Tips, Tips, considerations and considerations and reflections on the reflections on the English language English language

learning learning

Rhaíza BastosRhaíza Bastos2009.12009.1

Me, myself and IMe, myself and I Am I doing my best?Am I doing my best? What should I do to improve my What should I do to improve my

learning?learning? What are my goals concerning English?What are my goals concerning English? What are the first steps to achieve them?What are the first steps to achieve them? How important is English in my life?How important is English in my life? Am I self-confident enough for this?Am I self-confident enough for this? Does my shyness block me or do I Does my shyness block me or do I

actually have serious difficulties in this?actually have serious difficulties in this?

Bored?Bored?

No. Enthusiastic!!!!!!No. Enthusiastic!!!!!!

In the classroomIn the classroom Make the classroom environment Make the classroom environment

comfortable comfortable Interact with your colleagues and Interact with your colleagues and

teacherteacher Do your best while working in pairs on Do your best while working in pairs on

the speaking activitiesthe speaking activities Keep track of what´s being doneKeep track of what´s being done Do the homework Do the homework Ask questionsAsk questions Give suggestionsGive suggestions

Out of classOut of class Don´t miss a chance to practice your EnglishDon´t miss a chance to practice your English Talk to native speakers whenever possibleTalk to native speakers whenever possible Watch videos with the subtitles off or in Watch videos with the subtitles off or in

EnglishEnglish Listen to music and pay attention to the lyrics Listen to music and pay attention to the lyrics Try to associate things with what you have Try to associate things with what you have

learned in class learned in class Practice your grammar through specific Practice your grammar through specific

material or even the Internet - there are material or even the Internet - there are many interesting web sites with ESL practicemany interesting web sites with ESL practice

Out of ClassOut of Class

Read magazines (E.g . “Speak Up” )Read magazines (E.g . “Speak Up” ) Read books – books for children are great for Read books – books for children are great for

vocabulary expansion and they aren´t long or vocabulary expansion and they aren´t long or tiring at alltiring at all

Use all good resources offered by the InternetUse all good resources offered by the Internet

www.esl-lab.comwww.esl-lab.com (listening exercises) (listening exercises)

www.thefreedictionary.comwww.thefreedictionary.com (with audio) (with audio)

www.dictionary.cambridge.orgwww.dictionary.cambridge.org

www.merriam-webster.comwww.merriam-webster.com

www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintrowww.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro

As a soccer coach doesnAs a soccer coach doesn´t play for his players, I ´t play for his players, I can´t speak, listen, read can´t speak, listen, read or write English for you. or write English for you. – I´m a mere guide. You– I´m a mere guide. You

´re the one who will work ´re the one who will work hard to reach your goals.hard to reach your goals.

Advantages of EnglishAdvantages of English

It´s an international language, so It´s an international language, so wherever you go, there will always be wherever you go, there will always be someone to talk tosomeone to talk to

The sounds are not so difficult for The sounds are not so difficult for Portuguese speakers to makePortuguese speakers to make

Conjugation is very easyConjugation is very easy Grammar is not complexGrammar is not complex You can use the same words for a large You can use the same words for a large

variety of meanings, so you save your timevariety of meanings, so you save your time

Advantages of knowing Advantages of knowing EnglishEnglish

It´s much easier to get a good job if It´s much easier to get a good job if you know Englishyou know English

It will be easy for you to read articles It will be easy for you to read articles or any kind of texts in Englishor any kind of texts in English

Being able to understand natives is Being able to understand natives is very fullfillingvery fullfilling

You can free yourself from translators You can free yourself from translators and dictionaries. You can be and dictionaries. You can be independent!!!independent!!!

For reflection...For reflection... Learning a foreign language requires Learning a foreign language requires

willing and dedicationwilling and dedication Do not associate English with Do not associate English with

PortuguesePortuguese- Literal translations may ruin your - Literal translations may ruin your

writing or speakingwriting or speaking Learning a foreign language also Learning a foreign language also

means learning about another culture means learning about another culture since those two elements are so since those two elements are so connected connected

Learn from your mistakesLearn from your mistakes

““Tell me, I´ll forgetTell me, I´ll forget

Show me, I´ll rememberShow me, I´ll remember

Involve me, I´ll understand.”Involve me, I´ll understand.”

Chinese ProverbChinese Proverb

Follow those simple tips Follow those simple tips and be happy...and be happy...

After all, After all, learning learning

English can be English can be very fun!!!very fun!!!

And get ready to start And get ready to start Flying High!!!Flying High!!!

Thank you Thank you very much very much

for this for this pleasant pleasant semester semester with you! with you!

I hope I was able I hope I was able to help a little to help a little

on your learning on your learning journey.journey.

Much love,Much love,Teacher RhaízaTeacher Rhaíza