General Information

Why Communications Skills Are So Important? 

The purpose of communication is to get your message across to others clearly and unambiguously.
Doing this involves effort from both the sender of the message and the receiver. And it's a process that can be fraught with error, with messages often misinterpreted by the recipient. When this isn't detected, it can cause tremendous confusion, wasted effort and missed opportunity.
In fact, communication is only successful when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information as a result of the communication.

By successfully getting your message across, you convey your thoughts and ideas effectively. When not successful, the thoughts and ideas that you convey do not necessarily reflect your own, causing a communications breakdown and creating roadblocks that stand in the way of your goals – both personally and professionally.

10 tips to improve the way you speak English 

1. Observe the mouth movements of those who speak English well and try to imitate them. 
2. Until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English, slow your speech down.
3. Listen to the 'music' of English.
4. Use the dictionary. 
5. Make a list of frequently used words that you find difficult to pronounce and ask someone who speaks the language well to pronounce them for you.
6. Buy books on tape. 
7. Pronounce the ending of each word. 
8. Read aloud in English for 15-20 minutes every day.
9. Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes. 
10. Be patient.

Let's play 

 

 

 

Game 1        Game 2        Game 3     Game 4 

 

Game 5        Game 6        Game 7     Game 8

Grammar Tips  

Commas and semi-colons. If the rules you learned about commas and semi-colons don't mean much to you, forget them and try this: Read one of your sentences aloud and see where you would naturally pause, where you would draw a breath. If it's a short pause, like that just was, you probably need a comma. If it's a longer pause, but not quite a full stop (for which you'd need a period), you probably need a semi-colon; remember that whatever follows a semi-colon must be able to stand on its own, as a full sentence, like this one.

Check your dashes and hyphens. When you're setting off a clause—this one is a good example—use the longer dash, called an m-dash. (You can indicate this dash with two hyphens—like this—if you don't have an m-dash function on your computer.) Be sure that the parts of the sentence that precede and follow the dashes would make sense even if you removed the dashes and the words they bracket. (In the example above, the sentence is readable with or without the clause inside the dashes.) 

Try to avoid split infinitives. This is no longer a hard and fast rule, and occasionally keeping an infinitive together in a sentence can introduce more awkwardness than the split, but usually the split is ungraceful.

Make sure all your referents are clear. When you say "This theory" or "that point" or, simply, "it," is it clear which theory or point you're referring to? When you use "he" or "she" or "these critics," will your reader have to pause to figure out who all these people are?

What is Grammar? 

Grammar is the system of a language. People sometimes describe grammar as the "rules" of a language; but in fact no language has rules*. If we use the word "rules", we suggest that somebody created the rules first and then spoke the language, like a new game. But languages did not start like that. Languages started by people making sounds which evolved into words, phrases and sentences. No commonly-spoken language is fixed. All languages change over time. What we call "grammar" is simply a reflection of a language at a particular time. 

Laugh With English  

SILVIA: Dad, can you write in the dark?FATHER: I think so. What do you want me to write?SYLVIA: Your name on this report card

TEACHER: George, go to the map and find North America.GEORGE : Here it is!TEACHER: Correct. Now, class, who discovered America?CLASS : George  

TEACHER: Willy, name one important thing we have today that we didn’t have ten years ago.WILLY : Me!  

TEACHER: Why are you late?WEBSTER: Because of the sign.TEACHER: What sign?WEBSTER: The one that says, “School Ahead, Go Slow  

