CARA EFEKTIF MENGHAFAL VOCAB ASING

Banyak dari kita yang merasa kesulitan dalam menghafal kosakata bahasa asing. berbagai cara telah kita lakukan untuk menghafal vocabulary seperti sering baca buku, novel, koran dll. ataupun kita selalu mmenambah setiap harinya 2-3 kata baru. Ada juga yang lebih semangat lagi yaitu membawa kamus dua bahasa kemana-mana. tapi tak sedikit dari kita yang sudah melaksanakan hal itu mendapatkan hasil yang kurang memuaskan.



Memang belajar bahasa asing gampang-gampang susah. selain kita harus punya kemauan yang kuat,lingkungan yang mendukung, kita juga harus menggunakan strategi yang tepat. Dalam menghafal vocab ada cara yang lebih mudah lagi. yaitu dengan Mind Maps. Cara ini sudah dipopulerkan oleh Tonny Buzan. Dan saya sendiri sudah mencobanya. Hasilnya? Sangant memuaskan. Kemampuan menghafal kata baru meningkat 50%.
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What is ESL?

English is unquestionably the most commonly spoken language in the world. About 12% of the world's populace communicates in English. People with English as their mother tongue do contribute to this statistics. However, they are far outnumbered by those who pick up English as a Second Language or ESL.
esl

English continues to be the 'lingua franca' even today and the appeal of the language never seems to be waning. People belonging to different age groups and coming from different walks of life learn English as a second language. In fact, when it comes to transactions and interactions on an international level, English is the only means of communication. No wonder that TESL or Teaching English as a Second Language curriculums are gaining worldwide popularity. You will indeed render a great service to the society (as well as to yourself) if you resolve to become a certified teacher/instructor of ESL!
esl
Requirements And Qualifications

Basic requirements and qualifications for ESL instructors vary from country to country. Some countries stick to relevant teaching qualifications of that particular country in appointing teachers of ESL, but most TESL jobs specify approved ESL certifications as the basic criteria. (Of course, ESL certifications themselves specify an undergraduate degree in English as a must).
esl

ESL certificates and diplomas issued by UCLES ( University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate ) and Trinity International Examinations Board of Trinity College, London are recognized the world-over. UCLES CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) and Trinity CertTESOL (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) suffice as the initial qualifications for new teaching trainees. Diploma courses such as the UCLES DELTA (Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults) and Trinity LTCL DipTESOL (Trinity Licentiate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are considered ideal for recruitment to higher positions, say, to become ESL teacher trainers.
esl

The US MA in TESOL is another widely acclaimed curriculum and qualification for TESL (as well as TEFL) jobs.

Remember, you must be at least 18 years of age to be appointed as a teacher of ESL abroad. In some assignments, the minimum age is 21 years and even more.
Job Description

The typical job responsibilities of an ESL teacher involve planning and preparing teaching materials and delivering lessons to ESL students either group wise or on one-to-one basis. (With the development of communication, i.e., the improvement of the four basic language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing being the chief aim of TESL programs, you will be required to make the lessons interesting).

As an instructor, you will also be required to assess your students, providing them appropriate feedback. You will be required to involve your students in social and cultural activities.
esl
Career Opportunities

The present times are ripe with opportunities for those who are training themselves as teachers of ESL. If you are one of those, you will have twin choices - you may choose to remain in the US, teaching speakers of other languages to speak, read and write English or else you may go to a foreign (non-English speaking) nation and teach the natives English.

Whichever be your choice, you will stand to gain! As such, the jobs offer lucrative pay packages. A career as an ESL instructor brings you in contact with many people belonging to different cultural and social backgrounds, creating enough scope for you to develop as an individual. Overseas assignments, in addition, pack highly interesting travel-packages for the travel-freak in you!


www.teachingenglishtips.com


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What is TESOL?

What is TESOL?

TESOL is an acronym for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This is an internationally recognized qualification that enables you to be an English language educator in countries where the native language is not English.

TESOL - Teaching English Tips

The main purpose of this diploma is to equip you, as a teacher, with the principal approaches to teaching and learning the English language. At the end of this course, you will have the necessary tools for teaching English to people who speak different languages, and you will learn to apply different teaching techniques based on different student needs and profiles.

