Ron's ESL Blogs

Expert Teacher, Sidhartha Desai, answers your questions on English and English Learning. If you would like to submit your questions for publication, Click Here. (Questions may be edited)

Question:

How Can I Improve my Speaking in English?

- Widad , Morocco

Answer:

There are several ways to improve your speaking in English.

I’ve written 5 steps to follow, and you’ll notice that some of the steps involve listening. Listening and speaking are as connected as reading and writing (which I wrote about in a previous blog entry).

In order to improve your English speaking – even to speak like a native speaker – you must train your ear to hear the distinct English pronunciation and intonation patterns. This is called developing an ear for English. If you can’t hear the subtle differences in English pronunciation and intonation, then you won’t be able to say them. It will also help you to develop the confidence necessary to become a great speaker in any language.

So, here are the 5 Steps to Improving Your Speaking:

1. Passive Listening

This means listening to English podcasts, radio shows, TV shows, or any other English listening material, but just leaving it on in the background. This can be done while you are driving, or using an mp3 player and walking, or on the bus, or while cooking, cleaning, or any other daily activities.

The idea is just to get English in your head as much as possible; let it seep into your mind while you are not focused on it. It’s the first step in training your ear to hear the distinct sounds of English.

1. Active Listening

With active listening, you sit down and concentrate on what you are listening to. Preferably, you should answer listening comprehension questions at the end of the listening exercise. Plus, it would also be good to have a reading script to review after you listen and answer questions.

Make notes on new vocabulary and phrases learned while listening. Notice how the words and phrases are used in sentences, so you can practice using them when you speak.

Remember, listening and speaking are very closely connected. Improving your listening skills improves your ability to speak English well.

1. Repeating After Listening

Find an English language podcast that you really enjoy; it can be on any subject you like. Just make sure that the speaker speaks in a clear way that you enjoy, and there is a reading script available with the podcast.

After you actively listen to the podcast, repeat it yourself by reading from the script. In fact, the best thing to do is record yourself reading from the script. Then, listen to your recording and compare it to the podcast of the English speaker.

I know that many people do not like recording their voices and listening to the recording, but it is one of the most effective ways to improve your speaking. Many of my students who practice this strategy receive compliments on how well they speak. Plus, I do it myself to keep improving my speaking ability, so I know it works.

1. Speaking with a Native Speaker

Steps 1 – 3 are self-studying methods. Steps 4 and 5 involve other people.

Speaking with a native speaker will put steps 1 – 3 into practice. You will get a chance to use your improved listening abilities by having a real conversation with a native speaker. You will also get a chance to use your new vocabulary and improved speaking skills in that same conversation.

1. Speaking with a Teacher and Getting Corrected

Having conversations with friends and colleagues, who are native speakers, is very helpful. However, to experience the biggest improvements, you need someone with knowledge of the rules of the English language to actually correct your mistakes while you are speaking.

Getting general speaking practice is important, but if no one corrects your mistakes then you will keep making them forever – and you won’t know that you are making mistakes.

So, try and practice these 5 steps and see for yourself how you improve your speaking.

Expert Teacher, Sidhartha Desai, answers your questions on English and English Learning. If you would like to submit your questions for publication, Click Here. (Questions may be edited)

Question:

Can You Explain the Different Tenses in English?

- Alex Rodriguez, USA

Answer:

Each tense in English has a different purpose. I’ve outlined the different tenses below with examples and special notes on how to use them.

Present Perfect

This tense is used when thinking about the past and present at the same time. It is typically used to describe events that recently happened.

David has received a big promotion.

There has been an earthquake in Los Angeles.

(Note: After describing the recent event, you can use the Simple Past to give more details.)

There has been an earthquake in Los Angeles. A building collapsed, but no one was killed.

(Note: When using this tense, you must use the auxiliary verb – have – in the present tense, before the past participle of the main verb. For example: There has been an earthquake)

Simple Past

If an event has been completed in the past, and is not continuing today, then use the Simple Past Tense.

I went to New York in 2002.

I saw a great movie last night.

