Showing posts with label learn english. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learn english. Show all posts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
As you already know, there are over 15,000 idioms in the English language and you’d better learn at least some of them. But as you encounter an idiom after idiom, you have to be at least slightly curious how they were originated and became widely used. Some of them were coined by the great writers, others came from the Bible, and a lot of them came from French and Latin.
Shakespeare alone is credited with adding over a hundred idioms, many of which you definitely know. Phrases like “a fool’s paradise” and “a sorry sight” date back to the 17th century and yet, they are still used in the everyday speech. He was also the first to compare envy to a green-eyed monster and the first to capture the essence of love in now immortal expression “love is blind.” If you want to learn more about phrases like “good riddance” and “wild goose chase” - and yes, they also belong to Shakespeare - follow this link.
Throughout the centuries, English been greatly influenced by other languages. English, as we know it today, has a lot of words of French, Latin and Greek origin. The Gallic language, French, brought many unmistakably graceful and sophisticated expressions, and phrases like a la mode, a la carte and double-entendre are very widely used in written and spoken English. You can find a comprehensive list of the most common idioms of French origin here.
There is a lot of idiomatic expressions of Latin origin in the contemporary English. Most of them pertain to law, medicine and politics, but others like status quo, et cetera and alter ego are more universal. See how many of the Latin expressions you know at the link - we bet you will be pleasantly surprised!
Shakespeare alone is credited with adding over a hundred idioms, many of which you definitely know. Phrases like “a fool’s paradise” and “a sorry sight” date back to the 17th century and yet, they are still used in the everyday speech. He was also the first to compare envy to a green-eyed monster and the first to capture the essence of love in now immortal expression “love is blind.” If you want to learn more about phrases like “good riddance” and “wild goose chase” - and yes, they also belong to Shakespeare - follow this link.
Throughout the centuries, English been greatly influenced by other languages. English, as we know it today, has a lot of words of French, Latin and Greek origin. The Gallic language, French, brought many unmistakably graceful and sophisticated expressions, and phrases like a la mode, a la carte and double-entendre are very widely used in written and spoken English. You can find a comprehensive list of the most common idioms of French origin here.
There is a lot of idiomatic expressions of Latin origin in the contemporary English. Most of them pertain to law, medicine and politics, but others like status quo, et cetera and alter ego are more universal. See how many of the Latin expressions you know at the link - we bet you will be pleasantly surprised!
Watching movies and videos in English is a great way to improve your ability to understand spoken English and pick up the pronunciation. Since it might be difficult for you to understand most movies and TV series, you can start with watching videos made specifically for the ESL Students. You can find them everywhere: on YouTube, on Facebook, and on the websites designated to Learning English. To save you some much needed time, we did a search for you. (You are welcome!) Watch these videos and learn.
Real English has a lot of free videos, featuring real people and most common topics you’ll definitely encounter in your daily communication, from social introductions to talking about your family and friends. All videos are available with and without subtitles, but as the site owners suggest - and we second that opinion - try watching them first without captions, even a few times if needed. It will really help you in the long-run. Do not miss the video from Lesson 58 - not only it features a very handsome guy, but also you can gain a lot from his insights on learning the language, since he’s done it himself, and amazingly well at that! These videos come with exercises aimed at listening comprehension and better understanding of English grammar rules and nuances.
Elllo.org, English Listening Lesson Library Online, is another great source of free videos in English. The topics covered range from politics and economics (video#572) to sports (video#1028) and business practices in different countries (video#1037). The videos feature native and non-native speakers of English from around the world and listening to them will help you get used to the variety of accents and dialects which you will inevitably encounter in New York, the city of immigrants. If you have problems with understanding the dialogue in the videos, refer to the transcripts provided for each topic. The videos could be viewed as audio slides with captions which you can turn off whenever you want. For your reference, the detailed explanation of the phrasal verbs, idioms and industry-specific terms is also provided in the audio notes section. This site is a great collection of English videos and a must-visit for any ESL student.
Do you know of other online video resources? Share with us in comments!
