Improving Verbal English Speech Patterns

Once you’ve learned the basics of English, it’s very important to keep practicing and looking for ways to improve your verbal skills. This includes your ability to comprehend verbal English – as well as speak it. Unfortunately, if you feel self-conscious, you’ll miss out on many opportunities to practice and gain the type of experience that will help you speak fluently. Aside from using a tape recorder, or conversing over a computer, there are several other ways that you can practice speaking and comprehending verbal English.

Improving verbal comprehension with music

No matter where you live – or what language you speak – there’s bound to be some type of music you enjoy. Search online to find English speaking singers in the genre you enjoy. Listening to music in English will give you a feel for the underlying rhythm of the language, as well as for the colloquial expressions used commonly in conversational English.

If you can’t understand the words in the song at first, you can look up the lyrics on the internet and read along as you listen to the song. As you become more comfortable with the speech patterns, try singing along with the recording. You may also want to look and see if there are any songs that you know in your language that are also recorded in English. Since you’ll already know the words to these songs, you’ll be better able to understand the translations to English.

Using karaoke to improve verbal expression

Karaoke is a fun, easy way to sing along to your favorite musical arrangements. Once you know the words to a song, you can sing them along with the music. This will help you to add some inflection to your speech patterns, as well as adjust the rate you normally speak at. Practicing karaoke songs will also give you a broad introduction to the type of music that is popular in English-speaking cultures.

While this may sound silly, children who are first learning English sing the alphabet for practice. Not only does this help them recognize letters later on, it’s also useful for associating sounds with those letters. Therefore, when you are trying to improve your verbal speech patterns, singing the English alphabet out loud can also be of help to you.

Write poetry and speak it out loud

Writing poetry is an excellent way to improve your written and verbal English language skills. When you speak your poems out loud, you’ll have the additional opportunity to try new sentence pacing, as well as hear the way different sounds fit together. In some cases, you may find that you enjoy writing in poetry enough to enter contests or create a special blog space for them.

Even though you may have many practical purposes for learning English, taking advantage of the fun parts of the language can help you develop your verbal conversation skills as well. For example, listening to English language music is a wonderful, fun way to learn new words and pick up on the creative ways that English words can be assembled. You can also use poetry and other types of rhyming methods in a similar way. The important thing is to verbally sound out the sentences, songs, and poems that you create to improve your proficiency at verbal English. Read more

Some Tips for Learning How to Speak English

Irregardless of the language that you are trying to learn, connecting the way words sound with how they look on paper is a difficult task. Because the pronunciation rules for English are not consistent, you may often come to points where you will have a difficult time determining how to say things correctly.

It is also important to realize that the English has accents and dialects like any other language. As a result, you may feel confused when you are told to pronounce a word in a certain way, only to hear it spoken in a different way by someone else. Nevertheless, there are still a number of methods that you can use to develop your English speaking skills.

Using a Tape Recorder

In many cases, when you are concentrating on how to form sounds, you may not be aware of how they actually turn out. A tape recorder is very useful for helping you learn the results of your efforts. As you listen, you will be able to hear the difference in what you intended to sound out, and what actually occurred. You can also compare these results to tapes of native English speakers and work on specific sound groups that are difficult to manage. A tape recorder will also help you learn how to control the pace of your speech, as well as your breathing pattern.

Listen and Repeat Numerous Dialects and Accents

Once you have mastered the basic sounds, it may be helpful to listen to these words spoken by people with different accents. As an example, you might want to try and imitate everything from Texan accents to Irish ones. In the process, you may find that some letter pronunciations fit better with your own natural speech patterns.

As you listen and repeat from tapes, it is very important to experiment and find out what will make you speech clear and understandable. You can also find numerous samples of spoken English on the internet. If you visit sites like You Tube, it is possible to download videos on just about any subject. Some video producers may even have content available that shows you the proper lip and tongue positions to form specific sounds. You can also select materials that match a hobby or other personal interest, and gain the benefit of hearing a native English speaker at the same time.

Voice Chat

At some point, you will want to gain steady practice in conversational English. If your computer is equipped with a sound card and microphone, you may be able to find internet chat rooms that also support voice chat. That said, you may not find this of much help if your internet connection is too slow.

