Learning Pronunciation

Using your eyes to learn pronunciation

This is simply 100% required if you want to reach a high level of fluency and comfort in your pronunciation. What you are about to read could possibly change the way you learn pronunciation forever; and I hope this is the case.

What is the problem?

Language learners simply have bad ears when listening to other languages. Many times we think we hear one sound, but then we speak it wrong. This is because our ears are poor and our mouth shapes are wrong. A specific vowel has specific mouth, lip and tongue shapes. If you are not aware of this, then learning pronunciation is very hard. Let us have a look at some examples to better understand the topic.

1) I may say the word ‘dog’ and the student may say ‘duck’ on accident.

This mistake happens because the learner is not aware that the word dog is spoken with the ‘aw’ vowel, which requires the lips to be put into a tall oval shape.

2)  I may say the word ‘off’ and the student may say ‘of’ on accident.

This mistake happens because the learner does realize that ‘off’ is pronounced with the ‘aw’ vowel which requires the lips to be put into a tall oval shape.

Also the learner does not realize that ‘of’ is a short ‘u’ vowel, meaning the jaw drops open naturally with the teeth only 1 pen-width gap between the teeth, requiring no oval shapes

So how do I benefit from knowing this?

Successful learners of pronunciation have 4 things in common:

1. They know the actual name of every vowel they speak, for example the short ‘a’ or long ‘o’.

2. They all watch TV, real people, YouTube clips or online lessons and learn much of their pronunciation by using their eyes.

3. They actually use the language to communicate once they learn the correct pronunciation.

4. They look at their own mouth shapes in mirrors and cameras when practicing pronunciation.

So how can I use this learning strategy?

Using your eyes for learning pronunciation is a strategy and skill that you can use when learning new words in real life or during lessons in class or online. Use this strategy when learning vowels or consonants. There are not that many vowels and consonants in English and you can learn this stuff fast.

Also, if you would like to try a pronunciation class with a specialist, feel free to send an email and book a free trial lesson with ETO.

By: Luke 

ETO American English teacher

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How to Learn English Using the Internet

The way we learn English has changed a lot since we were younger. Nowadays many people use the internet and a computer to learn things. This can be a powerful tool that helps us speak better English in a hurry. I honestly think that it is one of the most powerful ways to learn, especially for those who spend a lot of time on their computers.

Let’s go through some ways to learn online

1. The ETO Facebook page. Like and Get Notifications on the ETO FB page. This will deliver posts to you every few days, that will help you learn hundreds of things over a single year. Just a little bit every few days is very useful over time. You can also find the ETO Facebook link below this blog.

2. Subscribe to your favorite ESL YouTube videos. Log into your YT account every day and get one or two new vocabulary words from YT video lessons or just listen to the daily news in English. You can clean your house and just listen passively to your English lessons. Feel free to visit our YouTube Channel to view class demo videos and see how learning online can be really easy.

3. Sign up for ETO tweets, G+ and follow our blogs too. You can find the ETO links below this blog.

4. Comment and chat on ETO FB posts, on ETO blogs, on YT pages and on forums. Chatting really helps a lot. It also gives us a chance to read different English from different people.

5. Bookmark (Control + D) your favorite online dictionary and set up a desktop shortcut for it too. Anytime you do not know a word, go to your online dictionary. These dictionaries should have lots of examples of how to use the words.

6. Sign up for online flashcards. There are many sites out there now that can help you manage your flashcards.

7. Find a free language exchange partner online. This could be either written or verbal language exchange. A Google search will help you with this.

8. Get a professional ETO teacher to help you. There is no real substitute for hard work. There is also no real substitute for a proper teacher. A professional teacher can save you lots of time and money and get you to your goal much faster.  If you would like to try an English class with a professional ETO teacher, feel free to book a free trial lesson with ETO today!

My last thoughts

There are other ways to learn English online. Can you leave your comments on this blog? We want to hear about your ideas.

By: Luke 

ETO American English teacher

Other useful ETO links:

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Punctuation Matters!

Using the right grammar and punctuation is vital to convey messages without any ambiguity or misunderstanding. If I said: “Let’s eat grandma” you might think I’m a bit cannibalistic, or that I don’t really like my grandma that much. But if I said: “Let’s eat, Grandma” there would be no doubt that I wanted to eat with my grandma at that particular moment in time. You see? No ambiguity. Plus it would have saved my grandma’s life- which, you know, she would be quite happy about. 

