tips for esl students
Main Differences between Formal and Informal English
One of the greatest fears affecting non native speakers of English is not just being misunderstood but also being inappropriate when trying to express something. People often speak of language as being correct or incorrect. It would be more accurate to refer to particular language structures as being formal or informal, appropriate or inappropriate for a specific context.
In everyday conversation we do not have to follow the rules of grammar as carefully as we would in a formal address or a business letter. If we adhere too closely to formal rules of grammar in an informal situation, we may come across as being stuffy and unnatural. It is like wearing a tuxedo or a formal gown to an ordinary business meeting. Formal English follows rules of grammar very strictly. Sentences tend to be longer and more complex. It tends to be used in professional and business situations. It is also better organized and thought out.
Informal English on the other hand is generally used with friends and family. A number of grammar expressions have common forms which differ in their formal or informal use. These differences are noted both in written and spoken English. However, they are most notable in written English.
As seen in ESL lessons, participating effectively not only requires a solid grasp of English grammar, but also an understanding of key communication factors. If you want more helpful language hints as to the most appropriate forms of English or key points to take into consideration each time you are using English, read on.
Contracted Forms
Formal - Don’t use contracted forms, use the entire auxiliary verb: They have lived in New York for many years.
Informal - Use contracted forms: They’ve lived in New York for many years.
Relative Structures
Formal - Use relative structures: The woman thought that it was important to be on time.
Informal - Drop certain relative structures: The woman thought it was important to be on time.
The Use of ‘Whom’
Formal - Use ‘whom’ as an object: Whom have they chosen for the position?
Informal - Use ‘who’ as an object: Who have they chosen for the position?
Auxiliary Verb Usage
Formal - Always use the full form of an auxiliary: Have you finished your work?
Informal - Sometimes the auxiliary verb is dropped in informal speech. Note: This is often grammatically incorrect, but is certainly common in everyday usage: Finished your work?
Word Choice
Formal - Many words tend to be used in more formal situations. For example, certain verbs tend to be used in formal situations, but have other synonyms (often phrasal verbs) that are used in informal situations. Also, it uses more vocabulary derived from French and Latin (bigger words) It uses more synonyms and doesn’t repeat the same words as much. The police investigated the situation.
Informal synonym: We looked into the situation.
Passive structures
Formal - It uses more indirect language, making it less personal. The student was given a book.
Informal synonym: We gave the student a book.
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A Foolproof Plan to Improve Your English during Your Stay in the US
Whether you’ve enrolled in an ESL program for beginners, advanced ESl classes, or Business English courses, the key to improving your English lies in how seriously you take your English learning goals and how hard you’ll try to achieve them. Sounds too “serious”, right? And no fun? Although, improving your English does require a certain amount of hard work and concentration, it is possible to find the perfect balance between concentrated studying and spontaneous, fun learning. Follow this foolproof plan, and you’ll be speaking more confidently in English in no time.
Plunge into it head first!
No matter how great, how experienced, or how knowledgeable your teachers are, you will never absorb the teachings they impart through osmosis. Do not think you can just sit quietly in the back of the classroom, and just listen and watch what goes on. If you really want to improve your English, you have to dive into the experience; participate and be actively engaged in the lessons, right from the start, even if you’re a beginner and will only be able to say a few words. This is not the time to be shy or self-conscious about your English, after all, you’ll be surrounded by students just like you!
Do your homework
Throughout your life you’ve always heard teachers and parents tell you to study and do your homework, and let’s face it, they were a pain in the neck. But they were right. After school study is essential to strengthen everything you’ve seen in class. All of those new words, grammar tenses, and expressions must be reviewed, practiced, and chewed on, so to speak. This way you’ll increase your chances of remembering and effectively using everything you’ve learned. Besides the exercises assigned to you by your teacher, there are several fun things you could do for “homework”. You could read short news articles or blog posts. Watch videos on YouTube or CNN.com. Make a note of any new words or vocabulary and then look them up in your dictionary. The resources are endless!
