Hard to have a conversation in English?

I have never met anyone born outside the U.S. who did not want to improve their comfort in conversing in English. Almost all non-native speakers realize that they cannot understand 100% "exactly" for various reasons. Most adults who speak English as a Second Language stop making an effort to learn new vocabulary words after they learn enough words to get by. Another obstacle to conversation is doubt about pronunciation, either when listening or speaking. The biggest challenge for many people is simply they have never been taught basic conversation skills. Learners feel especially shy since they do not know even any basic rules of conversation.

Conversation strategies are completely separate from English language skill and fluency. Conversation is a social skill requiring collaboration with other willing participants. You can speak English to yourself by writing or reading out loud. Some of the most intelligent and fluent native born thinkers can express themselves beautifully in a lecture but feel hopelessly out of place at a neighborhood picnic or potluck. Some extremely smart people have trouble forming and maintaining relationships, while others less gifted enjoy the many benefits of friendly conversation. Friendly conversation builds trust and respect between people and really let us know each other.

Where can you find basic conversation skills? Try Conversation Starters.com for an overview of simple ways to engage others in conversation. Even if you have mastered the English language, if you don't know how to start and continue a conversation you will probably always feel like an outsider. The truth is that knowing basic conversation skills is much, much more important than using the correct grammar and pronunciation. You can start practicing right now!  Check out 101 conversation starters to get the idea. Don't wait until some future time that you dream will come after you study English longer.

Can't afford an English tutor?

Don't have a stack of money?

Many people trying to learn a new language hire a tutor for personal instruction and coaching. But some learners are between jobs or have little income to spare on education. What can they do to improve English? Today people have many choices. If they cannot afford one-on-one instruction, they can attend classes, where the cost is shared among many students. Even better are free courses. Newcomers to the U.S. may not know that the federal government sponsors free classes in English as a Second Language and U.S. Citizenship. Funding for these programs comes from the U.S. Department of Labor because our country needs a workforce that can understand and communicate in English. Free, government sponsored courses are available in almost every community. How do you find them? Contact your local high school's adult education department for more information. In some areas, these programs are offered through a community college or other non-profit organization. The free government ESL programs measure learning by using standardized multiple choice questions that mainly check for comprehension and vocabulary. They do not measure pronunciation or other factors of fluent English.

Another way to study English is by self study, which is to learn independently of a teacher or class. If you can work independently, you can simply study any English textbook that you borrow from the library or purchase. Used books are very inexpensive on Amazon or used book stores. Like teachers, classes, and programs, books vary a great deal in their content and presentation. Find a book or series of books that interests you and that you understand easily. Each person is different, so no one book is best for everyone.

Today, studying English is even easier with a vast number of websites and online resources suitable for a wide range of learners. In a recent blog I mentioned Free Rice, a website that makes learning fun by turning it into a game. So many good English language learning sites are free, that paying for a premium resource is usually not necessary. Surf the internet until you find a website you like, then bookmark it. If you have to register or pay any money, move on to a different site.

Students of English as a Second Language do not always get what they pay for. In the U.S. we say, "let the buyer beware." Just because you pay a lot for instruction does not necessarily mean the quality is good for you personally. Even if a program has been very successful and is well known, maybe it is not a good fit for you. For example, Berlitz is an internationally known language program which has been around for a long time and boasts many graduates. However, Berlitz' approach is not flexible and does not address the individual needs of specific students. In other words, Berlitz' philosophy is "one size fits all/" Everyone buys clothes that fit themselves. Why not choose instruction that fits you well also?

Lips, tongue, and teeth all needed to speak English

Many sounds in English sound almost exactly the same in everyday conversation. Growing up in the U.S. we imitate our parents in how we shape our mouths to produce unique sounds. Actively engaging your cheeks, lips, tongue, and jaw will immediately improve your pronunciation. A lot of adults who learn English as a Second Language (ESL), have trouble mobilizing and coordinating their faces with the sounds they are speaking. Some hardly move their lips at all, as it they were paralyzed. Others try to talk so fast their mouths cannot keep up with their thoughts.

Lip readers can understand spoken language without hearing it because each sound has a unique facial configuration. That means that the meaning of the words is contained in the facial shapes. Because they are activated by muscles, the mouth parts acquire muscle memory they call upon whenever they need to make a specific sound. If you try to intellectually remember the sound, results are much poorer.