For more fun English tips, sign up for a Free trial class with ETO and speak to one of our native English teachers today!

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ESL learning: Fill in the blanks

Image credit: Harbin Ice Festival in China

Have you ever heard of an ice sculpture, sculpting or the person who does it, a sculptor? How could a sculptor make such a masterpiece that brings chill bumps to the skin when viewed? This craftsman uses a variety of tools. Let’s try to figure out what these tools are. Come on! Give it a go!

Can you complete these sentences with the answer choices?

Ice Pick – Chainsaw – Steam gun – Chisel

A sculptor first uses a _____________ to carve ice into blocks, taken from the frozen surface of the Songhua River. He then uses a ____________ to melt, and sometimes weld pieces of ice together. Afterwards, the sculptor uses a __________, which is a characteristically shaped blade on its end, for carving or cutting a hard material such as wood, stone, metal or ice. The sculptor then uses an ___________ to break up, pick at, or chip at the ice.

Still guessing? Have you tried to find the tools on Google images yet? If you could sculpt a sculpture, what would it be, look like or symbolize?

 

Please comment below with your answers..

For more fun English lessons, feel free to book a free trial lesson with ETO today!

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The “Possessive” Apostrophe

An apostrophe is normally used with the letter “s” to show ownership or possession. With most singular nouns, simply add an apostrophe plus the letter “s” to do this. An apostrophe plus “s” is never added to make a noun plural–even a proper noun.

Incorrect: This is Joans jacket. (possessive form)
Correct: This is Joan’s jacket.

If the singular noun ends with an “s”, add an apostrophe, plus an “s” if the extra syllable is pronounced. If the extra syllable is not pronounced (or if it otherwise looks confusing to add an apostrophe and an “s”), simply add an apostrophe.

Examples:
The dress’s hem (Added syllable is pronounced.)
Lloyd Bridges’ son (Added syllable is not pronounced.)

Some authorities only add an apostrophe (without the “s”) to all words ending with “s”, regardless of its pronunciation. This is acceptable. Whichever standard you follow, be consistent.

Example: The dress’ hem
(Word ends in “s”, pronunciation does not matter.)

Please comment and create your own sentences using apostrophes to show possession.

For more fun English lessons, feel free to book a free trial lesson with ETO today!

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ESL learning: The Comma

The comma (,) is a commonly used punctuation mark indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list, to mark off thousands in numerals, to separate types or levels of information in data, and, in Europe, as a decimal point.

Did you know that the word comma can have several other meanings? Can you guess a few?

For more fun English tips, sign up for a Free trial class with ETO and speak to one of our native English teachers today!

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ETO is Student-Centered Teaching

What is student centered teaching?

In simple words, the teacher teaches the way and the content that the students want to learn. Student centered teaching is modern teaching. Let’s talk more about the details and benefits of student centered teaching.

Describe a student centered class

A typical student centered class begins with some general friendly discussion about the student’s life. Student centered teachers are usually friends of the students, creating a warm environment for speaking. The students do about 80% of the speaking and the feeling is comfortable.

The student and the teacher then review specific pronunciation points that the learner made mistakes on in his or her last class. Once the student is comfortable to go forward, we then begin interesting conversation that asks for the student’s opinion, the student’s advice, examples and experiences from the student’s life and ideas that the students may have. A student centered class is more like a real life conversation about real things.

What are the benefits of student centered learning?

When students talk about things that interest them, it increases confidence and time for speaking practice. The class time goes by very fast and an English class feels more like a conversation with a coach and a friend, with very personalized feedback of course.

When students are doing most of the talking, they learn so much faster than in a teacher centered class compared to a class with a teacher speaking all the time. Learning English is like learning to play a guitar. You must actually play the guitar all the time, learning new songs all the time. Speaking English is 85% skill and 15% knowledge.

Need more help with a native English speaker?

If you would like to try a student centered class with a professional English teacher, feel free to book a free trial lesson with ETO today!

 

By: Luke 

ETO American English teacher

Other useful ETO links:

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Learning English Successfully

What are Successful Learners?

Learning a language mostly depends on YOU. Some people say that learning a language is something that some people are good at. This is not 100% true. Anyone can learn how to be a better language learner.

Being a successful language learner means that you will be able to tackle tasks in class more easily and you will also be a better independent learner outside of the classroom, achieving far more than other learners.

Some things successful learners do?

