Understanding English – or any second language – is one thing. Being able to speak it clearly and confidently is another. There are many great websites to help you learn English; the grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary. Often, though, when it comes to learning to SPEAK the language well, it’s easy to find yourself feeling alone.

Here are 5 really good ways to improve your spoken English.

Method 1 – Listen to Native Speakers of English

This is important for two reasons. The first is that, if you are learning English with a teacher who is NOT a native speaker, you will be picking up mistakes as well as valuable information. You will be learning to speak English with the accent of your teacher, and NOT the accent of a native speaker.

What usually happens is that non-native speakers of English actually produce sounds in a different area of the mouth to native speakers, which his why second language speakers often find English sounds like ‘r’, ‘n’, ‘w’ and ‘th’ difficult or even impossible to say. They will copy their teacher and make a guess at it, often without getting it right. The second reason that this is important is that by listening carefully to native speakers, you will hear the flow and the ‘music’ of the language. This is something that you HAVE to hear – you cannot learn it from books and newspapers.

Method 2 – Just Say It!

Does this sound familiar? You’ve decided you’re going to practice speaking English…you’ve thought about what you want to say..you wait for your moment to speak, and when it comes…you say nothing. I’ve done this, when learning French and Spanish, and I’m sure you have too. Why do we do this? Usually we are worried in case we make a mistake, in case we get it wrong, or in case the other person misunderstands, or laughs. FEAR prevents us from practice. Just take a deep breath and SAY IT. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t sound perfect, just say it. Speaking out loud is the only way to improve your spoken English (or my French and Spanish!). The good news is, the more you do it, the easier it gets, and the more confident you become.

Method 3 – Act A Little!

This one might seem strange, but a good way of improving your English is to act a little. For example, to learn a British English accent, you might pretend that you are ‘Lord or Lady so-and-so’, or another suitable character. Imagine how they would talk: how clearly and precisely would they form their words? This isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Many people are nervous about speaking out loud because they are embarrassed or even surprised by the new sounds that they are making. Putting those sounds into a ‘character’ like this can be a useful way of getting over those nerves. You probably wouldn’t want to speak in this voice all the time, but it’s a good way to practice on your own!

Linked to this idea about acting, is to focus on the mouth positions needed to speak good, clear English. Make these mouth positions bigger than they need to be when you practice them. Really get used to how the English sounds are made, and how they differ from the same sounds made in your own language. This will go some way towards helping you reduce your accent and the Mother Tongue Influence (MTI) on your spoken English.

Method 4 – Ask!

This is an obvious one…BUT it’s one that many people overlook!! How many times have you had a question about speaking better English, you’ve typed it into a search engine, and seen which answers most closely match your questions? What about using this as a starting point and ASKING the information provider your own question? It’s a good idea to make sure that your question has a chance of being answered, though – there are many forums where questions can sit for days or even weeks without an answer, and you might not want to wait that long.

There are many people (myself included) with blogs, YouTube channels, twitter and Facebook pages who can and will answer any questions that you have. Sometimes it’s easier to ask someone over the internet than put your hand up in class! Perhaps more importantly, we’ll either be able to provide you with specific answers, or your questions can be answered in way which will help other learners too.

Method 5 – Sign Up and Subscribe!

I’m sure many of you may already be doing this. Find those useful websites and blogs, and subscribe. That way you’ll receive ongoing, useful information to help you improve your spoken English, as well as invitations to online events…AND the opportunity to connect with other learners around the world, and swap ideas. You’ll find many opportunities online to hear native speakers speaking in real time in broadcasts of this sort. Choosing one that’s about English speaking is obviously a good choice: the host will be speaking slowly and clearly so you can hear and understand as much as possible.

It’s also useful to sign up for podcasts etc that are in English but on any subject matter of interest. These will probably be more of a challenge, as you will hear English spoken at a more natural pace. However, if your goal is to learn business English, then listening in to a call about business issues will not only be a chance for you to hear the language spoken at a natural speed, you’ll learn some new vocabulary too.

