So, what’s next…



So, what’s next…

You’ve finished your language program but you want to continue working on your English, either here in Canada or back home in your native country. How can you do it? The following are some websites and some suggestions for you.

READING

a) Google Alerts – This is an interesting and useful service on Google. You simply register (it’s free and you won’t get any spam) and pick the topic which you want so you can regularly read on a subject which is of interest to you. Then, you will be sent links to articles on this topic via email. For example, you could choose ‘pandas’ or ‘hybrid cars’ or whatever topic interests you, and you will receive links to articles which appear on the Internet which are related to this topic. This is also a good way to improve your vocabulary, as you will see the same vocabulary repeated over and over again. Website address: alerts

b) Newspaper – If you choose an interesting event in the newspaper which develops over time, you can work on both your reading and your vocabulary. Read about the news story for a few days as it develops. You will see the same vocabulary repeatedly. After that, try watching the television news to see the same story. In this way, you have a chance to hear what you have been reading about and can practise your listening skills. In addition, many large cities have an English language newspaper. By reading the Japan Times, or something similar in your own country, you can read in English about news stories that you are reading and hearing about in your own language.

c) Novels – Read read read. However, as I have mentioned in class, it is important to read novels for ESL students so that you can understand easily and read fluently. Studies suggest that you should be able to understand between 95-98% of the vocabulary for it to be really worthwhile. Experts suggest reading two books a month to really improve your reading skill and to build vocabulary. And again, studies show that reading on a regular basis improves your reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and even speaking abilities.

d) Magazines – No matter what you’re interested in, there is a magazine which fits your tastes, whether it is sports, cars, movie stars, current events, the environment, or whatever. Try to read about it in English.

e) Class Website - Our class website has a number of readings you can do on the Reading Page, and there are also scripts for "missing" episodes of Jason's/Judy's World on the Listening Page. Each reading comes complete with reading comprehension questions and vocabulary development exercises.

VOCABULARY

Our class website has a Vocabulary Page, with online vocabulary exercises to review vocabulary introduced in class, as you know. So remember, when you leave Uvic, you can continue to visit this site and work through the various vocabulary exercises that the new classes are working on. Some of the vocabulary (such as the vocabulary relating to our soap opera), will be repeated, but much of the other vocabulary will be different. So, keep in touch by visiting the class website on a regular basis and you can work on this vocabulary along with the current students in the ELPI. There are also readings with vocabulary exercises on the Reading Page, and "missing" soap opera episodes, with scripts to read and vocabulary to learn, in the Jason's/Judy's World section on the Listening Page.

In addition, to work on your vocabulary, you should read as much as possible. One idea is to use ‘vocabulary cards’ in order to remember and learn how to use the vocabulary (see the class website Vocabulary Page for an explanation of vocabulary cards). There are also a number of useful sites for working on vocabulary listed on the Useful Links page of our class website.

GRAMMAR

See the class website Useful Links Page or the Grammar Page for some websites which have grammar exercises you can do online, so you can check your results instantly. Many of them also contain grammar explanations. Remember though, the best way to learn the language is to be exposed to it in an authentic context, such as through reading.

LISTENING

In class you either worked on Jason's World in 410 or Judy's World in 490. If you were in 410, you could consider purchasing Judy's World to work on independently. Once again, the book has vocabulary exercises in addition to the listening comprehension exercises. The book is available for purchase at reception on the second floor of the CST Building.

Also, check the Useful Links page on the class website for links to listening sites available online. To work on your listening skills in English while living in a non-English speaking country requires work and self-discipline. The important thing is to try to make it fun and enjoyable. If it’s just work, you’ll give up because it will be boring or difficult.

Here are a few other ideas to consider:

Buy a DVD collection of a television show you enjoy. Then go on the web and find the scripts for the shows so you can learn the new vocabulary and idioms. The important thing is to vary your strategy in how you approach your listening practice. Here are some different options.

1) As you listen, follow the script or read close caption subtitles.

2) Read the script first before even watching the show and then watch it afterwards without subtitles.

3) Watch the show without subtitles and then afterwards read the script. Then watch the show again, without subtitles and see if you understand more.

4) Watch the show without subtitles and then afterwards read the script. Then watch the show again, but this time with subtitles or while reading the script.

5) Watch the show and choose a character. Then, try to learn that person’s dialogue. You don’t have to do all of it. Just choose one short segment. Practise the lines; try to mimic the correct pronunciation and intonation.

PRONUNCIATION

Working on your pronunciation by yourself is challenging, but it can be done. The first thing to do is to find a recording of people talking and a script to go with it. It can be a newscast, a television show such as Friends, a newscast, anything. Listen to the recording of this native speaker and pay particular attention to intonation; note which words are stressed. Pay attention to which words become reduced, such as articles, pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions. Then, record yourself as you repeat the same conversation, sentence or whatever. Finally, listen to yourself – what sounds different? How can you improve? What sounds are difficult for you? Take a look at the list of English vowel and consonant sounds on the Pronunciation Page of the class website and try to determine which sounds are difficult for you. These are sounds you need to focus on. The main thing is to listen to yourself in comparison with your native speaker recording and to work on sounding as much like the native speaker as you can. Remember, as an adult learner of a second language, you will never lose your accent entirely, but you can reduce your accent to the point where it no longer interferes with comprehensibility, with the result that people can easily understand what you are saying.

SPEAKING

Form a group of English-language learners in your city (such as former UVic ESL students) and try to meet regularly for social activities – suppers in a restaurant, movie nights, book club meetings, whatever. This gives everyone a time and excuse to speak English. If you can't do that, the easiest way to practise speaking English is to meet a nice, handsome/beautiful English-speaking Canadian guy/girl. After that, simply fall in love and marry him/her, and then you'll be able to speak English every day for the rest of your life!

SUMMARY

It takes longer than you think to lose your English, and remembering something you have already learned is easier than learning it for the first time. The main point to remember is that numerous studies have conclusively shown that reading for pleasure is one of the very best ways of maintaining and improving your reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and even speaking skills! You are still learning your native language, so learning a second language is also a lifelong endeavour. If you can learn to enjoy reading in English, it will be of benefit to you throughout your entire life.

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