Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[roundtheoutside]

Hello, I'm a US residet and looking for English-learning materials such as
CDs,Textbooks etc... which I can learn English conversations from.
I've already got a couple cassetts that are like Business English
and difficult written (literary) English stuff. But they're not what I'm looking for.
I'm looking for CDs/textbooks from which I can learn
as REAL ENGLISH as American high school or college students/teachers speak everyday in their school life.
Is there anyone in here who can
help me out with finding these conversation-learning stuff? (hope
I can buy them through online.) or please teach me how you learn SPEAKING english!

[roundtheoutside]

I'm looking for learning materials, because I still can't speak English well,
though I've been here for more than 3 YEARS.
I guess reasons why I cannot speak English well are:
1. I seldom try to speak English and talk to American students,
because I'm not so outgoing or simply I can't speak English well...
2. I didn't try to learn and practice speaking English.
My English teacher and other people say the only way
to be able to speak English is try to speak English,
even if one can't speak English well. I've studied only
English grammar and reading.
Studying grammar is the most essential to learning English,
but I realized what they said was absolutely right...
I won't be able to speak English without having conversations.

[wing]

Hey, you have been able to figure out how to speak English well. The best material is already around you. What are you still looking for? Try to open a floodgate and make friends with them. There is no better way than speaking English to native speakers in improving spoken English. After all, you don't feel you are making progress unless communicating with them.

[dduck]

[wolfstone]

Hi dduck,

It is true that in any language, many native speakers make lots of grammar mistakes. But it doesn't matter very much because native speakers learn their grammar by hearing their parents, their friends and so on, in their childhood. But this procces doesn't serve when we are learning a second language, that we learn grammar by studying grammar book and through our teachers. At that moment, grammar becomes a neccesary tool for our speech, other than pronunciation , vocabulary building, etc... I've always thought that a native speaker is not a person who neccesarily can speak their mother tongue well, but they can somehow speak it badly. This luxury is not allowed among non-native speakers

Take care

[dduck]

Hi Wolfstone,

Do you think that roundtheoutside needs to learn more grammar from a book or needs to be encouraged to go out and speak?

Isn't there a point when you have to encourage students to break free?

Iain
_________________

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
--Chinese Proverb

[wing]

[wolfstone]

Hi all

I don't know whether roundtheoutside needs more grammar or not. I suppose that he or she has a good grasp of English in order to communicate with others. Anyway, this one depends on the learner's neccesity.

As for your second question, I agree with you that learners should be encouraged to speak more in a lot of situations. I had bad experiences when I studied English in highschool because I just crammed for the English exams and instead I could seldom stutter some words

[dduck]

[vivayo]

Hello to everybody!
I remember that I learnt a lot of english at school.But now I hear the BBC on the radio and I don't understand them. Fortunately, it's said that the english native don't speak like the radio's announcer, is that true?? I hope yes!
I'm not able to speak it either or almost that's what I think.
Unfortunately english is a very important skill to find a job, because english is the language of the world. We must learn it obligatory!
what can I do to understand and speak english fluently?

[wolfstone]

Hi dduck,

Yes, I am Spaniard, although my mother tongue is Catalan. By the way, since you are a Scotsman, I can tell you I lived and worked in Glasgow for one year. There I learnt a great deal of English, although I've acquired a slight Glaswegian accent. Scotland is altogether awesome!!


Dear vivayo, most of my friends have got very good jobs without knowing English. I recognise that English is important in business, trading , science and so on. However, I don't think that a Mogol shepherd needs English in order to survive in the desert .

The most important is that you enjoy learning English and don't worry about if you are fluently or not. There are no magic methods to achieve a fluency in a language. Be positive in your learning. Try to be serious with English, but have fun as well!! I keep making a lot of mistakes but I have the feeling that I've learnt a lot

Take care

[vivayo]

thank you for your advices,wolfstone
Certainly you learn much more if you enjoy... like children do
I'm not a Mogol shepherd(I've just learn a new word!) in a desert, but if you can't speak english, you lost a lot of oportunities, or almost that�s my situacion so far.
I'll keep on trying!

[wolfstone]

Hi vivayo,

Gosh! Sorry, but I meant "a Mongolian shepherd".

[Faith]

Hi! roundtheoutside

I'm also one of the students studying English in USA like you.
I came here about three months ago, and also I'm trying to figure out how I can improve my English skills, especially speaking skills.
For me, reading and grammar aren't the problems, but it's hard to speak what I want to say without hesitating. And I guess my problem is that I'm always worried about the correctness of my English when I'm speaking something and that makes me stop speaking. So, thesedays, I'm trying to say something without concerning about grammar. I'm not saying that grammar isn't important. But, sometimes, we'd better forget about grammar.
As wing said above, there are a lot of chances to comminicate with other people and you can just go and begin talking with them. I know that's not easy. But if you start doing that, you can do it more easily.
I'm looking forward to seeing the day you and I can speak English fluently.

Good luck!

[Pichet]

In my opinion. I don't understand about English language because I don't acquant with English language,It too fast when the teacher speak.So I feel scary with English since I was young.
I want to good skill for English because my skill are less than in my group.Then I try to practice my English skill for solve my problem.
Although I do it,I don't have good English skill.I need good suggesstion to increase my attention in English language.
Finally I hope your's opinion will help skill English up.


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