Useful links of learning English

reading :www.economist.com

listening:http://www.abc.net.au/radio/

speaking:http://www.spokenenglish.org/

REFLECTION - Week 1

After thefirst week of E7 ,I Feel a lot of diffences between E7 and previous courses at REW.The first and the most maginificant difference is the more difficulties of E7 compared to E6,not only the fast speed of the teacher speaking ,but also the higher difficulty level of the final exam. So i should take more efforts in my daily life.


In the first week.the teachers told us what is the purposes of E7,and gave us some valuable information about  the forms of the 4 exams respectively,and let us know several strategies of how to handle our final exam .In adiition,the teachers encouraged us study ftoward  the goal. I felt I am filled with passion.


In E7 classes,I had to try my best to listen to the teachers carefully,because I did not wanna lose something important .More than that,not like E6,I did  much more  independent studies after my classes, such as looking dictionary for learning new words, lisening to some listening stuff I downloaded on the internet,and reading local nowpapers on my way home.


Finally,I will prepare well for my 10mins-long oral presentation. I believe I will improve my English skills after 4 weeks if I focus on my E7 study.  And may every classmate will pass the final exam.

Discussion Board - Money talks

As a chinese young student who lived in China for 20 years,I admit that English is very popular in most Asian countries currently.More than that,not only the Chinese government encourage young students to study English during school time,the parents also concern their children English score.In China many high-educated parents teach their children English when their chilfren are still little kid.And many rich families send their children to international school where can provide English education enviroment ,even the totur fee are probably maginifcant high compared with public schools. 

The evidents listed above are totally true,thus some western people might say,'English have took over all Asia!' But I will tell them, English is difinately important,but cannot weaken Chinese culture.I will discuss the reason why english is not china’s premier language

The first reason is that the Chinese goverment add English as a composory subject in University because China want to learn advanced tec. from the western countries.The first time that English  became the composory subject in China is in 1978 ,after 30 years Chinese tranditional culture has not been changed .Chinese tranditional culture is still powerful ,and more and more atractive to the neiboure countries.

The second reason is Madarin as a antient language has some specail aspects ,such as the graceful letters,the special gramma and penmanship. In addition, a lot of antient books which are writen in Chinese teach the descendants some philosophy of life.So educated Chinese love Chinese language. On the other hand,English cannot provide those thing to us.

These are still some resons why English is not china’s premier language, I believe we should learen more than one language like English, but we should not loss our tranditiomal culture and the core value.

Course Goals and Strategies

1.For Reading

   Course Goals :

Enhancing my reading speed

Learning more vocabulary Owning a basic prediction about the paragraph before reading.

Stratagies:

Frankly speaking, my reading speed is not fast enough because of my limited vocabulary. So I take it for granted that vocabulary related to reading speed directly. How to promote my vocabulary ability really is a significant and hard problem for me. I need to read more native English writer’s paragraphs. When I am on my way home, it takes almost 40 minutes in the train. During the time, I read some free newspapers, free magazines, such as Colse’ magazines for teaching readers how to cook. Of course, many new words I do not know in the reading, I record them in my vocabulary book. Then I will check them out in my e-dictionary after the whole paragraph reading.

Otherwise, one efficient way to learning more vocabulary is recite vocabulary books. I like to read IELTS vocabulary book before go to bad, even though I just read the vocabulary book as a novel book. Because it is hard to recite every new word at one time. Sometimes I could recite one new word in the first day study, but I could not remember it in the second day.

Prediction plays an important role in reading. If I could predict the general idea before read a paragraph in a short time; my reading speed and understanding will get twice the result with half the effort. I have tried to predict the general idea before read, I think the first and last sentences in a paragraph are very helpful for predicting, they usually are the main idea of a paragraph.

What is more, keeping reading everyday is the key to improve reading ability. I spend 1 hour on reading every day. I believe it will work if I keep the habit for a long time.

2.For LISTENING
Course Goals:

Leaning to take good notes.

Understanding more specifics in listening.

expand my vocabulary
Stratagies:

Vocabulary, I mention it again. It really is a big problem in my English promotion. I need to learn new words anytime, anywhere. I should put my e-dictionary in my pocket just for checking the new words out immediately when I meet them; maybe they are on the street, in the train and supermarket, etc.