Real English has a lot of free videos, featuring real people and most common topics you’ll definitely encounter in your daily communication, from social introductions to talking about your family and friends. All videos are available with and without subtitles, but as the site owners suggest - and we second that opinion - try watching them first without captions, even a few times if needed. It will really help you in the long-run. Do not miss the video from Lesson 58 - not only it features a very handsome guy, but also you can gain a lot from his insights on learning the language, since he’s done it himself, and amazingly well at that! These videos come with exercises aimed at listening comprehension and better understanding of English grammar rules and nuances.
Elllo.org, English Listening Lesson Library Online, is another great source of free videos in English. The topics covered range from politics and economics (video#572) to sports (video#1028) and business practices in different countries (video#1037). The videos feature native and non-native speakers of English from around the world and listening to them will help you get used to the variety of accents and dialects which you will inevitably encounter in New York, the city of immigrants. If you have problems with understanding the dialogue in the videos, refer to the transcripts provided for each topic. The videos could be viewed as audio slides with captions which you can turn off whenever you want. For your reference, the detailed explanation of the phrasal verbs, idioms and industry-specific terms is also provided in the audio notes section. This site is a great collection of English videos and a must-visit for any ESL student.
Do you know of other online video resources? Share with us in comments!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Committing to learning English is a serious decision. To succeed in this endeavor, you need to be ready to invest a lot of time and effort, but eventually all your hard work will pay off. In case you haven’t made up your mind yet, here are 5 reasons that might persuade you to go for it.
- English language is spoken in 180 countries worldwide. Since there are only 196 - or 195, according to different sources - independent countries in the world, it means that wherever you go, you will be able to communicate, understand and be understood.
- Your chances to find a great job will be significantly better. While the overall effects of outsourcing on global economy is still unclear, the ability to speak English will help you to secure a job offer from an English-speaking company. In 2004, USA- and UK-based corporations outsourced 42% and 17% of jobs, according to the findings of the latest “English Next” study conducted by the British Council.
- Do you spend most of your time online? If so, learning English is definitely a good idea for you, since the English language continues to dominate the cyber space (even though other languages as Chinese experience a rapid growth in this area).
- The number of people speaking English as a Second Language keeps growing and has already exceeded 1 billion people. That’s a great community to belong to! We doubt you can find anything even close on Facebook.
- Shakespeare, Elliot, Plath, and Whitman - these are just a few of the great timeless classic writers who created in English and whose works are a must-read for any educated person. While there are many good translations, do not miss out on pleasure that comes from enjoying the beauty and complexity of the English language and read the originals instead.
Do you have your own reasons for learning English? Share with us in comments!
Monday, April 11, 2011
As good as your textbooks are, chances are they devote very little attention to the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the English language. Yet, slang is everywhere and you need to be familiar with at least some of it to be able to fully understand and speak English. Slang expressions are usually particular to specific subcultures. For instance, the expression “up your sleeve” came from gambling and used to mean a powerful card that a player holds on to win a hand. Now, it refers to any hidden strength or unfair advantage. Another slang phrase, “go postal,” which means to be completely outraged, derives from the mass murder acts committed by the U.S. postal workers when they killed police, coworkers and supervisors. Some words and expressions we use on a daily basis once were slang, too, and then became so common that it’s hard to believe they were not always a part of normal, standard English speech. New York’s preferred schedule, 24/7, is one of those expressions. Slang is precise and descriptive. Don’t own any clothing save for that from Abercrombie & Fitch? Then don’t be surprised when your friends start calling you an Aberzombie.
If you are interested in learning more about modern urban lingo, you should definitely check out Urban Dictionary. The website is largely based on community collaboration so should you come up with a new expression you want everyone to use, you can go ahead and create a new entry. The website also has a blog which makes for a very fascinating read.
If you are interested in learning more about modern urban lingo, you should definitely check out Urban Dictionary. The website is largely based on community collaboration so should you come up with a new expression you want everyone to use, you can go ahead and create a new entry. The website also has a blog which makes for a very fascinating read.
