33 ways to speak better English If you’re reading this, I imagine you want to speak better English and communicate in a more confident and competent way. When we communicate effectively we are able to express our ideas and opinions, share experiences, and build relationships with others. When we struggle to express ourselves, we feel unvalued and insecure. In the modern world, we communicate across borders. By speaking better English, people all over the world can hear our voice. Well, English teachers and English classes definitely help. What you need is to become a self-directed learner, somebody who takes responsibility for their own learning and creates their own learning programme to develop their English. Now, it’s certainly true that speaking is a social activity and is best done with other people. You can do the same with your English. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. I want to go for a drink tonight. How do native speakers pronounce to / for / a in the sentence? I wanna go ferra drink tenigh. 8. 9. 10. to be honest 11. 12.
Sentence stress English is a stress-timed languageListeningListening activitiesSpeakingSpeaking activitiesConclusion English is a stress-timed language The English language is often referred to as stress-timed. This means that stress in a spoken sentence occurs at regular intervals and the length it takes to say something depends on the number of stressed syllables rather than the number of syllables itself. Try saying or listening to the sentences below: The four sentences take the same length of time to say and you will notice the numbers are stressed and the unstressed words in between are said much more quickly in order to keep the rhythm of the language. Listening In a recent class I discussed with my students the reasons they found listening difficult in English. "The words come too fast""I panic when I don't understand every word""Some words are swallowed" I think what students are referring to here, amongst other things, is the stress-timed aspect of English. Speaking
IELTS Speaking practice test 1 The Speaking test is 11-14 minutes long and is in three parts. The Speaking test is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests. How to practise This practice material is designed for two people working together. Take the three parts of this practice test one after another without a break to make your practice as realistic as possible. Remember, you need to speak fluently, clearly and accurately. Record yourself if you can so that you can go back and check your performance. Review your Speaking test Listen to your recordings and discuss your test with your study partner. Use the audio recordings and transcripts in each section to gain an insight into the test format. There are no 'answers'.
IELTS - the International English Language Testing System - Exam English IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is used as the language of communication. IELTS is required for entry to university in the UK and other countries. Who is it for? IELTS is recognised by universities and employers in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. It is also recognised by professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government agencies. What is the IELTS test like? You can choose between the Academic or General Training versions of the test. Level and scores Multi-level. Please click here to see an explanation of IELTS Band Scores. Click here to see a comparison of IELTS scores with other exams. Click here to see our IELTS Exam Tips and IELTS articles. Where do I take the test? When can I take the test? Arrange with your closest test centre. How much does it cost to take IELTS? What materials do I need?
English sentence stress For this reason it's also an area which is often neglected, but this aspect of the language can cause problems for learners in both their speaking and perhaps more importantly listening. English is a stress-timed language Listening Listening activities Speaking Speaking activities Conclusion English is a stress-timed languageThe English language is often referred to as stress-timed. This means that stress in a spoken sentence occurs at regular intervals and the length it takes to say something depends on the number of stressed syllables rather than the number of syllables itself. Try saying or listening to the sentences below: Download stress.mp3 audio (273k) The four sentences take the same length of time to say and you will notice the numbers are stressed and the unstressed words in between are said much more quickly in order to keep the rhythm of the language. Listening In a recent class I discussed with my students the reasons they found listening difficult in English.
IELTS Speaking Task 1 – How to get a high score Very good explanation, Jerrychen! Hey, Taha, here’s some explanations about this whole thing “CAN” “CAN” is one of the most commonly modal verb used in English. Here are some examples: #1. #2. #3. #4. #5. However, your sentence fits in the option ability. Look closely. Your sentences: I tried my best, but I couldn’t do my test all by myself I always try my best, but I can never do a test all by myself * In the first one you used the main verb (to try) in the past, so the modal verb (can) must come also in the past. ** the second one the main verb (to try) is in the present, so the modal (can) must be also in the present in order to make sense! Hope it helps, see you around…
13 differences between busy and effective people Many of us think that to be super busy at work means to be very effective and have a productive day, but it’s actually a general misconception. To be busy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re effective and to be effective doesn’t mean to work all day long in non-stop mode. We here at Bright Side believe that being busy is very different from being effective. Let’s do this little comparative analysis together; we’re sure it will help us finally define busy and effective. Translation Agency | Offices in London, USA, South Africa | Kwintessential