to improve your English. However, make a habit of doing these simple exercises at least four times a week. When you have questions come to this site and use the beginning English resources, or use your grammar book. Watch a video online, try to use English in every way you can - even if the language is too difficult.

Learning American English

Which English do you want to speak? There isn't one, but several Englishes that people all over the world use to communicate. American English certainly dominates, being the language of Hollywood, computing and aviation. Some would even go as far as calling their language "American", and why not? It has several important differences with my English, British. But for a foreign learner to say that they speak English and American is exaggerating somewhat. The biggest differences between British and American English are vocabulary items, just like there are regional differences in any language.A French speaker is likely to get confused when there is the added problem of "false friends".A good example is the British word "chips". Here in the UK, chips are fried potatoes, generally cut a little thicker than their American equivalents, "French Fries", which are not French at all, but Belgian. However, in France we use the word "chips" for thin slices of fried potato that come in a packet and are eaten as apetisers or aperitif.A French teenager may be very proud of his new "baskets"! I would use a basket to bring home my vegetables from the market (panier). The French word has come from the sport basketball, while the British say "trainers" (shoes for training) while the Americans say "sneakers" (not to be confused with "Snickers", the chocolate bar). "To sneak" means to walk about silently, as if you were somewhere you shouldn't be.As for grammar, the good news is that Americans use less and less the dreaded present perfect - so you have one less thing to worry about. Words like "just" "ever" and "already" can be used with the past simple, whereas in English it's the present perfect.British: have you already seen this film?American: did you already see this film?The British generally have no problem with American English as they are used to watching American films (or movies if you prefer). The Yanks, on the other hand may have a few difficulties understanding a Briton, especially if he uses slang words.

IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH LEARNING SKILLS 2

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
Understanding how you learn best may also help you.
There are different ways to learn. Find out what kind of learner you are in order to better understand how to learn more effectively..
The visual learner
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.
The auditory learner
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.
The Tactile/Kinesthetic learner
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?
Do you become distracted easily?
!Learning Tip - you may benefit from taking an active part in role plays or drama activities.
source:learnenglish.de
Here's How:
tag. The
content following each tag should be no longer than 200
characters. Make sure the last tag includes a tag. -->1-Remember that learning a language is a gradual process - it does not happen overnight. 2-Define your learning objectives early: What do you want to learn and why? 3-Make learning a habit. Try to learn something every day. It is much better to study (or read, or listen to English news, etc.) 10 minutes each day than to study for 2 hours once a week.4-Remember to make learning a habit! If you study each day for 10 minutes English will be constantly in your head. If you study once a week, English will not be as present in your mind. 5-Choose your materials well. You will need reading, grammar, writing, speaking and listening materials 6-Vary your learning routine. It is best to do different things each day to help keep the various relationships between each area active. In other words, don't just study grammar.7-Find friends to study and speak with. Learning English together can be very encouraging. 8-Choose listening and reading materials that relate to what you are interested in. Being interested in the subject will make learning more enjoyable - thus more effective. 9-Relate grammar to practical usage. Grammar by itself does not help you USE the language. You should practice what you are learning by employing it actively. 10-Move your mouth! Understanding something doesn't mean the muscles of your mouth can produce the sounds. Practice speaking what you are learning aloud. It may seem strange, but it is very effective.11-Be patient with yourself. Remember learning is a process - speaking a language well takes time. It is not a computer that is either on or off! 12-Communicate! There is nothing like communicating in English and being successful. Grammar exercises are good - having your friend on the other side of the world understand your email is fantastic!13-Use the Internet. The Internet is the most exciting, unlimited English resource that anyone could imagine and it is right at your finger tips.
Tips:
tag. The
content following each tag should be no longer than 200
characters. Make sure the last tag includes a tag. -->Remember that English learning is a Process Be patient with yourself. Practice, practice, practice
source:about.com

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
Understanding how you learn best may also help you.
There are different ways to learn. Find out what kind of learner you are in order to better understand how to learn more effectively..
The visual learner
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.
The auditory learner
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.
The Tactile/Kinesthetic learner
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?
Do you become distracted easily?
!Learning Tip - you may benefit from taking an active part in role plays or drama activities.
Other English Learning Tips
Travel to an English speaking country:-
England is only a few hours flight away.
Specialist holidays are available to improve your English.
Take an English speaking tour or activity holiday.
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!
Keep something English on you (book, newspaper or magazine, cd or cassette, set of flashcards) all day and every day, you never know when you might have 5 spare minutes.
If you are too tired to actively practice just relax and listen to an English pop song or talk radio station.