(Note: Do not use an auxiliary verb when using this tense)

Present Perfect Continuous

This tense connects the past to the present moment. It is used for ideas that begin in the past, but continue until today.

I have been trying to understand the meaning of life since I was a child.

What have you been doing lately?

(Note: When using this tense, you must use the auxiliary verb – have – in the present tense, followed by been, followed by the ing form of the verb. For example: I have been trying)

Past Perfect

When you are describing two different moments in the past in the same sentence, use the Past Perfect tense.

It had started raining before I got home.

She had studied English for 10 years before she became a professor.

(Note: When using this tense, you must use the auxiliary verb – had – in the past tense, before the past participle of the main verb. For example: She had studied English)

Past Perfect Continuous

We use this tense to describe longer ongoing events that were happening around a past time.

What were you doing at 10pm last night?

I was watching the hockey game.

(Note: This tense is different from the Simple Past Tense. The simple past is used for shorter events; Past Perfect Continuous is used for longer events or situations that were happening in the past.)

Simple Present

This tense is used to describe habits, personal preferences, or general truths.

I ride my bicycle every day.

Maya loves watching movies.

It is beautiful to watch the sun set over the Rocky Mountains.

(Note: It is uncommon to use this tense to describe actions in the present moment. For this situation, we generally use the Present Continuous Tense.)

Present Continuous

We use this tense to describe an action in the present moment. It is usually used to ask a question and to respond to that question.

What are you doing?

I’m making dinner.

- Sidhartha Desai, www.ExpertEnglishTeacher.com

Expert Teacher, Sidhartha Desai, answers your questions on English and English Learning. If you would like to submit your questions for publication, Click Here. (Questions may be edited)

Question:

Dear sir, I need to know about the following words: Can, Could, Shall, Should, May, Might, Will, Must, Ought, Would.

- Kishore, UAE

Answer:

All these words are a special type of verb called Modal Auxiliary Verbs. They add a specific meaning to a word and they also have different rules than regular verbs. As a result, they can cause some confusion.

The following is a list of examples of modal verbs and how to use them:

1.      Use can and could to talk about ability.

I can play the violin

I could speak French when I was in university.

2.      Use can, could, may, and might to talk about permission.

Could I ask you a question?

May I sit here?

You can borrow my phone.

3.      Use may and might for possibilities; they are not used for definite situations.

I may go to the party

She might be the next President.

4.      Use should and ought to for situations where there is some obligation, suggestion, or where something is logical.

I ought to go to my wife’s best friend’s birthday party.

The concert hall shouldn’t be hard to find.

You should listen to this podcast to improve your pronunciation.

5.      Use would for hypothetical situations, questions, and preferences.

Would you ever go sky diving?

I would buy that car if it were cheaper.

Would you like to have dinner with me?

I would like to be a writer.

6.      Use shall, will, can’t, and must for things you have to do and things you are not allowed to do.

I will pass the test.

I must finish what I start.

I can’t enter the Staff Room.

- Sidhartha Desai, www.ExpertEnglishTeacher.com

Expert Teacher, Sidhartha Desai, answers your questions on English and English Learning. If you would like to submit your questions for publication, Click Here. (Questions may be edited)

Question:

What is the difference between be and do?

Alyson, China

Answer:

The verb to be describes something about what you are, or who you are. For example, John is happy, or Sally is a dentist. To be does not describe an action you are doing.

So, when we write that John is happy, we don’t know what actions he is doing. We know in general about his being; he is a happy person. The same is true about the sentence: Sally is a dentist. In this case, the verb to be is put in front of a profession. It shows what kind of job someone has, but doesn’t tell us what actions they do.

The verb to do tells us about some actions someone is doing.

Think of this: John is happy. As a result of his happiness, he jumps up and down and dances.

Happiness describes John’s inner being; how he feels deep inside. Dancing and jumping up and down describe the actions that John does because of who he is.

- Sidhartha Desai, www.ExpertEnglishTeacher.com

Question:

I have a question about the word chili in the following sentence: Then he added some bits of hot green chili, and then put the top piece of toast onto the chili bits.

Lucy, USA

Answer:

This is a delicious question!

