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学习英语的其它途径 Other Resources to learn English language

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ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:07:24 | 显示全部楼层 |阅读模式

Other Resources


Other Resources

This section focuses on some other resources which can be valuable for an English learner. This includes tips to improve English, important rules of the English language and some other interesting articles for a learner.

Please find the list of these resources on the left under ‘Other Resources’


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:07:58 | 显示全部楼层
本帖最后由 ljmtidilgw 于 2012-10-12 15:09 编辑

(1) Learn English Online
Learn English Online

Learning English has many advantages. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It makes travelling easier and most importantly, it provides you with many job opportunities and your chances of getting employed increase manifold.

Today, learning English online is the easiest way to master the language.

  • Most courses are either free or very affordable.

  • No travelling involved so you save on time and money.

  • Easy access from anywhere, anytime.

  • There are no fixed classes so you can fit in the half hour (yes, that’s all) into your daily schedule easily.

  • Learn using the help of audio clips, videos, stories etc. It’s fun!

  • Have access to tons of learning material at the click of a button.

  • You get to learn at your own pace as there is no concept of keeping up with the class. In case you’re finding something difficult, you can review it twice. On the other hand, if you’re doing very well, you can take a break.

  • You get to meet new people who too have the same goal, to learn English. Interact and practice with them to gain confidence. You will also feel less nervous as you don’t know them.

  • There is no concept of age, status, sex etc involved. No personal information is shared with the people you interact and learn with.

  • Express yourself freely. Write articles and pen down experiences while having other readers critique them. You also get to appreciate what others write, point out mistakes and learn from them.



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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:08:50 | 显示全部楼层

(2) Learn English Online


Online English Tutoring

The English language is the most widely spoken languages in the world only after Mandarin. This makes learning English an important priority. Adding to this, good English skills improve the business and employment opportunities coming your way. The advent of the internet has lent English tutorials a new face.

Online English tutorials not only include providing study material on the net but also motivate students for self learning. An online classroom boasts of all the features of a conventional class. Online tutoring is an assorted combination of one-to-one tutoring sessions (live tutoring), threaded discussions, video conferencing and bulletin boards. Teachers involved in online tutoring are well adapted to students with diverse backgrounds, requirements and specifications.


BENEFITS OF ONLINE TUTORIALS:

English online tutorials are very helpful in today’s fast –paced and technological advanced world. It has many advantages, which goes as follows:

TIME-SAVING

Since online tutorials are done on net it saves a lot of time which is otherwise wasted in travelling to and fro to the tuition centre. People otherwise waste a lot of time travelling to the tuition centres which is usually situated at far of places like cities.

ECONOMICAL IN NATURE

The online tutorials are very economical in nature. They are priced very low, thus making it an very accessible medium for people of all economical backgrounds. Some tutorials also provide free demo classes. Since they are online in nature so along with saving the time in travelling, it also saves the money that would have otherwise been spent in travelling  to the tuition centre.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

The timings of these English online tutorials is very flexible in nature, that is the timings are fixed keeping in mind the convenience of the tutor and the learner, as the learner can either be a student who wants to have a class at 3pm, a working professional who wants to have the class at 9pm or a housewife who wants to take the tutorial at 12 noon. So the timings can be selected as per the need of the learner.

TRANSCENDS GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

English since is bring spoken globally today form a common medium of communication for people living in different parts of the world. So toadying knowing English today more than a advantage is a necessity. It is very useful for ones personal growth and development also as it provides better work opportunities for them.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT

The study environment is very safe as it is mostly from the home a person is operating the net, so they don’t have to worry about facing any problems in the classrooms, on their way to the tuition centre.  The student is at easy and very familiar with the environment which makes it very easy for them to open up and feel safe and secure.

ONE-TO-ONE ATTENTION

The students get individual attention. The interaction is one-to-one between the student and the tutor, and this allows tutor to focus and give more attention to the student. It helps tutor in identifying the weaknesses of the student and work upon the problem areas. The student if otherwise is hesitant can interact easily with the tutor.

FREE TRIAL SESSIONS:

Many English tutorials provide a free trial or demo classes for the student to see whether it is good for him or not. They can after the trial class with the help of tutor decide whether they require a long term course, a short term course or they can even according to their need customise the package.

LOTS OF LEARNING OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:

The online English tutorial classes provide a lot of learning options to choose from according to the need of the person. They provide long term courses, short term courses, specific courses relating to the problem areas, or customised courses according to the need of the student.

INSTANT FEEDBACK:

English online tutorials follow an instant feedback mechanism, where everything is instant from replying to the queries, questions, problems or answers. This quick service regarding feedback makes it a likable option among people as the experience is somewhat like live classroom minus the teacher.

INTERACTIVITY

English online tutorials provide a platform for the students to interact with each other and, thus share their knowledge with each other. This brings into fore various point-of-views and the discussion turns out to be a fruitful, and an enriching exercise. Moreover, since the geographical boundaries are not intact, students get to learn about newer cultures, ways of living and most importantly, and intricacies of the English language as spoken around the globe.

24*7 ACCESSIBILITY

Students have the freedom of retrieving their lessons, anytime and in case, they are facing any problems in doing that, our tutors are at their rescue. You just need to post a query through Skype or drop a mail; we shall revert back to you earliest with the help of our instant communication systems. This feature is unheard of in a conventional classroom, where a student gets to pose his problem to his teachers only at specific times. Sometimes, even that can’t happen, courtesy the burgeoning work load on the teachers.

MULTI-MEDIA TEACHING TOOLS

Research backs the notion that pictures are far more effective than words. We apply this finding to our teaching style by using multi-media teaching tools. In the course of an online class a tutor makes use of videos, pictures, or audio equipments to clarify the concept. Since, merely writing English will not serve the purpose for the students, we work on improving the pronunciation through audio- aids and interaction with our highly- experienced faculty.

OVERCOMING STUDENTS’ INTIMIDATION

In a traditional classroom of over 30 students, many a times, a student might feel hesitant to pose questions to the teacher. Through our one-to-one English classes, this hesitation can be easily overcome. A student, without caring about what others will say, can ask his doubts and clarify them to his satisfaction. Furthermore, the interaction which takes place with the teacher in the process can boost his/her self confidence many folds. Thus, one-to- one interaction is like hitting two targets with a single stone.

OPTION AVAILABLE TO BRIGHT STUDENTS AS WELL

It is a widespread misconception that only struggling students who can’t speak English fluently need online tutoring. Even bright and intelligent students can benefit through online tuitions. Such students should be continuously challenged to extract the best of their capabilities. If this doesn’t happen a student might lose interest in a subject, and subsequently might get bored of English language.  Our English tutors can revive this interest through constant vocabulary, spelling and other exercises. These exercises can work as a real challenge for anyone who wants to excel in English language.

LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE

Most of the students, these days complain either about the snail-pace of their teachers or they are running too fast, much ahead of their cognitive sensibilities. We design our learning schedule in a way so as to address these issues in a comfortable manner. Since the classes held are one-to-one sessions students can comfortably design the schedule as per their convenience. They can request the tutor to slow down or move faster as per their individual requirements.

UNLIMITED REVISION

Since the study material is available on the internet at all hours of the day, students have the freedom as well as an opportunity to revise their lessons at any hour of the day. This proves to be extremely beneficial to the students and adds to the flexibility factor. Moreover, students’ whimsical fancies can be easily fulfilled through this option. Access the website whenever your mood permits you to do so: no restrictions, no regulations. But, here, it is important that students are accompanied with parental support and guidance to help them take the decision which suits them the best.

BUILD YOUR VOCABULARY

The special lessons on vocabulary will help you in enhancing your word-base and transforming you into a fluent user of the English speaker. Many a times we fumble speaking a certain language because we can’t find the correct words to express our feelings. We help, you in overcoming this hurdle by improving your vocabulary and adding on to your existing knowledge.

PLAN THE COURSE YOURSELF

We have a wide range of courses to choose from through which you can choose a course which suits you the best. Depending upon your existing know-how and your expectations from the course, you can choose your course.

EXTRA HELP TO STUDENTS

Thanks, to our online tutorials students can get that extra edge in their subjects without taking the hassle of hiring a full-fledged tutor.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:10:42 | 显示全部楼层

(3)  Improve Spoken English


Improve Spoken English-Learn How to improve Spoken English (Learners Experience)

The English language is spoken in many nations including India. Speaking the language fluently allows one to feel confident while communicating or interacting with different people. Not being fluent in English often leads to embarrassing situations for us; we feel unsure of ourselves and that only makes things worse. Here is what helped me overcome these situations and become confident in English:

  • Ever wondered why you are so fluent with your mother tongue? It is because you speak and hear the language more often. What does this suggest?   The first and the most crucial step to improve spoken English is to speak it as often as you can. Speak in English with friends, family, relatives etc. Do not worry about making mistakes. In fact, encourage people around you to correct you as often as they can. This will help you speak correct English and boost your confidence.