Using Newspapers to practice English

Newspapers are a great way to practice your reading skill and improve your vocabulary.
In addition, newspapers have ‘real world’ English, which is very different to ‘classroom’ English.
Here are some online newspapers:
Weird News Links to strange news storiesUSA WeekendReuters Hourly News Short summaries of current newsThe Chicago TribuneThe Jerusalem PostThe Nando TimesThe New York TimesThe Washington PostWorld Newspapers On lineReact Newsmagazine for teensReader’s Digest World
Here are some tips:
- it may seem difficult at first, but keep going!- keep your dictionary close by and use it.- writing out vocabulary helps remember it. Start a vocabulary notepad. Use each page for the each letter, A - Z. When you learn a new word, write it in your vocabulary notepad on the right page.- explore the different sections of the newspaper. Some will be easier than others.

do you speak Hinglish?

The largest community of English speaking people is not American, as one would believe, but India. English and Hindi have been happily mingling together for a centuries now, just like Fench and English did after the Norman invasions.The fact that there are more people speaking English in India than Britain, America, Canada and Australia combined raises an important question about the way we teach grammar "rules" to foreign students.If one billion people find it normal to say "are you liking your meal?", what right do we have to say it's wrong? Grammar is merely an attempt to find order in what we say, it wasn't there before language itself. So the majority rule applies - if most people say it - it must be right.Even back in England, many people (myself included) say "I was, you was, he was, we was, they was", paying little regard to whether they should use "was" or "were".English has also benefited from the influence of Indian speakers of English with the many news words that they have given us. There's an interesting article on the BBC about "Hinglish".

Are women better than men at learning languages?

What’s the key to success in learning a foreign language? Surely it’s a genuine desire to communicate with other people. I can’t think of another valid reason. That’s why in general women are better than men at learning languages. If you’re a man and you want to learn a language, I’m going to tell you why you will find it more difficult than a woman and what you can do about it.I’m probably going to be accused of stereotyping men and women here, but time and time again studies have shown that generally, (there are always exceptions) men score higher in maths tests and women score higher in language tests. I’m not a scientist, and I don’t want to bore you with scientific detail, but my experiences as a teacher pretty much confirm the scientists’ view.When I’m teaching a conversation class, it’s instantly obvious who are going to make the fastest progress because these are the ones who quickly get involved by asking questions. And more often than not, it’s the female members of the group that ask the most questions.Women are simply more interested in human beings than men. They genuinely mean it when they ask “how are you?” Being wives and mothers may have something to do with it, I mean, they are conditioned by society to be the ones that care. Men, on the other hand, are less interested in people and more interested in things, notably, cars, computers, gadgets, etc.If you are man reading this article, you have to get out of your macho cave and learn to be more interested in people. And swallow your pride when it comes to making mistakes. Women have fewer complexes about committing errors, because the important thing for them is building relationships. We all learn by making mistakes, it’s a natural part of the process. Learning a language is not a competition – men sometimes see their limitations as a “defeat” so they prefer not to speak at all. Giving up the idea that your are in a competition to see who's the the best would be a good start for a lot of men.

American or British?

Which English do you speak? Many people in France were taught what they believe to be British English, because that's what their teachers studied. That would be logical, as Britain is the nearest English-speaking country to France and thus the most important in terms of travel, trade, etc. However, I hear a lot of people today claiming that they can speak two foreign languages, English and American! That's like me saying I can speak Parisian French and Marseillais. Sure, there are some vocabulary differences, but most English speakers can understand each other, whether they are British, American, Australian or Indian. The pronunciation differences might cause some problems on occasions, just like in any language. When I see people from Quebec being interviewed on French TV, there are usually subtitles! I am in complete agreement with the American practice of simplifying spelling - as if learning a language isn't hard enough without illogical spellings. So whereas in British we write favour, neighbour, colour the Americans write favor, neighbor, color, and when we write theatre, centre, they write theater, center. As far as vocabulary goes, you just have to learn two words instead of one. But if you have a British teacher and you watch American movies, you will quickly get used to the differences.have a look at british/american dictionary for more resources.

