English Speaking Practice | English Pronunciation Practice – #6

ENGLISH SPEAKING & PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE PLAYLIST
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LFrjIsjhMlEZCxVn8CBAGNScI5ARwB1

ENGLISH READING PRACTICE – CLICK HERE
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LFrjIsjhMlgrwrdTaeifxmuXwX7Ofv8

English speaking practice and pronunciation practice is an invaluable method for improving fluency and confidence when speaking English. The student repeats a phrase or sentence after hearing the native speaker say it. The student repeats the phrase or sentence 3 times. This repetition is crucial. Turn the teacher’s voice up loud, and then repeat with a loud voice.

Persistence and perseverance are keys to success. At first it may seem a little monotonous but soon you will get used to repeating each phrase or sentence 3 times. Soon your self-confidence will grow and you will be able to read with much more certainty which will then filter through to speaking English fluently in conversation, which accurate pronunciation.

Here is ENGLISH SPEAKING & PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE
Exercise 6: Enthusiasm

Slide 2:
Be sure to watch the introductory video to learn how to use the echo speaking method.
See the link in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/QYDJ-nCgp_k)

Slide 3 onwards
The Reading

The Power of Enthusiasm!
What is enthusiasm? It is an intense excitement, enjoyment or interest in a subject or activity. A common collocation is to have a ‘burning enthusiasm’ for something. Yes, enthusiasm can be compared to a fire which is intense, hot. Also, like fire which spreads quickly and easily, an enthusiastic person can soon motivate those around them to become enthusiastic.

A vivid demonstration of the power of enthusiasm is found in the story of Frank Bettger. Frank Bettger started out in professional baseball back in 1907. Shortly after, he was fired. His manager told him he was lazy. This came as a shock to Frank Bettger. He started again playing for a minor team but resolved that in everything he did he would act enthusiastically.

After three days he was given the chance of a trial with a big club. From the minute he entered the field, he acted like a man electrified. Did it work? Yes. His enthusiasm overcame his fear. His enthusiasm also affected other players and they became enthusiastic. The newspapers began calling him Pep Bettger, the life of the team. Within 10 days, his enthusiasm had taken him from $25 a month to $185 a month, a 700 percent increase!

Had he acquired more ability as a ball player? No. Enthusiasm did it, enthusiasm alone! Two years later, an accident forced him to give up baseball. He started a new career selling insurance. The next 10 months were some of the most difficult in his life. He was a total failure at selling insurance. Then one night, he sat up thinking back on his days in baseball and realized he had fallen into the same trap. Enthusiasm lifted him out of the pit before and he decided it would do the same again.

From that moment on he decided to put real enthusiasm into his selling presentations. He forced himself to act enthusiastically, and soon after he began to feel enthusiastic. He eventually became one of America’s most outstanding successes. He says: “During my thirty two years of selling, I have seen enthusiasm double and treble the income of dozens of sales personnel. I firmly believe enthusiasm is by far the biggest single factor in successful selling.”

It might be the biggest single factor in successful selling, but it can also be the biggest single factor in success in any avenue of life you wish to undertake. Overcome frustration, mediocrity, failure and despair by using the amazing power of enthusiasm.

How do you show enthusiasm? 1. In your posture. Stand erect, don’t slouch. 2. Smile. A smile widens the eyes and makes a person more attractive. 3. Speak with energy and life. Increase your volume and speak in higher tones to convey excitement and interest. 4. Ask questions. This shows you are interested in the other person and their interests. 5. Move energetically. Walk with a spring in your step.

Set yourself a goal you have just got to reach. Then build under it the fire of anticipation and keep it burning with enthusiasm. Then when you reach your goal, set another one. New goals, fresh objectives are self-perpetuating motivators of enthusiasm. Remember when you face a challenge, tap into the power of enthusiasm!

That is the end of the exercise.
Now you have finished this English speaking and pronunciation exercise, focus on improving your fluency. Read this text in Exercise 6 again, using the
Synchronized Reading method.
Go to the DESCRIPTION below for the link to the playlist.
ENGLISH READING PRACTICE – CLICK HERE

Has this video helped you?
LIKE | SHARE | COMMENT NOW!

Build A Powerful English Vocabulary with my FREE course on Udemy
Go to: http://goodenglish.online

The post ENGLISH SPEAKING Practice (Exercise 6) Enthusiasm appeared first on Improve Your English.

