Posted by Mark Spolsky on September 2, 2010
Effective English learning requires focus on English conversation. The most successful students attempt first to master the spoken English before they concentrate on the written language.
All over the world, many students attempt to do the opposite. They make a mistake and learn English with their eyes. Their learning is based on classroom lectures, grammar books and textbooks.
The key to fluency, to speak like a native speaker and to develop a clear accent is listening to easy and understandable English conversation. In order to master the spoken English students must spend more than 80% of their study time on listening activities.
Just listening is not enough – students must use a particular system of listening. First, they must listen to “easy” English. This means that learners should listen to material that they mostly understand. The general rule is that the student should understand 95% of what they hear.
Understanding is not enough. Students must also have a lot of repetitions. If they hear a new word only once, they will soon forget it. If they hear it 5 times, they will still probably forget it! They must hear new words and new grammar many times before they will understand them instantly and absorbs the language into his or her subconscious. In most cases two hours a day of listening is sufficient to achieve English fluency in short time.
Lastly, before attempting formal speech or written English students should first focus on casual “real English conversation”. This kind of English varies from language textbooks and classrooms. Studying this way, students have an opportunity to learn components of real English speech such as slang, idioms, filler words, sentence fragments, and interruptions. These components are very common and necessary for understanding native speakers and for having proper conversations with them.
I came to the conclusion that learning with natural English conversations is the most effective way to achieve language fluency.
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Posted by Mark Splsky on August 15, 2010
The internet has completely revolutionized the future of learning like never before. Many courses and programs are now diverting from traditional, classroom methods of delivery to semi or completely online modules. As English continues to gain global importance as the worldwide recognized lingua franca, communicative competence in English is extremely important for business, travel, professional and academic purposes. Out of the four linguistic skills, speaking is the only linguistic skill that requires practice with a native or near native speaker for improvement. The rest of the skills, reading, writing, and to a considerable extent listening, can all be learnt and practiced without actual interaction with a native speaker. Thankfully, a wide variety of English speaking course online allow non-native English learners to practice with native speakers.
How Online English Courses Work
Online English speaking courses utilize technology connected to the world wide web. The world is a small global community and the internet offers communication possibilities like never before. Learning and practicing English with an English native speaker can now occur regardless of the learner or speaker’s physical location. Many native speakers offer private speaking conversation classes and tutorial sessions with Skype, using webcams for live interaction with non-native English learners. Many schools employ English speakers to instruct conversation classes utilizing advanced whiteboard software. These companies are usually private language schools, career colleges and sometimes even private instructors themselves.
The Benefits
Because oral skills usually can’t be properly honed without consistent practice with a fluent native speaker, having a native speaking instructor is important. The majority of English learners simply do not have the opportunity to practice with English speakers, so extensive oral fluency practice is impossible. The majority of students must make do with minimal oral interaction with native speakers by speaking to tourists, using English abroad, with visiting professors or foreigners. The solution to this is schedule conversation with an online teacher.
Students can also learn and practice proper pronunciation, syllabification and practice variations of English, especially if exposed to different dialects and variations of English. An online conversation class can also help students learn idioms, cultural customs and expressions that cannot be learnt from textbooks.
What Online Courses Includes
An English speaking course online can be very relaxed and informal or serious and academic. Courses will be centered around discussion of various themes and students will be expected to express opinions and share ideas. Regardless of the type of course, the instructor is expected to adhere to techniques which improve oral fluency; this usually means that student talk times is generally high and teacher talk time is rather low. Students are also expected to interact with each other, making courses fun and motivational. The role of the instructor is reduced to that of facilitator instead of teacher. Still, students should not assume that courses are unstructured; students are generally given a course outline which covers conversational themes and topics that will be developed during the course. Although not a grammar course, the instructor should also review significant grammar points and correct mistakes when required.
How to Enroll in Online English Courses
The world wide web lists thousands of online conversation courses in English that are offered both privately and through academic institutions.