  • Feeling under confident forces us to speak rapidly because we stumble with words or feel unsure about the pronunciation. Do not let this happen, it shows anxiety and the other person will struggle to understand what you are saying. Speak at a comfortable pace and pronounce your words correctly. There’s is no reason to feel shy or intimidated. We all make mistakes and the only way to learn is to practice and have others correct us.


  • Use a dictionary to learn new words or to find out the meaning of a word you may have heard. Make a list and use these words as often as you can.


  • Read books, newspapers and magazines. This will allow you to understand the language better and help you learn new words to widen your vocabulary.


  • Watch English movies preferably with subtitles. This too will aid you in understanding the language better.


  • Read one article out loud every day and if possible,and ask someone to listen and correct you. Focus on speed, clarity and correct pronunciation.


  • Record your own voice and listen to it. This will help you gain confidence and work on your mistakes.


  • Try and find a partner who is also interested in improving his/her spoken English. Practice together, correct each other and learn together.


  • Think in English instead of translating sentences from other languages that you’re familiar with. Doing this leads to grammatical mistakes and deteriorates the quality of your spoken English.


  • Join an online English learning course. Such a programme provides you with the right content and also provides you with opportunities to practice with other users. Besides this, your answers are corrected and proper feedback is provided.



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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:11:45 | 显示全部楼层

(4) Active and Passive Voice


Active and Passive Voice

Sentences in English can be active or passive; verbs, correspondingly, have active and passive forms. The distinction between the active and passive voices can be tricky, but it is essentially quite simple.

In a sentence in the active voice, the subject is actively performing the action, and the object is receiving it. For e.g., in the sentence The cat ate the rat, the subject, the cat, is performing the action of eating the rat.

The passive voice, on the other hand, sees a reversal of roles: The rat was eaten by the cat. Here, the rat is the subject, but it is not actively, but passive performing the action: it is allowing the action to be performed on it. It is the object, the cat, which is actually performing the action, although syntactically it is receiving it.

Most sentences are in the active voice; the passive is employed when the noun that would ordinarily have been the object needs emphasis, or when you do not want to mention or do not know the identity of the subject.

  • For emphasis:

Our house was burnt down by the mob!

Here, it is clear that the stress is on the fact that the speaker’s house has burnt down, rather than on the perpetrators of the act.

  • When you do not know or want to mention the identity of the subject:

My jewellery has been stolen.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:12:45 | 显示全部楼层

(5) IELTS Preparation Tips



IELTS Preparation Tips

Every aspect of life, which is new for us, attracts our sensibilities. May it be a new cuisine, a new flavor, a new country or a new culture. This tendency of magnetism towards everything new is giving rise to a phenomenon of finding one’s foot in foreign nations. But not everyone gets a chance to fulfill their ambition, courtesy the competitive forces buzzing all over. The elite group of nations, which are the most sought after all over the world look out for the cream of the talent. They, thus do that with the help of a qualifying exam, called IELTS.

IELTS, an acronym for International English Language Testing system is a two-pronged ability test, meant for:

Aspiring students who are looking forward to admissions in universities and institutes of higher education, and doctors, nurses among other professionals who want to practice in English-speaking countries, and

The other alternative is the general Training version which is meant for aspirants looking for non-academic training, professionals and for immigration purposes.

IELTS is managed jointly by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education, and was established in 1989. It is recognized by many well-known universities across Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, various other commonwealth countries and USA.

The IELTS test consists of four basic aspects testing a candidate’s proficiency in English language. These are:

·         Reading

·         Listening

·         Writing  and

·         Speaking

An applicant’s capabilities are tested in this exam on a scale of 9, known as bands. It means that if a student gets 1. It implies no knowledge, whereas 9 on the scale connote an expert in the language. No minimum score is set as a passing mark in the test. Different institutions maintain different parameters for selection. Institutes are apprised not to consider scores older than two years unless a student proves that he/she has been working to improve his/ her levels.

The exam is structured in the following manner:



IELTS Reading Section

This section is different for the general and the academic sections. This lasts for 60 minutes and asks around 40 questions. The academic section includes journals, newspaper articles, magazine articles etc. each article presents a detailed logical argument. the general section, on the other hand, can include advertisements, notices, booklets, passages etc. which focus on day-to-day survival and general reading. The comprehension passages can depend on a variety of topics, as general as dung beetles or something like newspaper production process.  


The kind of questions asked in the general and the academic variant are the same. They are:

  • Multiple choice questions
  • Fill-in-the-gaps questions
  • Short answer questions
  • Matching questions
  • True/ False/Not Given questions

Reading Tips

Reading is considered to be the most difficult section of all. Most of the times, applicants have problems in understanding the contents of the passage or evaluating the relationship between different subjects in the passage.

In the academic module, the passages are lengthy and difficult to crack as compared to the general module.

It is generally believed that the first passage is the easier than the second, and the third. But, sometimes even this doesn’t hold true. Thus, it makes good sense to take an overview of the subject matter of the passages and then decide on the strategy to use to solve the passages. These strategies can be a banal one as the skim-and-scan method, or a legitimate method like intensive reading.

Skimming the passage, means just reading the main headlines and the first few lines of each paragraph. This also involves noticing the repetition of the words in each paragraph. The main purpose is to get the crux of the passage.

Intensive reading, on the contrary involves reading each and every sentence of the passage carefully, underlining what’s important and trying to deduce the meaning by the means of this consistent process.

Selection of a strategy out of these two depends thoroughly upon the difficulty level of the comprehension passage. Thus, it’s important to:

·         Evaluate the relationship between various subjects,

·         Trying to find the meaning of difficult words by relating it to the rest of the sentence and while doing all this,

·         Be well defined within the time limits.

·         Be extremely careful with spellings. Those are the silliest of mistakes you can make.

·         Don’t leave any question unanswered as there is no negative marking. But remember not to cling on to one question as it shall tend to waste your precious time. Leave a question if you are stuck and return to it when you are done with the rest of your exam.

·         Write your answers directly on transfer sheets as no extra time is given to materialize this process.



IELTS Listening Section

This is the first test in the IELTS examination. In this test, applicants are made to hear a tape and they have to answer questions based on that. The duration for this section is 40-45 minutes. The tape is a pre-recorded one and is played once, with pauses wherever required. Applicants are provided with question sheets where they have to write their answers. In the last 10 minutes, they are required to transfer their answers to the answer sheets.

There are a total of 3-4 sections, which adds up to 40 questions. The following can be the probable conversations:

            

·         Section 1: Two speakers conversing about a social/semi official topic.

  • Section 2:  One speaker talking about any social or non-academic topic, also known as a monologue.
  • Section 3: Two to four speakers conversing about an academic topic.
  • Section 4: Single speaker making a university style presentation about an academic topic/news item.

Listening Tips

The cassette shall start by an announcer who will introduce the situation to you. The next 30 seconds involve going through the questions so that you know on which information to concentrate once the tape starts playing.

Following things should be taken care of in order to qualify this module in flying colors,:

·         You should read and listen to the instructions carefully.

·         Try to guess the requisite answers while you are reading the questions, and underline important words from the text.

·         You should make sure that you continue to listen the conversation while you’re writing the answers.

·         You should try and stay ahead of the recording so that you know the questions asked and are able to extract the essential points.


IELTS Writing Section

This section tests your writing skills. The writing skills are tested through the following areas:

Ø  Handwriting which is legible

Ø  Proper presentation and organization

Ø  Grammatically correct sentences are formed

Ø  Effective use of vocabulary

The section has duration of 60 minutes. The following are the tasks included in the module:

·         Academic (essay and graph)

·         General (essay and letter)

It comprises of two tasks:

  • Task 1: Different for Academic & General.

Word Limit: 150-180 words. Duration: 20 minutes

Academic: it usually asks you to describe and interpret a graph or a chart in your own words.You are usually asked to describe and interpret in your own words a graph or a chart.

General: candidates are asked to write a letter describing a situation.

  • Task 2: Same for Academic & General. (Topics are different)

The essays can be an agree/disagree one, wherein the candidate has to agree or disagree with a thought as given.

Or it can be a comment/opinion one. Here, you are required to examine both the negative and the positive sides of the issue and give reasons for your leanings towards one of them.

     Word Limit: 250-280 words. Duration: 40 minutes


The writing section is one section which demands the most of your attention and the intricacies of your intelligence. It should start with reading the tasks carefully.

After you are done reading the tasks, decide how you plan to approach the task and what elements are you going to include in your answers. Reading and planning should not exceed 5 minutes.

After you are done planning, proceed with the writing part. Remember not to repeat the question in what you write. In Task 1, writing will take about 10 minutes, whereas in Task 2 this would extend to about 25 minutes.

After you are done with the whole thing, check your thoughts. Checking should take maximum five minutes in both the tasks. Even if you can’t complete Task 1 in the designated time limit, move on to Task 2 as it will fetch you more marks.


