Learning English » High Beginner http://www.learning-english.ca Learn English Online Thu, 27 May 2010 21:04:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=8690 en hourly 1 Looking for an English School? http://www.learning-english.ca/looking-for-an-english-school/ http://www.learning-english.ca/looking-for-an-english-school/#comments Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:58:30 +0000 admin http://www.learning-english.ca/looking-for-an-english-school/ If you are looking for an English School, you will definitely want to check out www.englishlink.com. English link is a Global Online English School, offering ESL lessons, help with passing an English exam.

English Link has experienced teachers ready to help you improve your speak, pronounciation, and English skills.

You can try a free lesson from their website, do a free placement test, or try out one of their free video lessons.

Visit English Link for ESL Lessons

Related Posts

  • No Related Post
]]> http://www.learning-english.ca/looking-for-an-english-school/feed/ 0 STEPS FOR MAKING VERB TENSES EASIER http://www.learning-english.ca/steps-for-making-verb-tenses-easier/ http://www.learning-english.ca/steps-for-making-verb-tenses-easier/#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:36:21 +0000 admin http://www.learning-english.ca/steps-for-making-verb-tenses-easier/ Many students are concerned about learning the tenses of the English language. They have likely heard horror stories about how difficult and confusing they are – about the irregular verbs and the many exceptions to the rules. It does sound terrifying if only the difficulties are discussed, without any method or organized ESL Curriculum for approaching the tenses in a step by step fashion is introduced. Perhaps if the teacher has an understanding of the similarities in the way that the tenses are constructed it will help the students.

Can we approach the tenses as if we were building a pyramid? ESL Curriculum and ESL Activities should all approach verb tenses this way.  Let’s start at the bottom with the foundation and work to the top – that wonderful point where verb tenses are automatic and the student speaks fluently.

Oral and written practice using each step before moving on to the next is vital. The students will need to have extensive practice in the whole class group, the small group, and individually as they write. Practice with ESL Activities and ESL Games will make the student’s responses automatic and prevent them from thinking about the grammar. No one can consider grammatical structure as they talk. Each step must be automatic before the students progress to the next.

Our pyramid might have these steps:

1) The Present Tense

Start with the verb “to be”.

Teach the conjugation of the verb “to be”

Questions:

Are they friendly? Is she happy?

Positive answers: They are friendly. She is happy.

Negative answers: They are not friendly. She is not happy.

Not is placed after the verb “to be”.

Contractions:

(The contraction is made with the verb “to be”)

Positive: She’s friendly. They’re friendly.

Negative: She’s not friendly They’re not friendly.

Practice many examples.

2) To Do

Explain that verbs other than “to be” – use “to do” for the negative.

Teach the conjugation of the verb “to do”.

Questions: Do they laugh? Does he walk? Do you answer?

Positive: They laugh. He walks. I answer. (No other verb is needed for the positive answer)

Negative: the verb “to do” is used with the main verb.

They do not laugh. He does not walk. I do not answer.

Not is placed after the verb “to do”.

Practice many examples.

3) Contractions

Positive: They laugh. He walks. I answer. (Same format as with “to be”)

Negative: They don’t laugh. He doesn’t walk. I don’t answer.

(The contraction is made with the verb “to do”)

Practice many examples.

4) The Past Tense

Teach the past tense of the verb “to do”

Questions: Did they laugh? Did he walk? Did you answer?

Regular verbs add “ed” to form the past tense.

Positive: They laughed. He walked. I answered. (Same format as the present tense using “to do”)

Negative: Not is placed after the verb “to do” before the root form of the main verb.

They did not laugh. He did not walk. I did not run.

Contractions:

Positive: They laughed. He walked. I answered. (Same format as the present tense using “to do”)

They didn’t laugh. He didn’t walk. I didn’t run.

Practice many examples.

5) The Past Tense Using “To Be” in the Question

The past tense is expressed using “to be”. (The format is the same as the present tense.)

Teach the past tense of the verb “to be”

Question: Were they friendly?

Positive answer: Yes, they were friendly.

Negative answer: No, they weren’t friendly.

Question: Was she happy?

Positive answer: Yes, she was happy.

Negative answer: No, she wasn’t happy.

Practice many examples.

English verbs are complicated but it helps the students if similar patterns are pointed out.

- positive answers follow the same pattern for present and past tenses when “to do” is used.

- “not” follows the verb “to be” or “to do” when forming the negative.

- regular past tense verbs are formed by adding “ed”.

- “to be” has the same question and answer format for the present tense and the past tense.

Related Posts

  • No Related Post
]]> http://www.learning-english.ca/steps-for-making-verb-tenses-easier/feed/ 0 Games for Learning English http://www.learning-english.ca/games-for-learning-english/ http://www.learning-english.ca/games-for-learning-english/#comments Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:31:32 +0000 admin http://www.learning-english.ca/games-for-learning-english/ Learning any language can often become quite a tedious affair. There are endless grammar rules to memorize, and thousands of vocabulary words to try to hold in mind until they are needed. One of the primary enemies in learning English is boredom. English learning games can provide a bit fun in the long process of learning a language. Here are a few ideas for English learning games that can be used in classrooms or among friends.