Get out and mingle!
It is absolutely essential that you practice what you’re learning in class in real life settings. Engage the locals in conversation and ask them about their customs, history, sites of interest, and activities. Even if you’re a beginner there’s lots you could say and practice, from day-to-day phrases, to polite requests. No matter what your level is, you must make the effort to speak to people outside the classroom. You could join a club or organization, even sign up for extracurricular classes, like cooking, pottery, or skiing.
There is an amazing variety of ESL programs to choose from, but once you do make your choice, you have to commit to it for the duration. An English course in the US is an investment, and one you won’t want to waste. To really make it worth your time and money, you must do your part. If you do, you won’t be sorry. You’ll feel more confident speaking English and be ready to take on the world!
The ESL Student Guide to the Passive Voice
As you read about recent business trends and developments in newspapers and magazines, you will notice how often the passive form is used in sentences such as:
Grove Developments has been chosen to build the new sports center.
Most students will be able to understand this sentence; however, using the passive voice when you speak or write may not be as simple. It is important that you know, first, how it is formed, and secondly, you must know the past participle form of every verb you learn as this is essential to understand and make sentences in which the passive is used.
The passive voice is formed with an auxiliary verb, or several, and the past participle of the verb. Students should also be able to use the passive voice in the correct verb tense, so look through all the tenses and see how you pass verb forms from active to passive. Notice also how the subject changes.
Simple Present
They sell more than 6 million tins of beans every week. > More than 6 million tins of beans are sold every week
They say Kent Industries is thinking of expanding overseas. > Kent Industries is said to be thinking of expanding overseas.
The company employs 200 people. > Two hundred people are employed by the company.
Simple Past
An American company took them over last year. > They were taken over by an American company last year.
They made no attempts to explain the inconsistency in the figures. > No attempt was made to explain the inconsistency in the figures.
They won the contract in the face of strong competition. > The contract was won in the face of strong competition.
Present Perfect
We have lost 110 working days so far this year as a result of industrial unrest. > 110 working days have been lost so far this year as a result of industrial unrest.
We have put prices on the list for 2010. > Prices have been put on the list for 2010.
We have received new machines. > New machines have been received.
With Will
They will build their new factory on the outskirts of town. > Their new factory will be built on the outskirts of town.
They will send a prospectus to all potential investors. > A prospectus will be sent to all potential investors.
We will hold an extraordinary general meeting next Wednesday. > An extraordinary general meeting will be held next Wednesday.
With Can, May, or Might
People can know a product by different names in different countries. > A product can be known by different names in different countries.
A new client may buy one thousand units this week. > One thousand units may be bought this week by a new client.
Our company might build new facilities for the South American operation next year. > New facilities for the South American operation might be built next year.
The use of the Passive Voice is one of the essentials covered in any good ESL program. Together with the other basics, it will give you the solid foundation you need to communicate more fluently and effectively in English.
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Surviving the Holidays - A Guide for ESL Students
So, you’re in the US to work or study English, and you’re not going home for the holidays. Although it is typically a time to be with your loved ones, don’t let this get you down. Take the opportunity to experience the holiday season the American way! You will have the chance to not only learn a great deal about American culture, traditions, and customs, but also practice what you’ve been learning in your ESL classes.
Take the time to enjoy the holiday season, but also focus on improving your speaking skills. Get yourself an invite to a Christmas or New Year’s Eve party and get ready to mingle. There are some essential points you should bear in mind:
1) Be patient
Most Americans have a hard time understanding foreign accents. You may be asked to repeat or clarify what you’ve said. Don’t let this discourage you. Remember you are learning, and you are not expected to speak perfectly. Just do the best you can. You may also have a hard time understanding their accent, especially if they happen to be southern. Don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat their question; request clarification if needed.