Improve Your Written English 

• Write frequently, in a wide range of formal and informal situations.
• Get the most out of your dictionary by understanding how to use it correctly . You can use a good English dictionary to find words, for meaning, for pronunciation, to check your spelling and to understand explanations.
• Copy out short passages of English text from newspapers, magazines or books.
• Try dictation exercises. You can do this online or get friends to read out text for you to write and then check your writing - concentrate on spelling and punctuation.
• There are many forums on the net, find one about your interests or hobbies. Observe the niceties of forum use , and apologise if you think you have made any mistakes.
• Use a blog to create a diary about your life. Write it in English and if you have a thick skin, ask for feedback. Remember blogs are not private, so do not write anything there which you do not want the whole world to read. I recommend http://www.blogger.com , it is free and very easy to use.
• Be careful about using abbreviations when writing on forums and in chatrooms, they are fun and quick, but can cause bad habits to form.
• If you are using a computer, use an English spell checker (but don't rely on it). There are spell checkers built in for Google and Firefox browsers.
• Check what you've written. Even better, get someone else to proofread what you've written. Check for spelling, capitalisation and punctuation.

Writing e-books

Report Writing (2012 edition) 

                                    

Business Proposal Writing (2012 edition)

                                 

 

Editing and Proofreading (2012 edition) 

                         

Online Writing (2012 edition)  

Writing tasks  

Solve the tasks then post it in the blog ;

1. Write four paragraphs about yourself. Make sure you talk about these things:

• Your work experience.
• Your hobbies and interests.
• Can you drive a car? Or fix a truck? Or cook? What?
• Say what sports or activities you are good at.
• Say which languages you can speak.

2. Check your spelling.

3. Put your name.

4. post it.

Good luck 

 

Steps to develop good writing skills in English

1) Read Books

If you're an avid reader, then this should not be a problem for you. Reading books helps you get a better grasp of the English language. You're able to see how people use certain words or construct sentences apart from the examples on your language handout or references. Plus, you'll also gain more confidence in your own writing style.

If you're not a fan of books, you can always read short stories or feature articles online. Even some magazines will help you develop good writing skills in English.

2) Start Writing

If you want to develop good writing skills in English, you're going to have to write something at some point. A lot of people who keep journals are able to practice their English very well. I suggest you do the same as well.

If you prefer typing to actual writing, that's not a problem either. Your writing skills will not be impeded by whatever method you choose to use. Writing in a notebook will not necessarily make you a better writer than typing on your computer. However, stick to the one you're more comfortable with.

If you don't want to write a diary, try writing essays. In my case, I often enjoy writing "what if" essays. Ask yourself a "what if" question and answer it in essay form. This way, you won't run out of ideas and tire of the exercise immediately.

Writing skill  

 

English is the foremost spoken language in the whole world. That's why it is absolutely crucial for you to know how to develop good writing skills in English. Unfortunately, not everything can be learned from the classroom. A little extra help can go a long way.

Reading Exercises

Quick Links

Quick Links - High Beginning:

Reading exercises 1 

Reading exercises 2 

Quick Links - Low Beginning:

Reading exercises 3 

Reading exercises 4

Techniques for Faster Reading 

Preview  

Preview involves skimming over a reading passage to get a general idea of its content and to help focus the reader's mind on the topic. It is a very valuable tool in faster reading.
To preview, look at the title and subtitles, then read quickly over the first and last paragraphs and skim through the rest of the passage to get an idea of what the passage will be about.

Questions

If there are comprehension questions, read them after the preview to help focus the mind on specific ideas to look for. Then read the passage, looking for answers to the questions.
If there are no comprehension questions, try turning the title and subtitles into questions to help you look for meaning in your reading.

Reading 

Read through the passage carefully, but not too slowly. Keep in mind the questions you have formed so that you will be able to concentrate and stay focused on the reading material. In reading, try to keep a steady pace and avoid going back over words or phrases.

Review 

After reading, skim over the passage again to remember main ideas and subpoints. Think of the answers to the questions or form an outline of the passage in your mind as you review.

Vocabulary

It is best to check the meanings of words in the passage, either before or after the reading, not during, as this will slow down your reading pace. Try to guess the what the words mean from the context (surrounding words) and only check the dictionary as a last resort.

Practice

It is sometimes useful to check your progress by keeping track of reading time, rate (words per minute) and comprehension (a percentage of correct answers to questions). There are several texts which enable you to do this through exercises. One of the best is a series entitled Timed Readings.