Just Listen and write them down, it sounds easy, but hard to do. I have read countless listening notes. Short, brief, general ideas are the three principles of taking notes. One problem of my listening note is that not brief enough. I cannot control myself when I am taking note, I have to write down the whole words what I listened. This problem caused my notes are messes after listening. I have tried to use brief words and sentences to record information. However, I need some time to accustom it.

It is well known that many reasons cause to listening issues. Accent is one of them. I used to listen to American accent, but now I have to accustom Australia English; it is a hard change for me. So in my listening, many specifics are lost. I believe one sentence, “Practice makes perfect”. More listening will change my loss specifics problem. I know listening will be the most difficult part in E7 final exam. Keeping listening everyday are very necessary.

In my plan, I must listen approximate to 1 hour per day. Radio, TV, Movies, all of this stuff can be used for my listening practice.

3.For SPEAKING
Course Goals:

Trying do not be shy when speaking English.

Improving my English fluency.

Avoiding grammar and inaccurate words use.

Stratagies:

Going hot and cold when I am speaking English is result of I am not confident on my oral English. Because of my shyness, my English speaking is still in a poor situation. I have tried my best to conquer my prudency last week, when I was speaking English with a person, I tried to smile and use body language to relax, and anyway, I found it was helpful. Every night before I go to bed, I always tell myself, do not be afraid of making mistakes when u speaking English, it is nothing dig deal. I do not know whether this sentence is helpful, but I persist in saying it to myself.

Speaking fluent English always is my dream. I still do not how to realize it, now. I have analyzed which influenced on speaking fluent English; I consider the crucial part is word use problem. When I want to express my opinion in English, because I am not a native English speaker, I have to search correct word in my brain store, which needs some time, if it takes a long time to search or you cannot search the word; your fluent express will be disturbed. More speak is a good way to improve oral English. There are numerous native speakers around me, why cannot I speak to them? Different cultures, different counties make many topics for speaking. Of course, I have not carried this strategy out. Maybe I still cannot overcome shyness. Setting up confidence is the thing I have to do firstly.

It is universally acknowledged that some English words have the same meaning. But their uses are different. So many inaccurate words I used are totally worry. I have noticed the native speaker words use in their sentence, learned how to use some words I am sure,

Based on what I have illustrated above, keep speaking as I can as possible.

4.For WRITING
Course Goals:

Reducing spelling mistakes

Enhancing my grammar in writing

Making my essay more logical as a English native writer.

Stratagies:

I think spelling mistakes are avoidable in writing. Almost all of my spelling mistakes due to my incaution. The faster I write, the more spelling and grammar mistakes I do. So I need to concentrate on during my writing time. I consider the only way I can do in this case is do more writing exercises.

Grammar is the rule of writing; I have to admit that I have numerous grammar problems in my English. For me, this is the most difficult part to improve, especially in the writing part. However, I have been start to read an English grammar book, which is named Oxford Student Grammar, . I consider the structures of sentences are hard. But I will try my best.

Reciting some classical English sentences is helpful for both writing and speaking. So I choose New Concept English as a reciting stuff. Some people whose English are better to me told me that this book is very efficient for the writer is native English speaker.

My Learning Style

 

Visual learners

 

      Visual learners attend to information most effectively when they see something, for example, pictures, diagrams, films and videos or demonstrations. Check to see if some of the following characteristics may apply to you.

 

Behaviours/ characteristics of visual learners:

• Remember what they see rather than what they hear
• Remember diagrams and pictures
• Prefer to read and write rather than listen
• Have trouble remembering verbal instructions
• Need an overall view and purpose before beginning a project
• Like art more than music

Sometimes tune out when trying to pay attention.

Study hints for visual learners:

• Take written notes in lectures & class
• Use colours to highlight important points
• Pay attention to diagrams, charts and pictures in text books
• Use mind-maps (with colours & diagrams) to organise information for an assignment or for revision for an exam.
• Put summaries and mind-maps on the walls in your study area
• Use a wall planner.

References:

http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/learningstyle.htm