Writing Tips

Do a brain storming session, note down all the important points.

Divide the essay clearly into paragraphs.

Frame an organized map of the essay as you are going to approach it.

Try giving examples, as per your personal experiences and knowledge.

Use simple words and stick to the original topic.


IELTS Speaking Section

The speaking test is basically an interview session. It tests a candidate’s composure and ability to speak proficiently.  It consists of the following parts:

  • PART 1: Introduction and interview (4 to 5 minutes)
    the interviewer invites you to sit down  and your ID is checked. General questions about your life, background, family etc. are asked so that you feel relaxed and find it easy to settle down. This is done to basically test the body language of the candidate of the candidate. It also helps in maintaining a particular rapport between the interviewer and the interviewee
  • PART 2: (3 to 4 minutes)
    you are provided a card with a topic written on it, you get one minute to think about the topic and get prepared for what you have to say. After you are done with your topic, the examiner could ask some follow-up questions. This, again tests your composure.
  • PART 3 : (4 to 5 minutes)
    This is a discussion wherein you have to engage yourself with the examiner about the similar general themes as discussed in Part 2.

The whole session would be recorded in an audio device to ensure that the whole process was accountable and up-to-the mark.


Speaking Tips

·         Never use ‘NO’ for an answer.

·         Keep your answers short and crisp. But, they should not sound inadequate.

·         In the cue card session, don’t stop until you are asked to.

·         Speak clearly, as your voice would be recorded in an audio device to ensure that the interview has taken place in a correct manner.

·         If you are making a grammatical error somewhere, do not hesitate to correct it immediately.

·         Proper body language is the key to success in this session. Good eye contact, minimum hand movements and appropriate body posture are all indications of a good body language.

·         Do not let your calm lose even till the end of the interview. Do not rush out of the room.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:15:13 | 显示全部楼层

(6) TOEFL Preparation Tips



TOEFL Preparation Tips

A test which gets you the access to more than 8,500 colleges, universities and agencies in more than 130 countries across the world and moreover,  values your convenience by providing you 4,500 test sites in more than 165 countries worldwide. It also measures the skills which would end up proving the most useful in a real life classroom. This is TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) , for you. In the times of growing economic competition, employers seek candidates with the best educational credentials and qualifications. The present scenario where, it seems that the world is gradually shrinking; education from a foreign university helps you reap great advantages. Also, international experience is appraised by employers around the globe. TOEFL can be your magic wand in such a situation. If you are not a native English speaker, it’s expected of you to prove that you can write and understand English at the university level. By giving the TOEFL test, you have your plate full with the widest selection of universities, including the top 100 from Australia, New Zealand, and U.K., U.S., Canada and more. The TOEFL scores can be used to fulfill even the visa requirements in Australia and the United Kingdom.

The TOEFL test evaluates an applicant’s ability to use English at the university level. It also assesses how well a student blends his/her listening, reading, speaking and writing skills in order to perform academic tasks. There are two formats for the test, depending on the location of your designated test center.

TOEFL is conducted by ETS (Educational Testing Service. It’s a non-profit educational institution based in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Most test takers give the TOEFL iBT test, while the others who don’t have an access to the internet take the Paper-based Test (PBT). The test, in addition, to offering you a convenient test location, also offers you more test dates than before, which are 30-40 test dates in a year. The test can be taken as many times as wished by the applicant.

The TOEFL iBT was first introduced in 2005 and is gradually being acquainted throughout the world. Changes were made to the previous version of TOEFL to assess a student’s capability to interact productively in an academic setting and also to reproduce university learning, from classroom to the book store.

The TOEFL iBT consists of four sections:

·         Reading

·         Listening

·         Speaking, and

·         Writing

The duration of the test is 4 hours, and the entire test is completed within a day.

Each section is marked out of 30 marks, which mean the test is of 120 marks in whole. Each institution sets its own acceptable score limits.

FORMAT

Test Section

No. of Questions

Timing

Reading

3-5 passages. Each consists of 12-14 questions.

60-100 minutes

Listening

4-6 Lectures, 6 questions each

2-3 Conversations, 5 questions each

60-90 minutes

BREAK 10 minutes

Speaking

6 tasks

2 independent,

4 integrated

20 minutes

Writing

1 integrated task

1 independent task

20 minutes

30 minutes


TOEFL READING SECTION

The reading section assesses a student’s capability to understand texts and passages which are affiliated to a university level. A student’s basic tasks, once he/she enters a university are to read and comprehend his textbooks and other sources. The reading section fulfills this requirement and more.

·         It helps a student in reading and sieving the most useful information.

·         Increased skills and eloquence in reading,

·         Deducing the crux of the given passage

·         Translate the relationship between the many ideas.

The reading section uses passages extracted from university-level textbooks which introduce a discipline or a topic. The passages can:

·         Provide explanation about a topic

·         Provide a point of view about a topic and supporting evidence

·         A passage that is historical in nature.

Question Formats

Simple multiple choice questions, with four options and a correct option

Questions with four options and a single answer which requires the students to insert a sentence where it fits appropriately in the passage.

“Reading to learn” questions with more than four choices and more than one appropriate correct answer. These questions are new in the format and test the applicant’s capability to understand the organization of the passage and assess the relationship between facts and ideas in the passage. These questions require the applicants to screen information and place the text options available in into a category chart or a summary.

The summary questions carry upto 2 marks each. In these questions, a sentence is provided as a start to the summary and the rest of the portion is selected by the reader in the correct sequence.  

The chart questions are up to 3 points if there are five options presented and up to 4 points when there are seven options. Partial credit is provided in this format.

TIPS

·         While reading the text, highlight important points, ideas, facts and other relevant information.

·         Improving vocabulary can help greatly.

·         For an initial idea, try skimming the passage. This means to read the headings and sub-headings in order to get a basic idea of the passage.

·         If there are some unfamiliar words in the passage, don’t panic. Try guessing their meaning through contextualizing it with the rest of the passage.


TOEFL LISTENING SECTION

Listening section of the test measures an applicant’s capability to comprehend spoken English. In an academic setting, students are expected to listen to lectures and make sense out of those. This section helps students to achieve the same along with:

Identify a speaker’s attitude and his/her function and purpose.

Establish relationship between ideas present and drawing a coherent conclusion.

Acknowledge the organization of the passage.

The lectures in the TOEFL iBT are similar to the kind of environment usually prevalent in a conventional classroom. In some of the lectures the professor does all the talking, whereas in some others he encourages interaction from the students.

Question Formats

After the listening matter is played applicants both see and hear the question before the answer choices are shown. There are four kinds of formats in this section:

·         Traditional multiple-choice questions with four choices and a correct answer

·         Multiple choice questions with more than two correct answers

·         Questions where the test takers order steps or events in a process.

·         Questions where objects and texts are matched to categories in a chart.


TIPS:

·         Focus on the content. Do not pay attention to the speaker’s style or accent.

·         Make notes on the important points said by the speaker.

·         Stay focused and active. Don’t lose concentration.



TOEFL SPEAKING SECTION

This section quantifies a student’s ability to communicate effectively in a classroom. It also ensures that the students respond to questions and participates in class discussions.

As described in the test format, the speaking section consists of a total of six tasks- two independent and four integrated tasks.

As per the independent task, the students are made to express their opinions, ideas, arguments or experiences for a topic they are familiar with.

The other four integrated tasks require the applicants to make use of more than one skill. That is, firstly, they read and listen, and then they speak in response. In the process they take notes and use these notes while responding.

TYPES OF SPEAKING TASKS

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

DURATION

TWO INDEPENDENT TASKS

  • Personal Preference

In this section the test taker express or defend a topic from categories like important people, places, events or activities as preferred by the test taker.

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Response Time: 45 seconds

  • Choice

Here, the applicant is asked to make a choice between two contrasting courses of action or behavior, and then defend it through a set of arguments.

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Response time: 45 seconds

FOUR INTEGRATED TASKS

  • Campus Situation Topic: Fit and Explain

·         A reading passage (75- 100 words) on a campus-related issue.

·         A listening passage (60-80 seconds, 150-180 words) commenting on the contents of the text.

·         The question requires the test-taker to summarize the opinion as expressed by the speaker in the context of the reading passage.

Preparation Time: 30 seconds

Response time: 60 seconds

  • Academic Course

Topic: General/Specific


·         The listening passage (60-90 seconds, 180-220 words) talks about a student-related problem and two probable solutions.

·         The question asks the student to exhibit an understanding of the contents of the passage and suggest an opinion regarding the solution to the problem.

Preparation Time: 20 seconds

Response Time: 60 seconds

  • Campus Situation

Topic: Problem/ Solution

·         There is a conversation (60-90 seconds, 180-220 words) regarding a student-related problem and possible solutions.

·         The question asks the student to exhibit an understanding of the contents of the passage and suggest an opinion regarding the solution to the problem.

