This is an excellent tool to go through the drafting and proofreading of your writing work and get immediate feedback, from other than the teacher. You may register or not, choose a workbook for assignments or create your own workbook. Workbooks provide writing prompts to choose from, write, submit and get feedback, rewrite and improve your work. You can submit your work as many times as you want. I have tried it and I really recommend it. Check the link. It is supported by Cambridge and make sure to choose English as the language to use.
https://writeandimprove.com/
This is a recommended resource in your quest for improving your writing.
You will find original work on different fields by new writers, some published some unknown. Reading the articles will give you a good idea of what original writing is about. Visit the platform!
http://thewritingplatform.com/
Here is another link to a platform to which you can join and upload essays and read and grade other young people essays. Even when this is a platform for native high school writers you will find good examples and observe writing issues such as grammar, vocabulary, style, etc. Check it and join if you feel like doing it:
http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/13751.html
Thursday, 31 January 2019
Strategies to learn new vocabulary.
Learning new words in English and being able to use them increases our ability to understand written and spoken English, and to communicate efficiently, either way orally or in written form.
However, it is not an easy task, we cannot learn something that we do not use. A friend of mine who knows seven languages told me that to add a word to your every-day vocabulary you need to use the word several times.
I think each person has a unique learning style and has developed strategies of his or her own to learn things, but there are some things that can help.
Having a special notebook or a section in your notebook to add new words is very useful. Words are easier to find this way. Whenever you have time, play with the words, observe them, find synonyms and antonyms for the word.
Always try to understand the word definition in English, avoid translating. If you understand the concept, it will be easier for your brain to "absorb" the word.
Investigate if the word is a verb, or a noun, or an adjective, etc. and use it in a sentence, it could be a funny sentence or a crazy sentence. Use it several times in a paragraph and then try to replace it with different synonyms and observe how much "spicy" your paragraph sounds.
An important resource for new words is reading. There are levelled books with graded vocabulary. Try reading in English. There is a lot of material available in the internet at no cost. Set a time to read in English, at least for 15 minutes during each session. Write down any new words you learn and what you think they mean, then check in a dictionary, you might have guessed them right.
Interesting resources where you will find varied reading materials are:
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/
https://www.theguardian.com/weekly
Newspapers from around the world:
http://www.thebigproject.co.uk/news/
Remember that Languages are alive and constantly changing, so learning any language is a life-time process.
However, it is not an easy task, we cannot learn something that we do not use. A friend of mine who knows seven languages told me that to add a word to your every-day vocabulary you need to use the word several times.
I think each person has a unique learning style and has developed strategies of his or her own to learn things, but there are some things that can help.
Having a special notebook or a section in your notebook to add new words is very useful. Words are easier to find this way. Whenever you have time, play with the words, observe them, find synonyms and antonyms for the word.
Always try to understand the word definition in English, avoid translating. If you understand the concept, it will be easier for your brain to "absorb" the word.
Investigate if the word is a verb, or a noun, or an adjective, etc. and use it in a sentence, it could be a funny sentence or a crazy sentence. Use it several times in a paragraph and then try to replace it with different synonyms and observe how much "spicy" your paragraph sounds.
An important resource for new words is reading. There are levelled books with graded vocabulary. Try reading in English. There is a lot of material available in the internet at no cost. Set a time to read in English, at least for 15 minutes during each session. Write down any new words you learn and what you think they mean, then check in a dictionary, you might have guessed them right.
Interesting resources where you will find varied reading materials are:
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/
https://www.theguardian.com/weekly
Newspapers from around the world:
http://www.thebigproject.co.uk/news/
Remember that Languages are alive and constantly changing, so learning any language is a life-time process.
Being an advanced English student....
Studying and trying to learn a language is not a simple thing. You will hear lots of advertisements offering they can teach you English in only 8 months, even worse, they offer you can learn the language while you sleep!
Enjoy learning and improving your English!
As an English teacher, I can tell you none of those is true. It depends on the level you want to achieve and the time and effort you are able to put in this goal.
Learning a language involves different mental skills, which include the position of your tongue or lips as you want to pronounce a word correctly. Developing your "listening" ability, which has to do with your ears hearing the correct sounds and then your brain needs to process the information to decode the message. One source of original material to exercise your listening comprehension skills is the BBC News. Here is a link where you will find varied topics:
To achieve a real advanced level, you need to work as someone who really means to be an advanced English speaker. You need to think in English, read in English as frequently as possible, listen to English original materials, podcasts, news, songs, films, etc. After you read or listen to something, practice recording your opinion. You will be able to listen to what you said, make corrections, additions, listen again. Speak English with your classmates and teachers at all times.
You need to practice your critical thinking skills. Practice writing essays to develop your personal style and become aware of the power of words. You may even want to learn something in English online, something your really like, it could be how to cook something, build something, a professional course, just anything. The important thing is that you dare to use the language in a natural, habitual way. Here are some links of prestigious institutions that offer free/low cost learning options:
https://www.edx.org/es
https://www.class-central.com/university/stanford
https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=Free%20certificate%20courses
https://www.class-central.com/university/stanford
https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=Free%20certificate%20courses
Remember that phrasal verbs in English are key to English vocabulary. Learn them and practice them.
Be an active participant and comment on your experience while learning English!
Check the link below, it gives 14 steps to become an advanced English speaker.
Enjoy learning and improving your English!
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