If you plan to learn English, New York City is definitely the right place to be. Not only is it one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world, but it also has such an amazing cultural and national diversity that regardless of where you are from and what language you speak, you will feel at home here. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations, and for a good reason. Whether you are interested in music, architecture, history, art or nightlife, you will definitely find something to enjoy, from going to the world-famous museums to the underground galleries featuring works of up-and-coming artists, from seeing Broadway shows to tasting unique cuisine in three-star restaurants, from visiting historic sites to exploring new trendy neighborhoods. Your stay in New York can certainly be one of the most interesting and memorable times of your life, and the best thing about it is that you do not necessarily have to spend a lot of money to make it happen. Even though New York is one of the 30 most expensive cities in the world, there are a lot of things that you can do and see for free.
With summer on its way, everyone tries to spend more time outdoors and the city offers a lot of great opportunities to do that. We suggest you start with visiting one of the many green and leafy escapes from the chaotic life of the megapolis.
Central Park is one of the city’s landmarks and a definite must-see, but it’s just one of the many New York’s urban oasises. The Fresh Kills Park is spread over 2,200 acres of land in Staten Island and is about to become the largest park in New York. Take a Free 90-minute bus tour and learn about the transformation of the former landfill into a green gem of the Staten Island waterfront while enjoying the view of the surrounding bridges.
Fort Totten Park of Queens is a home to Civil War masonry forts and everyone interested in U.S, History should consider going there. Sign up for a Free guided tour and enjoy a glimpse into the historical part of New York. You can also participate in one of the many events and festivities taking place here all year round, from bird watching in the winter to visiting the park’s haunted mansion at Halloween.
If the only means of transportation you acknowledge is a bike, reserve a spot at the Bronx River Ride to The Source. Keep in mind that this 5-hour ride is not for the faint of heart.
Park Slope, an up-and-coming neighborhood in Brooklyn, was not always a home to artists and writers. If you want to know what the area was like before the invasion of art galleries and upscale coffee shops, the Urban Ranger tour is a good way to find out.
With summer on its way, everyone tries to spend more time outdoors and the city offers a lot of great opportunities to do that. We suggest you start with visiting one of the many green and leafy escapes from the chaotic life of the megapolis.
Central Park is one of the city’s landmarks and a definite must-see, but it’s just one of the many New York’s urban oasises. The Fresh Kills Park is spread over 2,200 acres of land in Staten Island and is about to become the largest park in New York. Take a Free 90-minute bus tour and learn about the transformation of the former landfill into a green gem of the Staten Island waterfront while enjoying the view of the surrounding bridges.
Fort Totten Park of Queens is a home to Civil War masonry forts and everyone interested in U.S, History should consider going there. Sign up for a Free guided tour and enjoy a glimpse into the historical part of New York. You can also participate in one of the many events and festivities taking place here all year round, from bird watching in the winter to visiting the park’s haunted mansion at Halloween.
If the only means of transportation you acknowledge is a bike, reserve a spot at the Bronx River Ride to The Source. Keep in mind that this 5-hour ride is not for the faint of heart.
Park Slope, an up-and-coming neighborhood in Brooklyn, was not always a home to artists and writers. If you want to know what the area was like before the invasion of art galleries and upscale coffee shops, the Urban Ranger tour is a good way to find out.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Everyone has a favorite social network. It’s either a ubiquitous Facebook, or straight-to-a-point Twitter, or down-to-business LinkedIn. Here’s another service that you might want to check out, LiveMocha. It’s an online language learning community offering free and paid lessons. The website is very popular and has over 9 million members from all over the world. What you can do there, is to find a native English speaker for language practice. You can ask questions about grammar, word usage, translation, take online tests or quizzes, and more importantly, work on your English speaking skills. Since practice makes perfect, you should use all resources you have to perfect the language, and this website offers just that.
Livemocha community is built on reciprocal approach wherein people work together to help each other learn the languages they want. When you create a profile on Livemocha, you need to specify what language you want to learn and what language(s) you speak fluently, and the website will match you with other members.
Livemocha has an online chat where you can practice your written English Skills. If you don’t know a meaning of any word, you can use the built-in Phrase Translator to look it up. You can also work on your understanding and maintaining a conversation using the Conversation Scenarios. This will definitely come in handy when you’ll be taking tests or writing essays. You can use a microphone and/or webcam to talk to your Livemocha partner and practice your conversational skills. If you want to work on pronunciation, you can record phrases, words or texts and submit a spoken exercise for review.
All basic features of Livemocha membership that you might need to work on your English skills – chat, messaging, and flashcards - are free.