2) Chose the right topics
When engaging an American in conversation, it is best to steer clear from topics related to politics, race, religion, or any other controversial issue. “So, what do you think about the health care crisis in the U.S.?” is NOT a good way to start a conversation, least of all on a holiday! Americans like to talk about sports, for example. If you’re not at all familiar with how football (“American” football as opposed to soccer) is played ask someone about it. They’ll be glad to fill you in on the rules. Another great topic is work. Don’t be surprised if the first question you’re asked is, “What do you do?”. They also love to talk about travel, remote locations, and exotic countries. This is a great opportunity to tell them where you’re from and share a little of your culture.
3) Go for informal
Americans prefer first names and informal greetings in general, but especially so if you are at a social gathering or celebration. There is no need address someone as Mr., Mrs. or Ms.
4) Don’t get too “touchy”
It’s perfectly acceptable to shake hands, but hold off from other forms of physical contact. Americans don’t greet each other with kisses as people do in other countries. Also, refrain from holding hands or putting your arms around people.
5) Do your homework
It is recommended that you do some research into what the typical holiday celebration might entail. Most things are not so different from what people do in your own country, but food and drink might be completely different. Find out about the typical foods and drinks and be prepared to sample holiday favorites like roast turkey, egg nog, or mulled wine. If your beliefs prevent you from eating certain foods like red meat or drinking alcohol, try to let your host/hostess know beforehand, so as to avoid any embarrassing situations.
Remember these tips and enjoy your Christmas break. When your ESL classes resume, you’ll have lots to share with your classmates and teachers.
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Essentials for ESL Students - The Three Best Ways to Start a Conversation
ESL students all have one main frustration in common. Your teachers at your ESL school, family, everyone you know tell you that the best way to improve your English speaking skills is to practice, practice, and practice. Get out there and put everything you’re learning in your ESL class to good use. So, you go out, armed to the teeth with great vocabulary, useful expressions, and motivation to spare, but…you don’t know how to start a conversation. It can be awkward enough for those who are native speakers, imagine for those who are learning the language and perhaps are able to handle only the basics.
No matter what your level is, no matter how long you’ve been taking ESL classes, everyone has to practice. If you’re unsure as to the best way to start a conversation, here are some sure-fire hits:
1) Seize an opportunity to make a comment
If you happen to be a social event, like someone’s birthday party, Christmas dinner, or run-of-the-mill informal gathering, comment on the food, music, or décor. Chose someone to direct the comment to and say something like, “This is delicious! Do you know what this is?” or “I love this song! Do you like Gwen Stefani?” The conversation should flow from there on. Don’t forget to introduce yourself at an opportune moment.
2) Pick someone to introduce yourself to
At a social event, you may recognize someone from school, the gym, or any of your extracurricular activities. Just walk up to the individual in question and say, “Hi! You attend classes at …, don’t you? I’m …., by the way.” Maybe you know who someone is although you haven’t been properly introduced. Starting a conversation is as easy as saying, “Hi there! You’re John’s brother, aren’t you?”
3) Ask a question
Asking someone a question is an infallible way to start a conversation. You may use any excuse like, “Excuse me. Do you know what this is?” (about exotic food) or “Are you a friend of Sarah’s or Michael’s?” (at a wedding). Your options should be obvious depending on the situation. Other useful questions are:
- “Where are you from?” (to a foreign-looking person – another ESL learner, perhaps!)
- “Do you work/study with Josh?”
- “How do you know Jack?”
- “I’m not from here. Is this a typical/important tradition/custom in the US? (about Halloween/Thanksgiving or any American holiday).
Remember to say Hi or Hello first; smile and try to sound friendly and honestly interested in talking to the person. Wait and see what their answer is before going on with the next question. Don’t attack an unsuspecting individual with an arsenal of questions.