English Reading Exercise 38

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too fast, go to the Intermediate version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #38 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 16 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

5 More Key Image Factors

Confident public speaking puts the audience at ease, and creates a good environment for them to absorb the information you present. The speaker who lacks confidence can make an audience feel sorry for them, so the audience ends up concentrating on the speaker, rather than the message.

In view of this, a professional image is a very important ingredient in confident public speaking. Use the following five points to ensure your image enhances rather than detracts from your presentation.

1. Personal Appearance
   Spend some time on your personal appearance before making a presentation.
   Are you dressed appropriately for the audience you are addressing?
   Is your clothing clean? Is your hair properly groomed? Are your hands and fingernails clean and well kept?
   Paying attention to these areas will convey a professional image, give you credibility, and make you feel confident in public speaking.
2. Neat Equipment
   In addition to paying attention to your personal appearance, also give thought to your equipment. Arriving in front of the audience with notes on folded up pieces of paper looks amateur.
   Make sure your notes are neatly kept in a binder or plastic folder and well arranged, so you don’t spend time fumbling for the page you want.
3. Visual Contact
   To ensure you have good visual contact with the audience, take a few seconds to make sure your notes are positioned correctly on the speaker’s stand. You don’t want them at such a distance that you have to drop your head to look down. If possible, keep them at an angle that allows you to just glance at them without moving your head, so you can keep good eye contact with the audience.
4. Stand Up Straight
   Stand erect so the speech organs in your body can function properly. Slouching leads to poor enunciation and muffling sounds, with the audience straining to catch what is said.
5. Handle Interruptions Confidently
   What if members of the audience keep interrupting you, or make loud comments on what you are saying? Anyone who is not confident in public speaking can be thrown by these situations, or at least look awkward and ill-prepared.
   On the other hand, here is an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and keep control of yourself, your audience and the situation. Here are two suggestions:
   State in a very kind, non-aggressive tone the following:
   You appreciate members of the audience may have other viewpoints or concerns. There will be an opportunity at the end of the discussion to hear them, either through a question-and-answer session after the main presentation, or by being on hand to speak personally to anyone with a query.
   Alternatively, you may remind the audience there is a time constraint, and as you have some very important information to convey, it will be necessary to take comments and questions later, after the main presentation is finished.

Almost every public speaker feels nervous at some time. Some never conquer their nervousness completely. Nevertheless, you do not need to betray your nervous feelings to your audience.
By paying careful attention to your image using the five points above, you will make a positive impact on your audience, and within yourself feel confident when making presentations.

Next: The 5 Step Starting Routine

The post ENGLISH Reading Exercise #38 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 16 of 28 appeared first on Improve Your English.

English Reading Exercise 38

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too slow, go to the Advanced version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #38 (Intermediate) Presentation Skills 16 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

5 More Key Image Factors

Confident public speaking puts the audience at ease, and creates a good environment for them to absorb the information you present. The speaker who lacks confidence can make an audience feel sorry for them, so the audience ends up concentrating on the speaker, rather than the message.

In view of this, a professional image is a very important ingredient in confident public speaking. Use the following five points to ensure your image enhances rather than detracts from your presentation.

1. Personal Appearance
   Spend some time on your personal appearance before making a presentation.
   Are you dressed appropriately for the audience you are addressing?
   Is your clothing clean? Is your hair properly groomed? Are your hands and fingernails clean and well kept?
   Paying attention to these areas will convey a professional image, give you credibility, and make you feel confident in public speaking.
2. Neat Equipment
   In addition to paying attention to your personal appearance, also give thought to your equipment. Arriving in front of the audience with notes on folded up pieces of paper looks amateur.
   Make sure your notes are neatly kept in a binder or plastic folder and well arranged, so you don’t spend time fumbling for the page you want.
3. Visual Contact
   To ensure you have good visual contact with the audience, take a few seconds to make sure your notes are positioned correctly on the speaker’s stand. You don’t want them at such a distance that you have to drop your head to look down. If possible, keep them at an angle that allows you to just glance at them without moving your head, so you can keep good eye contact with the audience.
4. Stand Up Straight
   Stand erect so the speech organs in your body can function properly. Slouching leads to poor enunciation and muffling sounds, with the audience straining to catch what is said.
5. Handle Interruptions Confidently
   What if members of the audience keep interrupting you, or make loud comments on what you are saying? Anyone who is not confident in public speaking can be thrown by these situations, or at least look awkward and ill-prepared.
   On the other hand, here is an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and keep control of yourself, your audience and the situation. Here are two suggestions:
   State in a very kind, non-aggressive tone the following:
   You appreciate members of the audience may have other viewpoints or concerns. There will be an opportunity at the end of the discussion to hear them, either through a question-and-answer session after the main presentation, or by being on hand to speak personally to anyone with a query.
   Alternatively, you may remind the audience there is a time constraint, and as you have some very important information to convey, it will be necessary to take comments and questions later, after the main presentation is finished.