TEFL and TESOL

The acronyms TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) can often be confusing. Both terms are used interchangeably and effectively mean the same thing. In both cases, the aim is teaching English to those whose first language is not English, worldwide.
TESOL - Teaching English Tips

A TESOL Qualification adds to your worth

* Most countries consider a TESOL certification a pre-requisite to securing a job as a teacher in the English language.
* The TESOL training program familiarizes you with systematic lesson plans, effective classroom management and efficient teaching techniques.
* Your fundamental knowledge of the language and grammar skills is further strengthened before facing a classroom of learners.
* The program brings out your best teaching skills, and the training imparted gives you hands on teaching experience.
* There is a great demand worldwide for TESOL teachers and this opens a whole new vista of career opportunities.

TESOL - Teaching English Tips

Teaching Prospects after TESOL

Although the requirements for TESOL teachers vary from location to location, the general opportunities for you as a TESOL teacher could be any of the following:

* If you are a new TESOL teacher, a private language school, where children and adults attend English classes (usually conversational), would be the best environment to kick start your career.

* Primary Schools, High Schools, Colleges & Universities around the world need qualified English teaching professionals, and a TESOL certificate will add weight to your resume.

* You may have the fortune to teach one or two-hour lessons once or twice a week in businesses.

* Private Tutoring entails one-to-one interaction with your student and is also very lucrative once you have successfully set up a group of students.

TESOL - Teaching English Tips

The icing on the cake is that you can travel and see the world while you earn. The countries that you can visit and teach English with your TESOL qualification include Japan, Vietnam, South Korea , China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan in Asia; Turkey, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland in Europe; and Chile, Peru, Brazil and Argentina in South America, amongst others.

Other TESOL Advantages

TESOL - Teaching English Tips

As a TESOL teacher, you will be able to avail continuous guidance, support and information long after you graduate from your course. You have unrestricted access to worldwide job databases, recruitment services, discussion forums and country guides. Internet chat rooms allow you to interact with the teaching fraternity, and share views and seek guidance. You also have access to a vast pool of resources and dynamic lesson ideas that you can download and use in the classroom.

www.teachingenglishtips.com

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What is TESL ?

TESL stands for 'Teaching English as a Second Language' and relates to the many English teaching certification courses being provided worldwide. Special training programs are conducted as part of these special curriculums (mostly in English speaking regions) to teach English to non-speakers of the language.

Here the expression 'non-speakers' represents people who are speakers of other languages and hence in countries where the mother tongue of the natives is English (e.g. UK, Ireland & New Zealand), TESL comes to acquire a new acronym TESOL (or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). In US though, TESOL incorporates both TESL and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language).
TESL - Teaching English Tips

With English continuing to be the 'lingua franca', more and more people are trying to pick up English other than their mother tongue. People belonging to all age groups, professions, cultural and social backgrounds are flocking to learn English; no wonder that TESL is fast emerging as a promising new career.
Basic Qualifications Of A TESL Instructor

In the US, the qualification of a TESL instructor varies from state to state; however, in most cases the basic qualification is an MA in TESOL. A Bachelor's Degree with a minor in English or linguistics or in a foreign language is a must for admission to MA in TESOL. MA in TESOL comprises a graduate work in the English language on one of the classical liberal arts (literature/linguistics/media studies) and a theoretical pedagogical module at the tertiary level.
TESL - Teaching English Tips

Most elementary and state-run schools in US conduct ELL (English Language Learner) programs for children coming from non-English speaking homes. The selection of these teachers is usually based on the issuance of teaching certificates/licenses for public instruction. Of course, the issuance of these teaching certificates involve a string of exams and assessments like the PRAXIS as well as other state-sponsored exams. The instructors are also required to prove their proficiencies as teaching interns through brilliant pedagogy and command over language. Performances of interns are evaluated throughout the tenure and the professional teaching certificates are awarded only upon successful completion of the program.
Job Description Of A TESL Instructor

Teachers involved with ESL work with adults and children whose first language is not English and are yet (or are seeking to be) permanent or long-term residents. Children are helped on one to one basis to nurture their cultural and language proficiency. Similarly, special tutorials are conducted for adults at colleges, in community and language centers to sharpen their linguistic skills.
TESL - Teaching English Tips

Your job profile as a TESL instructor is not limited to teaching in classes and tutorials. The development of the teaching materials, researching with easy yet effective teaching techniques, assessment of students' progress, etc., all fall under the purview of a TESL instructor. As a result, you will be required to keep records, arrange meeting and training sessions.