Learning English – Tips for Beginners

Learning any new language is always a long and hard process. But there are little tips and tricks that can help along the way. With a little effort and dedication, learning a new language can become fun and exciting. Here are a few hints that will help a beginner in learning English.Tip #1: Use what you learn. This, more than anything else, is going to help a person learn English quickly and with accuracy. It also helps to learn first those words you can use often. A student should start to notice which words they use most often and learn how to say them in English.Tip #2: Work with others. Learning English by oneself can be a trying ordeal. Learning English with a friend can be fun and exciting. Two friends learning together can remind each other to use what they have learned and correct each other when they make mistakes.
Tip #3: Learn songs. If someone were asked to remember what their mother said to them at their childhood bedside, they probably wouldn’t be able to say. However, if someone were asked to sing a song that their mother sang to them at that same bedside, they could sing it back without missing a word. The human brain remembers song a lot better than it remembers straight words. Singing English songs can help with improving accent and remembering how words go together.
Tip #4: Write down new words. If a person can put new information into their brain in several different ways, they will remember it better. Writing down new words lets your mind remember the way it looks, the way it feels to write it. Even better, say the word aloud as you write it.
Tip #5: Write down what you hear. As a person learns English, he will hear new words every time he talks with someone in English. If these new words are not written down, they will be forgotten by the time the person makes it back to a dictionary where they can look the word up. One of the best investments a new English student can make is to buy a small notebook and pen that they can carry with them everywhere they go. Students are often shy about asking people about some word they just said. The truth is most people are more than happy to help, even spelling out words when asked. Everyone likes to feel like they have been helpful.
Tip #6: Read a book. In American schools, the smartest kids and quickest learners are those that take the time to read. Reading will supply a student with new vocabulary and lots of valuable practice. For those who are just starting, Dr. Seuss books provide a quick and fun way to absorb basic vocabulary.
As in everything else in life, the true key to success is very simple: practice, practice, practice. Anyone who is willing to make a real effort every single day can learn English, or any other language, for that matter. All it takes is a little time and dedication.

Use your ears, not your eyes

Here is a conversation I heard in class the other day. I asked a student to use the vocabulary she had learned the previous week to tell another student about her hobby.She said, "I like sewing". The other student responded, "sewing? How do you spell it?"- "S-E-W - to sew"- "OK, to sew, like 'you'"- "No, like 'go'"- "Sorry? didn't you say S-E-W?"- "Yes, I did"- "But that's "u" like "few"It took a few minutes to convince her that in fact the correct pronunciation for "sew" ryhmes with "go". She didn't have any problem with the word when she first heard it, but as soon as she saw the way it was spelt, she couldn't pronounce it any more. We just can't help ourselves (I do it too with French words). Have a little trust in you teacher, he or she usually pronounces words correctly! I suggest that you learn the phonetic symbols for at least the vowel sounds. It doesn't take long, and it's a really inexpensive way to master English pronunciation. All you need is a dictionary that uses the international alphabet, and you will know how to pronounce any word in English. Get into the habit of taking notes in phonetic symbols, so you don't confused by all the spelling variations in English.You can see the phonetic alphabet on my site. There is also a link to a university phonetics lab, which is really good practice. If you're serious about learning English, you have to do it!

Stop saying "How do you do" !

I don't know how many of you were taught to say "how do you do" at school, but I'd just like to tell you that virtually nobody says it anymore. If you want to enquire about someone's health, the question is "how are you?" or possibly "how are you doing?" which is more common in American English. Did you notice that I didn't put an exclamation mark after "how do you do" ? That's because it isn't a question. Your teachers mistakenly thought that it is the same as "how are you?", only a little more polite. The reality is, that in "posher" society, the phrase "how do do you do" is used when one is introduced, and the response is, funnily enough, "how do you do".Strange, eh? Well I don't know anyone who says it these days, if you are being introduced to someone you've never met before, you should say "nice to meet you". Here is another example of misleading teaching from non-native teachers of English. I hear tons of examples of old-fashioned expressions from students who learned English from teachers who learned English thirty or forty years ago. Stay in touch with modern English by reading and listening to the radio.