Unfortunately, learning to verbalize in English will be very difficult if you do not actually speak out loud. If you cannot find someone to practice with, you can still use a tape recorder, or practice with videos. On the other hand, if your computer has the necessary hardware, you may find that you have unlimited opportunities to carry on conversations with native English speakers from all over the world. Read more

Some Low Cost Ways to Learn English

Even though there are numerous methods for translating items in English into your native language, you may feel it is necessary to learn English. Among other things, you may find that search engine, or Babel based translations result in confusing translations, or ones that make no sense. At the same time, you may be finding it difficult to fit English lessons into your budget. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to help you.

Local Schools

Each year, schools stop using thousands of perfectly good textbooks. If you know that English is being taught at a local school, you may want to visit the headmaster and ask if he/she will allow you to borrow a few books. Or, you may want to ask if you can purchase books that are due to be discarded at the end of the year. That said, if you have access to the internet, there are many other options for you to consider.

Computer Based Tools

As you may be aware, the Windows operating system is used by people that speak all different languages. All of these computers still contain information about the characters necessary to write in these languages. Therefore, if you want to learn English, you may want to adjust your computer so that it displays information using the English alphabet. That said, it is important to realize that the computer cannot translate for you.

Software Programs

There are many programs that will help you learn basic English. If you cannot afford to purchase these programs brand new, you may be able to locate second hand items. As an example, you may want to look on Ebay. Amazon.com also has a wide variety of second hand items that you can choose from. While you are shopping, you may also want to pick up some books that are written in English.

Online Tutorials and Dictionaries

Today, there are hundreds of web authors that have elected to share some of their experience and information about the English language. Many of them offer internet based programs that you can use to learn and practice English. In addition, there are also many very good dictionaries that will help you translate from your native language into English.

As may be expected, each webmaster will present information in a slightly different way. If you find one site confusing, it is important not to get discouraged. Chances are there are other sites available that will be more understandable. You may also want to try writing to the webmaster and seeing if that individual is willing to answer any questions that you might have.

Many people want learn English, but may feel that they do not have access to the necessary materials. Fortunately, the internet has placed the ability to learn almost any language within the grasp of anyone that can access the sites housing the materials. On the other hand, if you feel a need to have paper based materials or tapes, there are also materials available that may fit into your budget. Read more

Effective Ways to Practice Business English

Chances are, if you own or operate a business, you’ll either need to converse in English or make sure that someone in your business is able to do so. Regardless of whether you need to generate sales flyers or negotiate complex contracts, being able to understand business transactions in English is crucial. Unfortunately, the best time to practice these skills isn’t when you’re about to start a conversation in English for the first time! Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can hone your skills – even if you aren’t able to engage in active conversations.

Experiment and Share Materials That You Create

If you need to get better at generating sales flyers in English, you can start by designing them and write them in your native language. Once you have your ideas sorted out and organized, go ahead and translate the text into English. Next, find an English speaking person who can give you an assessment of your results. By repeating this process, you’ll start to get a better understanding of the syntax and flow of natural-sounding English.

Attend Town and City Meetings

If you live in a primarily English-speaking country, chances are you can attend town or city meetings. While these events are typically designed to discuss local governmental issues, you’ll find that money and contract negotiations are also often brought up for discussion. As a result, you’ll get some ideas about the words and vocabulary you might encounter in a business meeting. Don’t worry if you lose track of the discussion; you’ll still be able to study body language, and help put those cues together with the tone of the words being spoken.

Watch Business Videos

There are many types of videos that can help you learn business English. Aside from videos that are dedicated to helping you learn English, you might be able to find specific videos that are designed to train salesmen and distributors. Although many of these videos focus on teaching you how to work with a specific company, they’ll provide you with a valuable opportunity to practice your comprehension of sales and business type conversations.

Join Internet Business Groups

Chances are there’s some part of operating a business that interests you more than others, whether it’s marketing, accounting, direct sales or some other area. Search on the internet to find news groups or forums that are dedicated to your specific area of interest. Find and join one of these groups that use the English language. You’ll have an excellent opportunity to study the words and phrases that are used in a business setting, as well as converse about your own experiences.

As with any other area of learning, you’ll need to practice and dedicate yourself to learning the nuances of business English. Depending on your interests and objectives, you can choose methods that allow you to actively participate in conversations, or you may simply decide to choose meetings and tapes that offer you an opportunity to observe and practice your listening skills. You’ll soon be on your way to speaking fluent business English with confidence. Read more

Learning English the Natural Way

If you’re feeling frustrated by all the complex rules of the English language or the mountains of vocabulary words you think you’re supposed to understand, don’t worry. The truth is that most native English speakers couldn’t explain all those rules to you if they tried, and most of the advanced grammar they learned went out the window after finishing the SAT, ACT or other high school exam. When you’re trying to learn English, stop worrying so much about the rules and focus on learning the natural way.