Preparation Time: 20 seconds

Response Time: 60 seconds

  • Academic Course

Topic: Summary

·         Here, the listening passage is an extract from a lecture (90-120 seconds, 230-280 words) which explains a term/concept giving solid examples illustrating the same.

·         The question asks the applicant to summarize the topic and establish a relationship between the lecture and the examples.

Preparation Time: 20 seconds

Response Time: 60 seconds

TOTAL

                                                                          20 minutes


TIPS:


·         Practice speaking about topics familiar to you.

·         In integrated tasks, notice the tone and attitude of the speaker and try guessing his inclinations.

·         Take care of your pronunciation and grammar.

·         Don’t speak too fast. Be clear and audible.

·         Check all your audio and video equipments carefully.

·         Practice through sample tests and other resource material available online.



TOEFL WRITING SECTION

A teacher expects his students to be fully able to express their ideas in a fluent and a well-organized manner, in an academic setting. This section tests the same, in the test-takers along with several other things.

·         Planning and organizing an essay.

·         Expressing your views/opinions in an organized manner.

·         Use correct grammar and appropriate vocabulary to bring home your views/opinions.

·         To make sure you are spelling the words right and following all the rules of punctuation.

TYPES OF WRITING TASKS

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

  • Integrated Task

·         Applicants get a short text of about 230-300 words to read (Duration: 3 minutes)

·         The lecture follows. During the lecture, the text disappears. It appears again once the applicants begin writing for further reference.

·         The lecture consists of a speaker discussing the same topic with a different point-of-view of about 230-300 words(Duration: 2 minutes)

·         The question requires the applicants to write their opinion on the points as expressed in the reading and the listening passages.


Word Limit: 150-225 words (No penalty on exceeding it)

  • Independent Task

·         Applicants express their opinions through their writing skills and present various arguments to defend and support their perspectives.


Word Limit: 300 words(Exceeding the limit is allowed and       acceptable)


TIPS:

·         Increase vocabulary and practice the use of idioms.

·         Concentrate on grammatical formations, spellings and punctuation.

·         Organize your article in a proper manner.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:17:27 | 显示全部楼层

(7) Learn English Through Hindi


Learn English Through Hindi

Many Indians feel that the right way to learn English is through Hindi, the mother tongue of millions of Indians. People believe that learning a new language via one with which we are familiar makes the job simpler. Look at the following sentences.

Tum kaise ho                   You how are?   

Mein theek ho                  I fine am.         

Mujhe nahi pata               To me not know.

Something seems wrong, doesn’t it? This is the problem one faces when learning English through Hindi. A lot of factors like sentence formation, grammar and verb usage etc work very differently in both languages.  Now look at the following words.

Photographer

Found

Cinema

Sin

The Hindi language is formed in a way which allows one to pronounce words exactly the way they’re spelt. The same is not true for English where rules of spelling are complex and different. As a result, many people, and especially those who learn it through another language make spelling and pronunciation errors.For e.g.,
The word 'photograph' is pronounced differently from the word 'photographer'.
In the word 'found', the ‘f’ is pronounced exactly the way ‘ph’ is in photo.
The word 'sin' is pronounced exactly the way ‘cin’ is pronounced in cinema.

Now look at the following sentences and their literal translations.

How do you do?               Kaise karte ho?   

What’s up                           Upar kya hai?     

Keep in touch                    Chhute raho.      

Why are we telling you all this?
English is a complex language with many rules and contradictions. Learning it through any other language will only teach you to use it incorrectly. Many websites offer you English equivalents of Hindi phrases. They teach you how to say hi, hello, how are you etc. To us, that seems more like memorizing than learning. Anyone can memorize key phrases but learning a language requires much more than that. The right way to learn English is to learn it as an altogether different language. To learn or improve your English, please sign up for our English course. We will provide you with the right techniques to master the language.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:17:50 | 显示全部楼层

(8) Learn English Through Tamil


Learn English Through Tamil

Tamil is one of the oldest languages of the world. It is a Dravidian language and it is spoken not only in India but also in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and in Tamil communities around the globe. Many Tamil speakers feel that it will be easier to pick up English through Tamil. However, this is not the case. Let’s look at the following examples

‘Yenakka teriyaa dey’ is literally translated to ‘I knowing not’

‘Naan nanna irruke’ is literally translated to  ‘Me fine is’           

‘Nee yapadi irruke’ is literally translated to ‘You how are’

As you can see, literal translations from one language to another are usually incorrect. The correct way of learning a language is to learn it as a different language. We have developed English courses which are designed to help you pick up the English language without using your mother tongue. Just enrol in these courses and become a fluent English speaker in a matter of few months.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:19:05 | 显示全部楼层

Learn English through Telugu


Learn English through Telugu

Telugu is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh and has more than 70 million native speakers. Many Telugu speakers wish to learn English through Telugu and there are several books available for them. However, we believe that learning English through your mother tongue is not a good idea.


Language experts are of the opinion that it is best to completely immerse yourself in a language to become a fluent speaker. Instead of using Telugu and translated words into English, it is better to listen to English and start speaking it. When you use Telugu as a bridge to learn English, you are unable to get rid of expressions and phrases of Telugu. You are also unable to speak English as fluently as a native speaker as you translate in your head before speaking any sentence.

At EnglishLeap.com, we have designed special courses for people who want to become fluent English speakers without using their mother tongue. Please have a look at the different English course available at our website.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:19:34 | 显示全部楼层

(9) Contractions in the English Language


Contractions in the English Language

In the English language, like in many other languages, we frequently shorten some combination of words when we speak. When we write, we substitute the missing bits with an apostrophe. Below is a list of the most commonly used contractions in English with their usage.


WORDS

CONTRACTED FORM

USAGE

I am

I’m

I’m going to the music class.

You are

You’re

You’re late again.

He is

He’s

He’s a good man.

She is

She’s

She’s going to learn English.

It is

It’s

It’s raining today.

We are

We’re

We’re very tired.

They are

They’re

They’re not coming to our house tomorrow.

I have

I’ve

I’ve enough work for today.

You have

You’ve

You’ve got my bag.

We have

We’ve

We’ve decided to go for vacation.

They have

They’ve

They’ve gone to meet their grandparents.

I will

I’ll

I’ll complete the assignment tonight.

You will

You’ll

You’ll have to come for the party.

He will

He’ll

He’ll be coming back in fifteen minutes.

She will

She’ll

She’ll be happy to see you.

They will

They’ll

They’ll be coming here tomorrow.

Are not

Aren’t

We aren’t sure about the route.

Cannot

Can’t

I can’t solve this puzzle.

Should not

Shouldn’t

We shouldn’t enter the building after dark.

Must not

Mustn’t

You mustn’t be late for work.

Could not

Couldn’t

We couldn’t find your house.

Did not

Didn’t

He didn’t complete his homework.

Do not

Don’t

I don’t know his address.

Had not

Hadn’t

I hadn’t studied for the English examination.

Have not

Haven’t

I haven’t seen him for months.

Will not

Won’t

I won’t be going to the tennis court today.

Would not

Wouldn’t

It wouldn’t have been worth the effort.

What is

What’s

What’s the time?

What are

What’re

What’re you doing here?

Who is

Who’s

Who’s coming with us?

Who are

Who’re

Who’re the people standing outside your house?

Where is

Where’s

Where’s the coffee shop?



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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:20:23 | 显示全部楼层

(10) Spoken English Tips


Spoken English Tips (Learner's Experience)

The following tips helped me improve my spoken English and overcome my hesitation in the language. Hope they are useful for you too.

  • Don’t worry about making mistakes because you will.

  • Be patient. This isn’t a one day process.

  • Learn certain phrases that can be used in multiple situations.

  • Learn how to greet someone properly.

  • Talk slowly and carefully. Don’t rush through your sentences.

  • Restrict yourself to simple sentences until you gain confidence.

  • Watch out for your pronunciation. Many online tools will tell you how to pronounce a word correctly. Check one of them out when you’re in doubt.

  • Carefully observe how proficient speakers of the language pronounce words and frame their sentences.

  • Ask your friends, relatives and anyone you can to point out your mistakes and correct them.

  • Speak to them in English only. Practice is a must.

  • Record yourself reading one article aloud every day. Focus on pronunciation, speed, clarity and emphasis.

  • Many online sites offer you the opportunity to voice chat with another user. This is an effective way to practice.

  • Learn at least one new word every day and use it as a part of your conversation with people. By the end of the week, you should know seven words really well.

  • Learn new words everyday

  • Read at least one article of your choice aloud every day.

  • Watch English movies with subtitles.

  • Watch English shows.

  • Read books and magazines.

  • Keep a pocket dictionary handy for any word you may need to know the meaning of.

  • When you hear a new word, try to find its usage and its antonyms.


    Best of luck!