On international calls, listen carefully to the differences between native speakers, and those speaking English as a second language. LISTENING, as you’ll already be aware, is a critical part of improving the way you SPEAK. Above all, use this as an extra opportunity to PRACTICE wherever you can. Make sure that the knowledge in your head actually comes out of your mouth!

Article by Annabelle Beckwith
Annabelle is the author of “Confident English – improve your spoken English…today!” at http://www.coachmeconfident.com and a professional communication skills trainer and accent reduction coach.

Study English Plan

First step ” Choose your Goal” for learning English
Goals are your motivation, what do you wish to accomplish with English?

• Sell and market your products to English speaking countries
• Be able to operate a business completely in English.
• Publish an authoritative business, scientific journal article in English
• Be admitted and study in a North American university.
• Travel independently in English speaking countries.
• As an Artist, perform for English speaking audiences
• Enjoy entertainment produced by English speaking artists
• Immigrate into an English speaking country
• Be promoted in your company, or get a better job
• Use English instructions for computer applications. Surf the net in English
• Score 950 on the Toeic test or 280 on the new Toefl exam

Second step “Summarize the Learning Methods” how you learn best
Examples of questions to determine “how you learn best”

• What English can you learn the most while studying alone?
• What English can you learn the most studying in a group?
• Can you listen once and remember the pronunciation and vocabulary?
• Does it help to see pictures of nouns or action verbs demonstrated?
• Do you have to write and repeat words to memorize vocabulary?
• How many times and ways must you use a word to “know” its proper context?
• How often do you have to repeat lessons?
• Can you create and use mnemonics to remember lists
• Does music or games help you to relax making learning easier?

Third step “Form a Plan” use the best learning methods to reach Goals
An example of a two year plan to learn English:

• (First 6 months) Start with picture dictionaries, study pronunciation, watch TV, listen to taped conversations, for 1 – 2 hours each day.
• (Second 6 months) Add grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary studies, start to read newspapers/magazines, for 1 – 2 hours each day
• (Third 6 months) Add one hour of English conversation classes everyday for 6 months, review grammar and vocabulary.
• (Fourth 6 months) Travel to Canada for 400 hours of English conversation classes, perform some volunteer work, take a special interest course and travel using English.
• (After two Years)Continuing education with one conversation class per week, watch English News on TV, read English newspapers

Fourth step “create a cost & benefit analysis for your plan”

• What FREE English learning resources are available on the internet?
• What FREE English learning resources are at the library, community or cultural centers?
• What FREE English Learning clubs offer conversation classes?
• What FREE English Language exchange clubs offer conversation classes?
• Compare the costs of books, texts, tapes, Cd’s for self-study.
• Analyze the cost of instruction by tutors in a small group of 3 or 4
• Analyze the cost of instruction at local English schools
• Analyze costs of foreign travel and accommodation to study English abroad.

Fifth step “Start your Plan”

Need help with your Plan?
Use the following chart and Answer questions with a %

How do you like to study?

By yourself____%

One partner____%

Small groups____%

Large groups____%

Total of this group = 100 %

What learning materials do you like to use?

audio CD’s or cassettes____%

DVD’s, videos or television____%

CALL and interactive computer programs____%

picture dictionaries____%

ESL workbooks____%

regular subject text books____%

newspapers, magazines____%

Total of this group = 100 %

Conversation Practice

group pronunciation drills____%

Conversations with native speakers____%

Low structure ESL student conversation____%

High structure ESL teacher talk____%

Total of this group = 100 %

1. Find an English Speaking Pen Pal
Having a person to interact with can make a huge difference in the pace of your grammar acquisition. Your pen pal will introduce you to a conversational English that you may not get from books and lessons. Keep the conversations more about your life and less about your grammar questions. After awhile, you will have a friend to visit when you travel, and so will your pen pal!