So, overcome your shyness; don’t worry about your accent or pronunciation. Try to do the best you can, after all, you’re not being tested here, like at your ESL school. The goal is to communicate! You should strive to be spontaneous and speak English in a real, informal setting. It may be difficult at first, but, as we say, “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again”, and you’ll notice improvement in no time. You’ll be speaking like one of the locals. And making friends at the same time! What more could you ask for?
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The Crime of Double Negatives – Revealed!
Among the many challenges learning English as second language poses, an all time classic is a double negative. Since double negatives do exist and in fact are quite correct in other languages, for instance Spanish, many ESL students have to face the fact that in English they are not correct and therefore should not be used. What is a double negative, you might ask. It is is the nonstandard usage of two negatives used in the same construction. In a double negative sentence, they cancel each other and create a positive. Today, they are considered grammar mistakes.
The standard use of negatives in English can be understood from a mathematical concept. If you have two positives, for example + + = +, the result will be another positive. Now take a look at this. If we have two negatives, - - = +, they will equal another positive. In math in order to have a negative you would need to do this - + = - or + - = -. In other words you need a combination of a positive and negative to have a negative. Sounds a bit technical, right? Look at these examples that illustrate this concept. Remembering that two negatives form a positive will help you to avoid the “double negative” grammar problem:
I don’t want no coffee.
So, don’t is clearly negative and so is the word no. Here we have a double negative. The solution to this would be to say something like: I don’t want any coffee.
Since the word any is not negative, your problem is solved. Here is a list that has words that are considered negative. Use them once in your sentences and your statements will be negative.
no, not, none, nothing, nowhere, nobody, no one, hardly, scarcely, barely, neither
Here are some more examples.
I didn’t see nothing. – wrong!; I didn’t see anything. – right!
There wasn’t no one there. – wrong!; There wasn’t anyone there. – right!
I don’t hardly have time. – wrong!; I hardly have any time. – right!
There isn’t nowhere to park. – wrong!; There isn’t anywhere to park. – right!
We didn’t have nobody to help us. – wrong!; We didn’t have anybody to help us. – right!
He can’t barely move. – wrong!; He can barely move. – right!
She didn’t scarcely have anything to eat. – wrong!; She scarcely had anything to eat. – right!
Just keep in mind that nothing is impossible. By learning and practising the correct use of these words in your ESL programs you can avoid problems in the future. And no matter how many times you hear them in rock songs, remember: just say no to the double negative!
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Simple Past or Present Perfect? - Don’t Get Confused Ever Again!
The difference between the Simple Past and the Present Perfect is something that perplexes more than one ESL student. Most students simply choose to ignore the Present Perfect altogether and stick to the much more straightforward, simpler (the name says it all) Simple Past. However, knowing when and how to use each is not that hard once you follow some very basic guidelines and know all the facts.
First Things First - The Definitions
We use the Simple Past to describe an action or something that took place, of course, in the past, and has been completed. On the other hand, the Present Perfect is used when there is some kind of reference to the present, either because:
a) the action started in the past and continues in the present, or
b) the action took place in the past and was completed, but we see the effects or results now, in the present.
An example of a) would be: She has lived in New York for 10 years. (This means she moved to New York a long time ago, but still lives there now, in the present.)
A clear example of b) would be: You’ve cut your hair! (She cut her hair some time ago, but we see the result of it now, in the present.
Time Expressions
There are time phrases that typically go with each, so as long as you’re sure about which go with Simple Past and which go with Present Perfect, you shouldn’t have any trouble.
Expressions that must go with Simple Past:
- ago (5 years ago, an hour ago), I met my best friend 15 years ago.
- last week, last year, last month, etc…, I bought this car last month.
- in 1971, I sold my house in 1988.
- yesterday, the day before yesterday, I didn’t’ go to work yesterday.
- at 9 o’clock (if it is past), I saw her at noon. (and now it is the afternoon)
In other words, whenever you mention a specific moment in the past, whether it is an hour, day, month, or year, you must use the Simple Past tense.
Expressions that usually go with Present Perfect:
- since, I’ve lived here since I was born.
