I CAN SPEAK ENGLISH...!?

The typical problem that most of the migrants are going through when moving to a new country, especially to English speaking countries, is their poor ability to speak English language. Considering that most of them are skilled and professionals from their homecountry, poor communication skills are giving them difficulties to get the job that they wanted.

If you are going through with this problem like of other people who are just starting to learn English language; or if you can read and understand English, but can’t speak -- asses and evaluate yourself thoroughly. To deal with the problem is to have in-depth understanding of the real cause of the problem. Ask questions to yourself like, why you are experiencing difficulties or troubles when speaking English language.

Well, these are just parts of the real problem that you are struggling with to handle. In fact, these are the effects; and the real causes are your  poor mind setting, poor behaviour and poor attitude. To learn things, you need to have an open mind. You should  understand that the essence of communication is to understand and be understood - it is a two-way process.

You should see clearly the changes happening around you and think of ways to adjust on it. If you want to improve your English speaking skills, first have a genuine interest to learn it. Accept the changes and embrace the fact that you are now living in English speaking country; and for you to fit in, you have to adapt the language. Therefore, you should:

• THINK ENGLISH

• ACT ENGLISH

• SPEAK ENGLISH

Read on the effective ways to improve your English speaking skills:

• Don’t focus on grammar rules

You might be surprised, but this is the fact. Unlike in writing, you don’t need to be more serious in grammar rules when speaking. Speaking is more on expressing yourself verbally. It has freedom and no rules. You can use any words depending on your mood or feeling.

You have to understand that even the native English speaker have troubles in grammar. In study, only fractions of English speakers know more than 20% of grammar rules. The more you focus in grammar when speaking English, the more trouble you get in expressing yourself. Just speak out your mind and let it go.

However, if you want to learn more about grammar rules and improve your writing skills, check these websites: http://www.grammar-monster.com/, and  http://www.engvid.com/.

• Don’t try too hard in imitating the accent of native English speakers

You can’t have an accent over night. It takes a while and requires lot of patience and hard work. You have to realise that there is nothing wrong whether you have an Indian accent or Chinese accent. The important thing is, you can speak English clearly and express yourself well. Be yourself.

• Improve your vocabulary

When you are watching TV or reading books and encountering unfamiliar words, check the meaning of the word in the dictionary. It is really helpful to have a handy dictionary with you all the time; and from every new words that you  have learned, use it when conversing with your friends and family.

There are useful softwares from Internet that you can download to your computer, which can be very helpful in checking the meaning of new words. There are websites offering free software download  of “wordweb”, just Google it.

• Improve your listening skills

A poor listening skill is one of the reasons why you can not speak English. When you are talking to someone and can not understand what he is saying, more likely you can not respond from him. To improve your listening skills, get your ears used to English words by listening to radio or English songs. Use headset for a better audio.

• Improve your pronunciation

The best way to improve your pronunciation is to read out loud. Pay attention to yourself and in how you say the word. Look at yourself in the mirror. Observe how you open your mouth and use your tongue. If you are in doubt, check the dictionary and study the right pronunciation of the word.

• PRACTICE

This is the real key in improving your English speaking skills. You have to apply everything you have learned. PRACTICE, PRACTICE and PRACTICE. Eventually you will hear yourself speaking English language without any hassle at all.

What is in the word, 'Patience' ?

We always hear the words, "be patient", when we want something and seem losing hope to have it; or if we are dealing with someone or to something that annoys us and makes us angry. Assesing myself, I know that sometimes, I tend to lose control over my emotion. I easily get angry over the thing that is out of my principles. When I read this short note, it opened up all my senses. At first, it made me laugh at loud then as I go on, I realised that this is something right and must not ignore. A simple story with sense. I said to myself whenever I wished or prayed for something, I would wait for the answer no matter how long it will be. If I dealt with someone and annoyed me, I would pause for a moment to hold my sanity.

In just few minutes, it changed my thinking. This is a virtue that we must keep. ;-)

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Patience

There was a monk who was very impatient. You may wonder, why would a monk be impatient? Don't they become monks so that they don't have to deal with the world? Yes, that's true. So imagine how impatient this monk was...

The more he tried, the more impatient he became, so he decided that he must get away altogether, to learn to be patient. So he built himself a little home deep in the woods, far away from civilization.

Years later, a man was traveling in those woods and met him. The man was amazed to find anyone living so far away from the rest of the world, so he asked the monk why he was there all by himself.

The monk said that he was there to learn to be patient.

The traveler asked how long he had been there, and the monk replied: seven ( 7 ) years.

Stunned, the traveler asked, "If there is no one around to bother you, how will you know when you are patient?"

Annoyed, the monk replied, "Get away from me, I have no time for you."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Every time that I feel myself getting impatient, I picture the monk and I laugh out loud.

This is yet another example of how to control our so-called "uncontrollable" emotions. By associating a funny story with an undesirable emotion, I give myself an opening - a chance to stop for a moment and look at what I'm doing. And most of the time, I realize that what's getting me all ruffled is so insignificant!

I realize that it must be strange for anyone dealing with me at that point. One minute we could be arguing, and about to tear each other apart, and the next I'm laughing. I suppose I would wonder about such a person's state of mental sanity too. But think about it - what better way to break the tension?

How many people get into arguments that literally break up relationships - over petty stuff! One word leads to another and before they know it, it's ten years later and they have no idea of why they lost touch. If they backtrack, they realize that it all started over something so insignificant that they're too embarrassed to admit or disclose it.

So, even at the risk of looking ridiculous, the next time that you are about to lose your sovereignty over your mind and your body, remember the monk!

While you're laughing, explain why. The next thing you know, you'll both be laughing, and then - you'll both be able to really talk and listen.

Wishing Only Well,

Carmen Colombo

March 2000

Source: www.helping-you-learn-english.com