Almost every public speaker feels nervous at some time. Some never conquer their nervousness completely. Nevertheless, you do not need to betray your nervous feelings to your audience.
By paying careful attention to your image using the five points above, you will make a positive impact on your audience, and within yourself feel confident when making presentations.

Next: The 5 Step Starting Routine

The post ENGLISH Reading Exercise #38 (Intermediate) Presentation Skills 16 of 28 appeared first on Improve Your English.

Learn the difference between farther vs further

This video summarizes some simple rules regarding the use of FARTHER vs FURTHER. Avoid making errors in your speech and writing by examining the illustrated sentence examples.

Here is a transcript of the video: “FARTHER vs FURTHER – What’s the Difference?”

SlideS 2-7:
Because FURTHER and FARTHER have similar meanings, there has been much debate and argument over how to use these words.
In this video we hope to cut through the confusion, and clearly explain how to use these words in modern English, reflecting they way they are now commonly used.

Slide 8:
First, a quick note about pronunciation:
FURTHER – 1st syllable – UR sound
FARTHER – 1st syllable – ARE sound (slightly elongate the ‘ah’ sound)

Slide 9:
FURTHER & FARTHER as adjectives:

Some native speakers differentiate the two words in this way:

FARTHER: distance, either literal or figurative
FURTHER: more, something additional

In modern English and common usage however, FURTHER and FARTHER are interchangeable. Both are used to refer to distance, or extent.

FURTHER can also mean “more, something additional”.
(FARTHER is rarely used this way)

Slide 10:
Here’s a helpful chart to explain clearly:

Some native English speakers use FURTHER only to refer to something more or additional, not to describe distance.
They use FARTHER to refer to distance, whether that’s a physical or figurative distance.

But in common daily usage, perhaps the majority of native English speakers now use either of these words, further or farther to refer to distance.
However, they only use further to refer to something more or additional.

Let’s look at some illustrated sentence examples and you will get the idea . . .

Slide 11:
In the picture we see a woman walking on a country road.

The sentence reads: The walk to the next village was much farther/further than she expected.

Here we are referring to physical distance, so both words can be used. Next,

Slide 12:
We see a man with a serious look on his face.

The sentence reads: Some people thought he was too serious and rarely smiled, but actually, nothing could be farther/further from the truth. He had a great sense of humour.

Here again, both words can be used, this time referring to distance in a figurative way.

Next,

Slide 13:
The picture shows a business meeting in progress.

The sentence reads: He told his colleague: “I suggest we do further research before making a final decision.”

Now the word further is used, meaning, more, additional. In other words “I suggest we do more, or additional research”.

Slide 14:
By the way, a quick reminder,
If you want to continually improve your English, just click the subscribe button, choose the Bell icon, and then ALL.

Slide 15:
Now here is another word, closely related, FURTHERMORE.

Definition: In addition, moreover

It is often used as the first word in a sentence. Here’s an example:

Slide 16:
The picture shows a worker drying incense sticks in Vietnam.

The sentence reads: Vietnam is popular with travellers for its vibrant culture, amazing scenery, and friendly people. Furthermore, it’s one of the most affordable destinations in Southeast Asia.

Here furthermore is a synonym for additionally, or moreover.

Now here is something else that’s interesting about the word FURTHER.

Slide 17:
Further can be used as a verb.

Definition: To advance or help the progress of, to promote

Here’s an example:

Slide 18:
The picture shows a student studying at her laptop computer.

The sentence reads: To further her career, she studied hard for a master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition.

So here FURTHER is used as a verb to explain that the student is studying for a master’s degree in order to advance her career.

Slide 19-23:
Well we’ve covered a lot of information. Let’s summarize the main points.