In fact, there is always a bit you can do on your own. Try to win over your students and the best way to woo them is to befriend them. Play ESL quizzes with your students, encourage them to join ESL forums and see them make progress.
TESL - Teaching English Tips
Professional Help For You

You may need help as a TESL instructor. TESOL Inc., a professional organization and other large statewide affiliates such as CATESOL in California and Illinois are always there to extend a helping hand.


www.teachingenglishtips.com

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What is TEFL?

TEFL or 'Teaching English as a Foreign Language' programs, like TESL courses, refer to professional courses wherein non-English speaking people are trained in the English language.

The only difference in this case is that the teaching programs are conducted in 'NON-ENGLISH speaking REGIONS'. Training programs for TEFL are usually conducted in English-speaking regions (although this is not a rule) but the coaching is offered in the student's native land.
TEFL - Teaching English Tips
Career Opportunities

Truly speaking, with the growing importance of English (both written and conversational), TEFL is becoming a rewarding career option day-by-day. People trained as EFL teachers are usually appointed by commercial language schools, government departments, large companies and other renowned private and voluntary organizations like The British Council. They are also offered lucrative jobs and fixed-term contracts abroad.
Job description of a TEFL instructor
TEFL - Teaching English Tips

TEFL instructors help their students improve their English writing and speaking ability by packing their instructions with the most useful information, presenting it in an extremely interesting manner. They impart their knowledge through various TEFL lessons to develop the four basic language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing of the learners. Consequently, the job involves a lot of researching and planning on the part of the teacher.

As an instructor, you can make use of varied course materials and a variety of audio-visual aids to assist your students. You will also need to boost their confidence by engaging them in social and cultural activities or by taking them on outings. You can also try teaching on 'one-to-one' basis. Whatever be your approach, you ought to make the learning process easy and enjoyable to ensure success.
TEFL - Teaching English Tips
Qualifications For A TEFL Instructor

As such, there is no recognized/certified organization to oversee the issuance of qualifications in general and hence there is no accepted standard qualification. The qualification of an instructor is usually decided by the organization for which the coach is to be recruited. Thus, in the European nations, an undergraduate degree and a TEFL/TESL certification is the average requirement. In USA, the basic qualification is a Master's degree in TESOL. In some nations, far less qualified instructors are appointed. Institutions like Berlitz do not recognize the CELTA / CertTESOL and train their teachers as per their own standards. (Proficiency in English is essential. Knowledge of other languages will be of immense help.)
TEFL Certification Courses
TEFL - Teaching English Tips

However, much we say that there are no set standards/ qualifications for being appointed as a TEFL coach or instructor, most commercial professional ventures are quite discriminating in their choice. TEFL certification courses and core curriculums help you develop all the positive skills and techniques that you need to become a successful EFL instructor.

Thus, you are tutored in the ways of training your students in grammar and vocabulary. Classroom management, motivating students and advanced trainings that help your students attain mastery over spoken and written English are some other tricks being imparted through these programs. In brief, the TEFL certification is a proof of your efficiency as an EFL instructor and most employers judge you on its basis.

TEFL - Teaching English Tips

Certification courses like CELTA, CELTYL, CertTESOL, etc. are conducted at a number of campuses in both UK and USA. Localized certification courses are also offered by individual organizations or institutions. You can even opt for a certification course online.
Conclusion

As a career, TEFL promises a good pay packet in addition to creating opportunities for you to visit interesting destinations. Overseas teaching ventures as a TEFL instructor help you with your career prospects. Exposure to different cultures and traditions, likewise, help you make all-round progress as an individual.

www.teachingenglishtips.com


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READING SKILL 2

Reading skill

Reading is the receptive skill in the written mode. It can develop independently of listening and speaking skills, but often develops along with them, especially in societies with a highly-developed literary tradition. Reading can help build vocabulary that helps listening comprehension at the later stages, particularly.
Micro-skills