2. Ask Questions
While you shouldn’t bombard your pen pal with questions, you still need to ask questions! So, where do you do that? Use Internet forums. Many of these forums are just brimming with friendly people who would love to answer your question and give you advice.

3. Read Fiction
Start reading English fiction at whatever level you can understand. Reading will help you to learn grammar inductively, and reading fiction will pull you along with a story that will keep your studies interesting.

4. Study Your Native Language’s Grammar
Knowing this will make it easier to understand English grammar. Although there will inevitably be differences between your first language and English, having an understanding of how grammar works in any language will make a huge difference. It will be easier to become familiar with grammatical concepts in your native language and transfer them to English rather than being bombarded with everything unfamiliar at once.

5. Learn Sentence Diagramming
After you have a fairly good grasp on English vocabulary, learning sentence diagramming can be a great way for you to learn English grammar. Sentence diagrams show the relationships between words by using a visual diagram. This makes it easier to learn and retain grammatical concepts.

6. Join an English Internet Community
When working toward any goal, it’s always good to have the support of other like-minded people. Joining an ESL Internet community gives you the ability to be connected to thousands of other English learners at once. From them, you can get help with issues you are facing, support and encouragement, and you can offer the same to other people!

As with adding any value to your life, learning English grammar will take patience and persistence. Keep working hard, and you will get there!

To learn all about English grammar and diagramming sentences see: http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com

Hello, my name is Elizabeth O’Brien, and I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Education and TESOL at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire.

Soon after beginning my teaching career, I noticed that diagramming sentences was one of the most underrated ways to learn English grammar. Both my students and I found that diagramming sentences was fun, and it made grammar acquisition much easier.

With the wide array of internet websites offering free instruction in studying English, there is a whole world of possibilities to learn English online. You can search on the web to find the most suitable sites for your learning, or use several sites in combination with each other to make full use of all possibilities. The first step is to discover the alphabet and learn what sounds each letter makes. As soon as you master the alphabet, you can then create a combination of letters and sounds in order to make new words.

When you first search how to learn English online you will find many options. Many online sites that teach English assume that you have a basic knowledge of the alphabet. It is important to find one that offers basic training, before moving on to more advanced grammar lessons. It is very important in your quest to learn English online that you choose a site that teaches listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. You can become fluent in no time if you learn these aspects of the English language.

There are online sites for children and adults. Even adult sites offer games in order to reinforce learning; and the influence of the games should not be neglected. Learning can be very exciting through games and you can get a lot of exposure to English vocabulary words and their usage. Another great way to learn English online is by listening to music. You can watch and listen to basic tunes that have the words listed with them. By learning some simple tunes you can be on your way to learning.

It is very important to listen to English as much as possible. Many people watch television when they are learning to speak English. If you have subtitles then you can learn even faster. When you are learning how to learn English online there are many exercises that are available on the website that teach listening skills. These can be very useful in the sense that they give you the opportunity to listen to English at your own pace. By listening you can improve your pronunciation of words, and you can practice all the words that you may be having problems with.

Taking lessons on how to speak English online allows you to learn at your own pace. You can use the lessons as needed, take online tests, and repeat them as much as you like until you feel comfortable with your knowledge. When you first start to learn English you will find the translation from English into your mother tongue is natural. As you continue to learn through your online English classes then this will start to decrease, and you find yourself thinking in the English frame of mind more often.

If you want to continue your studies to a university or college level in a country that speaks English then you will have to continue your online studies. During the time you are learning English online you will get the direction that you need for all the classes that you will pursue.

Ryan Kent-Temple is a webmaster helping people worldwide with Learning English to “Improve my English” online. He is also a moderator on the World English Club Forums which is available for everybody that desires improvement. If you want to find out more about this please visit http://www.WorldEnglishClub.com to Learn English Online, which is a leading site on the topic of how to learn and improve your English online by listening to English spoken word.