To summarize:

1. Some native speakers use FARTHER to describe “distance” and FURTHER to indicate something “more, in addition”.
2. Now, in common English usage, FARTHER and FURTHER are used interchangeably to describe distance, both physical and figurative.
3. FURTHER is also used to indicate something “more, in addition”.
4. FURTHERMORE is often used to start a sentence as a synonym of “Additionally” or “Moreover”.
5. FURTHER is used as a verb, meaning “to advance or help the progress of something, to promote”.

Slide 24:
do you want to make sure you understand the use of FURTHER and FARTHER clearly? Take a minute to do this test . . . Just fill in the blank.

Slide 25:
He told his colleague: “I suggest we do __ research before making a final decision.”

Slide 26:
Answer: FURTHER

Slide 27:
Some people thought he was too serious and rarely smiled, but actually, nothing could be __ from the truth. He had a great sense of humour.

Slide 28:
Answer: FURTHER or FARTHER

Slide 29:
Vietnam is popular with travellers for its vibrant culture, amazing scenery, and friendly people. __, it’s one of the most affordable destinations in Southeast Asia.

Slide 30:
Answer: FURTHERMORE

Slide 31:
To __ her career,she studied hard for a master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition.

Slide 32:
Answer: FURTHER

Slide 33:
The walk to the next village was much __ than she expected.

Slide 34:
Answer: FURTHER or FARTHER

Slide 35:
That’s it. Well done. Hopefully now you will never be confused by FURTHER or FARTHER again, and you can confidently use them in the correct way depending on the context.

Slide 36:
Has this video helped you?
LIKE | SHARE | COMMENT NOW!

Slide 37:
Build A Powerful English Vocabulary
with my FREE course on UDEMY
Go to: http://goodenglish.online

If you are interested in easily confused words like farther vs further, here are two more words to master:
IF vs WHETHER – How to Use Correctly

Image Credits

All images are Royalty Free. The image may be used for almost any business, personal, educational or charitable purpose as long as a credit is published to the creator of the image.

Slide 12 – hiking
Royalty Free
Photo by diarypow at Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/backpacking-travel-wandering-hiking-4400872/

Slide 13 – serious facial expression
Royalty Free
Photo by Sammy-Sander at Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/mysterious-face-man-handsome-black-4289694/

Slide 14 – office meeting
Royalty Free
Photo by StartupStockPhotos at Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/startup-start-up-people-593341/

Slide 15 – Vietnam
Royalty Free
Photo by xuanduongvan87 at Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/incense-sticks-drying-hung-yen-6537298/

Slide 17 – student
Royalty Free
Photo by JESHOOTS-com at Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/laptop-woman-education-study-young-3087585/

The post FARTHER vs FURTHER – Empower Your English | Use This Easy Chart! appeared first on Improve Your English.

English Speaking Practice | English Pronunciation Practice – #5

ENGLISH SPEAKING & PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE PLAYLIST
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LFrjIsjhMlEZCxVn8CBAGNScI5ARwB1

ENGLISH READING PRACTICE – CLICK HERE
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LFrjIsjhMlgrwrdTaeifxmuXwX7Ofv8

English speaking practice and pronunciation practice is an invaluable method for improving fluency and confidence when speaking English. The student repeats a phrase or sentence after hearing the native speaker say it. The student repeats the phrase or sentence 3 times. This repetition is crucial. Turn the teacher’s voice up loud, and then repeat with a loud voice.

Persistence and perseverance are keys to success. At first it may seem a little monotonous but soon you will get used to repeating each phrase or sentence 3 times. Soon your self-confidence will grow and you will be able to read with much more certainty which will then filter through to speaking English fluently in conversation, which accurate pronunciation.

Here is ENGLISH SPEAKING & PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE
Exercise 5: Goal Setting

Slide 2:
Be sure to watch the introductory video to learn how to use the echo speaking method.
See the link in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/QYDJ-nCgp_k)

Slide 3 onwards
The Reading

Why Does Goal Setting Work?
Goal setting involves creating an action plan to guide and motivate a person to reach a goal. Goal setting involves more than a mere dream or wish. When a person sets a goal, they are committing mental energy, emotion and action to attaining that goal. So why do people who set specific goals seem to be more successful at getting things done than those who don’t set goals?

Partly because of an amazing mechanism in our brain which has been called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). The word reticular means something that is like a net, or network. In this context, RAS refers to the network of neurons located in the brain stem which affects our behaviour, consciousness and awareness. In other words, RAS determines what you will notice and what you will ignore.