What do I mean by the natural way? Well, think about the way that a small child learns a language. They don’t sit down with an English language dictionary and start memorizing flash cards as soon as they’re able to speak – instead, they learn naturally through the process of immersion. The process of immersion involves surrounding yourself completely with the new language until you start to pick up the bits and pieces that will eventually form your comprehension of the language.

There are several benefits to learning by immersion. Your sentence structure and pronunciations won’t be as stiff and forced as the people who learn English using traditional home study guides, since you’ll be picking up these elements from real native speakers. In addition, you won’t experience the frustration that many English language students feel trying to work out the language on their own. Consequently, you’ll be less likely to give up, and more likely to reap the benefits of speaking English.

But how do you begin to study language naturally? You don’t need to pack up and go live with a host family like so many college kids do. Instead, all you need to do is to spend time in public places where people speak English. Consider the following locations:

Grocery Store – As you do your weekly grocery shopping, try to listen to the conversations going on around you. In addition to getting a feel for how the language is spoken, you’ll also pick up many helpful words for food and beverage items.
Hair Salon/Barbershop – For some reason, Americans love to talk to the people trimming their hair, so going in for your own haircut can be an educational experience in the number of conversations you’ll hear.
Church/Fitness Centers/Golf Courses – Any of these locations that encourage groups of people to get together can provide you with many opportunities to listen to and participate in conversations on things you already enjoy. Check online or in your local phonebook for places that interest you.

If you aren’t yet comfortable conversing with groups of native English speakers, you can also immerse yourself in English language books and magazines. If you have a favorite book in your native language, pick up an English copy and compare the two. Read everything you can get your hands on and take notes on words or phrases you don’t understand. As you look them up, practice speaking them out loud and try to form sentences using the new words. With time, the process of immersion will improve your comprehension and speaking ability, until you feel fully fluent in the English language. Read more

Being friendly in English

Having good social skills is important if you want to make a good impression on the people you meet. Here's some advice on what is considered polite or impolite in English-speaking cultures.

1. Please, thank you, excuse me and I'm sorry

These polite expressions are used a lot in spoken English, and not using them can make you appear rude. As politeness is considered perhaps the most important quality in relationships, make sure you use them! Don't worry if you think you use them too frequently: the worst that people will think of you is that you are sweet and charming:))

Please = use whenever you want someone to do something for you, or if you want something from another person

Can you tell me where the post office is, please?
Can you pass me that newspaper please?

Never use imperative forms unless you are giving someone directions. So although you can say to someone "Take the 130 bus to Croydon and get off at Asda supermarket", you can't say to someone "Pass me that newspaper".

Thank you = use whenever someone does something for you, or gives you something.

Excuse me = use when you want to introduce a request to someone, or if you want to get past someone

Excuse me, can you tell me where the post office is, please?
Excuse me, is this the right platform for the London train?

I'm sorry = use any time that you inconvenience someone, tread on someone's toes in a crowded train, or if someone asks you something that you can't do.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand. Is the post office on the left or the right?

Is Mr Jones in the office?
I'm sorry, he's out this morning.

2. Ask permission before doing something that may inconvenience others

Do you mind if I open the window?
Can I take this chair?

3. Avoid controversial topics when you meet someone new

Some topics of conversation can lead to arguments, so unless you know someone well, it's best to avoid them. These topics are politics, religion and financial information such as how much money you earn. If you are in doubt about what to talk about, let the other person take the lead, and respond to them. This leads on to the next point:

4. Keep the conversation going

If someone asks you a question, respond to it. Avoid one-word answers, and try to say at least a few words. Then you can return the question.

For example, if someone says "Terrible weather, isn't it", avoid just saying "yes". Instead you can say "Yes, I wish it would stop raining" or "Yes, it wasn't like this last summer, was it?"

Some cultural tips

- in Britain, queuing is considered polite. If you "jump the queue" (go to the front, rather than stand behind the last person in the queue) or push the people in front of you, you will make yourself very unpopular!

- don't stand too close to people. Stand at least an arm's length away if you can. On crowded public transport this isn't possible, but people rarely talk to each other in these situations.

- keep eye contact when you talk

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Talking about fear

There are many words and expressions for talking about fear.