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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:21:05 | 显示全部楼层

(11)  Homophones and Homographs


Homophones and Homographs

Homophones are those words that are spelt differently but pronounced the same way.
Homographs are those words that are spelt the same way but have different meanings and may or may not be pronounced the same way.
Understanding the difference between homophones and homographs is an important part of learning English and one that makes the experience very interesting.
                                   

Homophones are used in everyday English and many people use them wrongly.  Complete the following exercise to understand them better.

FILL IN THE BLANKS-1
I ____ at ____ (Eight/Ate)                                                                          

I ate at eight.

Do you ____ if she said yes or ____?(No/Know)                                             

Do you know if she said yes or no

I’m too ____ to step out this ____(weak/week)                                             

I’m too weak to step out this week

And now, let’s move onto those homophones that are more confusing.

Are you going ____ watch a movie? May I come ____?(too/to)              

  Are you going to watch a movie ? May I come too?

They are over ____, in ____ new car. (their/there)                       

  They are over there in their new car

I don’t think the ____ of us can carry these ____ suitcases ____the bus stop. Maybe he should come along ____(too/to/two)                                                                                           I don’t think the two of us can carry these two suitcases to the bus stop. Maybe he should come along too.

Homographs are used in everyday English and are often used wrongly. Attempt the following exercise to understand them better.

FILL IN THE BLANKS-2  
Use words that can be utilized in both blanks but ensure that your choice is based on spelling, not pronunciation.

1.
(a) I ________ to this.                                                                                                   (OBJECT)
(b) Do we need to have this ________ at home?

2.
He placed ________, coming in only half a ________ after the leader. (SECOND)                           

3.  
(a) The ________is blowing hard.                                                                            (WIND)

(b) Can you _________ up the clock?


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(12) British English vs. American English


British English vs. American English

In India, USA, and many other countries, the English language was first introduced by the process of British colonization. After independence, India retained the British form of the language whereas USA decided to develop its own form.  Noah Webster, compiler of the first American dictionary, can be held partially responsible for this. He felt that words ought to be spelt like they sound, and he also wanted USA (an emerging super power) to assert its cultural independence and was not keen on following the British form of the language.  


The two languages differ primarily in the following aspects.

Vocabulary : Let us consider some vocabulary differences –

  • Americans use the word apartment whereas in India (or Britain) the word is replaced with flat.

  • Trash is a common term in USA but British English uses the word‘rubbish.

  • The term ill is specific to the British form of the language. In America, it is replaced with the word sick.

  • The word schedule too is specific to the American form. The British form of the word is timetable.

  • The commonly used term toilet or public toilet is hardly heard in America. If in need, ask for a rest room.


Spelling : Let us consider some spelling differences –

  • OUR VS OR - In America, words like favour are spelt without the ‘U’. The correct spelling according to the American form is favor. Another example would be the word labour which in USA is spelt as labor.

  • RE VS ER - British English spells words like centre, theatre and litre using ‘RE’ however American English replaces the ‘RE’ with ‘ER’ so centre becomes center, theatre becomes theater and litre becomes liter.

  • ISE VS IZE - British English spells words like specialise, commercialise using ‘ISE’ but American English replaces the ‘ISE’ with ‘IZE’.

  • CE VS SE - We’re used to spelling defence using ‘CE’ but Americans replace the ‘CE’ with ‘SE’  and defence becomes defense.

  • AE VS E  - British English spells archaeology with an ‘AE’(highlighted), Americans use only ‘E’ and omit the ‘A’ thus spelling the word as archeology

  • OEU VS EU - A similar rule applies to words like manoeuvre which British English spells with ‘OEU’ whereas American English spells using only ‘EU’.

  • OGUE VS OG  - British English spells words like Catalogue using ‘OGUE’ whereas American English spells them as Catalog thus omitting ue and using ‘OG’.


Let us now take a look at some more rules.


British English

American English

Woollen, Jewellery , Travelling

Woolen, Jewelry,  Travel

Omelette

Omelet

Pyjamas  

Pajamas

Sulphur,

Sulfur

Draught

Draft

Ageing

Aging

Transferral

Transferal



Date and Time : Let us consider some differences in date and time

  • In the United States, dates are written in the month/date/year format (12/13/2011). Followers of the British form though are more familiar with the ‘date/month/year’ format (13/12/2011).

  • British English teaches us to write time using a full stop (6.00). American English uses a colon in place of the period making it look like 6:00.


Pronunciation : Certain words are pronounced differently by those who align themselves with American English and those whose loyalties lie with the British form. For e.g., ‘hostile’ is pronounced to rhyme with ‘file’ by the British whereas the Americans prefer to homophonise it with ‘hostel’, even though it is spelt the same way everywhere. The same applies to ‘missile’. Other examples include ‘privacy’, pronounced ‘priv-uh-see’ by the British but ‘prahy-vuh-see’ by the Americans, and ‘semi’ pronounced ‘sem-ee’ by the British and ‘sem-eye’ by the Americans.

Titles and acronyms : The British form omits the period after Dr, Mr, Mrs, etc, while American speakers feel the need for one. They would write, Dr., Mr., and Mrs., etc.  The rule works differently when it comes to acronyms. The American form believes in the use of the period after each initial (U.S.) whereas the British form does not (US)


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:23:24 | 显示全部楼层

(12) Idioms


Idioms

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of its constituent words. Knowledge of idioms is an important part of comprehension of the English language. Below is a list of some commonly used idioms in English with their meaning and usage.

IDIOM

MEANING

TURN OVER A NEW LEAF

Changing your better for the better

After Ajit was released from prison, he decided to turn over a new leaf and become an honest man.

IDIOM

MEANING

PULL UP ONE’S SOCKS

To make an effort to improve

Rajesh got only forty percentage marks in the English mid-term exams. He needs to pull up his socksif he has to score well in his final exams.

IDIOM

MEANING

HIT BELOW THE BELT

To act in an unfair matter

The candidate of the opposition party spread false rumours about the Minister. People felt that it was an act of hitting below the belt.

IDIOM

MEANING

GIFT OF THE GAB

The ability to speak well

Pooja was able to keep the audiences amused with her stories. She surely has the gift of the gab.

IDIOM

MEANING

WILD GOOSE CHASE

Futile search

Searching for hidden gold in the village field is nothing but a wild goose chase.

IDIOM

MEANING

HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS

Reconsideration of a decision

When Rajiv could not answer any question in the Economics assignment, he started having second thoughts about his decision to take Economics as his main subject.

IDIOM

MEANING

TAKE TO TASK

To reprimand someone

Payal was taken to task by her mother when she found out that she had failed her Mathematics exam.

IDIOM

MEANING

FACE THE MUSIC

To face the consequences of one’s action

I lost my father’s pen. I will have to face the music when I reach home.

IDIOM

MEANING

BREAK THE ICE

Overcome initial shyness

The teacher asked the students to introduce themselves to each other to break the ice.

IDIOM

MEANING

MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL

To give great importance to minor things

Manoj stopped talking to Rupa because she did not lend him her notebook. I think he is making a mountain out of a molehill.

IDIOM

MEANING

AT LOGGERHEADS

To differ strongly

The two brothers can never work together. They are always at loggerheads.

IDIOM

MEANING

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES

Make the best of a good situation while it lasts

Mr. Sharma got the big contract to supply machine parts to a big Japanese company. He should make hay will the sun shines.

IDIOM

MEANING

LET BYGONES BE BYGONES

Ignore the bad things of the past

We have not spoken to each others since the time we had our fight few months back. We should let bygones be bygones and become friends again.

IDIOM

MEANING

HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

Be exactly accurate

Ram is a genius. He hit the nail on the head when he said that the car was overheating because of a leaking radiator.

IDIOM

MEANING

THROW IN THE TOWEL

To accept defeat

I am unable to solve this question. I am ready to throw in the towel.

IDIOM

MEANING

NO STONE UNTURNED

Make all possible efforts

Ramesh has joined two coaching classes. He is leaving no stone unturned to get into engineering college.

IDIOM

MEANING

BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE’S MOUTH

To be born in a very rich family

Priya was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father gave her an expensive car on her eighteenth birthday.

IDIOM

MEANING

KEEP ONE’S FINGERS CROSSED

Hope for a positive outcome

My results come out day after tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

IDIOM

MEANING

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK

Using any means, fair or foul

There is a cricket match tomorrow. Raj will make sure he gets the day off from office by hook or by crook.

IDIOM

MEANING

BURN ONE’S FINGERS

Suffer for something that one has done

I will never bet again. I burnt my fingers betting at the race course today.



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(13) Indian Idioms


Indian Idioms
  • Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swaad: Use this idiom to refer to someone who doesn’t know and hence, can’t appreciate.
  • Ek teer, do nishane: To use one resource and achieve two things, or to describe the achievement of two adjectives at the same time.
  • Jaise karni, vaise bharni: The result will be a direct outcome of your efforts.
  • Dal mey kucch kaala hai: To be suspicious.
  • Choona lagana: To cheat someone.
  • Bheegi Billi: A coward, to denote incapability.
  • Jale par namak chidkana: To add to someone’s misery.
  • Laaton ke bhoot baton se nahi maante: A stubborn person will never accept logic.
  • Jo garajte hai, voh baraste nahi: Used to refer to those people who make promises but don’t meet them.
  • Ek aur ek gyarah: To depict strength in unity.