The brain processes thousands of pieces of information each minute from our various senses. It is impossible to give equal attention to everything. So the brain uses a screening process so the most important things are brought into focus. By setting a goal and then committing mental energy and awareness to that goal, the brain is alerted and starts to give greater prominence to things related to that goal.

In other words, we begin to see or become aware of things related to the goal that will help us achieve it. These things were probably already around us, but we never gave much attention to them before. Now a goal is set, the RAS begins to make us aware of what we need to reach the goal.

A humorous story is told of a man who dreamed of owning an expensive car. He never expected to be able to afford one but nevertheless, he kept thinking about it and imagining himself owning and driving it. One day as he is browsing the newspaper, he notices a classified advert for this very model. Just out of interest, he called the number to find out the price.

A woman answered and without telling him the price, encouraged him to just come and see it and take it for a drive. He found it to be an amazing experience. Here he was sitting in the driving seat of his dream car. After the test drive he apologetically told the woman he was sorry for wasting her time but he could never afford such a car. The woman said: “It’s yours for $20.” He was shocked and thought it was some joke. The woman assured him this was a genuine offer. He agreed, paid the $20 and signed the papers.

Once the deal was finished, his curiosity running wild, he asked, why did you sell this car for just $20? The woman explained that some months previously her husband had run off with another woman. They were going through a divorce. She received a message from him telling her to sell the car and forward the money to him. The woman said: “I just did!”

While this story has a clever ending, it illustrates the point that without fixing his mind on this car, the man probably would never have even noticed the advert. His RAS made him more aware of anything related to this car model, and he amazed himself by finally becoming the owner of one. So again, why does goal setting work? Partly because of your brain’s Reticular Activating System!

That is the end of the exercise.
Now you have finished this English speaking and pronunciation exercise, focus on improving your fluency. Read this text in Exercise 5 again, using the
Synchronized Reading method.
Go to the DESCRIPTION below for the link to the playlist.
ENGLISH READING PRACTICE – CLICK HERE

Has this video helped you?
LIKE | SHARE | COMMENT NOW!

Build A Powerful English Vocabulary with my FREE course on Udemy
Go to: http://goodenglish.online

Next: English Speaking Practice Exercise 6: Enthusiasm

The post ENGLISH SPEAKING Practice (Exercise 5) Goal Setting appeared first on Improve Your English.

English Reading Exercise 37

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too slow, go to the Advanced version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #37 (Intermediate) Presentation Skills 15 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

7 Presentation Skills To Enhance Your Image
The following presentation skills cover a wide range of subjects and may even be contested by some public speakers. However, if you want to convey a professional image before an audience, you will do better if you follow these important guidelines:

1. Pronunciation
   Pay attention to pronunciation. If you don’t know how to pronounce a particular word, check it in a dictionary. Few things can destroy your credibility more than making a major pronunciation error. After all, if you don’t even know how to pronounce the word, how can your listeners have any confidence you know what you’re talking about.
   Online dictionaries have the added benefit of attached audio files, so you can just click on the word and actually hear it being pronounced. One valuable resource is: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/ which provides both British and American pronunciation.
2. Speak Extemporaneously
   Speaking extemporaneously means preparing in advance but delivering your presentation from an outline rather than reading from a script.
   If you are ever tempted to give a speech or presentation from copious notes, almost reading them verbatim, consider these 4 major benefits of speaking extemporaneously:
3. Your outline can be flexible and adapted at the last minute.
4. Extemporaneous speaking keeps the speaker mentally alert, with a subsequent effect on the delivery.
5. You are able to have excellent visual contact with your listeners, establishing direct eye contact as you look around the audience.
6. You can enjoy using a conversational, more informal style of delivery, which will develop a rapport between you and the audience.
7. Visual Aids
   If you decide to use visual aids in your presentation make sure their purpose is to instruct rather than entertain so the audience will feel they are really learning something.
   Visual aids can hold the attention of an audience and make a deeper impression if they are used well. Be sure everyone in the audience can see the visual aid clearly.
8. Keep To Time
   This is an important one. If the audience knows you have been scheduled 30 minutes for your presentation, a large section will stop listening after 30 minutes. It doesn’t matter how great the material is, a proportion of your audience will have their eye on the clock and mentally switch off once your time is up.
9. No Obscenity
   Using any kind of obscenity, even for emphasis, is a NO-NO. Hollywood movies may be filled with it, but it only serves to cheapen a public speaker.
   Yes, it may get a few laughs from a section of the audience but the overall effect on you as a speaker is negative. There are other ways of putting emphasis on a subject without running the risk of being offensive to at least a percentage of your audience.
10. Eat Moderately
    Eat moderately before you speak. Don’t do anything that might make an impact on your energy level. When making your presentation you want to be alive, full of energy. The audience will respond to your enthusiasm and get involved in your subject.
11. Regroup
    If your audience is scattered in the room or hall, regroup them by inviting them to the front in a close knit body. It is much easier to persuade, influence, and hold the attention of a group.
    An individual who might otherwise be passive will applaud and laugh when in the middle of a group of people who are applauding and laughing.
    An audience is far more likely to accept and believe what a speaker is saying when he presents himself and his material professionally. Use these 7 presentation skills to enhance your image!