A hot green chili (also known as a chili pepper) is a vegetable that is commonly used as a hot spice to add flavour to food. Chili bits would be small pieces of chili peppers. They are usually found in Indian, Mexican, Thai, and even Chinese food. They are an excellent source of vitamin C; however, if you are not used to eating spicy food, be careful. Some chilies can make you feel like your mouth is on fire. But, once you get used to it, you will love it.

- Sidhartha Desai, www.ExpertEnglishTeacher.com

Question:

Which is better: More reading or more listening?

Ali Baba Ali, Malaysia

Answer:

Well, the real answer to this question is: Both are equally important. But, I know that’s not the answer you want to hear.

If you have to choose only one to focus on, it depends on your specific situation and needs. If you feel that your reading skills are weaker than your listening skills, then practice more reading. If your listening skills are weaker than your reading skills, then practice more listening.

It can also depend on the type of job you have. I have many students who have jobs where they have to speak to people in North America on the telephone. They just want to practice listening and speaking in English, so they can communicate better on the telephone. In their cases, reading and writing are not as important.

So, think about your situation and needs. What do you need English for? Is it for talking to friends? Is it for a job? Is it to pass a test? Then think about which needs more practice: reading or listening.

Also, whenever possible, try listening to podcasts that have reading scripts; then you can practice both.

- Sidhartha Desai, www.ExpertEnglishTeacher.com

Expert Teacher, Sidhartha Desai, answers your questions on English and English Learning. If you would like to submit your questions for publication, Click Here. (Questions may be edited)

Question:

I have some trouble with my listening; how can I improve it? I do some listening training every day, but the effect is not notable. Thank you.

L. Feng, China

Answer:

Thanks for your question and I’m sure many other people have the same problem.

Here are my suggestions to improve your listening:

1.       Make sure you are listening to the right level of English. If the listening material is too advanced (this means if you don’t understand about 75% of what they are saying) it won’t help you very much. The same is true if the listening material is too easy. Make sure you understand the listening material, but it also challenges you to improve your vocabulary and listening skills.

2.       Try and find listening exercises that include comprehension questions, and also a script of the listening passage. If you have to answer listening comprehension questions, then you will know how well you understand the passage. Plus, after you listen to the listening passage the first time, you can listen again with the script. This will allow you to improve your vocabulary and sentence structure as well.

3.       Try reading out the script of the listening section after you hear the recording. Speaking and listening are quite connected. When you practice your speaking, you often improve your listening.

4.       Be patient, don’t give up, and keep practicing. I’m sure you are working very hard, and sometimes it is hard to notice progress.

- Sidhartha Desai, www.ExpertEnglishTeacher.com

Question:

Can you help me with the following question:

The city has a major problem with traffic jams and the elephants are making things _________ worse.

a.       Totally

b.      Absolutely

c.       Utterly

d.      Considerably

(The correct answer is utterly – why?)

I. Lannes, Brazil

Answer:

This is a great question. It’s the kind of question I get asked all the time in my online classes, here in Toronto.

Let’s examine why totally, absolutely, and considerably are incorrect, while utterly is the correct answer in this case.

1. Considerably is not a synonym for utterly; considerably has a weaker meaning than utterly. Considerably means much, or a lot. It is grammatically correct to say: …the elephants are making things considerably worse. However, it is not strong enough for this sentence. If we say the elephants are making the traffic jam considerably worse, it sounds like an inconvenience, but not something extraordinary, like elephants in the middle of a traffic jam.

2. Totally and Absolutely are both synonyms for Utterly. However, in English, there are certain words that are used together that sound more natural. This is called co-location. Certain words sound natural together and certain words do not sound natural together.

In this case, the correct co-location is utterly worse. This is a more advanced idea than just learning vocabulary. Now, you have to be aware of what combinations of words are correct and incorrect. The way to develop this skill is to keep practicing your reading and listening of English websites, newspapers, and magazines. Also, keep practicing your writing and make sure your teacher corrects your phrases, which sound unnatural.

- Sidhartha Desai, www.ExpertEnglishTeacher.com