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(14) Animal Idioms


Animal Idioms
  • As blind as a bat: Technically speaking, bats are not blind but do have relatively poor eye sight. The myth probably originated from the fact that they dart around and often seem unaware. Bats navigate using their ears and emit high pitched sounds that cannot be heard by humans. The sound hits objects and travels back. This is known as a sonar system. E.g. He is 80 years old and is as blind as a bat.

  • As gentle as a lamb: Lambs are known to be amongst the gentlest animals and this idiom is based on the same. E.g. He looks big but he is as gentle as a lamb.

  • Curiosity killed the cat: The origin of this idiom is unclear but it is used to warn someone against being too curious as this can cause harm.  E.g. Stop trying to find out what they are up to. Curiosity killed the cat.

  • Straight from the horse’s mouth: In the betting circle, a lot of money is placed on the horse that is likely to win. This information is procured from those working with the horses. The phrase ‘straight from the horse's mouth’ indicates, therefore , information that is obtained from the best possible authority on the matter. one step even better. E.g. I am sure the test has been postponed. I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.

  • As sly as a fox: The fox is considered to be a very cunning and deceptive animal and  the phrase is derived from the same. E.g. Do not believe everything he says, he is as sly as a fox.

  • A copycat: Kittens are known to copy their mothers in an almost identical fashion. The phrase is derived from this tendency and is often used to refer to the human tendency to duplicate. E.g. He’s copied the entire article, what a copy cat.

  • Let the cat out of the bag: The origin for the same is complicated. The phrase is used to ‘disclose a secret’.  E.g. You told her about the surprise part? You let the cat out of the bag.

  • Fight like cat and dog: The phrase originates from the long drawn enmity between cats and dogs as is used to suggest a confrontation between two people. E.g. They had been friends for 5 years but still continued to fight like cat and dog.

  • To kill two birds with one stone: A slingshot is often used to hunt birds and to kill a bird with it is considered a difficult task. To be able to kill two with the same stone would require extraordinary, unparalleled skill. To kill two birds with one stone denotes the accomplishment of two tasks with a single effort  E.g. By standing first in the class and excelling at sports, he kills two birds with one stone.

  • Smell a rat: The origin of this idiom lies in the excitement that a dog displays when it smells a rat and then tries to kill it. It is now used to convey a feeling of suspicion regarding someone. E.g. I found only Rs. 1000 here, I am sure I kept more than that. I smell a rat.



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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:30:07 | 显示全部楼层

(15) Idioms on Sports


Idioms on Sports
  • Hat trick : A term mostly used in games like football, cricket, hockey and rugby. It is used when someone achieves three successes one after another. These could be three wickets, three goals etc.

    • Paolo Rossi, the great Italian football player scored a hat trick to defeat Brazil 3-2 in the World Cup.


  • Ball in your court : A phrase used to show that the decision has to be taken by you. The word 'your' can be replaced with 'his', 'her', 'my' etc.

    • The manager told the employee curtly, “Either accept the terms and conditions or leave, the ball is in your court”.


  • Still in the game: This phrase is used when someone is in a difficult situation but can make a comeback.

    • India is five wickets down but as long as Sachin is batting, they are still in the game.


  • Pack a punch : This phrase is taken from the sport of boxing and is used to describe a strong influence.

    • His talk packed a punch and enthralled the audience.


  • Whole new ball game : This term is used to depict something different or completely unheard of.

    • When the Americans started playing cricket, they brought a whole new ball game into the picture.


  • Jump the gun : Athletes begin a race after a gun shot. The phrase is used when someone starts before the appropriate time (or before the gun is fired)

    • I was so worried about being late for the interview that I jumped the gun and arrived two hours early.


  • Keep your eye on the ball : A phrase used in games like cricket, football etc where the focus of the game is the ball. To keep your eye on the ball means to stay alert and ready for action.

    • The teacher saw the student looking distracted and yelled, “if you want to do well in my class you'd better keep your eye on the ball”.


  • Photo finish : Used commonly in sports like racing, photo finish is used to describe a situation when two contestants finish the race at almost  the same time; it is difficult to gauge who crossed the line first. The term originated from the practice of taking a photo at the finish line.

    • The race between Amir and Anil was so close that it was a deemed a photo finish which required examining a picture of the two runners as they crossed the finish line.


  • Quick off the mark : The phrase is used for someone who is alert and hence, quick to start or do something.

    • The policemen were quick off the mark and arrived at the scene of crime barely five minutes after the phone call.         


  • A sticky wicket : The phrase originated from the game of cricket and is used to describe a tricky situation.

    • The minister found himself on a sticky wicket when asked about the rampant corruption.




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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:42:40 | 显示全部楼层

(16) Idioms on Body Parts


Idioms involving Body Parts
  • Blow your mind/Mind blowing : Something that blows your mind is extraordinary or unbelievable.

    • The treasures in the palace were mind blowing


  • By heart : To learn something very well or to know something word-for-word.

    • Rohan knew the poem by heart.


  • All ears : To be all ears is to be very interested in what someone else is saying.

    • Raghav was all ears when he heard the teachers talking about the question paper.


  • Close shave : The phrase close shave describes coming very close to an accident or narrowly avoiding it.

    • The car almost hit me. It was a close shave.


  • Get on your nerves : The phrase is used for something that annoys or irritates to a great extent.

    • I really don’t want to meet them, they keep asking questions and it gets on my nerves.


  • Hale and hearty : This phrase is used to refer to someone who is well or in great health.

    • My uncle was admitted a couple of days back for a minor stomach ache but now he is hale and hearty.


  • Let your hair down : To relax and enjoy.

    • After a stressful day at work, Rita went to a friend’s party and let her hair down.


  • No sweat : This phrase is used to refer to a task that is easy to do/ will take no effort.

    • This work is no sweat.


  • Roll your eyes : To roll your eyes at something is to show little interest or express disbelief.

    • He rolled his eyes at the presentation. Most of the information was incorrect.


  • Slip of the tongue : 'Slip of the tongue' is a phrase used when someone says something accidentally.

    • I’m sorry I told her about the money. It was a slip of tongue.




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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 15:43:08 | 显示全部楼层

(17) Idioms on Colours


Idioms on Colours

  • Black and blue : To be bruised either because of a beating or otherwise.

    • I am going to beat you black and blue.


  • Catch someone red-handed : To get caught doing something wrong, illegal or unlawful.

    • He was spying on the minister and the police caught him red-handed.


  • Green with envy : To feel extremely jealous.

    • His expensive car made me go green with envy.


  • Off colour : A term used for someone looking weak or unwell.

    • He’d recovered from the attack but he still looked off colour.


  • Once in a blue moon : To refer to something that occurs very rarely.

    • I meet him only once in a blue moon.


  • See red : To be extremely angry about something

    • After she betrayed him, he was seeing red.


  • To show your true colours : When someone shows their true colours, they reveal the kind of person they really are.

    • He behaved very well until he was asked to work overtime; it was then that he showed his true colours.


  • To pass with flying colours : To pass something with flying colours is to do very well.

    • I had thought I wouldn’t clear the exams but I passed with flying colours.


  • Whitewash : To white wash something is to cover up its flaws.

    • The Indian government has been accused of trying to whitewash the Commonwealth games scandal.


  • Golden opportunity : A golden opportunity represents an opportunity that is very hard to come by and rather unexpected.

    • The deal was a golden opportunity and anyone would have been foolish to have not signed it.




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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:08:17 | 显示全部楼层

(18)Idioms on Food


Idioms involving Food
  • Apple of his/her eye : This phrase is used to refer to something or someone we like a lot.

    • He was the apple of his teacher’s eye.


  • As cool as a cucumber : Used to refer to someone who is very cool headed and doesn’t get worried.

    • Dhoni is a great captain because he always remains as cool as a cucumber.


  • Egg on : To encourage someone

    • Every time I faltered, he egged me on.


  • In a nutshell : In a few words.

    • We were told in a nutshell that our project would not be considered.


  • To spill the beans : To reveal a secret to someone who is not supposed to know.

    • The project was top secret but he spilled the beans.


  • Piece of cake : This phrase is used to refer to a task that is very easy.

    • Stealing the key was a piece of cake for him.


  • Take with a pinch of salt : This phrase is used when one believes only a small part of what one is being told.

    • He spoke highly about his company and its success but I took it with a pinch of salt.


  • Not my cup of tea : This phrase is used to indicate something you either don’t like much or can’t do.

    • An early morning walk is not my cup of tea.