Next: 5 More Key Image Factors

The post ENGLISH Reading Exercise #37 (Intermediate) Presentation Skills 15 of 28 appeared first on Improve Your English.

English Reading Exercise 37

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too fast, go to the Intermediate version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #37 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 15 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

7 Presentation Skills To Enhance Your Image
The following presentation skills cover a wide range of subjects and may even be contested by some public speakers. However, if you want to convey a professional image before an audience, you will do better if you follow these important guidelines:

1. Pronunciation
   Pay attention to pronunciation. If you don’t know how to pronounce a particular word, check it in a dictionary. Few things can destroy your credibility more than making a major pronunciation error. After all, if you don’t even know how to pronounce the word, how can your listeners have any confidence you know what you’re talking about.
   Online dictionaries have the added benefit of attached audio files, so you can just click on the word and actually hear it being pronounced. One valuable resource is: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/ which provides both British and American pronunciation.
2. Speak Extemporaneously
   Speaking extemporaneously means preparing in advance but delivering your presentation from an outline rather than reading from a script.
   If you are ever tempted to give a speech or presentation from copious notes, almost reading them verbatim, consider these 4 major benefits of speaking extemporaneously:
3. Your outline can be flexible and adapted at the last minute.
4. Extemporaneous speaking keeps the speaker mentally alert, with a subsequent effect on the delivery.
5. You are able to have excellent visual contact with your listeners, establishing direct eye contact as you look around the audience.
6. You can enjoy using a conversational, more informal style of delivery, which will develop a rapport between you and the audience.
7. Visual Aids
   If you decide to use visual aids in your presentation make sure their purpose is to instruct rather than entertain so the audience will feel they are really learning something.
   Visual aids can hold the attention of an audience and make a deeper impression if they are used well. Be sure everyone in the audience can see the visual aid clearly.
8. Keep To Time
   This is an important one. If the audience knows you have been scheduled 30 minutes for your presentation, a large section will stop listening after 30 minutes. It doesn’t matter how great the material is, a proportion of your audience will have their eye on the clock and mentally switch off once your time is up.
9. No Obscenity
   Using any kind of obscenity, even for emphasis, is a NO-NO. Hollywood movies may be filled with it, but it only serves to cheapen a public speaker.
   Yes, it may get a few laughs from a section of the audience but the overall effect on you as a speaker is negative. There are other ways of putting emphasis on a subject without running the risk of being offensive to at least a percentage of your audience.
10. Eat Moderately
    Eat moderately before you speak. Don’t do anything that might make an impact on your energy level. When making your presentation you want to be alive, full of energy. The audience will respond to your enthusiasm and get involved in your subject.
11. Regroup
    If your audience is scattered in the room or hall, regroup them by inviting them to the front in a close knit body. It is much easier to persuade, influence, and hold the attention of a group.
    An individual who might otherwise be passive will applaud and laugh when in the middle of a group of people who are applauding and laughing.
    An audience is far more likely to accept and believe what a speaker is saying when he presents himself and his material professionally. Use these 7 presentation skills to enhance your image!

Next: 5 More Key Image Factors

The post ENGLISH Reading Exercise #37 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 15 of 28 appeared first on Improve Your English.

Idiom Meaning – Back to the drawing board

This video will show you in 3 minutes the idiom “Back to the Drawing Board – Meaning in a Sentence” through 3 interesting illustrated sentence examples. Combining images with the idiom will help you put this common English idiom into long-term memory.

