This document provides tips for improving English skills like speaking, listening, comprehension, pronunciation and grammar. It suggests practicing conversations, watching videos with subtitles, reading aloud, learning new vocabulary and idioms, doing exercises and quizzes, and using various online resources for practicing and learning. The goal is to help non-native English speakers enhance their abilities and confidence in using English through regular practice of different skills.

1. Preparing for your
first Skype call

2. How to introduce myself?
Greet with smile
Maintain eye contact
Tell them your name
Ask for the other person’s name
Repeat the other person’s name

3. How to have a great
conversation?
 Relax and forget about yourself
 Listen
 Ask questions
 Use a friendly tone
 Choose your words and questions carefully
 Neither interrupt a person in the middle of his thought,
nor speak on top of it
 Compliment the other person
 Thank them for a great conversation

4. How to handle a difficult
question?
 Personal, intimate question
I’m sorry, but I’d prefer not to answer this question.
 Question you don’t know the answer
I have no idea.
 Question you didn’t catch
Can you repeat the question?
 Question you don’t understand because of unfamiliar
words or question structure
I’m sorry, but I don’t understand your question. Would you
mind telling it in different words?/What do you mean
by…?/What does…mean?

5. How to improve speaking?
 Listening and reading aloud
 Writing
 Networking and making friends
 Greeting people on the street
 Having small talks in public
 Watching foreign movies with English subtitles
 Joining one-on-one conversations, conversation and
common interest groups

6. Resources
Daily Conversations:
http://www.worldenglishclub.com/daily-english-c
EBooks:
http://www.gutenberg.org
Phrases and Expressions for Speaking:
http://www.eslgold.com/speaking/phrases.html

7. How to improve listening?
Speaking to English speakers
Watching TV and movies
Listening to radio
Reading audio books
Singing English songs
Practicing pronunciation
Joining conversation groups/one-on-one
conversations

8. Resources
Listening Lab:
http://www.esl-lab.com
Listening Activities:
http://www.manythings.org/e/listening.html
Audio Books:
http://librivox.org
http://www.audiobooks.org
http://www.audiobooks.net

9. How to improve
comprehension? Reading picture books or comics
 Reading newspapers and magazines
 Asking questions during conversations
 Watching TV and movies
 Browsing English websites
 Consulting dictionaries
 Constantly learning new words
 Clarifying meaning of slang and idioms
 Knowing grammar

10. Resources
 Idioms:
http://www.idiomconnection.com
 Slang Words:
http://www.eslcafe.com/slang/list.html
 Reading Comprehension Exercises:
http://www.englishcorner.vacau.com/reading/reading.html
 Listening Comprehension Exercises:
http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/eslvideo/
 Vocabulary Games:
http://www.vocabulary.co.il

11. How to improve pronunciation?
 Listening to native English and imitating
 Reading along with audio books
 Speaking, being corrected or asking for
correct pronunciation and repeating after
 Paying attention to letter combination sounds,
stressed syllables, word linkage and
intonation
 Training speech organs position, shape and
movement of English sounds

12. Resources
 Accent School:
http://www.accentschool.com/run_software.html
 Some Pronunciation Rules:
http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/index.htm
http://www.fonetiks.org
 Pronunciation Exercises:
http://www.pronunciationworkshop.com/pronunciationexercises.htm
http://www.englishmedialab.com/pronunciation.html
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/pronex/pronex.htm
http://www.manythings.org/pp/
 Dictionaries with Pronunciation:
http://www.merriam-webster.com
http://www.howjsay.com
http://www.thefreedictionary.com
http://dictionary.cambridge.org

13. How to improve grammar?
 Reading, listening, writing and speaking
 Using subject-verb structure
 Differentiating questions from statements
 Understanding parts of speech
 Practicing verb tenses
 Knowing words beyond their meaning
 Learning phrasal verbs
 Doing grammar exercises
 Quizzing yourself

14. Resources
 www.eslflow.com
 http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk
 http://www.onestopenglish.com
 http://www.waze.net/oea
 http://www.englishclub.com
 http://www.eslgold.com
 http://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/lesson-plans
 http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-printables-
worksheets.html