  • To sell like hotcakes : This phrase is used to refer to an object or commodity that is very successful and selling extremely well.

    • The new book by J.K Rowling sold like hotcakes.


  • To go nuts : This phrase is used to refer to someone who is very excited about something.



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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:10:07 | 显示全部楼层

(19)Idioms on Money


Idioms on Money
  • All that glitters is not gold : This phrase means that appearances can be very misleading and that everything that looks priceless doesn’t have to be.

    • I bought the expensive looking watch but it stopped working after a week, I realised that all that glitters is not gold.


  • Blank cheque : To leave a cheque blank is to allocate unlimited funds to a project or a person.

    • I was told that the project had to be successful and I would be given a blank cheque for the same.


  • Dime a dozen : This phrase is used to refer to something that is very easy to procure and thus of little value.

    • Don’t bother with these, they’re available dime a dozen.


  • Easy money : The phrase is used to refer to money that can be earned without much effort.

    • The task was simple and got him easy money.


  • Feel like a million bucks : The phrase is used to refer to a feeling of immense happiness.

    • Now that I’m married, I feel like a million bucks.


  • Give somebody a run for their money : This phrase is used for someone who is better than a professional in a particular sphere.

    • Rajesh may not be well known but he can give most professional singers a run for their money.


  • Go broke : This phrase is used to refer to a condition where someone loses all their money.

    • Ravi spent all the money last night and now he’s broke.


  • Make ends meet : This phrase is used to refer to a situation where there is enough money for daily expenses and needs.

    • I was unable to make ends meet with my meagre income.


  • Not worth a cent : This phrase is used to refer to an object that is worth nothing, not even a cent which is an exceedingly small amount of money.

    • Don’t buy this house, it isn’t worth a cent.


  • Worth your salt : this phrase is used when something is worth the amount it costs.

    • Buy this car; it’s worth your salt.




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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:11:36 | 显示全部楼层

(20)Abbreviations


Commonly used Abbreviations

Commonly Used Abbreviations Derived from Latin

1.      e.g.

Stands for: exempli gratia

Means: for example

Example of usage: There are many types of cars, e.g. sedans, SUVs and convertibles.  

2.      i.e.

Stands for: id est

Means: that is to say

Example of usage: Drinking cold soda in winter is a sure way to go under, i.e. fall sick.

3.      etc

Stands for: et cetera

Means: and so on

Example of usage: We offer facilities for a wide range of sports, including football, basketball, cricket, tennis, etc.

4.      et al

Stands for: et alii

Means: and others

Example of usage: We had all gathered for his farewell, Brijesh, Jyoti, et al.

Note: used to denote a logical continuation of people, not things

Commonly Used Academic Abbreviations

abbr.

abbreviation, abbreviated

adj.

adjective

adv.

adverb

anon.

anonymous

b.

born

c. (ca.)

circa or around (used with dates)

cap.

capital, capitalize

cf.

compare

ch. (chap.)

chapter

colloq.

colloquial

conj.

conjunction

d.

died

def.

definition

doc.

document

ed.

editor, edition, edited by

fig.

figure

ibid.

in the same place (from the Latinibidem)

illus.

illustration, illustrated by

lang.

language

narr.

narrator, narrated by

NB

take note (from the Latin nota bene)

no.

number

obj.

object

p., pp.

page, pages

par.

paragraph

pl.

plural

poss.

possessive

prep.

preposition

pron.

pronoun

PS

postscript

pseud.

pseudonym

pub.

publisher, published by

qtd.

quoted

rev.

revision, revised by

rpt.

reprint

sec.

section

sing.

singular

syn.

synonym

trans.

translation, translated by

U or univ.

university

v. or vb.

verb

vol.

volume

vs.

versus




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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:14:40 | 显示全部楼层

(21)Sounds of Animals and Birds


Sounds of Animals and Bird

This is a list of the accepted names used in English for the cries of animals and birds:

apes

gibber

asses

bray

bees

hum

beetles

drone

bears

growl

bitterns

boom

blackbirds

whistle

blackcaps

we speak of the“chick-chick” of the blackcap

bulls

bellow

camels

grump

canaries

sing or quaver

cats

mew, purr, swear, and caterwaul

calves

bleat and blear

chaffinches

chirp or pink

chickens

pip

cicadæ

sing

cocks

crow

cows

moo or low

crows

caw

cuckoos

cry, cuckoo

deer

bell

dolphins

click

donkeys

bray

dogs

bark, bay, howl, and yelp

doves

coo

ducks

quack

eagles

scream

elephants

trumpet

falcons

chant

flies

buzz

foxes

bark and yelp

frogs

croak

geese

cackle and hiss

goldfinch

we speak of the “merry twinkle” of the female

grasshoppers

chirp and pitter

grouse

we speak of the “drumming” of the grouse

guineafowls

cry “come back”

guineapigs

squeak

hares

squeak

hawks

scream

hens

cackle and cluck

horses

neigh and whinny

hyenas

laugh

jackals

howl

jays

chatter

kittens

mew

lambs

baa and bleat

larks

sing

linnets

chuckle in their call

lions

roar

magpies

chatter

mice

squeak and squeal

monkeys

chatter and gibber

nightingales

pipe and warble

owls

hoot and screech

oxen

low and bellow

parrots

talk

peacocks

scream

pigeons

coo

pigs

grunt, squeak, and squeal

puppies

yelp

raccoons

chitter

ravens

croak

robins

chirp

redstarts

whistle

rooks

caw

screech-owls

screech or shriek

sheep

baa or bleat

snakes

hiss

sparrows

chirp or yelp

stags

bellow and call

swallows

twitter

swans

cry

thrushes

whistle

tigers

growl

turkey-cocks

gobble

vultures

scream

whales

hum

whitethroats

chirr

wolves

howl


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:17:45 | 显示全部楼层

(22)Similes


Similes

The simile is a figure of speech that describes something by comparing or establishing its similarity to something else, using ‘like’ or ‘as’. This device makes the description more emphatic.

Similes are written in the following forms:

  • [subject] [verb] AS [adjective] AS...[noun]

The athlete was AS nimble AS a cat.

  • [subject] [verb] LIKE...[noun]

This food tastes LIKE garbage.

He drives LIKE a maniac.

Here are some common examples of similes, with their meanings:

...as cool as a cucumber.                     Cool-headed

...as gentle as a lamb.                          Gentle, non-reactive

...as blind as a bat.                              Completely blind

...as dead as a doornail.                      Dead beyond a doubt

...as strong as an ox.                           Very strong

...as wise as an owl.                            Very wise


...to drink like a fish.                            To drink a lot

...to eat like a bird.                              To eat very little

...to eat like a horse.                            To eat a lot

...to smoke like a chimney.                  To smoke a lot.

...to work like a dog.                            To work very hard.

...to sleep like a log.                             To sleep soundly.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:20:44 | 显示全部楼层

(23) Metaphors


Metaphors

A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses an image, a story or a tangible example to express a quality or qualities possessed by a person or thing, or to represent a less tangible thing; e.g. Her face shone like the sun. With this broad definition, the metaphor subsumes within itself a number of other figures of speech: metonymy, synecdoche, synonym, catachresis, parable, etc. All conform to the basic framework of a figure of speech that achieves its objective by comparison, association or representation.

Let us analyse a metaphorical statement:

The school was a prison for him.

What does this mean? It obviously does mean that the school was literally a prison, for that is ludicrous. It is immediately comprehensible, however, that the school shares certain characteristics with prisons. It is probable that the person referred to as ‘him’ feels locked up in school, as prisoners do in prison. The meanings of metaphors, while sometimes simple, are best understood in context.

Here are some famous metaphors. See if you can figure out their meanings.

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances.
William Shakespeare

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
Pablo Picasso

All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind.
Khalil Gibran

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
Marcel Proust


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:30:04 | 显示全部楼层

(24)Capitalisation Rules


Capitalisation Rules

The rules governing the capitalisation of letters in written English are as follows:

  • Capitalise the first word of every sentence (see emboldened letter of first word of this sentence), and every new line.
  • Capitalise the first word of quoted sentences.

He said to her, ‘You have betrayed my trust.’

  • Capitalise proper nouns.

I want to holiday in the Himalayas.

  • Capitalise words derived from proper nouns.

I want to study English and history in college.

‘English’ and ‘history’ here serve as the subjects that the speaker wants to study in college, so they are both fundamentally common nouns; however, the subject title ‘English’ is derived from the proper noun ‘English’, which refers to the language. Hence, it must be capitalised.

  • Capitalise a person’s title when
    • it precedes his/her name,

President Sharma

  • when it follows his/her name on an address/signature line,

Regards,

Sharma, President

and

  • when used as a direct address,

What is the verdict, President?

Do not capitalise when the title is used after the holder’s name to describe him/her.

            ‘I call this meeting to order,’ said Sharma, the president of the club.

  • Capitalise cardinal directions when they are used to refer to specific locations.