Here is a transcript of the video: “The Meaning of BACK to the DRAWING BOARD”

Slide 2:
The meaning of:
BACK to the DRAWING BOARD

something you tried was unsuccessful and you need to start again, or go back to the planning stage

The clipart shows a technical, or engineering drawing board.

Let’s consider 3 interesting examples taken from modern history where initial design attempts failed and the engineers or inventors had to start again or make major changes to the original design before they enjoyed success. You may find the 3rd example especially interesting.

Slide 3:
First, the picture shows American aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright flying a glider in 1902.

The sentence reads: Orville and Wilbur Wright, American aviation pioneers, suffered repeated failures and often had to go back to the drawing board to adjust their plans, before making a successful flight on December 17, 1903.

In other words, they had to return to the planning stage on a number of occasions and make adjustments.

Slide 4:
In the next example we see the top of a soft drinks can.

The sentence reads: American engineer, Ermal Fraze, first designed a self-opening can which unfortunately was a little dangerous as it left sharp edges. After going back to the drawing board, he revised the product and created the ring-pull tab.

Slide 5:
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Slide 6:
In the third example we see an aerosol spray of the popular lubricant named WD-40.

The sentence reads: WD-40 started out as a rust-prevention solvent and degreaser in the aerospace industry. WD stands for Water Displacement.

Employees at the Rocket Chemical Company went back to the drawing board 39 times, until they were successful on the 40th attempt. Hence the name, WD-40.

Slide 7:
So remember, if you need to start something again because an attempt has failed, or you need to go back to the planning stage and make a change, you can say:
“Oh well, back to the drawing board!”

Slide 8:
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Slide 10:
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Image Credits

Slide 3 – glider
Public Domain
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1902_Wright_glider_turns.jpeg

Slide 4 – soft drink can
Royalty Free
Courtesy of NourRomeo at Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/drink-beverage-can-tin-can-5700089/

Slide 5 – WD-40
Creative Commons
ZooFari, CC BY 3.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WD-40_Smart_Straw.JPG

Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:

Creative Commons Attribution Licence
Others are allowed to copy, distribute, display, and perform copyrighted work – and derivative works based upon it if they give credit to the creator or source.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Public Domain
Public domain works are not restricted by copyright and do not require a license or fee to use. Public domain status allows the user unrestricted access and unlimited creativity. These are typically very old works.

Royalty Free
The image may be used for almost any business, personal, educational or charitable purpose as long as a credit is published to the creator of the image.

If you are interested in “back to the drawing board”, its meaning and use in a sentence, be sure to check this idiom and make it a part of your English vocabulary:
Turn Over a New Leaf – Meaning in a Sentence

The post BACK to the DRAWING BOARD – Meaning in a Sentence appeared first on Improve Your English.

English Speaking Practice | English Pronunciation Practice – #4

ENGLISH SPEAKING & PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE PLAYLIST
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LFrjIsjhMlEZCxVn8CBAGNScI5ARwB1

ENGLISH READING PRACTICE – CLICK HERE
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LFrjIsjhMlgrwrdTaeifxmuXwX7Ofv8

English speaking practice and pronunciation practice is an invaluable method for improving fluency and confidence when speaking English. The student repeats a phrase or sentence after hearing the native speaker say it. The student repeats the phrase or sentence 3 times. This repetition is crucial. Turn the teacher’s voice up loud, and then repeat with a loud voice.

Persistence and perseverance are keys to success. At first it may seem a little monotonous but soon you will get used to repeating each phrase or sentence 3 times. Soon your self-confidence will grow and you will be able to read with much more certainty which will then filter through to speaking English fluently in conversation, which accurate pronunciation.

Here is ENGLISH SPEAKING & PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE
Exercise 4: Time Management

Slide 2:
Be sure to watch the introductory video to learn how to use the echo speaking method.
See the link in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/QYDJ-nCgp_k)

Slide 3 onwards
The Reading

How To Get More Done

Here are three key principles of time management that can make a huge difference to your productivity.

1. Create chunks of time. Examine your work day, decide on your most productive hours, the times when you are feeling at a high energy level, physically and mentally, and then focus on your main task during this time. This means avoiding the temptation to answer emails, messages, or phone calls. This can be a challenge but even if it means not responding to interruptions for a block of time of just 30 minutes, you will find you can accomplish much in that time.
2. Break large tasks into pieces. One time management consultant recommends what he calls the ‘Salami Technique’. To eat a salami, it is necessary to slice it into very thin pieces. No one would think of eating a salami whole. This principle can be applied to large tasks. A large task can seem formidable and cause people to procrastinate and put it off for another day. Rather than being overwhelmed by a large task, cut off a small slice, perhaps a 30 minute job and make it manageable. By continuing to work on a large task, in 30 minutes unbroken time segments, can bring the task under control so it can be completed in a reasonable time.