You’ve studied for several years, but trying to learn English grammar puts you to sleep. You are starting to feel comfortable with the language. You understand most conversations and can follow the thread when watching movies; you can carry out your day-to-day activities and can interact with native speakers, but your English grammar needs work.

You’ve tried all the grammar books but haven’t made any progress. This article teaches you how to learn grammar without studying grammar rules. It assumes that you are surrounded by native English speakers. (You can still apply these tips if you are not, but you’ll have to work harder to create language opportunities.) Let’s get started: how to learn English grammar without memorizing grammar rules.

Lay the foundation: Read

How much do you read in English? Do you do any pleasure reading in English? If not, start there. Ask the librarian at your local library to select books in English that match your current abilities. For example, if your conversational skills are at an intermediate level, i.e. you can speak on familiar topics, ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements, and carry on face-to-face discussions, I’d recommend that you start with children’s picture books. The pictures are engaging, and the stories entertaining. They are short enough for you to not get discouraged, and the language is varied enough to expose you to a rich pallet so you can learn English grammar and vocabulary.

I love Cinderella stories; many variations on this tale exist. Some of my favorites are Ella’s Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella by Kate Greenaway, Fanny’s Dream by Caralyn Buehner, and Bubba the Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman. Speaking of Helen Ketteman, I also love her Aunt Hilarity’s Bustle; besides being an entertaining story, this has a rich set of vocabulary.

If your English skills are at the advanced level, for example, you are able to participate freely in most casual and some work conversations, able to give simple directions or explanations at work, and able to talk about past and future events, then you might want to try young adult literature.

Keeping with the Cinderella theme, one of my favorites is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. I also love serial books — books that have more than one book in the same series — the Little House on the Prairie series is a timeless classic. The Harry Potter books have taken the world by storm; I’ve enjoyed them. If you undertake this series, you will certainly learn English grammar since some of the books have more than 500 pages.

If your skills are still at a beginner level, don’t fret. For example, if you are able to ask questions and make simple statements based on memorized sentences, understand conversation fragments and simple commands, then look for beginning readers. Beginning readers are designed for children just learning to read. These books have simple vocabulary and short sentences.

Once you find the right level of books, start reading regularly. I recommend reading at least twenty minutes per day. As you do so, make mental notes of the grammar structure. As you find grammar constructions that regularly puzzle you, note them on paper to discuss later with a native speaker. It will help your pronunciation and fluency if you do at least part of your reading aloud. Keep reading. As your skills improve, select books that are more difficult.

You might wonder how all this reading will help you learn English grammar. Jim Trelease is an expert on reading. In his book, The Read-Aloud Handbook, he explains how reading helps grammar: “Grammar is more caught than taught, and the way you catch it is the same way you catch the flu: you’re exposed to it” (6th edition p. 41). Think of these readings as English grammar exercises, the more you expose yourself to correct grammar, the more you’ll be able to use correct grammar.

Build your skills: Write

You may spend several months focusing on daily reading in English. Once daily reading becomes second nature, it will be time to turn your attention to writing. You’ll need a helper for this. Find a native speaker who can help you practice and drill you on English grammar exercises. This person will become your mentor. Choose someone who is patient and who can commit some time to help you learn. Look for someone who might have time available — a retired person, for example. Your mentor does not need to be a professional language teacher. In fact, it might be better to get someone who is not a professional because then she will not have pre-conceived ideas about how you should learn English grammar.

Eventually, you’ll want your mentor to create drills for you to practice grammar patterns that you find difficult. But first, let’s start writing. Try capturing your weekend experiences (or other meaningful events) on paper. Select experiences that are meaningful to you and write them down in your native language. Then translate them.

It might seem like you are taking a step backwards to write first in your native language. You might think: “Hey, I already know my language; I want to get better at English. I want to be able to think in English without having to translate.” Patience; I want you to think in English too. The reason for this extra step is because you write in more complex sentences in your native tongue. If you write the stories directly in English, you are likely to use simpler grammar and vocabulary. Translating from your native language forces you to use more complex English than you would if you wrote first in English.