Livemocha community is built on reciprocal approach wherein people work together to help each other learn the languages they want. When you create a profile on Livemocha, you need to specify what language you want to learn and what language(s) you speak fluently, and the website will match you with other members.
Livemocha has an online chat where you can practice your written English Skills. If you don’t know a meaning of any word, you can use the built-in Phrase Translator to look it up. You can also work on your understanding and maintaining a conversation using the Conversation Scenarios. This will definitely come in handy when you’ll be taking tests or writing essays. You can use a microphone and/or webcam to talk to your Livemocha partner and practice your conversational skills. If you want to work on pronunciation, you can record phrases, words or texts and submit a spoken exercise for review.
All basic features of Livemocha membership that you might need to work on your English skills – chat, messaging, and flashcards - are free.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Learning a new language is never easy. Knowing what you can expect in the process will help you avoid desperation and stay focused and persistent. Difficulties in learning will greatly depend on the degree of difference between your native language and English. Students whose native language is French or German generally face fewer obstacles than native speakers of Chinese, Japanese or Arabic. This is something that you should definitely keep in mind if you experience difficulties with any aspects of learning. Remember: everyone is capable of mastering English, but some of you might have to invest more time and effort into it. So what are the most common difficulties that you might encounter?
Pronunciation
As you already know, the same letters in English words are pronounced differently. For instance, the letter “a” in “cat” is not the same as “a” in “rate,” and the digraph “th” is pronounced differently in “there” and “thaw.” The way to deal with it is to learn and constantly practice the rules of pronunciation and memorize the exceptions from these rules.
Grammar
While it may seem confusing and complicated at the very beginning, English grammar is actually very structured and clear. Do a lot of grammar exercises, write often and read a lot, and you’ll learn it in no time.
Spelling
Read, read and read once again to learn the spelling of the words. Memorize the rules of spelling and learn to recognize the exceptions by doing a lot of vocabulary building exercises, word games, puzzles and quizzes. And don’t forget to invest in a good dictionary!
Pronunciation
As you already know, the same letters in English words are pronounced differently. For instance, the letter “a” in “cat” is not the same as “a” in “rate,” and the digraph “th” is pronounced differently in “there” and “thaw.” The way to deal with it is to learn and constantly practice the rules of pronunciation and memorize the exceptions from these rules.
Grammar
While it may seem confusing and complicated at the very beginning, English grammar is actually very structured and clear. Do a lot of grammar exercises, write often and read a lot, and you’ll learn it in no time.
Spelling
Read, read and read once again to learn the spelling of the words. Memorize the rules of spelling and learn to recognize the exceptions by doing a lot of vocabulary building exercises, word games, puzzles and quizzes. And don’t forget to invest in a good dictionary!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
There is no better spot in a country to learn about culture and language, than a major city. When it comes to finding the people, location and resources to learn English, New York City is the place. It meshes so many different cultures together, living harmoniously in one area. However, the people of those different cultures find themselves in similar straights, needing to better their English in order to succeed in the city. Many people know English only as a second language in the city, sharing the common goal of improving their command of it. New York City is known for quite a few things and teaching English to those who need it to improve their lives is definitely on the list.
The best part about city life is that many resources are available and well within access most of the time. Learning any language requires participating in a well paced program that combines lessons with constant immersion. To learn a language, you have to speak it, sleep it and live it. Going to classes can be a nuisance, but in the city it’s very easy. With so many available locations, it is easy to find a program conveniently located, with time slots that fit any schedule. Public transportation in a city is usually at its best. A person can get anywhere in the city at anytime with little or no hassle. These benefits of the city just make it much easier on a person to go to classes and improve their English.
Not to mention, New York City is one of the most vibrant cities in all of the United States. If you are going to pick a place to learn English fluently, this is it. All aspects of the language are handled, heard and learned in the streets of the Big Apple. English isn’t just a language here, it’s a way of life. Learn the language in the classroom and experience it in the city.
The best part about city life is that many resources are available and well within access most of the time. Learning any language requires participating in a well paced program that combines lessons with constant immersion. To learn a language, you have to speak it, sleep it and live it. Going to classes can be a nuisance, but in the city it’s very easy. With so many available locations, it is easy to find a program conveniently located, with time slots that fit any schedule. Public transportation in a city is usually at its best. A person can get anywhere in the city at anytime with little or no hassle. These benefits of the city just make it much easier on a person to go to classes and improve their English.