The advantage with this technique is that it builds momentum. By completing a small slice of the job, a person can feel energized and motivated to continue to the next slice. As you build momentum, you can feel a surge of power and energy and a strong desire to complete the task.

1. Single Handle Each Task. This simple technique can save so much time. Single handling demands that once you start a task you don’t stop until it is finished. For example, you read an email. Rather than postpone answering it, deal with it there and then. A majority of emails can be handled with a brief reply. So rather than reading an email, leaving it unanswered, then coming back to it another day, by which time you have forgotten some of the contents and need to read it again, just answer it immediately while the topic or questions are fresh in your mind.

Some time management experts believe this can reduce the time required to complete tasks by as much as 50 percent. Of course, it takes self-discipline and learning new habits and ways of working. The rewards however more than compensate for the effort required to develop these new disciplines.

Try employing these 3 simple time management principles during your regular work day and get great satisfaction from getting more done, in less time and with less energy.

That is the end of the exercise.
Now you have finished this English speaking and pronunciation exercise, focus on improving your fluency. Read this text in Exercise 1 again, using the
Synchronized Reading method.
Go to the DESCRIPTION below for the link to the playlist.
ENGLISH READING PRACTICE – CLICK HERE

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Next video: ENGLISH SPEAKING Practice (Exercise 5) Goal Setting

The post ENGLISH SPEAKING Practice (Exercise 4) Time Management appeared first on Improve Your English.

Pronounce Squeeze

Learn how to pronounce SQUEEZE correctly by understanding the syllables. Then see SQUEEZE in a sentence along with an illustration as a memory aid.

Here is a transcript of the video: “Learn How to Pronounce SQUEEZE – SQUEEZE in a Sentence”

Slide 2:
The word SQUEEZE is a verb.

It has only 1 syllable.

It’s pronounced SKWEEZ

Slide 3:
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Slide 4:
SQUEEZE
Definition:
to press together; to extract by applying pressure

The clipart shows a tube of toothpaste which has been squeezed.

Let’s look at an illustrated sentence example.

Slide 5:
The picture shows a lemon being squeezed over meat.

The sentence reads: Many people squeeze a lemon over their meat to make it even more appetizing.

Slide 6:
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Slide 7:
Build a powerful English vocabulary with my FREE course on Udemy. Just go to:
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Image Credit:

Slide 5 – lemon juice
Royalty Free
Courtesy ymyphoto at Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/beef-gourmet-food-lemon-6954031/

Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:

Royalty Free
The image may be used for almost any business, personal, educational or charitable purpose as long as a credit is published to the creator of the image.

Examples of SQUEEZE from news items:

Critics say governments have not gone far enough with these initiatives, while pointing out public health spending has been squeezed in the past decade, hampering the ability of healthy lifestyle programmes to have an impact.
Source: BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxgqp1nd1jo

Though he appreciated playing in a historic stadium, Ferentz wasn’t thrilled with some of the logistics, such as sharing a sideline and a tight squeeze in some spots with the brick wall.
Source: Washington Times
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/nov/4/stevens-nails-53-yard-field-goal-in-closing-second/

The Federal Trade Commission and 17 states have sued the e-commerce giant, accusing it of protecting a monopoly over swaths of online retail by squeezing merchants and favoring its own services.
Source: New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/08/technology/google-memegen-gaza-war.html

A squeeze of fresh lemon along with fresh, peppery extra virgin olive oil, shaved purple onion, and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper take it all up a level.
Source: Salon
https://www.salon.com/2024/08/15/this-raw-watermelon-salad-is-special-because-it-focuses-on-only-two-things-watermelon-and-salt/

Their incredible density — only black holes are smaller and denser — is thought to squeeze protons and electrons together, fusing them into neutrons.
Source: Science Daily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240618152823.htm

If you are interested in how to pronounce SQUEEZE, be sure to check other words in The Pronunciation Guide such as:
Learn How to Pronounce DIFFERENTIATE – DIFFERENTIATE in a Sentence

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