Here are some of the micro-skills involved in reading. The reader has to:


* decipher the script. In an alphabetic system or a syllabary, this means establishing a relationship between sounds and symbols. In a pictograph system, it means associating the meaning of the words with written symbols.
* recognize vocabulary.
* pick out key words, such as those identifying topics and main ideas.
* figure out the meaning of the words, including unfamiliar vocabulary, from the (written) context.
* recognize grammatical word classes: noun, adjective, etc.
* detect sentence constituents, such as subject, verb, object, prepositions, etc.
* recognize basic syntactic patterns.
* reconstruct and infer situations, goals and participants.
* use both knowledge of the world and lexical and grammatical cohesive devices to make the foregoing inferences, predict outcomes, and infer links and connections among the parts of the text.
* get the main point or the most important information.
* distinguish the main idea from supporting details.
* adjust reading strategies to different reading purposes, such as skimming for main ideas or studying in-depth.


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READING SKILLS

READING SKILLS

1. Choose your reading material carefully, so that you see suitable vocabulary being used in context.

2. Start off with reading material which is not too overwhelming. either in size, or with vocabulary which is too difficult to guess the meaning from the context.

3. When reading a new book, read one page without looking at the dictionary, then summarise that page in your mind before continuing to the next page. If you cannot summarise it satisfactorily, look up a maximum of ten words in the dictionary to confirm that your guess is right. If you cannot do this, look for an easier book.

RECOMMENDED READING MATTER

NEWSPAPERS

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Easiest for non-native speakers to understand: Quality English Newspapers, eg: The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Daily Express
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Well-written, but often difficult due to liberal use of phrasal verbs: The Daily Mail
*

Often difficult due to slang content and phrasal verbs: The Mirror, The Sun

PUBLICATIONS CONTAINING FORMAL OR PLAIN ENGLISH

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Encyclopaedias
*

Traditional Books
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Books by Somerset Maugham can be read by students from intermediate upwards.
*

Books by Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie contain a lot of difficult vocabulary and are only suitable for Advanced students.


www.musicalenglishlessons.org
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VOCABULARY LEARNING TIPS

The Ten Best Vocabulary Learning Tips

* Vocabulary Learning Tip One: Read, Read, Read! Most vocabulary words are learned from context. The more words you're exposed to, the better vocabulary you will have.

While you read, pay close attention to words you don't know. First, try to figure out their meanings from context. Then look the words up. Read and listen to challenging material so that you'll be exposed to many new words.

* Vocabulary Learning Tip Two: Improve your context skills. Research shows that the vast majority of words are learned from context. To improve your context skills pay close attention to how words are used. Doing a search on a word using dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) will give you many examples of how that word is used in context. Play our Daily Context Vocabulary Quiz.

* Vocabulary Learning Tip Three: Practice, practice, practice. Learning a word won't help very much if you promptly forget it. Research shows that it takes from 10 to 20 repetitions to really make a word part of your vocabulary. It helps to write the word - both the definition and a sentence you make up using the word - perhaps on an index card that can later be reviewed. As soon as you learn a new word, start using it. Review your index cards periodically to see if you have forgotten any of your new words. Also, do a search on a word using dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) to get many examples of how the word is actually used.

* Vocabulary Learning Tip Four: Make up as many associations and connections as possible. Say the word aloud to activate your auditory memory. Relate the word to words you already know. For example, the word GARGANTUAN (very large) has a similar meaning to the words gigantic, huge, large, etc. You could make a sequence: small, medium, large, very large, GARGANTUAN. List as many things as you can that could be considered GARGANTUAN: Godzilla, the circus fat lady, the zit on your nose, etc. Create pictures of the word's meaning that involve strong emotions. Think "the GARGANTUAN creature was going to rip me apart and then eat me!"

* Vocabulary Learning Tip Five: Use mnemonics ( memory tricks). For example, consider the word EGREGIOUS (extremely bad). Think EGG REACH US - imagine we've made a mistake so bad that they are throwing eggs at us and a rotten EGG REACHes US. Such funny little word pictures will help you remember what words mean, AND they are fun to make up. Also, find out which learning style suits you best. Everyone learns differently!