Say "P" pork. Your lips should be completely closed. Your tongue is in the middle of your mouth. You puff out your cheek a little bit, then release your lips in a small explosion- P. Now say "F" as in fork.  Now, though the other parts of your mouth are just like "P", your lips are not closed tightly against each other. Instead, your upper lip is pulled back, while your lower lip presses up against your teeth. Instead of the explosive "P" sound, the breath gradually escapes through the teeth to make an "F" sound.

Try some exercises for your mouth-- mouth yoga! Puff out your cheeks, makes faces like a little child, open your mouth as wide as you can, move your jaw side to side. Do this for a few minutes, and when you stop you can feel the blood tingling in your lips. As you practice you will become more aware of how your mouth and face is arranged. Many sounds require changing the shape of your face and mouth to produce. Others remain constant. What shapes are the hardest for you? What sounds are the hardest?

Feed the hungry while practicing English at freerice.com

I came across the Free Rice during my research on "games with a purpose" (GWAP). For every correct answer, the website donates 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program. Games have long been a fun and effective way to learn. Crossword puzzles are a game many enjoy that is also a fun way to learn new words and think about familiar ones. Sesame Street proved that children can learn and have fun at the same time. With the spread of computers and the Internet, teachers quickly adapted the new technology to instruction. Now, many websites and applications for children are both entertaining and educational.

Free rice is the newest entry in a long tradition of making learning fun. The best thing about a good game is that people enjoy playing it for its own sake. In other words, people enjoy facing and overcoming challenges, no matter how simple or repetitive. The popular game Tetris because people achieve satisfaction by increasing their skill. This satisfaction alone makes the game addictive to many. Such games have no other direct purpose than stimulation and satisfaction of achieving a goal.

One estimate suggests today 63% of people play some sort of game online. Games range from extremely simple tasks performed against the computer (computer card games, arcade games, Scrabble, etc.) to  extremely complex, massive multi-player games like Warcraft. Only a few our like Free Rice, because Free Rice offers more than simple self satisfaction of our competitive urges. This game, and other games with a purpose, provide an additional player incentive. This incentive allows players to become members of a global network of people who want add value to their recreational time.

For English language learners, Free Rice has quizzes in both vocabulary and grammar. The grammar quizzes are beginning and intermediate. Vocabulary is arranged in 60 levels, ranging from beginning to advanced. How advanced? Well, I had never even seen any of the words on Level 60! Best of all, you are helping feed the world's hungry, while having fun, and practicing English. Free Rice also offers quizzes to help learn German, Spanish, Italian, and French. Other subjects include math, chemistry, geography, literature, and art appreciation. I hope that more and more games with a purpose can help improve conditions worldwide.

TANSTAAFL

This stands for "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch!" Something doesn't come from nothing is what this says. This has to do with thermodynamics somehow.Common expressions often use acronyms, the first letter of each word in a phrase. All workers know TGIF means thank goodness it's Friday. The email and texting have made acronyms even more popular, such as OMG for Oh my God! or LOL for Laugh Out Loud, etc.

Please consider supporting this blog by using this link when you access Amazon to buy something. You will go directly to Amazon and not be diverted to any other site. This costs you nothing more, but generates small commissions that support the blog. You can copy and paste the web address (URL) or simply click on Amazon, then bookmark it for your favorites. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Back to basics to improve your English

Back to basics means making sure you have a good foundation. Many non-native speakers can communicate more or less in English but fall short of their potential. For example, when reading an article, they miss part or even most of the meaning because of certain vocabulary words or expressions they do not understand. Vocabulary means knowing both small and large words. Knowing them means you can spell the word, pronounce word, and use it in a sentence correctly. If you cannot do this, you don't truly know the word. Try reading a child's book written in English. Unless you know every word, your knowledge remains less than that of a child born in the U.S. Small words like in, of, at, on, etc., are used in specific ways, as even young children master them by the time they enter school. Vocabulary is one basic that merits attention. Other basics to consider are grammar, study skills, reading comprehension, error correction, and writing. More on those to come!

It pays to increase your English word power.

By honing your English language skills, you can improve how well people respond to you. Conversely, using incorrect words, pronunciation, and grammar only create roadblocks to communication, mutual understanding, and respect. Some believe that long, uncommon words and complicated sentence structure will enhance their image, while the opposite is generally the case. In fact, "less is more" when it comes to language. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is just one example history provides.

