English is seen by many as a universal language, and is an integral part of numerous cultures. For those who cannot speak English but are required to, it can seem frustrating to learn quickly. English is known to be one of the most complicated languages. Using some activities as an aid is a great help on the journey to learning English as a Second Language (ESL).
Have Fun While Learning - Play ESL Games Online
There are many ESL games available on the Internet to help people learn English. Games include everything from learning the alphabet to understanding nouns, pronouns, adjectives and phrases, to spelling, vocabulary and grammar. Playing a few games as part of a routine will not only keep the student interested in learning the new language, but will make the learning process much easier. If a particular game is too difficult, there is likely to be another at a more suitable level. Once the student improves in that area, it is time to move up to the next level.
Learning Vocabulary
English vocabulary is very complex. Even native English speakers may not have a very large vocabulary because the language is so elaborate. To improve English vocabulary, doing crossword puzzles can help. Quizzes and picture-based games are also good at expanding vocabulary. For instance, showing a picture of a certain establishment such as a library or a doctor's office can help the person learning English as a second language determine the names for different buildings, rather than simply referring to them as buildings. Reading English picture books or children's books can also increase vocabulary.
Improving Oral English Skills
Practicing English pronunciation daily can help improve verbal skills. There are many resources available on the Internet for this, for listening and repeating. At ManyThings.org, a listen and read aloud section allows students to listen to phrases or sentences and repeat them until they have the correct pronunciation. Purchasing English pronunciation audio or video would also be beneficial. To make improving oral English skills more enjoyable, a student may watch simple English movies, or movies in their native language with English subtitles.
Writing and Spelling
To boost confidence in written English, an ESL student should take spelling tests or play spelling and vocabulary games. The Internet provides many of these options for free, however students can also make their own quizzes by drawing a few pictures onto flashcards, and then randomly choosing a card to spell it and write a sentence about it.
Improving Listening and Reading Skills
There are many things one can do to improve listening and reading skills. The first thing is to get some books that include an audio tape. These are always available in public or school libraries and can be found at ManyThings.org. More advanced ESL learners can try to learn expressions by listening to and reading certain English expressions. Listening to or reading stories that are enjoyable will also help improve reading and listening skills. Children's novels are a great way to improve ESL reading skills, as is listening to audiotapes or a CD with interesting stories. Such audiotapes or CDs are usually available at large bookstores or public libraries.
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