This document provides tips for upgrading English language skills. It offers advice on getting out of learning ruts, widening vocabulary, giving yourself time to think in conversations, changing the tone of what you say, keeping conversations going, improving pronunciation, spelling, and emails. It also lists helpful websites for learning English through dictionaries, listening, reading, vocabulary, quizzes, grammar, newspapers, magazines, games and encyclopedias.

1. Smart English
Upgrading your English Language Skills
Mr. Medhat Mohsen
Assafwa Private Schools
Ain Shams University

2.  Some advice
 Websites
Upgrading you English Language Skills

3.  Get out of a learning rut.
 Widen your vocabulary.
 Give yourself time to think in conversations.
 Change the tone of what you say.
 Keep the conversation going.
 Change your pronunciation.
 Improve your spelling.
 Upgrade your emails.
Upgrading you English Language
Skills

4.  Be selective in what you learn.
 Make meaning families.
 Describe new words in your own words.
 Read more English.
 Look for synonyms.
Widen your vocabulary

5.  Find something new to talk about.
 Meet new people.
 Activate what you know already.
 Vary the programs you listen to.
 Set yourself some new learning goals.
Get out of a learning rut

6.  Take one or two deep breaths before you begin to
speak.
 Use ‘thinking time’ sounds and phrases to fill the
silence.
 Learn phrases, not just words.
 Ask for help or clarification.
 Work on paraphrasing.
Giving yourself time to think in conversations

7.  Use the words ‘actually’ or ‘well’ to show that you are
about to disagree.
 Use positive words with ‘not’ rather than negatives.
So, instead of saying ‘I disagree’, you can say
‘Actually, I don’t agree.’
 Make your advice or opinion sound like a suggestion.
 Use question forms instead of imperatives.
 Use the phrase ‘It’s a bit...’ or ‘It’s a little...’
Changing the tone of what you say

8.  Try voice-setting by imitating an English speaker
speaking.
 Identify your own problem sounds.
 Make sure you identify the stress when you learn new
words.
 Don’t confuse fluency with speed.
 Set achievable goals.
Changing your pronunciation

9.  Think of questions which you can use to begin a
conversation.
 Respond to an answer with a more detailed question.
 To broaden the conversation, you could ask questions
about the speaker’s past.
 Try to make sure that you ask open questions.
 Show you are interested.
Keeping the conversation going

10.  Learn some common spelling patterns.
 Learn to recognise common sound/spelling links.
(sequences – tion)
 Spell by syllables
 Make your own mnemonic
 Test yourself.
Improving your spelling

11.  Think of an appropriate greeting
 Think ‘informal but polite
 Be careful with punctuation.
 Organise your information clearly.
 Try to avoid very informal language until you know
the reader better.
Upgrading your emails

12.  Dictionary: http://www.infovisual.info/
 Listening and speaking: http://www.talkenglish.com/
 Reading: http://www.eslfast.com/
 Vocabulary: http://www.languageguide.org/english/
 Quizzes: http://a4esl.org/
 Grammar: http://www.englishpage.com/
 Kids & all: www.go4english.com
 Newspapers: http://www.refdesk.com/top100pap.html
 Magazine: http://www.topics-mag.com/
 Games: http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/
 Encyclopedia: http://www.britannica.com/
Websites

13. Last  Break
Time!