I am headed to the South this summer.

  • Capitalise the first and last words in titles of publications, and all words in between except for
    • Little words like a, an, the, but, as, if, and, or and nor, and
    • Prepositions, regardless of length.

One Hundred Years of Solitude

War and Peace

Down and Out in Paris and London


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:32:28 | 显示全部楼层

(25)How to make plurals


How to make plurals

Pluralisation in English can be a bit of a tricky game, and as with any language the key to mastering this aspect lies in practice through reading and conversing until the variations that appear unpredictable in the beginning become second nature, a matter of habit. Having said that, there are certain generally applicable principles that make the task easier by giving us a broad idea of how common words are pluralised. Let us take a look at these.

For most nouns, add an ‘s’ at the end of the word.

SINGULAR                           PLURAL

Car                                          Cars

Desk                                        Desks

Tree                                         Trees

Ball                                          Balls

Hand                                       Hands

For nouns that end with ‘s’, ‘x’, ‘z’, ‘ch’, or ‘sh’, add ‘es’ at the end of the word.

SINGULAR                           PLURAL

Boss                                        Bosses

Box                                           Boxes            

Topaz                                      Topazes

Leech                                      Leeches

Dish                                         Dishes

For some words that end with ‘o’, add ‘es’ at the end of the word.

                       SINGULAR                                PLURAL

                        Tomato                                     Tomatoes

                         Potato                                      Potatoes

                         Echo                                         Echoes

                         Hero                                         Heroes

For some words that end with ‘o’, add ‘s’ at the end of the word.

                          SINGULAR                           PLURAL

                           Photo                                       Photos

                           Piano                                       Pianos

                           Logo                                        Logos

                           Radio                                      Radios

For some words ending with ‘f’, replace the ‘f’ with a ‘v’ and add ‘es’ at the end of the word.

SINGULAR                           PLURAL

Thief                                        Thieves

Loaf                                        Loaves

Half                                         Halves

Calf                                         Calves

Leaf                                         Leaves

For some words ending with ‘f’, add an ‘s’ at the end of the word.

SINGULAR                           PLURAL

Reef                                        Reefs

Roof                                        Roofs

Chef                                        Chefs

For some words ending with ‘ife’, replace the ‘f’ with a ‘v’ and add an ‘s’ at the end of the word.

SINGULAR                           PLURAL

Wife                                        Wives

Life                                         Lives

Knife                                       Knives

For common nouns ending with a consonant followed by ‘y’, replace the ‘y’ with an ‘i’ and add ‘es’ at the end of the word.

SINGULAR                           PLURAL

Nappy                                     Nappies

Poppy                                      Poppies

Fly                                           Flies

Penny                                      Pennies

Sty                                           Sties

Some nouns are the same in both forms.

SINGULAR                           PLURAL

Fish                                         Fish

Sheep                                      Sheep

Deer                                        Deer

Tuna                                        Tuna

Trout                                       Trout

For some nouns, other letters must be replaced or added, sometimes changing the words completely.

SINGULAR                           PLURAL

Person                                     People

Ox                                           Oxen

Child                                       Children

Goose                                      Geese

Man                                         Men

Foot                                         Feet


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:34:37 | 显示全部楼层

(26)Learn English Pronunciation


English Pronunciation

Pronunciation can be a tricky matter when it comes to the English language. Unlike with languages like Hindi and Tamil, letters in English take on multiple phonetic forms (think of the a in can and the a in war); thus, the concept of pronouncing a word the way it is spelled does not apply. This is partly the result of derivation; English is a derivative language in that many of its words and phrases have been borrowed from other languages (cafe, boutique, cocoa).


The unpredictability that results makes pronunciation in English difficult to master, and a written course is possibly the least helpful way to go about it. It is through continued contact with English speakers and practice that one’s pronunciation improves. Watching English-language films, TV shows, and news channels is also very useful. Both methods, however, require conscious effort. One must pay close attention while conversing with someone who is fluent, and while watching English-language film or TV productions, and, through practice, make correct-sounding speech a matter of habit.

There are, however, some guidelines that we can provide on pronunciation that should help in giving you an idea of the contours of spoken English:

Regarding Consonants

B

Usually pronounced like the ‘b’ in ‘big’. However, in words ending with ‘-mb’, such ascomb, plumb, numb, bomb, etc, the ‘b’ is silent.

C

Usually pronounced like ‘k’, as in ‘cat’. However, ‘c’ takes on the sound of ‘s’ when it precedes ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’, as in ceiling, cistern, cynic, etc.  

-dge

Usually pronounced like ‘j’, as in ‘bridge’.  

G

Usually pronounced as in ‘go’. However, before ‘e’, ‘i’ or ‘y’, ‘g’ is often pronounced like ‘j’, as in germ, ginger, gyrate, etc.

-gh

In some words, ‘-gh’ is pronounced like ‘f’, as in laugh. However, in some words it is silent, as in high.

H

For example, ‘head’. However, in a few words, the ‘h’ is silent, as in hour, honour,etc.

K

Generally pronounced like the ‘c’ in ‘cat’. However, when followed by ‘n’, it is usually silent, as in knife, knave, knight, etc.

L

Generally pronounced as in ‘leaf’. However, in a few words, the ‘l’ is silent, especially when followed by ‘k’ and ‘f’, as in talk, walk, half, calf, etc.

S

Generally pronounced as in ‘sun’. However, in some words ‘s’ is pronounced like ‘z’, as in nose, president, etc. In a few words, such as television and azure, ‘s’ takes on a sound generally represented phonetically as ‘zh’.

Th

Generally aspirated, ie, let out with a puff of air, as in think, third, etc. However, in some words, such as this, ‘th’ is not aspirated.

X

Usually pronounced like in box (the sound is –ks). However, when it is the first letter of a word, x is pronounced like ‘z’.

Y

Generally pronounced as in yesterday. In some words it takes on the sound ‘ee’, as in city. In yet other words, it takes on the sound ‘ai’, as in fly.

Regarding Vowels

A

Before two consonants, ‘a’ is pronounced as in sand. This also applies when appears before a single consonant at the end of a word, as in fan.

Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, ‘a’ is usually pronounced as in ate(the sound is ey).

Before ‘l’ and after ‘q’ and ‘w’, ‘a’ is usually pronounced as in call (the sound is aw). Other examples are squash and wall.

E

Before two consonants and before a single consonant at the end of a word, ‘e’ is usually pronounced as in desk or ten. This also applies when ‘e’ appears before a single consonant followed by a vowel (ever), although sometimes ‘e’ is pronounced ‘ee’ in such cases, as in even.

At the end of a word, ‘e’ is usually silent, as in ate, fate, etc; however, at the end of very short words, ‘e’ usually takes on the sound ‘ee’, as in be.

I  

Before two consonants and before a single consonant at the end of a word, ‘i’ is usually pronounced as in fit or fill. However, in some cases, before two consonants, ‘i’ takes on the ‘ai’ sound (rhymes with eye). For example, wild.

Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, ‘i’ generally takes on the ‘ai’ sound, as in eye and tire.

O

Before two consonants in some words and before a single consonant at the end of a word, ‘o’ takes on the sound ‘aw’, as in rock and not.

In other words, it is pronounced ‘oh’ when it appears before two consonants, as inbolt.

The same applies when it precedes a single consonant followed by a vowel.

U

Before two consonants and before a consonant at the end of a word, ‘u’ usually takes on either the short ‘oo’ sound, as in pull and put, or the blunt ‘uh’, as in duck and jut.

Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, ‘u’ takes on the long ‘oo’ sound, as inJune.


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 楼主| ljmtidilgw 发表于 2012-10-12 19:36:43 | 显示全部楼层

(27)How to learn English quickly


How to learn English quickly

Arjun, currently employed at a BPO, picked up the language in a matter of months, and today speaks fluently and freely. This is how:


  • I never paid too much attention to single words; I learned them in context, i.e. I learned the phrases that the words were used in and it was these phrases that I later reviewed. I found that this helped me develop my speaking ability much faster.
  • I did not study grammar too carefully. Grammar makes you think about what you want to say, whereas to speak fluently it needs to come naturally to you. This is not to say that grammar should not be studied, but a degree of naturalness has to be present in your speech, which will be missing if you try to commit rules of grammar to memory.
  • I listened. I listened very intently, everyday. This is the best way to pick up pronunciation and the nuances of the language.
  • You must learn with long term considerations; this requires the committing of what you learn deep in your memory, by repetition. You must repeat what you have learnt, practice everyday, use what you have practiced in conversation, etc. This is what I did, and it worked like a charm.
  • You must remember that the key to fluent conversation is, in the final analysis,confidence. I realised early on that I have to be assured of myself and of the words and phrases I had spent hours practicing if I wanted to use them in everyday speech naturally. So, remember, be CONFIDENT.

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风之子 发表于 2021-1-20 09:29:50 | 显示全部楼层
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