How to Learn English

Welcome to CR4!

There is a recent thread here: http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/51963#comment541033

(Technical Writing Resources). In it you can find a highly recommended style guide for technical writing as well as English grammar and usage in general.

For fun with spelling, you might be able to find a Scrabble^® club in your area. This crossword game is played around the world, and is a good way to learn spelling and vocabulary.

Radio. BBC World Service broadcasts in English. The pace of the speech is slower than everyday use, and the vocabulary chosen carefully.

Kirya,

First: Do not use "text-message" short cuts when spelling English words. (example, don't use: u for you, i for I, wanna for want to, plz for please)

Second: Use an online Dictionary (http://dictionary.reference.com/) for the correct spelling of all words. (example, don't use: projact for project or sugestion for suggestion).

Third: Use this link to get a new "Word-of-the-Day" each day (http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/). You will get the word, the graphic pronunciation, the word origin, and examples of its use. There is also a small "speaker" icon next to the word (make sure the sound is on for your computer) and you will get the spoken pronunciation.

Forth: Be open to people correcting you, they only mean to help.

GA. Picky but "Forth" "Fourth"?

Hi Kriya, welcome to CR4.

One of the amazing things about the English language is how inconsistent the rules are for spelling. Many of the inconsistencies are due to the different languages that have been absorbed into English.

Another problem is that we colonials (India, Australia and USA) have our own slant on how one should pronouns some words and some have gone as far as to invent their own spelling. The Microsoft word program that I am using has 18 different versions of English to choose from.

English is a living language and like any tool that is being used it will be modified and expanded to suit the current need.

If you like things to be a little bit technical, a large bit humorous and as broad as the reaches of space this is a great place to learn anything including English. Most of us are quite patient.

I for one do not consider myself to be good at spelling so I use the spell checker that comes with the site and just let it homogenises everything into U.S. English.

Some of the things you will read on this site may be hard to understand due to cultural or technical nuances but don't hesitate to ask for clarification. Most engineers are very use to having to explain what they are trying to communicate especially when we are dealing with project accountants and the public. We understand that they have problems and it is our role in society to fix problems.

Welcome to the playground of the mind.

BAB

read , read ,read ,read ,read ..... & reading of english books will help a lot & watch more english tv chennels

Here is a site where you can improve your English (also French, Italian and German) vocabulary, English Grammar, basic maths skills* and geography* AND help feed the starving in the world. There is also a sound file with each word, so you can hear them.

FreeRice <<--Click here

It is addictive, it also tells you the right answer when you get it wrong and then tests you again later to see if you remembered!

Doorman has already linked to the other thread...I would emphasise that there is lots of good information there...including links to www.toastmasters.org

Practice is the other aspect, after all the reading and listening you'll be doing.

*I'm not suggesting you need these, but others may like to know they are available - for their children perhaps.