Next, have your mentor correct any grammar errors. Also, ask him to make sure that the English doesn’t sound awkward. Use this time to have him explain, if possible, why certain constructions are incorrect or awkward. Have patience with him, though; sometimes he might say, “It doesn’t sound right.” During this process, make sure that you watch for errors that you repeat over and over. Finally, create drills to practice saying these things correctly.

Summary

In summary, using these two techniques will help you learn English grammar. Reading will be fun and will expose you to correct English. Writing about your experiences will let you hone your grammar and will be a nice way to record your thoughts and feelings. Best of all, you’ll get better at English, and you’ll never have to memorize another grammar rule.

Being an instructor for a foreign language is not easy, and especially if the language is English, which everyone wants to learn due to its usability.

Bored of nothing to do, last weekend I visited yahoo chat-room to get acquainted with some other instructors or persons in my field and exchange knowledge. Maybe even pick some helpful tips during the conversation. Not long into the chat-room I met this wonderful American lady who is currently employed in Bangalore as a Language Consultant. Her core responsibility was to eliminate the Indian English accent people there are so much into, and substitute it with American English. This is needed so that the call centers can better serve their US clients that largely consist of chain of Hotels.

We had a brief but extremely helpful conversation relating to her experiences, views and mode through which she guides her class. During our conversation she pointed out, to which I agree 100%, that most of them who take her classes are quite versed with English as a language. Simply put, they know more about English than they actually have confidence for. Of course, here I put in my experience about those attending my sessions and also people external to our organization who frequently seek my opinion and advice seem to be in the state as her students.

In light of our experiences, understanding and communication deficiencies we face while we use English as a language is due to the lack of practice. This she pointed out, and as you can understand that I completely agree, is the main reason why we quite often meet those who feel that they are not well versed in the language.

Truth be told, most of us, those of us having formal education at least, have enough exposure to, at least, start with English as a language. With enough vocabulary, listening, reading, writing and understanding abilities as needed. However, to boost up our confidence in English here are some suggestions:

1. Make reading a regular habit.

Read an article, a book or any other reading materials at least for 30 minutes. If you feel that your English is weak and you do not have the determination to improve it as much, employ at least 15 minutes to this task. True, when you start you may fumble and may not be able to cover that much of text in terms of quantity. But gradually as you proceed, you most certainly will find reading quite easy and will be able to cover more as time goes by.

2. Do not worry about what some words mean.

At this point it is best not to worry about understanding each and every word. English is a rich language with millions of words and it is quite impossible to know each and every English words. If you can manage it, of course, you can call yourself a Dictionary and get your place in the Guinness Record.

The trick at this stage is to find a material that you feel comfortable reading. A magazine or a book the language of which is easier for you to understand will be good enough, rather than taking up Shakespeare simply because it is available.

You may require reading a paragraph a number of times to get the meaning during the beginning depending on the complexity of the subject the material is about, or the order of presentation. But soon you will get the hold of it.

My view is, keep yourself away from tech books. Simply since you have your MCTS exam coming up shouldn’t be an excuse to think that it is general English reading. It in now way is any where close to it.

3. Reflect on what you have read.

Once you are done reading your assigned time, make it a habit to try to reflect on what you have read. Try to think what the author wanted to say, and try to grasp the essence of arrangement of words and presentation of thoughts. No two writers have the same style of presentation. And it is quite obvious that you will develop your own in time. But reflection on what you have read gives you the opportunity to review your material, re-understand and instantly mold your pattern of thinking to the way idea was presented in the text.

4. Make sure you stick to your routine.

It is advisable to first make a habit of reading in relation to time. In other words, reading for 15, 30 or 45 minutes daily rather than 30, 50 or 100 pages a day. The reason for this is simple. Depending on your strength in English, 1 average page of novel may take up say 5 minutes to read when you begin your venture towards mastering English. But gradually when you move in time the same amount of content will probably take up 1 minute or so. So it is important to review your strength regularly. And as you become more proficient in language, you may shift from targeting time to targeting the number of pages you cover. This will enable you to read fast and understand as you pace up.