* Vocabulary Learning Tip Six: Get in the habit of looking up words you don't know. If you have a dictionary program on your computer, keep it open and handy. America Online and other internet services have dictionaries and thesauruses on their tool bars. Find them and look up any word you are not absolutely sure of. Use a thesaurus when you write to find the word that fits best.

* Vocabulary Learning Tip Seven: Play with words. Play Scrabble, Boggle, and do crossword puzzles. These and other word games are available for the computer, so you are not dependent on a partner to play. Also, try out the Franklin Electronic Dictionary that features built-in word games.

* Vocabulary Learning Tip Eight: Use vocabulary lists. For the serious vocabulary student, there are many books that focus on the words most commonly found in standardized tests, such as the SAT and GRE. There are also many interesting word sites on the Internet, many of which will send you a word a day by email.

* Vocabulary Learning Tip Nine: Take vocabulary tests. Playing games, such as the ones on this site, that test your knowledge will help you learn new words and also let you know how much progress you're making. Offline sources for vocabulary tests include SAT prep books (we recommend "10 Real SATs" by ETS), and the Reader's Digest Wordpower section. For more, check out Amazon.com or your local bookseller.


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IMPROVE YOUR READING SKILL

IMPROVE YOUR READING SKILL

Here some tips to improve your reading skill

1. Read English newspaper everyday because it will train your ability in understanding an article
2. Don't read word by word, but read sentence by sentence.
3. Try not using a dictionary
4. Remember some speciall expression in special term. Such as economic vocabulary, medical term and other
5.

by: Baitul Ulum
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LISTENING TIPS

LISTENING TIPS

* Listen to something you enjoy

Probably the greatest advantage about using the Internet to improve your listening skills is that you can choose what you would like to listen to and how many and times you would like to listen to it. By listening to something you enjoy, you are also likely to know a lot more of the vocabulary required!

* Listen for Keywords

Use keywords (noun=principal words) or keyphrases to help you understand the general ideas. If you understand "New York", "business trip", "last year" you can assume (verb=to take for granted, suppose) that the person is speaking about a business trip to New York last year. This may seem obvious to you, but remember that understanding the main idea will help you to understand the detail as the person continues to speak.

* Listen for Context

Let's imagine that your English speaking friend says "...I bought this great tunerat JR's. It was really cheap and now I can finally listen to National Public Radio broadcasts." You don't understand what a tuneris. If you focus on the word tuneryou might become frustrated. However, if you think in context (noun=the situation explained during the conversation) you probably will understand. For example; bought is the past of buy, listen is no problem and radio is obvious. Now you understand: He bought something - the tuner- to listen to the radio. A tunermust be a kind of radio! This is a simple example but it demonstrates what you need to focus on: Not the word that you don't understand, but the words you dounderstand.
Summary
It might seem to you that my ideas on how to listen encourage you to not understand everything. This is absolutely correct. One hundred percent understanding is something to work towards(phrasal verb=to have as a goal, a plan for the future) and not to expect of yourself now. Listening needs a great amount of practice and patience. Allow yourself the luxury of not becoming nervous when you do not understand, and you will be surprised by how quickly you dobegin to understand.

Listening often is the most important way to improve your listening skills. Enjoy the listening possibilities offered by the Internet and remember relax......

esl.about.com
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LISTENING STRATEGIES

LISTENING STRATEGIES

Once you have begun to listen on a regular basis, you might still be frustrated (adjective=upset) by limited understanding. What should you do?

Here is some of the advice I give my students:

* Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything.
* Keep cool (idiom=stay relaxed) when you do not understand - even if you continue to not understand for a long time.
* Do not translate into your native language (synonym=mother tongue)
* Listen for the gist (noun=general idea) of the conversation. Don't concentrate on detail until you have understood the main ideas.