Not to mention, New York City is one of the most vibrant cities in all of the United States. If you are going to pick a place to learn English fluently, this is it. All aspects of the language are handled, heard and learned in the streets of the Big Apple. English isn’t just a language here, it’s a way of life. Learn the language in the classroom and experience it in the city.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Throughout the world, language resides as a barrier between cultures. The spread of technology and global business ventures turned language into a barrier that needed overcoming. As a result, there are a few languages that have taken a leading role as a common tongue throughout the world and English is one of them. To communicate business in anyway, you almost have to know English. If you live in the U.S, it is possible to get by without being fluent in the legal language of this country, but it will make life incredibly difficult. Not having a strong base in the English language puts limiters on what a person can accomplish in this country. It is necessary to overcome an obstacle of this size to achieve your goals and make use of other opportunities that may find you. Knowing the native tongue of this country gives a person options and a chance to find their own way to living well. Open doors and stop limiting yourself, learn English and start living the life you want.
As we have all heard before, knowledge is power. When that knowledge involves the leading method of communication, then it is a power that acts as the key to all the locks around. Do not be fooled, the locks are everywhere. You cannot get most jobs offered without knowing English. You cannot raise higher in any business organization without knowing how to communicate in English. Healthcare is mostly handled in English, so if you cannot speak it, how will you properly maintain your health and the health of your loved ones? Driving, finding good deals, keeping up with current events and everything else is done in English. Not learning it or not becoming fluent in it is creating a handicap for yourself. It is like cutting off a limb; in this case, perhaps two.
Advancing down a path to a better life will eventually, require that you know the English language. One of the main tools for bettering life is furthering ones own education. If you live in the U.S, education is handled in English. The dots connect themselves.
If you are not fluent or at least have a firm grasp of the language, then gaining one should be your first priority. It is the biggest problem anyone not fluent faces in this country, when trying to make their way. There are accredited organizations that can and will help anyone improve their skills with English. Learn English and start unlocking the doors to a better life .
As we have all heard before, knowledge is power. When that knowledge involves the leading method of communication, then it is a power that acts as the key to all the locks around. Do not be fooled, the locks are everywhere. You cannot get most jobs offered without knowing English. You cannot raise higher in any business organization without knowing how to communicate in English. Healthcare is mostly handled in English, so if you cannot speak it, how will you properly maintain your health and the health of your loved ones? Driving, finding good deals, keeping up with current events and everything else is done in English. Not learning it or not becoming fluent in it is creating a handicap for yourself. It is like cutting off a limb; in this case, perhaps two.
Advancing down a path to a better life will eventually, require that you know the English language. One of the main tools for bettering life is furthering ones own education. If you live in the U.S, education is handled in English. The dots connect themselves.
If you are not fluent or at least have a firm grasp of the language, then gaining one should be your first priority. It is the biggest problem anyone not fluent faces in this country, when trying to make their way. There are accredited organizations that can and will help anyone improve their skills with English. Learn English and start unlocking the doors to a better life .
Friday, December 17, 2010
Since the 1960s, the bilingual education debate has had its place in the media. Discussions of the good and bad of bilingual education are believed to have originated from two acts, the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Bilingual Education Act (1968) that played such a dominant role in shaping laws for bilingual education.
Lately, the pros of bilingual education have become a critical topic of much scrutiny among scholars, parents, teachers and various educational organizations. Understanding various bilingual educational benefits will help us take an unbiased stand on the effectiveness of a bilingual educational system.
For those that have no idea, in bilingual education, students are taught over a period of time in their native language and English is treated as a second language. It is taught at the same time and only when the student is believed to have attained a certain proficiency in their native language. Supposedly, this makes it easier to master English. Technically and simply speaking, bilingual education is any educational system that encourages teaching more than one language.
Of course, depending on the type of multiple languages used to teach, there can be various types of bilingual educational systems. According to proponents of bilingual educational systems, the most important benefit of bilingual education system is that a student who is from a non-English speaking background can easily learn English. From their work, it is easier to pick it up during his language development, in his native language as well as English.