- ever (questions), Have you ever been to Rome?
- so far, I’ve spoken to three angry clients so far today.
- this week, this month, this year, I haven’t called my mom this week.
- today, I’ve felt sick to my stomach all day today.
- already, But I have already finished my homework!
- yet (questions), Have you done the dishes yet?
In all of these cases, the action or the time (this year, as opposed to last year) has not finished or is still taking place.
Be careful with the use of for. You can either say, “I lived in Miami for a few months” or “I’ve lived in Miami for a few months.” In the first example it is very clear that someone lived in Miami, but no longer lives there, whereas in the second case, they still live there.
Use Your Common Sense!
Stephen King has written many books, because he’s alive and well, and will continue writing more. William Shakespeare, however, wrote many plays, because he can write no more. His work is finished.
Now, you don’t have any more excuses to avoid the use of the Present Perfect in your ESL class. Put this information to good use and follow these guidelines. You won’t mix up these tenses anymore!
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Fun Idiomatic Expressions for ESL Students - Comparisons
It is inevitable and unavoidable. When you’re an ESL student you’ll sooner or later run across idiomatic expressions that will basically have you either scratching your head in puzzlement or laughing out loud. Though they may seem strange and unnatural to you, it is recommended that you try to learn some, at least a few at a time. But before you can effectively use these expressions, you must understand them and know in which contexts they’re used. There are idioms with food, expressions related to sports, and then there are comparisons with “as…as”. These last prove to be particularly interesting and fun to learn. Let’s look at some idiomatic expressions that use the construction “as…as”:
As blind as a bat: to have very bad eyesight. You can’t read this? You’re as blind as a bat!
As cool as a cucumber: calm and not at all nervous. The result of the negotiation depended on this meeting, but Bob was as cool as a cucumber.
As easy as pie: very easy. I’m sure I did well on the test; it was as easy as pie!
As fit as a fiddle: in good physical condition. She goes to Pilates classes and runs for an hour every day. She’s as fit as a fiddle.
As free as a bird: feeling free, with no cares or worries. I remember how I felt the first day of summer vacation. I was as free as a bird.
As happy as a clam: very happy and content. I was as happy as a clam living in Hawaii; the beaches were beautiful, I played lots of outdoor sports, and the people were so nice.
As hard as nails: very tough and cruel. As a supervisor, Tom was as hard as nails; nobody wanted to work with him.
As pleased as punch: to be very happy with something. The design she had worked on for a week was finished and looking great. She was as pleased as punch.
As quiet as a mouse: very quiet. Sarah got home at 3 am and didn’t want to wake up her parents, so naturally, she was as quiet as a mouse going up the stairs.
As sick as a dog: very sick. Alice went home early from school because she felt as sick as a dog. She had a fever and felt very, very weak.
As sly as a fox: very clever and smart. She was able to take advantage of a very negative situation. That’s because she’s as sly as a fox.
As stubborn as a mule: to be very determined not to change an opinion or decision. She’s as stubborn as a mule, particularly when she’s sick. There is no way to convince her to consult a doctor.
So, here you have some great comparisons to get you started. But as an ESL student you must remember this: these are hardly ever used in formal situations, business meetings, or whenever you speak to someone you don’t know very well. Try practicing these in your ESL class. You’ll surprise your teacher and she’ll be as pleased as punch!
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There’s No Magic Behind An English Course
Language learning can be very intriguing. People tend to think that after making the decision to take up a course, knowledge will start growing unattended in some corner of their minds. So, what they usually do is attend ESL classes, more or less regularly, and hope that every time a class finishes, their English level will be considerably higher. If they can’t tell a complete story then, using their “new” language, after the first or second lesson, frustration settles in their minds, and they usually end up blaming the trainer, the material, the time, their stress, or whatever seems most suitable.