I remember the problems I had in understanding spoken German when I first went to Germany. In the beginning, when I didn't understand a word, I insisted on translating it in my mind. This approach (synonym=method) usually resulted in confusion. Then, after the first six months, I discovered two extremely important facts; Firstly, translating creates a barrier (noun=wall, separation) between the listener and the speaker. Secondly, most people repeat themselves constantly. By remaining calm (adjective=relaxed), I noticed that - even if I spaced out (idiom=to not pay attention) I could usually understand what the speaker had said. I had discovered some of the most important things about listening comprehension:

Translating creates a barrier between yourself and the person who is speaking

While you are listening to another person speaking a foreign language (English in this case), the temptation is to immediately translate into your native language. This temptation becomes much stronger when you hear a word you don't understand. This is only natural as we want to understand everything that is said. However, when you translate into your native language, you are taking the focusof your attention away from the speaker and concentrating on the translation process taking place in your brain. This would be fine if you could put the speaker on hold (phrasal verb=to make a person wait). In real life however, the person continues talking while you translate. This situation obviously leads to less -not more- understanding. I have discovered that translation leads to a kind of block (noun=no movement or activity ) in my brain which sometimes doesn't allow me to understand anything at all!

Most people repeat themselves

Think for a moment about your friends, family and colleagues. When they speak in your native tongue, do they repeat themselves? I don't mean literally (adverb=word for word), I mean the general idea. If they are like most people I have met, they probably do. That means that whenever you listen to someone speaking, it is very likely (adjective=probable) that he/she will repeat the information, giving you a second, third or even fourth chance to understand what has been said.

By remaining calm, allowing yourself to notunderstand, and not translating while listening, your brain is free to concentrate on the most important thing: Understanding English in English.

esl.about.com
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LONG SOUNDS v SHORT SOUNDS

LONG SOUNDS v SHORT SOUNDS

The long sounds in English are extremely important. Throughout England, Australia, Canada, America, there are fluent native speakers of English. The accents vary enormously,


yet we are all capable of understanding each other. This is because the consonant sounds change very little and there is a uniformity of long and short sounds.

When studying English you may feel it is very strange to say long sounds, because they do not exist in your own language; however, unless you do use long sounds, your English will be difficult to understand. In fact, it is better to make your long sound too long, rather than not long enough.

www.musicalenglishlessons.org
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COMMON DIFFICULT SOUNDS

COMMON DIFFICULT SOUNDS

TH: (long, soft, as in TEETH) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and blow gently. It is a long sound and should last about 5 seconds.

To test whether you are making this sound properly, place your hand approximately 12 cm from your mouth.

If you can feel a good flow of cool air halfway down your arm and your teeth and lips are in the right position, your pronunciation of this sound will be OK. Do not forget to check the length of time you are allowing for the sound. You must produce this amount of air whenever you say a word with a soft TH in it.

TH: (short, hard, as in THE) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and make a voice sound from your throat. It is a short sound with a sudden burst of air.

To test whether you are making this sound properly, place your hand approximately 6 cm from your mouth. If you can feel a sudden burst of air on your hand, you are making the sound from your throat and your teeth and lips are in the right position, your pronunciation of this sound will be OK. You must produce this sound whenever you say a word with a hard TH in it.

V: Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and make a voice sound in your throat. Your lips should be more or less closed.

If you are making this sound correctly, you will feel an uncomfortable vibration. You must feel this vibration every time you say a word with V in it, otherwise you are not pronouncing it properly. The listener must hear the vibration to be sure of what you are saying.

ST: Make a long, soft 'S' sound like a snake, then suddenly add an abrupt 'T+schwa' sound by pushing your tongue against the back of your top front teeth, then suddenly taking it away. (Practise the 's' sound first, then the 'schwa' sound alone before adding the abrupt 'T' sound.)

PH: Pronounce PH as F (not P)

F: Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and blow gently. Your lips should be more or less closed.

To test whether you are making this sound properly, place your hand approximately 12 cm from your mouth. If you can feel a good flow of cool air onto your hand and your teeth and lips are in the right position, your pronunciation of this sound will be OK. You must produce this amount of air whenever you say a word with F in it.

H: To make this sound, you need a lot of air and your mouth should be open. Stand or sit up straight and take a deep breath, open your mouth, then let out the air quickly as if you are disappointed about something. Allow your body to slump at the same time.

To test whether you are making this sound properly, place your hand approximately 12 cm from your mouth. If you can feel a good flow of hot air onto your hand and your mouth and body are in the right positions, your pronunciation of this sound will be OK. You must produce this amount of air whenever you say a word with H in it.