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Posted by Adriana Noton on February 10, 2010
There are many reasons to look for online English lessons. You may be traveling to the U. S. For the first time, or you might need to improve your own native English skills to prepare for college or a job. Many options exist when it comes to where to look for these classes including local and national colleges, companies, language institutes, and even private tutors. There are even blogs to help you out.
Some options are either free, or at least very reasonably priced. Before deciding to commit to any particular company or school, be certain you have a thorough understanding of your personal goals. This will help you choose the precise course and the appropriate syllabus to suit your needs.
The purpose of each course will defer, of course. There is a big difference between a quick 10 week course that will teach you conversation English, and a course lasting a few years where you learn to decline nouns and conjugate verbs. If you are heading to New York City for a vacation and just need to get around town, choose restaurants, find bathrooms, and get on the right subway, that quickie ten week course might be perfect.
Online English lessons will all use different methodologies to help you in learning English. Some use nothing more than tables to memorize, usually reminiscent of our early years in school when we had to memorize vocabulary, poetry, spelling and even math equations. Others will use formal language lessons where you take it one step at a time, much as you’d learn back in high school. Here’s a verb, here’s a noun, put together a sentence.
Many of the courses provide feedback in the form of sound and pronunciations. You can click on word or even an icon and hear someone pronounce the word, or translate the idea. Many of the college programs actually force you to have a computer with a microphone so that you can speak and get graded on your accent.
Homework hasn’t been neglected, either. If you are using a self paced study course or you have enrolled in a college level accredited program, you should be given at least assignments to study and work to complete. You may also be told to memorize vocabulary, etc. Even though testing is done using the open book method, don’t take advantage of this on a regular basis. In a regular classroom environment this would be considered cheating. You aren’t going to learn anything if you keep looking up the answers.
For the college programs, most of these are ‘attended’, meaning you need to log on at specified times and you will be online with a virtual class with whom you might be able to communicate via online white boards. You will also have an instructor giving you the lesson, discussing progress, and answering questions. He might even hand out future homework assignments. These classes are identical to being in school except you are probably at home in the kitchen.
Tuition and payments for online courses vary greatly. Some are free, others cost thousands of dollars. Whatever you choose, make a commitment and stick with it.
Find an online English school that offers students the unique chance to improve their English skills anywhere. Learning English online is convenient and cost effective. They have business english courses online and online english course.
Posted by Brad Morgan on October 13, 2009
by Brad Morgan
A percentage of taking the English language involves studying English grammar and the only method to really do that is by devoting yourself to English grammar lessons.
When learning grammar, it is useful to obtain both regular lessons, as well as those designed for ESL. You can print lessons that will help you learn much more quickly and effectively. Where do you get English grammar lessons?
When looking for anything, the internet is always a great tool. It is no different when you are trying to find good English grammar lessons and activities.
You can find lessons, articles, tests and other useful papers for free online. If you are very good at self-study and don’t need to be pushed and prodded along within a rigid structure, you can improve your grammar and save a lot of money in the process.
Many people, however, learn better with some sort of formal organization and will not be satisfied going it alone.
English grammar can be challenging, and people typically respond better when in a structured setting.
Several areas of English grammar may be difficult for people to learn on their own through online lessons. Adjectives and verbs, for instance, can be tricky because of the way different languages use them.
To help overcome this difficulty and others, there are many great classes available. You can find them both online and in your community. To find them, do a simple internet search and see what comes up.
When you have a list of possible classes, take a look at how each program approaches English grammar lessons.
Any class can drill you on parts of speech and have you read out of a textbook. You want a class that teaches to your style of learning.
Do you prefer a methodical approach to learning, building from step to step? Or would you rather just start your lessons, immerse yourself, and figure things out as you go?
Picking the right program is vital. Make sure you are aware of your learning style and choose a class that will compliment it.
Grammar can be a tough subject to tackle as it can be both challenging and tedious. Try a class that is interactive and fun so you will have the best chance of learning the material and sticking to the course of study.