This is more evident in one-on-one courses, as the pressure to succeed is only exerted by the teacher and not from peers. Excuses for a poor performance proliferate quickly and the students soon forget that at least 50% of their success depends basically on their own efforts. A course may be fantastic, the trainers and methodology a dream, but if a student is not fully committed to work hard all along the process, said course is bound to fail.
The symptoms of failure start long before the course is finished; they appear by the beginning of the second or third class. What are they? Just simple indicators that a student is not fully committed or has a careless behavior towards the course. Here is a list of the most typical ones:
- INCOMPLETE MATERIAL: Not having a notebook may be acceptable once, but lost books, CDs, or whatever material the class requires may be telling you that the course is not as important for the student as it should be. Important things are kept on hand, as you use them regularly.
- LATE ARRIVAL: Unexpected meetings or commuting may interfere sometimes with lessons. But students should arrange their schedules accordingly and make the best use of their time, not to interrupt their and other people’s lessons. Losing one half of each lesson will make a student learn probably only one third of what he expects.
- NO HOMEWORK: When excuses are abundant and real work too little, a student has found the shortest way to failure. Homework was created to use and practice what you learn, if you don’t practice, you don’t remember a thing.
- CLASS INTERRUPTIONS: Cell phones are distracting for students, and a nightmare for teachers. The more a cell phone rings during the class, the lower the level of the English course in the student’s personal hierarchy. Who learns unimportant things?
- QUESTIONING: A teacher may not be right all the time, but he certainly won’t be wrong all the time. When a student questions everything you say it is only obvious that he is not willing to learn from you. And people who don’t want to learn, will never learn.
Many other factors can interfere with a student’s capacity to learn English, like stress levels or natural skills. However, most of them can be eluded with the adequate methodology and a suitable trainer. But no strategy can work properly if the main interference comes from the student’s wrong attitude towards the learning process. There’s no magic behind an English course to make you learn a whole language over the weekend. No system can compensate for a lack of effort, only a student’s commitment and hard work will. So, if you’re planning to take up a course soon, remember that only by doing your best will you be able to get the most of the whole program. That’s the formula.
Use English as a Native Speaker
Many call center recruiters know that the prospects with the most diplomas and certificates extended by the best English institutes are not always the ones that speak more fluently. This is due to a basic fact: usually, institutes focus more on writing and grammar than on speaking and listening skills, the reason being that most teachers were taught that way, and, as they are not native speakers, they don’t have good speaking skills themselves. This is, of course, the case in general, but there are always exceptions.
Call centers, among many other businesses, need people that know how to speak better than they write. Of course, overall knowledge, as covered in ESL lessons, is preferred, but recruiters know that oral communication is essential in today’s changing world. This means proficiency in verbal and listening skills, and any student that wants to progress with the English language should take this into serious consideration.
One of the biggest barriers English learners will face is their own language. Teachers get tired of repeating the same: “Think in English”. But most students find this impossible: they tend to think in their own language and then translate that into English. This creates, at least, two problems: one, is that the translation is literal (similar to what you would expect from Google Translator, for instance) and two, that the whole process takes double the time than what it would normally take if no translation were necessary.
Another big challenge is vocabulary and grammar. English is a dinamic language, and is expanded every day. Recently, for example, the term “Web 2.0″ was accepted as a new English term. Even if this is a commonly used term and most people know it, there are others that are not so well-known. Native speakers have daily access to words and learn everyday how to use new ones. People that don’t live in English-speaking countries have, however, fewer opportunities in this sense. But the great advantage English has, as opposed to other languages, is that there is a vast variety of audio and video material to get reference from and this way learn to listen and speak fluently. Of course, you should make sure the movies are not dubbed, but subtitled. In some countries, like Spain, movies are distributed officially without subtitles, that is, dubbed in Spanish by Spanish actors. This is meant to preserve their language. But if that’s your case, you can find online lots of movies, music, and videos in English, so that you can learn directly from the source and study different accents and ways of speaking, apart from the use of idioms and expressions of daily use.
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