The Big Mistake that Stops you Learning

Want to know what’s holding you back from learning a foreign language? It’s the one thing that children NEVER do when learning their mother tongue. You were a child once, and you learned to speak your first language without ever making this mistake. But adults just can’t stop themselves from doing it! What is it? It’s the question “WHY?”“Why do you say that in French? It just doesn’t make sense”, I would repeatedly ask my wife. This has an incredibly de-motivating effect on the brain’s desire to assimilate new information. Subconsciously, I am saying to myself, “this is really dumb, I don’t want to do this.” I noticed this when trying to conduct conversation classes. A student will invariably ask, “how long you live here?” When I correct the mistake, “how long have you lived here?” they say, “why?” It’s not like that in their language, so they don’t want to believe that it’s like that in English. They even continue to come up with variations that they think sound better and ask me if they can use them. “No”, I say. “Why not?”, they respond. The whole lesson is wasted because they refuse to believe what I, the English teacher, am telling them!My advice: even if you don’t understand why something is said a particular way, just accept it and move on.

learning everyday words

When I first arrived in France, the first thing I had to do was build a kitchen in the apartment where we were living. It was at this time that I realised just how many everyday words I hadn't learned whilst trying to study French in England. I would find myself in some hardware store gazing around wondering how to say "emulsion paint" or "sealant" or "washers". Even a simple word like "paint" can generate dozens of possiblities: vinyl, matt, eggshell, gloss, paintbrush, roller, paint tray, dilute, stir, drying time, undercoat, sandpaper, filler, finish, washable, etc.If you are planning to go live in an foreign country, then start thinking about the possible word groups you are likely to encounter. Have a look around your kitchen and see what words you may need when abroad - not just the obvious ones like names of food items, but others. I know a lot of French people who have an excellent level in English but have never learned words like "sweep" "broom" "mop up" or "do the hoovering"!If you are going to collect word groups like housework or DIY, then you could try making mindmaps. Go to my mind map pages for more information.

Improving Your English Vocabulary

A large part of learning to speak English is to improve your vocabulary. Improving your vocabulary will help you feel more confident when speaking English. It will also help you understand what you are hearing when others are speaking English. There are many tools you can use to improve your English vocabulary.• Get a dictionary. There are some good English dictionaries available online. A good dictionary helps you learn more words. The following are some of the ways to use a dictionary to improve your English vocabulary:o Write down words that are new to you. Look the words up in a dictionary, and then write down the meanings of the words. Keep all of your words together so you can look at them when you need them.o Pay attention to the definition. Some words have more than one meaning, so be sure to read the whole definition. Many dictionaries will also give examples of the word in a sentence. This helps you understand the word and learn to use it.o Find new words and learn what they mean. If you learn 10 new words each day, Monday through Friday, you will learn 200 new words each month. Saturday and Sunday can be used to review your new words to be sure you know what they mean.• Read in English. Read books, magazines and news articles every day. Try to guess the meaning of new words by looking at the whole sentence. When you read words that you do not understand, look in your dictionary.• Ask English speakers. When you think you understand a word, write it in a sentence. Ask someone who speaks English well to read your sentence and tell you if you have used the word correctly. When speaking, ask if you have used the right words.• Use vocabulary books. There are many vocabulary books available. Some websites also offer free vocabulary worksheets. Some books and worksheets are very easy for beginning learners, and some are very hard for more advanced learners. Make sure you use books and worksheets that are right for your level.• Work crossword puzzles. Crossword puzzles are a good way to learn words and their meanings. Crossword puzzles provide clues that are definitions of words. The words that go with the definition are the answers that go into the puzzle. Crossword puzzles come in many levels, so you can work puzzles that are right for you.• If you think you are ready for difficult words, get a copy of a magazine called Reader’s Digest. Each issue has a vocabulary quiz that has 20 words. Each word offers multiple choices for the definition. The correct answers are included in the magazine.• Practice. All of these tools will help you improve your English vocabulary, but you must practice. When you learn a new word, write sentences using that word. Try to use the word when speaking. You will better remember the word if you use it.
When you are learning English, you must do the same things you did when learning your own language. When you began speaking your own language, you knew only a few words. You learned more words by listening, reading and asking others. As you learn new words, practice them so you will know them well.