We have to crawl before we walk

Today my job was to listen to a senior IT engineer read from one of his kids' books. His children are about 3 and 5 years old. As usual, these books were written simply and accompanied by colorful illustrations. The engineer has lived in the U.S. for 26 years, but was born in Asia. He realized that he did not feel confident reading the book to his children. He knew he could not pronounce some words properly. He could guess the meaning of some words but others drew a blank. Finally, even if he knew all the vocabulary, he could not read the sentences in a flowing, fluent manner. Instead he stopped frequently, added syllables not in the actual text, or neglected words that actually were there.


His books are intended for children 6 years and under. On each page there was at least one play on words, a pun. This frustrated dad could not recognize or chuckle at word play intended for young children! This dad has a sincere motivation that gives him the confidence to master kindergarten-level reading. Best of all, once he masters the simple language of childhood, his communication skills at the workplace will increase without much additional effort. As they saying goes, we have to crawl before we walk.

Read my lips

When spoken clearly and accurately, English requires numerous lip configurations associated with unique sounds of the language.  Position of teeth, tongue, and jaw are equally important. Producing spoken language requires the cooperation of the whole lower face. During production of the sound, either the mouth parts change or remain constant. Sometimes, all but one stay constant.

People who have a hearing disability can learn to understand spoken English by "reading" lips. Of course, more than just lips are required to shape the unique sounds of English. Enough information is embedded in simply shaping the correct sounds to allow people to understand speech even without hearing. Some people are naturally good at "reading lips," but anyone can be trained. The audible speech and visible mouth shapes mirror the same message. This redundancy of communication channels ensures the meaning is conveyed accurately.

What do English language learners want from a tutor?

Students want specific outcomes when they pay for individual instruction, just as when they pay for a meal at a restaurant. No instructor can guess in advance what even one student wants, let alone students in general. Only students can identify their own motivations. Then, they can express these motivations to the instructor. Only then should the instructor start to form any concept or approach to engaging the student.
You can see by my ratings, that I have mostly succeeded in accomplishing what the student wants. If I only knew for what reasons some students did not rate me highly, I would be able to work on improving that area. Without that input, I must try to discover my weak points on my own, through self-examination. In what ways do I fall short? What are my strong points? By asking these questions often I try to discover what each new and continuing student wants, each time we meet or interact.

What can you give away and keep yourself?

Knowledge is the answer. I can give away my knowledge without limit, while still retaining it completely. Just as one candle lights another without diminishing its own flame, knowledge can be transmitted without bounds.

Speaking English as a Second Language

Most of my students studied English from textbooks in their native country. Some can read and write basic English well but few have practiced pronunciation or conversation. Fluent spoken English takes a lot of practice. In the past, audiotapes provided a model of learners. Later, VHS videotape language instruction we introduced. Today, learners can buy instructional DVDs, watch YouTube, or use numerous websites to develop their speaking skills.

Watching TV or cinema does not improve English fluency at all in my opinion. After all, this dialogue is all scripted and rehearsed in all dramas. Characters in drama sometimes speak in eccentric ways. Vocabulary in drama tends to be most basic, so even less educated people can enjoy it. When you keep in mind that literacy in the US has declined, you can be sure that less common words are not used in popular media. Finally, do you want to speak like yourself or like some actor in a drama?

A better idea is to use a webcam to video yourself speaking, then play it back. This way you can make sure you are shaping your mouth correctly. Simply read from a book or magazine while looking at the camera. Many laptop computers have build in cameras. Smartphones all have at least one camera, and newer phones have front facing cameras as well as the original lens on the back. I have an inexpensive Logitech webcam attached to my desktop computer at home. You can spend as little or as much as you want on a webcam, or simply load video files from your phone or digital camera.

The best way to improve your English speaking skills is the oldest, traditional method: conversation with a native-speaker who can correct even minute problems. Lately I am working with students one on one, so I can provide individual attention.

Not a native speaker? No problem!

I am starting this blog because so many non-native speakers want to take their English communication skills to the next level. I don't have time to meet with them all individually, so I decided I can share some useful techniques with more people. Unless you were born here or came as a child, English is one of the hardest languages to learn. Though you know basic English, you miss the meaning of many expressions, and don't know how to put words to your own ideas and feelings. My students have taught me so much over the years and I hope if you are reading this blog you can share your experiences with me, to improve my understanding.