Game #1: Fill in the blanks. How many times is an English student left searching for just the right word? This game can help students learn different ways of saying something and making it fun. Simply take an easy to understand paragraph (song lyrics are often good for this game) and take out several words. For instance:

Johnny was walking home one fine _______ and happened to notice a ______ lying on the ground. He stopped to pick it up and found that it was glued onto a piece of _____.

English students can find different words that will work in each sentence. If the students want ot make a competition out of it, they can award points for who can come up with the most alternative words for the blanks. On the other hand, points can be awarded in each round for the student who can think up the longest word that would fit in the sentence.

Game #2: Jeopardy: This fun American English learning game can give a lot of help for English students who are learning the correct way to ask questions. In Jeopardy, a contestant chooses a category and the person running the game reads out the answer. Students then raise their hand when they know the answer. The first student to raise their hand gets the first chance to answer. The answer must be in the form of a question. For example:Student picks category, “US History.” The person running the game reads the clue, “This person was the first president of the United States.” Then, the first student who raised their hand would have to say, “Who was George Washington?” in order to win the points for the question.

Game #3: Charades: This is an excellent English learning game for students who are learning adjectives and other descriptions. The students divide into two teams. On one team’s turn, one student gets up and acts out a clue, such as ‘Elevator,’ and the members of his or her team try to guess what they are acting out. The students can only speak in English while trying to guess the clues. Any student who speaks to in their native language is disqualified form the round.

English learning games are a lot of fun and provide a fun and exciting way to recall everything that the students have learned during a particular session. As with any other activity, it is a lot easier to learn if it is fun. Other suggestions might include breaking up a lesson by learning some children’s songs or nursery rhymes.

Related Posts

  • No Related Post
]]> http://www.learning-english.ca/games-for-learning-english/feed/ 0 Learning English Online – Tips for Students http://www.learning-english.ca/learning-english-online-%e2%80%93-tips-for-students/ http://www.learning-english.ca/learning-english-online-%e2%80%93-tips-for-students/#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:40:10 +0000 admin http://www.learning-english.ca/learning-english-online-%e2%80%93-tips-for-students/ The internet has been responsible for many changes in our world and society. Everything has changed, from how we do business, to how we communicate with our friends and loved ones. The internet has also provided us with new sources of knowledge and learning. In today’s world, a student can learn almost any subject over the internet. Some people are even receiving college degrees without ever traveling farther than their own home computer.

With all this information and learning available on the internet, there are more opportunities than ever for a person is looking to learn a new language, especially English. ESL (English as a Second Language) courses are now available from several sources over the internet. One has only to do a quick search to uncover a wealth of information about learning English online.

As with any kind of learning, there are ways to make learning English online a rich and rewarding experience. Learning English online does present some special advantages, but it also comes with its own special challenges.

First, a person who is learning English online does not get the benefit of conversing with classmates. One of the best ways to remember new words and principles is to use them as often as possible in real world settings. One of the best ways to overcome this obstacle is to learn English online with a friend. When choosing someone to learn English with, the student needs to seek someone out who they see often and speak with all the time. Close family members or a spouse is often a good choice. In addition, it is important that the student have the kind of relationship with their friend that allows them to correct each other when they make mistakes, without giving offense.

Another tip that anyone learning English online needs to take to heart is to learn correct pronunciation. Most English learning programs provide the user with some sort of pronunciation guides. Sometimes, this is done with tapes or CDs that say the words that the user is supposed to be learning. When learning English online, it is often possible to click on a link and the website will repeat the word that needs to be pronounced, no rewinding, just clicking.

When learning English online, courage plays a large part in how fast the student progresses. Someone who has to repeat a word a thousand times before they ever try it out in public will be a long time learning English. However, someone who will try out everything they have learned and even ask people to let them practice with them will find themselves progressing faster than they ever thought possible.

Learning English online lets a person progress at his or her own speed and with his or her own learning style. However, any way the student chooses to learn, it is always very important to practice. With friends, practice, and a little courage, learning English can be a fun and exciting experience.

Related Posts

  • No Related Post
]]> http://www.learning-english.ca/learning-english-online-%e2%80%93-tips-for-students/feed/ 0 Improving Your English Vocabulary http://www.learning-english.ca/improving-your-english-vocabulary/ http://www.learning-english.ca/improving-your-english-vocabulary/#comments Fri, 02 Feb 2007 19:36:42 +0000 admin http://www.learning-english.ca/improving-your-english-vocabulary/ A large part of learning to speak English is to improve your vocabulary. Improving your vocabulary will help you feel more confident when speaking English. It will also help you understand what you are hearing when others are speaking English. There are many tools you can use to improve your English vocabulary.

