How to Improve Your Vocabulary

KEY TO LEARNING ENGLISH: How to Improve Your Vocabulary [From StudioClassroom]

Have you ever experienced the frustration of not being able to find the right English word? It’s no fun, is it? You’ve almost got it—the word is on the tip of your tongue—but you just can’t get it to come out. Developing a good vocabulary will help decrease your discomfort. It goes without saying that studying vocabulary is a key part of language learning.

Why? Because every language is made up of—what else?—words. When you meet an unfamiliar word, what do you do? Reach for the dictionary? Not so fast. Pick up a pencil or pen instead. If you're reading, underline the new words in your text, but don't look them up yet.

If you're watching TV or listening to a speech, write down any new words as best you can. Try to guess what each word means from its context. Instead of always depending on the dictionary, use your head first. You might not always guess right, but you'll often be "headed" in the right direction.

Finding Opportunities to Practice

StudioClassroom
When it comes to language learning, you're the boss. "Wait a minute,"
you say. "Isn't it the teacher's job to tell me what to learn?"
Actually, effective language learners don't rely on the teacher to spoon-feed them. They're go-getters. They seek out opportunities to use their new language
and to learn new vocabulary. They know that language proficiency won’t just drop out of the sky, and that learning comes by doing.
In short, they’re active learners.

"I know, I know," you admit. "I should practice English more."
Actually, instead of looking for chances to practice English,
think of ways to use English in daily life.
That is, put yourself in situations where you’ll be forced to communicate in English, and you'll see more progress over time.
You need large helpings of English input to feed your language development.
And when you use the language, it will become your own.

KEYSHere are a few suggestions to get you started:
1. Surround yourself with good English reading material—
including Studio Classroom, of course. Subscribe to a newspaper.
Buy magazines featuring topics you’re interested in.
2. Attend functions where English is the language of choice,
such as Studio Classroom's youth rallies and Wednesday night Bible studies.
here's probably an English-speaking church or English Bible class in your area, too. Write us if you need help finding one.

3. Go to a fast food restaurant and try to order in English.
4. Get together with a friend and have an “English lunch” once a week.
5. Make friends with a foreigner.
Don’t make him feel like your language guinea pig, though.
6. Become an English news hound. Watch CNN or listen to the news on ICRT to keep up-to-date. 7. Rent a video tape of an English movie—and don't read the subtitles.

How to Improve Your Conversation Skills

StudioClassroom
If you want to improve your English conversation skills, you only have to do one thing: TALK. Of course, that’s not as easy as it sounds.
It takes courage to speak to people in a foreign language.
Besides that, it requires a willingness to make verbal errors.
Some people are so afraid of making a mistake that they never open their mouths.And that’s the biggest blunder of all.

Like city traffic, a conversation in a foreign language doesn't always flow smoothly. Not to worry, though.
When you hit a "traffic jam" in your conversation, you can find a way around it.
Here are a few ideas:When you don't understand—"Excuse me, but could you say that again? I didn't catch it.
"When the speaker talks too fast—"Could you speak more slowly, please?"
When you don’t agree—"I’m not sure I can agree.
"When you want to change the subject—"By the way..." or "Speaking of..."Sad to say, but all good things must come to an end.
Whether you're in a conversation (or an article, like this one), you need to find a way to exit gracefully.

Whatever you do, don’t just stop suddenly and say, "Goodbye!"
Instead, give your partner a signal like the following:
＊ "Well, I really need to be going..."
＊ "It was nice talking to you." (Note past tense.)
＊ "Well, I'm sure you've got other things to do."
＊ "Oh, look at the time!"
Unless your partner ignores your signal (which is very rude),
you can begin to negotiate an end to your conversation:
＊ "OK, talk to you later. "＊ "Take care."＊ "Have a nice (weekend)."

inchallah (UPMF)

Hamza is going to Pierre-Mendès-France University (UPMF) on Sept.
http://www.upmf-grenoble.fr/66373061/1/fiche___pagelibre/&RH=U2FR&RF=U2EN
congratulations to Hamza! (I met him in India last July and he is Moroccan)
hope he wont mind that I post this here.
_
"inchallah" is in Arabs. It means "if god want it".

keep in touch?

just chat with Kevin on msn.

could not believe it has been a whole year from those days in India.
miss everything and everyone there...
strong fears when I was in the airport
racing for seats on metro
buildings, cars, foods, in Kolkata
trip to Darjeeling
colleagues, tea, even rats in office
trainees, local friends...


dont have enough energy to turn on my laptop after a long day.
i shall find ways to keep in touch with them. how?

How to Learn English II

[from StudioClassroom]
By the way, what do you want to be able to do with your English?
Have a conversation with a foreigner? Understand movies without reading the Chinese subtitles? Read an English newspaper? Study abroad?
If you determine why you want to learn English, it will help you know where to start.
Learning English requires a number of very specific skills:
listening, speaking, reading, writing. Think about which skill you need to brush up on the most.

In this series, "Keys to Learning English," we want to give you some principles to help you improve your language learning skills. But there is no magic formula.
You can't just wake up one morning, say a few magic words, and instantly turn into a fluent English speaker.
You have to apply yourself. And you can't give up.
If you use the "keys" in this series, they will help you unlock the door to the world of English. I promise.

How to Learn English

[from StudioClassroom]
So you want to learn English?
I guess that goes without saying if you're reading this article.
First of all, you need to ask yourself, "How badly do I want to?"
Some students treat English as a content subject, like history, geography or literature.
All you do is memorize a lot of facts and you've got it, right?
Actually, becoming proficient in a foreign language is more like learning to play the piano.
It takes practice. A lot of practice.

Some of you may be saying, "I just don't have any language aptitude." Oh, come now.
If you can read this, you have plenty of aptitude for learning a language.
The more important question is whether or not you have the motivation.
Many people only want to learn English to pass tests in school.
That's not enough.

Experts tell us that the most successful language learners have a strong desire to communicate with people in the target culture.