5. There can be no substitute to writing.

Just as authors reflect their thought in text that we read, it helps to take up notes on what you read. Try to make this a habit as well for the time being. The main purpose of this writing is to help you strengthen your writing skills as well and align your thoughts to reflection on paper in English. So how and when do you take notes? My advice is in-book and off-book notes both.

While readying keep a pencil in your hand so you can mark difficult as you come across them. The trick is to read a sentence with difficult word, then underline the word itself, then read the sentence again. See how I didn’t't tell you to refer to the dictionary at this point. You should concentrate on reading and underlining only, with objective to understand the complete reading target.

Once your reading target is achieved you may, and in fact should, refer to a dictionary to find the meaning of the word you underlined. You may come across multiple words. In which case, you will need to find out the most appropriate meaning in this context. Once that is done, go to where you have underlined the word and with your pencil, and of course in your own words write down the meaning of the word in the border space, or on top or bottom space of the page.

Now that you completed the in-book notes, its time to go for off book note keeping. Maintain a writing pad or some other writing material and keep it with you when you read. Once you have completed your reading, close your reading material and try to write down what you have read, in your own words of course. This will help you put your thoughts in words and in black and white. It always helps if you go one step further and review what you have written, trying to enhance it further. This will assist in you structuring your writing and develop your own style of presentation.

6. Watch documentary or news.

News and documentaries is arena that uses English in a well structured way and in a manner that is easy to understand by all. Take out a time in day to watch a documentary or news; again you can assign time to it depending on your daily schedule.

7. Discuss with others.

It always helps to form a group. You can share your reading materials and what you have read and understood. You can also share your views on an author, his writing, stories or even news or documentary you have seen. This will help you develop your understanding better if you are sharing the same material and opinion on it. It will also allow you have a glimpse how others understand the way a material is written and the way you present your thoughts and understanding. You can also share notes so that others can modify and make it better. At the very worst, if they can’t make it better through modification, you will be able to know another structure of presentation of your writing. Again this opens a new dimension for you.

Even in countries in which English is not the primary language, it is important to learn English for a number of reasons. First of all, many English-speaking individuals tour other countries and they may not speak the native language of that country, so it is necessary for them to speak to others who can speak English. Then again, many wish to learn English because they are hoping to visit or even live in an English-speaking country someday.

However, learning how to speak English in a non-English country can be quite challenging. Where those learning how to speak English in English-speaking countries have a lot of resources to their disposal such as television, radio, and libraries that are packed full of books written in English, the resident of a non-English country does not have that luxury. That is why it is important to explore other options.

Below are the 10 best ways that an individual wishing to speak English can learn in their own county:

1. The Internet is going to be your best friend. It is packed full of resources, reading materials, sound recordings, and so much more that can help you learn the meaning of the words that you read and speak.

2. Check out your local video store and see if there are movies in English. There may be a few. Don’t worry about the entertainment value of the title. You are watching it so you can stop it and replay it in order to focus on your English speaking skills.

3. Record yourself when you speak English. After you are finished recording, play it back and see what you sound like. If you are not clear, then you can simply try again. This is a great way to see how others hear you.

4. Go to your library and pick out titles that are written in English. Try to read those titles. Just be mindful of the difficulty level and even practice writing some of the sentences.

5. Find an English CD and listen to it. Decipher the words and even try to sing along. This can be a lot of fun. If you want to, you can record yourself doing this and really have a lot of fun.

6. Try to surround yourself with as many English materials as possible. Not just books, movies, and CDs, but magazines and any products that you can find in the store that may have English written on them. Some major brands service many countries and have multiple languages written on their packaging.

