Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[existenz]

Although I try to do my best at English language, surely, I have results, but they aren't reflected in my midterm and final exams. Our teacher gives us what are called "assigned passage" and "unseen passage", assigned passage is a passage we study it, and unseen passage passage is a passage we see it the first time at the exam time. When I face comprehensive questions I don't do the best. Can you suggest me any new ways to improve my comprehensive knowledge ?

[bud]

Existenz, I know that this advice is not what students like to hear, but try not to worry too much about your grades. Concentrate on learning, and your grades will probably be good enough. When you are out of school (or college), you'll be glad you focused on learning and not on getting good grades on exams. They are not usually the same thing.

Regarding comprehension, I don't have any good advice beyond "Keep practicing!" English is a very difficult language because of its many irregularities, extensive use of idioms, phrasal verbs, etc. Keep working at it, and your comprehension will improve. Have faith!

All the best!

[existenz]

thank you for your advice.

I am a subscriber in the TIME magazine, I usually read articles there and try to understand them , however, unfortunately there are a few idioms and concepts which are not easy for me at all - as third english language speaker - to understand. Additionally, a lot of these idioms don't exist in dictionaries ;[.

[bud]

Just keep reading and your comprehension will improve in time... Another idea - There are dictionaries of idioms that you could buy. Try looking at some at an online bookstore. If you buy one you will still see many idioms that are not in the dictionary, but it would be useful for some of the ones you come across.

Keep up the good work!