• Get a dictionary. There are some good English dictionaries available online. A good dictionary helps you learn more words. The following are some of the ways to use a dictionary to improve your English vocabulary:
o Write down words that are new to you. Look the words up in a dictionary, and then write down the meanings of the words. Keep all of your words together so you can look at them when you need them.
o Pay attention to the definition. Some words have more than one meaning, so be sure to read the whole definition. Many dictionaries will also give examples of the word in a sentence. This helps you understand the word and learn to use it.
o Find new words and learn what they mean. If you learn 10 new words each day, Monday through Friday, you will learn 200 new words each month. Saturday and Sunday can be used to review your new words to be sure you know what they mean.
• Read in English. Read books, magazines and news articles every day. Try to guess the meaning of new words by looking at the whole sentence. When you read words that you do not understand, look in your dictionary.
• Ask English speakers. When you think you understand a word, write it in a sentence. Ask someone who speaks English well to read your sentence and tell you if you have used the word correctly. When speaking, ask if you have used the right words.
• Use vocabulary books. There are many vocabulary books available. Some websites also offer free vocabulary worksheets. Some books and worksheets are very easy for beginning learners, and some are very hard for more advanced learners. Make sure you use books and worksheets that are right for your level.
• Work crossword puzzles. Crossword puzzles are a good way to learn words and their meanings. Crossword puzzles provide clues that are definitions of words. The words that go with the definition are the answers that go into the puzzle. Crossword puzzles come in many levels, so you can work puzzles that are right for you.
• If you think you are ready for difficult words, get a copy of a magazine called Reader’s Digest. Each issue has a vocabulary quiz that has 20 words. Each word offers multiple choices for the definition. The correct answers are included in the magazine.
• Practice. All of these tools will help you improve your English vocabulary, but you must practice. When you learn a new word, write sentences using that word. Try to use the word when speaking. You will better remember the word if you use it.

When you are learning English, you must do the same things you did when learning your own language. When you began speaking your own language, you knew only a few words. You learned more words by listening, reading and asking others. As you learn new words, practice them so you will know them well.

Related Posts

  • No Related Post
]]> http://www.learning-english.ca/improving-your-english-vocabulary/feed/ 0 Using Newspapers to practice English http://www.learning-english.ca/using-newspapers-to-practice-english/ http://www.learning-english.ca/using-newspapers-to-practice-english/#comments Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:14:55 +0000 admin http://www.learning-english.ca/using-newspapers-to-practice-english/ Newspapers are a great way to practice your reading skill and improve your vocabulary.

In addition, newspapers have ‘real world’ English, which is very different to ‘classroom’ English.

Here are some online newspapers:

Weird News Links to strange news stories
USA Weekend
Reuters Hourly News Short summaries of current news
The Chicago Tribune
The Jerusalem Post
The Nando Times
The New York Times
The Washington Post
World Newspapers On line
React Newsmagazine for teens
Reader’s Digest World

Here are some tips:

- it may seem difficult at first, but keep going!
- keep your dictionary close by and use it.
- writing out vocabulary helps remember it. Start a vocabulary notepad. Use each page for the each letter, A – Z. When you learn a new word, write it in your vocabulary notepad on the right page.
- explore the different sections of the newspaper. Some will be easier than others.

Related Posts

  • No Related Post
]]> http://www.learning-english.ca/using-newspapers-to-practice-english/feed/ 0 Learning English Exercise for High Beginners http://www.learning-english.ca/learning-english-exercise-for-high-beginners/ http://www.learning-english.ca/learning-english-exercise-for-high-beginners/#comments Sat, 25 Nov 2006 19:46:41 +0000 admin http://www.learning-english.ca/learning-english-exercise-for-high-beginners/ Read the paragraphs below and then answer the questions. To see the answers, click on Questions and Comments below.

The four Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were all born in Liverpool, England. They started playing together in 1959. They played in many countries of Europe, sometimes for royalty. Lennon told the Royals, (the royal families of Europe), to rattle their jewelry when they liked the song.

These four played in the countries of Britain, The United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and all through Western Europe. They were so popular that the people crowded around them if they went outside of their hotel rooms. They were a well-loved pop group who made people laugh and sometimes cry with their songs.

In 2005, Paul McCartney returned to his home country of England where he performed in the Live 8 concert for millions of people throughout the world. Thousands of people attended in the concert in London.

He opened the concert with ”Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club”. For the finale he sang, “Hey Jude” to hundreds of thousands of people all over the world.

Complete the sentences using:

of because the in with interested in if

NOTE: The same word can be used more than once.

The Beatles started their group ___________ Liverpool, England ___________ 1959.
They played in many of the countries ___________ Europe. _____________ they were so
popular, the people crowded around them _____________ they went outside their hotel rooms.

They didn’t see the things they were _____________ _____________. They were well-loved _____________ they made people laugh and cry _____________ their songs.

In 2005 Paul McCartney performed in the Live 8 concert _____________ London. Millions
_____________ people watched and listened in many countries of the world.

Related Posts

  • No Related Post
]]> http://www.learning-english.ca/learning-english-exercise-for-high-beginners/feed/ 1