7. Practice with a friend. This friend may not know English, but impress them with your skills. You may even try to teach what you have learned because you will be less likely to forget by repeating the information to another.

8. If you hear a word and you don’t know what it is, write it down and do research on what it means. In your research you’ll encounter many more English words for you to ponder over.

9. Keep a diary in English. The things you write can be as simple as what day it is and what the weather is like outside.

10. And the most important to learn English is to consider online ESL courses. These online courses help you learn at your pace and provide you with materials that will have you speaking English in no time. All of the other steps can be used outside of your courses to make you proficient in the language.

So as you can see, there are many things you can do, but the ESL courses are certainly going to prove to be the doorway that will get you to where you need to be.

In order to learn English, there is no need to be physically present in an English speaking country, Online English school dedicated to help students to achieve their English language goals.

Your Needs

Perhaps you are motivated to learn English in order to qualify for a job that requires you to speak with others in English – in person and on the telephone. Or maybe your motivation is to use your English for traveling or conversation with international friends. Or perhaps you are preparing to take courses in English – either online or at a university. If any of these apply to you, choose an English learning program that provides a lot of practice listening to English.

Listening

In my opinion, listening is the single most important element in learning English (or any other language). The point of learning English is to be able to communicate. It is important to practice speaking English, but speaking does not provide the opportunities for learning that listening provides. When we listen, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation are all presented in a context. And remember that, ideally, during a conversation you will be listening half of the time. So make listening a high priority.

You will want to listen to a lot of different voices of native English speakers. It helps to have a native English-speaking teacher. However, there are a lot of very good English teachers who are not native speakers. If you are considering learning from a non-native English-speaking teacher, you will want to know if the teacher uses audio files with the voices of native speakers.

Listening in class

Whether in a physical or virtual (online) classroom, listen closely to the other students. While teaching online classes, I occasionally have the impression that one or more of the students are surfing the Internet or even leaving their computers while other students are speaking because they either don’t respond or they are slow in responding when called upon. When in class, adopt the attitude that the time spent listening to the other students is at least as valuable as the time spent speaking. Don’t underestimate the value of listening to the other students just because they are non-native speakers. It may be as important for you to understand non-native speakers as it is to understand native speakers. It is very likely that much of the English you will hear during your life will be spoken by persons whose first language is not English.

Chat rooms can be good places to practice listening if the students actually speak as well as text chat, and if there is any real exchange of information and ideas. It is best if there is a moderator present, and it is even better if the moderator has a topic to present. Two free opportunities for moderated discussions are the hosted discussions at the English Horizons website and the classes at StudyCom.

Listening to online audio files

There are a number of web sites that have audio files of native English-speakers’ voices that you can listen to. Some have transcripts of the recorded audio so that you can read what you hear. It is strongly recommended that you listen to the audio file before you read the transcript. After you listen, read the transcript to check your understanding of what you heard. Then listen again. A list of listening resources can be found at the end of this article.

Tips for Listening

1. Choose an audio file that is at an appropriate level for you.

2. Listen, making notes of what you hear. Play the file through to the end the first time. Listen again, pausing occasionally to reflect on what you are hearing.

3. Read the transcript if one is available. If you can print the transcript mark the words that you are not sure you understand. Guess at the meanings from the context, then check your dictionary.

4. Read the transcript aloud, recording your voice.

5. Listen to your voice reading the transcript.

6. Listen to the audio file again, and compare the sound and rhythm of your voice to the voice in the audio file.

This process gives you practice speaking and reading, as well as listening.

Recommended listening resources (links to the sites listed below can be found below the author’s information after the end of the article):

Voice of America Special English

News and articles of general interest. This is especially for Beginner & Intermediate levels, but it is also recommended for Advanced students who need listening practice. The reporters speak very clearly and somewhat slower than radio reporters normally speak.

Voice of America English

News and articles of general interest.

Randall’s ESL Listening Lab

Short audio files, including conversations, at all levels from easy to difficult.

Focus English

Everyday English in Conversation.

