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 F.A.Q s
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i * The 4 most frequently asked questions * How can I choose an English name - Is the meaning important?
The 4 most frequently asked questions relate to speaking, vocabulary and listening-see "English Topics" for more help. Typically, Questions are broadly these;
1. My oral English is poor. What can I do ?
Good speaking skills are mostly about practicing speaking. I admit this is a problem for two reasons:
i - insufficient time in class
ii - little chance to experience speaking English outside the classroom.
Some teachers suggest that reading aloud is useful but others disagree. Certainly, if you adopt this opproach, you will gain experience, but you run the risk of re-inforeing poor or incorrent pronunciation.
Choose short texts that interest you and find somewhere comfortable to practice.
Imagine that you are speaking to an audience. Practice breathing and relax. Use variations of speed and intontion - the rise, fall and pitch of you voice.
Try to use English as much as possible in class and don't worry about making mistakes. See if you can get your teachers to use English rather than immediately resorting to translation . Sometimes they find this difficult because, they too, suffer from nerves and embarrassment.
For what its worth, if it is any comfort, although I have been in this business and speaking in public for almost 40 years, I still write out new speaches and presentations in full, and practice them aloud in front of a mirror, to ensure that my eye-contact, gestures and timing are right.
2. I have difficulty remembering new words. How should I go about memorising vocabulary?
This actually separates out into 3 problems which are inter-dependant on each other -they relate to each other.
First is how to build a useful relevant store of words. Second, how to use them and third, how to remember them.
First, it is necessary to record new words that are unfamiliar. I recommend my famed method of "The Little Black Book", the size of a small telephone/address books which will slip in a bag or pocket.
Write down all new words that you don't know in English and Chinese. Use it for regular quick and easy reference. Cross them out when you have learnt them. It is in expensive and very easy.
I think it's particularly important if you regularly use an electronic dictionary as they are convenient, but make your memory lazy. Use them - the words, I mean, when you are talking and writing.
Read extensivly about things that interest you from newspapers, books and the Internet. Do not, as I have seen some students do, trawl endlessly through a dictionary.
You need two types of words; those for everyday use which are varied but mean more or less the same thing - and their opposite meaning. Dictionaries of synonyms and Antonyms can help with making your speach better and more interesting to listen to.
3. Listening is the biggest problem which confronts students and, is the area which lets them down in exams.
The answer is simple, just listen. Avoid distractions, such as outside interference from noise. Listen carefully to what your teacher is saying, rather than bury your head in a text book. You will gain valuable clues from facial expressions, hand gestures and body language. It is for this reason that I aviod text books in oral lessons.
Listen to any thing which is interesting; tapes, music, broadcasts in English from China Radio International, BBC World Service , Voice of America and Voice of Moscow. Watch documentary, cultural and travel programmers on CCTV9. You will find up-dated listings elsewhere under English Topics and references.
Movies are another source but can prove difficult due to regional or international accents and the speed of dialogue, but by concentrating, you will usually be able to get the idea of what is going on.
Radio broadcasts cause problems due to complicated or unfamiliar dialogue, poor reception and background music. Listen to it regularly every day in surroundings where you are relaxed, comfortable and warm. For most people, this is when you are in bed!
Whatever you choose to do, if it is interesting or entertaining you are likely to learn listening skills faster.
4. I often become confused by new long words or sentences.
Another very common problem. My best advice is to look carefully at the word, and see if you can find something in it that you recognise e.g. disembarcation - to embark on a trip or voyage means to depart or leave. Disembark means the opposite - to return.
Similarly, a common problem is that sentences are too long. Do the opposite of what you were taught with your writing. Look for punctuation or 'conjunctions', and break the passage down into shorter sentences. That should solve the problem.
Question: How can I choose an English name? Is the meaning important ?
Before you choose an English name, ask yourself why you want one. If it is because you want to be identified more closely with the English-speaking culture, go ahead and choose one. If it is because you think it will be easier for foreigners to use, think again, and let the foreigners learn and respect your natural name !
If you are choosing a name because you want to fit in with English-speaking society more closely, you will need to choose a name that sounds acceptable to that society at that particular time. Don't forget that names are subject to fashion, just like clothes.
Most English names are taken from, or based on historical figures and National heroes. The Victorians & Edwardians - around 1850 - 1920, where particularly given to using flowers and fragrances for girl's names - Daisy, Lavender, and so on, but they are rarely used now. Although others such as Alice, Victoria and Rebecca, are still quite common.
Remember too that in Western countries, the given name comes first, and is followed by the family name. It can be quite difficult choosing a substitute name.
My name, Alan has several different spellings depending on it's region of origin. Meanings are often difficult to establish - mine is: 'strong', 'reliable', but I'll settle for the definition I found in a book-store in Beijing - 'handsome'!
Bear in mind that pop stars tend to use crazier names than most of us. There are also books that can give you the meaning of English names. It may be important for you to know the meaning, but you will also need to find a balance between a name with a good meaning and a name which sounds natural for the people who have to use it. I had a student once who was called 'Pirate', and a girl who chose the name 'Tree'!
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