Besides, it’s great to be proficient in more than one language. What problem does it create if a student is well conversed in English as well as his mother’s native tongue? Besides that, a child who is exposed to multiple languages will be able to develop a better sense for appreciating differing cultures and understanding vastly different societies.
After all, now we’re living in a global world, so being multilingual is always an asset in firms and business works. One added bonus to more people taking advantage of becoming bilingual is that a child can easily use his native language in groups and he won’t feel ashamed of it.
Often, the case is that the speaker of a foreign language is just aware of their native tongue and may face problems like hesitation and clarity when expressing themselves. The bilingual educational system would be a beautiful form of education as the non-English speakers can learn English, even while strengthening their cultural bonds by remaining proficient in their mother tongue as well.
Lately, the pros of bilingual education have become a critical topic of much scrutiny among scholars, parents, teachers and various educational organizations. Understanding various bilingual educational benefits will help us take an unbiased stand on the effectiveness of a bilingual educational system.
For those that have no idea, in bilingual education, students are taught over a period of time in their native language and English is treated as a second language. It is taught at the same time and only when the student is believed to have attained a certain proficiency in their native language. Supposedly, this makes it easier to master English. Technically and simply speaking, bilingual education is any educational system that encourages teaching more than one language.
Of course, depending on the type of multiple languages used to teach, there can be various types of bilingual educational systems. According to proponents of bilingual educational systems, the most important benefit of bilingual education system is that a student who is from a non-English speaking background can easily learn English. From their work, it is easier to pick it up during his language development, in his native language as well as English.
Besides, it’s great to be proficient in more than one language. What problem does it create if a student is well conversed in English as well as his mother’s native tongue? Besides that, a child who is exposed to multiple languages will be able to develop a better sense for appreciating differing cultures and understanding vastly different societies.
After all, now we’re living in a global world, so being multilingual is always an asset in firms and business works. One added bonus to more people taking advantage of becoming bilingual is that a child can easily use his native language in groups and he won’t feel ashamed of it.
Often, the case is that the speaker of a foreign language is just aware of their native tongue and may face problems like hesitation and clarity when expressing themselves. The bilingual educational system would be a beautiful form of education as the non-English speakers can learn English, even while strengthening their cultural bonds by remaining proficient in their mother tongue as well.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Despite the quick rise in popularity of Spanish, the dominant language in the United States of America is still English. It does not matter where you work, eventually English is necessary in your job. It is more than just wise, it is necessary to Learn English to make yourself more useful to employers and to remove the salary cap you have placed on yourself. Trying to get by without perfecting the language, or at least having a firm grasp on English, is a sure method to never advancing at work.
Look at all the communications that are involved in one day at work. It does not matter if you are a laborer, salesman or manager. If you preform labor as your work, then you most likely have to talk to your fellow workmates and your supervisor, maybe two. Maybe all of them speak your language, that is not English, and so you get along just fine at work. Of course, the parts and the maintenance of anything you do is in English, which means someone always has to explain what is going on, what new thing needs to be done, or what directions are being given by the manager or foreman. Simply because you cannot Speak English fluently, someone else has to be designated to explaining everything to you. Being a hard worker will not keep your job safe.
As a non-English speaking member of the team, you are a liability.
For anyone moving up the ladder in their workplace, or trying to move up the ladder, not having a firm foundation in English really hinders your potential. A position like manager requires communication to those employees you direct, the ones that are your equal that must be coordinated with, and the superiors that expect flawless execution of orders, as well as, clear and concise reports. Guess what language those reports had better be communicated through?.
Besides needing English to properly communicate with the several different levels of business once in an organization, it is also needed to promote ones self. Networking is a difficult task when your English is shaky and unreliable. Accomplishing it well means making new associates that are happy to converse with you about things work related and outside. Struggling to communicate through a language barrier is not fun for anyone, making it much harder to make contacts. No one wants the task of deciphering whatever it is you say on a constant basis.
Do yourself a favor and sign up for bettering your English. Just getting through the interview process for a job requires some handle on it. Make it easier on yourself and Learn the English Language that controls this country. It only makes sense.
Take control of your career and your future; improve your English today.
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