Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[non-chan]

I have to take TOEIC test .... I wanna get more than 600 score before 19 years old. I can listen, but I don't like bocabulary and grammar
How can I improve my English skill
How do you study for TOEIC test

[kurt]

Hi non-chan,

My name is Kurt. I am an Academic English and TOEFL instructor. One of the reasons that grammar is being eliminated on the new TOEFL is because the experts realized that studying grammar is not the best way to acquire another language. I always have at least one Korean student in each class who has perfect grammar but cannot understand native speakers or articulate thoughts through speech. It's because of these types of students that the grammar section is being replaced by a speaking section.

A great American philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, said that "Life is our dictionary," and he meant that the wealth of a person's vocabulary is a reflection of his experience. The way we improve our grammar is also through experience. The best way for you to improve your TOEFL or TOEIC score is to speak as much as possible in English, ideally in America or England.

[kurt]

Having said that, I recommend the Azar blue book as a grammar reference. Also see eslgold.com for grammar exercises.

[takenami]

Dear Non-chan,
I understand how Non-chan feels about English grammar. I never disliked learning about grammar, but I remember that grammar classes in Japan were so boring. I think that sentences in grammar textbooks I had are not used in spoken language. They are for academics. However, I started enjoying studying grammar when I attended to English schools in the U.S. because my teachers gave me examples with grammar elements which were useful in speaking. I would like to recommend Non-chan to purchase grammar textbooks that a native speaker of English wrote.

GOOD LUCK!

[mn]

I read what you all said and I agree. Grammar, as important as it is, it should not be the main focus in ones quest in acquiring the English language. I must remind you all that today, especially because that the English language is the commerce and computer chosen language, it is vital to learn and teach English as a communicative language. It is fine to learn Shakespeare and his plays, but that should come second to learning more useful words, terms and so on. There is no point that a person would learn the grammatical structure of the language as well as cultural ones if he doesn't have the ability to at least understand the simplest conversation dialogs. I just came back from Japan and it was terrible from English as a language point of view. It was so difficult to have a conversation or even to ask for directions as people just didn't know how to relate to my English. I was quite surprised as I had some online conversation (on forums and such) and I felt as though I was going to cope in Japan. Boy, I was wrong!

[virus2]