Here is a list of things that successful learners do. Successful learners:

1) Learn visually using post-it notes, drawing charts

2) Learn by listening when walking, riding the bus or exercising. This can be done with any MP3 player or smart phone. Downloads are free and easy to find on Google

3) Learn using flashcards and they update the flash cards a lot

4) Review what they have learned by revisiting old material

5) Set goals. For example, they will learn 1 grammar, 1 pronunciation and 1 vocabulary point every day

6) Learn all new words and grammar structures as part of a sentence.

7) They write, listen to, read and speak all new structures shortly after learning them

8) Focus more on speaking than listening

9) Know how to skim and scan, while reading with a purpose

10) Use context clues and grammar structures to help guess meanings of things

11) Have a strong command of grammar and understand why grammar is correct or not

12) Use lots of authentic materials to study from. For examples of authentic materials, please see my other blog ESL learning: Learning Native English

13) Listen to native speakers in real life, on TV, in films and on their computers

14) Ask others to repeat themselves, to speak slower or explain more

15) Do not try to understand every single word

16) Are confident

17) Have a good balance between simple communication and accurate grammar

18) Know how to say things many different ways and can rephrase things

19) Always try to get better and better pronunciation

20) Avoid thinking in their mother tongue and try to think only in the target language

21) Talk to themselves

22) Repeat things they hear

23) Are highly motivated

Final remarks :

If you would like to try an English class with a professional ETO teacher, feel free to book a free trial lesson with ETO today!

By: Luke 

ETO American English teacher

Other useful ETO links:

Primary Website

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]

ESL Learning: Cacti or Cactuses?

Cacti is the Latin plural of cactus, and some writers use it in English. Cactuses is the plural form in English. Dictionaries list both, and neither is right or wrong. Also, like many names of plants, the cactus is sometimes treated as plural.

Cactus is not the only Latin-derived English word ending in “us”, and most are conventionally pluralized in the English manner.

Can you name a few more?

Feel free to comment below…

For more fun English tips, sign up for a Free trial class with ETO and speak to one of our native English teachers today!

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ESL learning: How to Learn Vocabulary

Really, almost all of my students have asked me how they can learn more vocabulary. This is a great question because many times good vocabulary is more important for communication than good grammar. I have some tips to help you learn vocabulary.

So what tips do you have?

1. Read, read and then read some more. Read things of interest to you. Read many different things. Read lots of authentic materials. To learn more about authentic materials, see my other blog ESL learning: Learning Native English.

By reading, you are learning words in context. You are practicing your guessing skills and you are learning how to move words around and play with them grammatically.

2. Make notes. Be sure to circle or underline any words you do not know, look them up and write all new language down in a vocabulary notebook. Just the act of writing alone is enough to put the words into your long term memory and you will be able to remember them more easily.

3. Find synonyms and antonyms for new words. Do not forget to write them in your vocabulary notebook.

4. Memorization by association means you have learned new words because they remind you of other words in your own language.

5. Make as many word groups & collocations as possible with the new words. New words are always used with other words in pairs, phrases or in sentences. How many ways can you use new words?

6. Write more sentences, stories, paragraphs, letters and emails using the new language. Try different things and do not be afraid to be creative. Writing is a great way to remember new words. Writing puts these words in your long term memory.

7. Read a dictionary every day. Try setting a goal of 5, 10 or 15 words a day. Also, use the dictionary for any words you do not know. Do you have a small dictionary and vocabulary notebook with you all the time?

8. Use online resources like ETO’s Facebook page and Twitter and learn a little every day. Also, do not forget about YouTube. You can find all our links below this blog.

9. Make flashcards to help you practice daily. An excel spreadsheet is another option. Don’t forget, that writing helps you remember the words!

10. Open your mind and read and discuss topics that you normally would avoid. Variety is very important.

11. Stay aware and be alert to any new words that may be on advertisements, commercials, brochures, newspapers or anywhere else. Always be searching and making notes mentally and on paper.

12.  Practice, practice and then practice more. There is no substitute for actually using what you have learned. Use the new words as soon as you learn them. Use them in writing and speaking immediately.

13. Get a professional teacher. If you would like to try a vocabulary, pronunciation and conversation class with a professional teacher, feel free to book a free trial lesson with ETO today!

Parting Words

Just be sure to speak, read, write and listen to new vocabulary as much as possible.

By: Luke 

ETO American English teacher

Other useful ETO links:

Primary Website

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