L: When making the L sound, you tongue must temporarily go up to the roof of your mouth and come down again. It must not touch your teeth unless the next sound is TH.

To check your tongue is in the right position, use a mirror. Practise saying La, La, La, so you can see what your tongue is doing.

R: When making the R sound, your tongue does very little; it just stays at the bottom of your mouth. However, your lower jaw quickly moves forward, down and back as you say the sound.

Use a mirror to check that your tongue is not moving up to the roof of your mouth and that your jaw is moving properly. If you do not have this sound in your language, you will need to practise moving your jaw. At first, it will be painful, because you will be flexing unused muscles just as you would if you attempting a new sport. If you persevere the discomfort will eventually subside.

W: When making the W sound, you must pucker your lips as if you are going to kiss your favourite filmstar. Use a mirror to achieve the correct lip shape. To make the sound, you must push a sound out through the lip 'funnel' as if you have hurt yourself a little BEFORE saying the word, then at the end of this strained sound you open your lips a little and make a different sound as if you are saying the number ONE (but stop before you stay the N sound). Only after all this can you say the rest of the word.

Therefore, for the word WAR, follow these instructions:-

*

decide which film star or singer you would enjoy kissing.
*

think of this filmstar or singer and pucker lips into a kissing shape (check in the mirror)
*

make a strained sound through puckered lips for 1-2 seconds
*

open your lips and begin to say the number ONE (without the N)
*

then complete the word by adding an OR sound. Make it a long sound (3-4 seconds). Better to make the word too long than not long enough.
*

by following these instructions, you should have completed the word WAR

Read the above instructions for L and R, then practice saying:- WAR, LAW, RAW

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HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH MORE FLUENTLY

HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH MORE FLUENTLY



In order to imprint words on your memory and also to feel comfortable about pronouncing them at a moment's notice, it is necessary to practise vocabulary a number of times.

1. Decide which constructions and vocabulary are ideal for you to learn. (Be discerning, because you cannot learn everything.) Choose about ten new words per day to practise.

2. Practise them until you are word-perfect. Then use them in real situations by incorporating them into conversations with as many people as possible (at least six times each word or construction, but more if possible). The more you manage to use them in conversation, the more readily you will be able to say them fluently in the future.

REMEMBER: Fluency in English is accuracy with good pronunciation - not speed.

source: www.musicalenglishlessons.org
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HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH MORE ACCURATELY

HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH MORE ACCURATELY
From a learner's point of view, the problem with English is that it is too rich in constructions and vocabulary, ie: There are numerous words and constructions which have similar meanings. Mistakes occur when students remember half of one construction and half of another; they end up with a hotch-potch which is at best "incorrect but understandable" and at worst "nonsense".

1.Choosing English for Use or Recognition Purposes only

English people do not use every phrase and word in the English language. They have favourite phrases which they use time and time again. I recommend that when you are taught more than one way of saying the same thing, choose only one version to learn accurately for future use. Then store the other one(s) vaguely in your mind for future recognition purposes only.

2. Pitfalls to Avoid

Native English speakers modify their language according to their situation, just as you would do in your own language. Unless you have constant exposure to English over many years, you cannot expect to do this. The trick therefore is to choose the best English for universal speaking purposes and to recognise other versions of English, so you are not at a disadvantage. By doing so, you will avoid misunderstandings and you will be able to judge the quality of another person's English.

Although a knowledge of the following is essential for understanding English (and possibly for some exams), I recommend you avoid them as much as possible when speaking in normal situations:-

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, Slang (which can sound insolent when used at the wrong time)

3.Avoiding grammatical errors when speaking

Many students experience difficulties with the use of the present perfect, because the use of it does not correspond with a similar-looking tense in their own language. If it helps you, it is possible to avoid the present perfect altogether by using:-

SIMPLE PAST + SPECIFIC TIME

eg: I have been to Tunisia. (Time unknown)

I went to Tunisia some time ago. (Exact time unknown)

I have just finished my homework. (Recent, but time unknown)

I finished my homework a short while ago (Recent, but exact time unknown)

English is such a rich and versatile language, it is possible to say what you want to say in more than one way.

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