STEP TWO: BE RICH IN VOCABULARY

Vocabulary is indeed the core element through which a language can cross a message. Vocabulary functions to transform our thoughts into an understandable series of speech and transmit it to any interlocutor who has equal schemata. It is the vocabulary that allows us to maximize expressing a language we use fluently.

English vocabulary, to some learners, is a part that is difficult to master. Such a perception comes up due to the difference between the SPELLING(click here) of the vocabulary and the PRONUNCIATION (click here). It, then, calls for learners’ extra effort to be rich in.

In addition, English learners also need to equip themselves with IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION (click here) and COLLOQUIAL (click here). Idiomatic expression is a compound vocabulary representing a certain meaning which is usually more figurative but effective. Colloquial is certain expression made up and used for informal daily conversation.

Frustrated with TOEFL Test

For many of us who adopt English as a foreign language, TOEFL (click here) has become a serious matter. It is so because we are not used to using English in our daily life. Such an absence of frequent exposure to English brings about hindrance when we are taking TOEFL test. In fact, we very often have to deal with English: when are preparing for job application, reports, or academic assignments. Or when we are to fulfill the requirement for job promotion or scholarship, TOEFL score is just as necessary.To reach our expected score of the test, no other choice but we must do the PRACTICE TEST (click here) in advance.

In order for us to cope with the problem during taking the test ,however, it is important that we equip ourselves with some practical tips and strategies to do TOEFL test, as follows:
1.Be relaxed.
When doing TOEFL test, being relaxed is very important. Relax helps us concentrate well on analyzing the test problems. To gain relax, we have to be well-prepared early on the test day, such as coming earlier to the venue, having got meal, being well-equipped, and so on.
2.Be focused.
Being focused helps us deal with every test problems effectively. To reach the focus, we need to have a concentration management in encountering each part of the test: Listening, Structure, and reading.
3.Know what to do.
TOEFL test insists us on having a very good command of listening, structure and written expression, and reading. To have all the aspects ready, we need to recognize the effective strategies to do the test. Each part of TOEFL test, however, needs its own strategy.
1. Strategies for Listening Part.
A.During listening to the audio, we had better take a look at the options of answer. Seeing the options helps us identify the clues. The answer to the question is around the clue.
B.In the listening to dialogs part, we had better concentrate on listening to the second speaker/ person. The answer to the questions mostly implies the speech of the second speaker/ person.
C.In the listening to mini talks part, concentrating on listening to the first part and or the last part of the talks will enable us to identify the right answer easily. This part mostly insists us on identifying the topic, main idea or the main detail of the talks.
2.Strategies for Structure and Written Expressions
A. To be able to analyze each sentence so that we can find the mistaken part easily, we have to see the sentence thoroughly. Then we make sure that the basic parts of o sentence are there: Subject, Predicate, and Object. If the sentence lacks one of them, we choose the option that best fits the missing part.
B. Next, we analyze the parts that function as modifiers: Adjective or Adverb. If they are not correctly used, that is the choice.
C. After that we identify the use of prepositions. Are they all used correctly?. If we find mistake, that is the choice.
D. Finally, we have to make sure that the parts of speech used in the sentence are correct. If we find mistake, that is the choice.
3.Strategies for Reading Comprehension
A. We should not let reading the reading passage take the big portion of our time. We just need to directly see the options in the question parts, and get a clue.
B. We make use of the clue to get the answer in the reading passage by scanning.
C. For the questions requiring us to identify the topic of the reading passage, we just need to see the first or last part of it.
D. We should not bother with the content of the reading passage since it will only burden our mind.
HERE ARE SOME MORE PRACTICE TESTS
Just give it a try, and Good Luck!
***PRACTICE TEST 1 (click here)
***PRACTICE TEST 2 (click here)
***PRACTICE TEST 3 (click here)

STEP ONE:BE FAMILIAR WITH HOW ENGLISH IS STRUCTURED

It is inevitable that Grammar is the most important part of English. No matter how fluent we are in speaking English or how rich we are in English vocabulary, if our way of speaking is not well-structured, it may trigger misunderstanding or misinterpretation. How come!

Just realize that English depends much on grammar to make it understandable. It is grammar that composes the meaning behind our message reveals perfectly. English insists on our consistency in its structure when using it, be it when speaking or when writing. It is different from our mother tongue (e.g. Indonesian) which puts meaning behind the context of a sentence rather than of an individual word. In other words, the meaning of our speech is still well-understood regardless the misuse of individual structure of vocabulary.

English, on the other hand, needs our perfection to structure its individual vocabulary and the whole sentence. Thus, all our speech must be perfectly structured. To understand how we can reach the perfection English calls for, first of all; we must be familiar with what the so-called “PARTS OF SPEECH”.

WHAT IS PARTS OF SPEECH? (click here)

“Words are divided into different kinds or classes according to the purpose that they are used for. The different kinds of words are called Parts of Speech”(American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language).
There are eight PARTS OF SPEECH, they are: (click here)

1. Noun
2. Pronoun
3. Verb
4. Adjective
5. Adverb
6. Preposition
7. Conjunction
8. Interjection

There are only 7 parts of speech (not too many, right!). All of us know what every of them means lexically. As a matter of fact, it is not the meaning that we all need to be familiar with. We must understand how they function in our speech.

To understand the function of Parts of Speech, we can start by knowing what the basic structure of a sentence. Before we discuss further, however, we have to start with what Parts of Speech are characterized. (To be continued)

EFFECTIVE STEPS TO LEARNING ENGLISH (PART I)

Learning English has become a part of our daily routines. We have done it since we were still very young: even before school years. Some of us can master it easily, while others seem to be distressed of it. What makes it so?.

Learning English, for us who live in a non-English speaking country, calls for effective steps or strategies. For this, we can formulate our own, take after those who have been successful, or learn the steps or strategies from books or other resources. Their effectiveness, however, depends on our executing them in action. Here, I am trying to share with you all how we can apply very effective steps or strategies to learning English.

In my belief, there are (only) three steps to learning English effectively, they are:
1.familiar with how English is structured
2.rich in vocabulary
3.brave to practice

Those steps seem to have no difference from what we have applied in our learning so far. All of us have been very familiar with them. But, what makes my formula different is how to execute the steps in maximizing our learning. What’s that? Let’s dig them up one by one.(to be continued)

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