English Language Listening Lab Online

Many topics and listening activities.

CNN – CBS 5

Interesting articles. Includes vocabulary exercises.

BBC World News English

News articles. Narrated by British English speakers.

Science@NASA Headline News

For advanced students interested in scientific articles.

Living on Earth

Articles on cultural and environmental issues.

Pulse of the Planet

Articles of special interest to students who are interested in nature, biology, astronomy and diverse cultures.

Earth and Sky

Short radio messages on various topics, including astronomy, geology, and nature.

History and Politics Out Loud

Includes famous speeches.

© Copyright, Charles Stinard 2008. All rights reserved. This material may be republished or reproduced in its entirety without the express consent of the author; provided that this copyright notice and a link to the author’s site (below) are included.

Do you want to improve your command of the English language? Many English as a Second Language (ESL) learners reach a point where their English does not get any better. They have learned the basics they need to function in an English-speaking society, but not the large vocabulary which would help them speak and read more fluently. Sometimes it is difficult to get past this point. Here are some ideas on what to do to increase your English vocabulary.

1. Keep your own personal word list file.

As you come across words you do not know, write them down in your list, look them up in the dictionary, and write down the definition. Organize words by categories. For instance, you could have categories for Foods, Sports, Politics, Crafts, Action words, Technology, Descriptive words, and more. The process of writing the word down, looking up the meaning, and categorizing makes you spend more time on the word. You will create several different images of the word in your brain and that makes it easier to recall the word later.

2. Get both the audio and the written version of a book.

Listen to the audio while you read along in the book. This way you will hear the correct way to say the words. Find out whether the reader is British or American. Information on the reader is usually on the back of the audio package or in the write-up if you are looking in a catalog or on-line. Choose readers who are from the country you plan to visit or live in. The accents between British and American speakers are different. When you are first tuning your ear to understand English, it will help if you choose a speaker from the country where you plan to spend time. Listen to a chapter at a time. Underline words you do not know. Look those words up in the dictionary. Write them down in your personal word list file (see tip 1).

3. If you are in an English-speaking country, visit the local library.

Join a book club. Most book clubs meet once a month to discuss a book read by all of the members prior to the meeting. You will benefit in two ways. First, you will read a variety of books which will use varied vocabulary. Second, you will get to talk with others about the book. You will have the opportunity to hear native English speakers talk, plus you will have a chance to speak. Don’t worry, if you feel shy about speaking, you don’t have to say much until you feel more comfortable. Most people are very understanding about how hard it is to learn English.

4. Read English language newspapers and magazines.

You can scribble all over these as you make notes about the words you do not know and will be adding to your personal word list. Most papers are written so an eighth grade student can understand. Nevertheless, the stories will contain great words for everyday conversations and also keep you up-to-date on new words entering the language.

5. Choose books with glossaries.

This way you can read the book while you wait in line or ride the train without carrying a dictionary. Glossaries are included in books to explain either advanced or topic-unique vocabulary. Thus using the glossary is likely to add to your knowledge of words.

6. Play word games.

Any type of word game will help. Crossword puzzles exercise your understanding of word definitions. Word Searches help you recognize spelling patterns. Scrabble exercises both spelling and word recognition. Newspapers often have word puzzles located near the comics page. You can also buy books of word puzzles at magazine stands.

7. Check out the verbivore.com

website for connections to lots of great websites on the English language. You’ll find connections to word games, vocabulary development, language reference material, grammar and usage, language columns and more. You can find this website at http://www.verbivore.com. Click on the “Language Links on the Net” page.

By using these ideas you can improve your English vocabulary. Get started today!

Celia Webb is an author, illustrator, and company executive. She and her husband, Mack H. Webb, Jr., founded Pilinut Press, Inc., publishing advanced readers for children and ESL students. Their website http://www.pilinutpress.com offers more free articles on developing reading-related skills, word games and puzzles, and activity sheets for their entertaining and educational books.