Words

afraid: "Are you afraid of the dark?"
frightened: "I'm frightened of spiders."
scared: "He's scared of making mistakes."
feel uneasy: "I felt a bit uneasy when I walked home in the dark."
spooked: "My cats are easily spooked before a thunderstorm."
terrified: "She was absolutely terrified when she heard the noise."
petrified: "The building began to shake and we were all petrified."

Expressions

a terrifying ordeal
send shivers down my spine
give me goosebumps (goosebumps are when you skin has little bumps on it)
make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up (dogs also do this when they are scared)
scare the hell out of me
be scared shitless / shit scared (British slang - vulgar)
be bricking it (British slang - vulgar)
frighten the life out of me
shake with fear
jump out of my skin

Examples

One of the best horror films I have seen is "The Blair Witch Project". It tells the story of a terrifying ordeal in the woods of northern USA. Some of the scenes in the film sent shivers down my spine, especially the one when the students run out of the tent in the middle of the night. When they go back, one of the guy's rucksack has been emptied. When that same guy goes missing the next day, it gives you goosebumps.

There are some fabulous sound effects, especially the ones of the wind blowing and howling. When you hear the crying voices at the end of the film, it will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Perhaps the scariest part of the film is at the end, when you see one of the surviving students literally shake with fear in the corner of the basement. It certainly frightened the life out ofjumped out of my skin at the end when the camera stopped filming. The film scared the hell out of me for weeks afterwards, and I'm ashamed to say that I wouldn't go into an empty room in the house unless there was someone there with me. the girl when she saw him, and I

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Giving orders and instructions

How can you ask someone to do something for you in English without sounding rude? Here are some of the ways that you can give orders and instructions.

1. Use the imperative form

We use the imperative form to give orders, warnings and advice:

Be quiet!
Take care!
Listen to me carefully!

Because it can sound rude to give direct orders (especially if you are talking to an adult), we "soften" the imperative form with "let's" or "please":

Let's go now.
Please listen to what I'm saying.

2. Use a modal verb to turn the order into a request

We use modals to change the mood of a sentence. For example, "You should help her" is more polite than "Help her!"

Other modal verbs you can use to make requests are:

Could: Could you make me some tea?
Can: Can you come here please?
Will: Will you shut the door please?
Would: Would you wait here until the doctor is ready for you?

3. Use an introductory phrase to soften the order

Instead of using an imperative, you can use a phrase instead. Here are some common ways of phrasing an order, in order of the most indirect to the most direct:

Would you mind possibly… (+ ing) (Most indirect)
Would you mind possibly moving your car? It's parked right in front of mine.

I was hoping you could … (+ infinitive without to)
I was hoping you could spare me a few minutes this morning.

Do you think you could … (+ infinitive without to)
Do you think you could do this photocopying for me?

If you have a couple of minutes spare…
If you have a couple of minutes spare, the office needs tidying up.

I'd like you to…
I'd like you to file this correspondence for me.

I want you to…
I want you to finish this by tomorrow.

4. Use sequencing words

You can use sequencing words to make instructions clear.

Firstly, make sure the appliance is disconnected.
Secondly, open the back with a screwdriver.
Then, carefully pull out the two black cables….

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Better English speaking skills

Improving your English speaking skills will help you communicate more easily and effectively. But how do you become a more confident English speaker?

Practise where you can, when you can. Any practice is good - whether you speak to someone who is a native English speaker or not.

It's important to build your confidence. If possible, use simple English sentence structure that you know is correct, so that you can concentrate on getting your message across.

Try to experiment with the English you know. Use words and phrases you know in new situations. Native English speakers are more likely to correct you if you use the wrong wordgrammar. Experimenting with vocabulary is a really good way of getting feedback. than if you use the wrong

Try to respond to what people say to you. You can often get clues to what people think by looking at their body language. Respond to them in a natural way.

Try NOT to translate into and from your own language. This takes too much time and will make you more hesitant.

If you forget a word, do what native English speakers do all the time, and say things that 'fill' the conversation. This is better than keeping completely silent. Try using um, or er, if you forget the word.

Don't speak too fast! It's important to use a natural rhythm when speaking English, but if you speak too fast it will be difficult for people to understand you.

Try to relax when you speak - you'll find your mouth does most of the pronunciation work for you. When you speak English at normal speed, you'll discover that many of the pronunciation skills, such as linking between words, will happen automatically.

Remember when speaking English

Try to become less hesitant and more confident.

Don't be shy to speak - the more you do it, the more confident you'll become.

Remember to be polite - use "please" and "thank you" if you ask someone to do something for you.

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