Reading Tips 

!Learning Tip - don't try to understand every word. Try to understand the overall meaning of a sentence or passage. 



!Learning Tip - don't translate - only use a dictionary if a word keeps appearing in a text and you still don't understand it.




!Learning Tip - don't just read a book and then forget about it - try to analyse it 

Story that inspire 

(Trees That Wood )

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.  

 

What have you learned from reading this story?

Did you know that ? 

TEN WAYS TO BEAT EXAM STRESS

1. Set realistic expectations

It's rare for anyone to jump three grades higher overnight, so students should try not to set unrealistic goals. It is much better to plan grade improvement over a realistic time period. When expectations become more reasonable, we gain a sense of control in our lives and are able to plan and prepare ourselves both physically and psychologically.

2. Get physical

Exercise releases endorphins, which are the body's natural stress-relieving hormones. They help to dissipate much of the excess energy we build up through a heavy workload. Students should choose a form of exercise they enjoy in order to maintain motivation.

3. Prepare ahead

Advanced preparation will help students deal with exams much more effectively than being unprepared. We feel much better approaching an unfamiliar situation when we have done a bit of background research, so it is time well spent.

4. Take a break

Obvious, perhaps, but it's surprising how many people forget how important this is. Students should pace themselves during revision and take a breather every once in a while. Making time to recharge physical and emotional batteries increases productivity and reduces stress levels.

5. Relax

Any conscious effort to relax, both mentally and physically, will reduce stress. Simple activities, from curling up with a good book to singing in the shower, can bring about a state of relaxation, which is important in counterbalancing the body's response to stress.

6. Cut back on caffeine

Most of our caffeine intake comes from coffee or coke and, in small amounts, can help to keep us awake and focused. However, we only have a certain level of caffeine tolerance, so when our intake becomes excessive, we can become irritable and distracted. Similarly, alcohol or cigarettes are not the answer as they make our stress symptoms worse.

7. Get enough sleep

Sufficient sleep is essential for normal brain development. Adrenaline rushes brought about by stress can make it difficult to sleep at night and, over time, can lead to fatigue and low productivity. The average student needs about seven to eight hours sleep.

8. Balance work and leisure

"All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy," so the saying goes. But in today's world, you could add that it makes him stressed and unbalanced too. If we are to maintain a healthy perspective at school and at home, it is essential that we devote a good portion of our time to family and friends as well as individual pursuits.

9. Have a laugh

Humor can reduce stress. It puts uncomfortable feelings into perspective, giving us greater distance from them and releasing emotional discomfort and pain through the pleasure of laughter. So, the pressure is getting too much, students should stick on a comedy video or go out with friends. Some even advocate forcing yourself to laugh until you feel good.

10. Talk about your feelings

Whether you call it, venting or getting emotional support or letting it all hang out, there is no question that talking about feelings is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress. Students will feel much better if they let someone know they are struggling, rather than keeping things inside and doing nothing about them.

 

Let's start learning English 

 



We all should know what is reading:

"Reading" is the process of looking at a series of written symbols and getting meaning from them. When we read, we use our eyes to receive written symbols (letters, punctuation marks and spaces) and we use our brain to convert them into words, sentences and paragraphs that communicate something to us. 

Reading tip : 

Don’t look up every word which is new to you – even without a dictionary you will understand a lot. Just concentrate on what you do understand and try to find out the rest by intelligent guessing. That works rather well, especially if you are interested in the topic. If you are a football fanatic for example, you probably won’t have problems understanding an English text about football. On the other hand, someone who is better in English than you but not interested in football will have more problems understanding the same text.

I wish you  benefit from reading this information

Hello everybody! Welcome to the English Club blog

In this blog you can find : articles, lessons, illustrations, exercises, tests , videos and stories - all about teaching and learning English. 

          Enjoy Learning English