my Summary

Zuhrah Barqil

PBI 4

20401108116

Summary of CALL

Unit 1

Call in the broad sense used for any attempt or effort that involves computers. What-what is there in the said computer what is the use of computers. in language teaching and a number of ways to the field of CALL conceptualized

The history of CALL

Call already there in 1960 with a mainframe-based and practice, especially those based on the PLATO system Universuty Illinois. What remains is a benefit to learn the language outside the university. Until the spread of the micro to the educational setting in the early 1980s. Early programs were written by the developer of teachers in the Apple II, IBM PC, and the BBC computer, and often distributed for free programs, commercial. If available, usually quite expensive but generally more stable and technically.

Unit 2

In this unit, we explain about Courseware Evaluation, Development, and Implementation. It introduces the term courseware, which refers to software that is used to support formal language learning. In practice, courseware has been used to refer to everything from complete software packages that can be used without a teacher to software that is just a part of a language learning course.

THE THREE OF MODULES

·         Development Module 

Courseware development refers to the process of going from the idea of creating a piece of tutorial software through the final product. It should be informed by general principles of instructional design. ·         Evaluation Module.

Evaluation involves three kinds of considerations. A crucial aspect is to understand what the courseware does first before attempting to judge it:

·         `Implementation Module

module Implementation considerations are relevant during the evaluation process, but they become crucial when deciding how best to use software that is available.

UNIT 3

          In unit 3, it explain about computer mediated communication. In one category of tool uses, computer-mediated communication, or CMC, computers are a means through which teachers communicate with learners, learners communicate with one another and learners may even communicate with native speakers.

 ·         Synchronous Text

With synchronous text, or chat, messages in the cream / exchanged in the form of text but in real time. Sync on the computer using this tool. The theory that illustrates thethree functions to perform synchronously teams are:

a.    Production Function: Working together to solve common tasks,

b.     Group Well-being: Maintaining interaction or communication between team / group.

c.    Member Support: Coordination and mutual help in a difficult situation.

·         Asynchronous Audio

Asynchronous audio is the interaction that are done as text orinteraction with other words it's just chatting in this chat using voice. One example of voice

UNIT 4

          CALL on the web. The reason is that the Web represents the largest collection (by far!) of material that is accessible almost anytime and anywhere by almost anyone having a browser equipped computer and an Internet connection.

DISADVANTAGES OF THE WEB

·         the Web over alternatives Text-based material on the Web is sometimes not as easy to read as material in paper format because of font color and background choices.

·         Sound and video sometimes take a noticeable time to transfer, even on fast connections. Newer forms of streaming have improved this dramatically, but the Web is still not as responsive as a CD-ROM, DVD or the hard drive on a TiVo or other digital video recorder. 

·         Down servers or broken links may lead to frustration.

·         The Web is dynamic and often as unpredictable as the humans behind it.

·         Sites and applications that used to be free and only supported by text ads that could be easily ignored are increasingly charging fees requiring subscriptions (so that you don't get their ads), or requiring users to watch commercials before the desired material loads.

·         As is widely known, the accuracy of Web sources is often questionable

ADVANTAGES OF THE WEB

·         There is anytime, anywhere access (for some people at least). 

·         There are enormous amounts of free material. 

·         Material can be found that is current.

·         Language reference and other learning support materials can be found. Student and teacher publication opportunities exist.

·         A cultural window is opened through the authentic material readily available. 

·         Meaning technologies, such as transcripts, dictionaries, and translators, exist to aid comprehension of material

UNIT 5

Unit 5 talks about CALL and language skill. Skills-oriented language teaching remains a common approach for classes as well as for self-learning, and computer-assisted language learning is no exception. In this unit, we look at how both tool and tutor software can be used to support specific skills.

·         Listening

Listening is potentially  one of the most promising areas for CALL development. This is because multimedia computing has everything standard audio and video  have with the addition of a variety of meaning technology  such us text support, hyperlinked glossaries, and even translations.

·         Speaking

In terms of direct practice of speaking. Recants development of the web have allowed for voice chat sites which make it possible for learners and teachers to interact through the internet in  distance education course.

·         Reading

In the early days of CALL, reading software was designed to improve skills in order to transfer them to paper materials. More recently, reading in digital form is becoming more and more common.

·         Writing

Writing has revalorized for everyone with word processing, and addition of spell checkers has been quite helpful. Grammar and style checkers are much less useful to date, and using a thesaurus can be counterproductive if students’ aren’t trained in their limitations

·         Grammar

Grammar practice was perhaps the earliest use of CALL. Today grammar work is largely focused on: Workbook-style exercises

·         Pronunciation

Pronunciation work is generally of three types. They are Listen , Visualization, ASR

·         Vocabulary

Vocabulary activities have been around since the early days of CALL in the form of electronic flashcard.

·         Culture

This is a huge area for foreign language teaching, where authentic culture materials are readily accessible through the web.

·         Practice Activity

Select one skill area that particularly interest you. After reviewing some of the sources mentioned above, fin several other web sources on your own and review them for their potential to integrate into or supplement your class activity.

UNIT 6

Unit 6: CALL Research. CALL works, that teaching language using computers in some way makes learning “better”. But what exactly is “better?” here are some possible interpretations:

·         Learners pick up language knowledge or skills faster or with less effort (learning efficiency)

·         Learns pick up what is targeted, retain language knowledge or skills longer, and/or learn more of what they need (effectiveness)

·         Learners can get materials or experience interactions that would otherwise be difficult or impossible (access)

·         Learners can learn with more or less equal effectiveness across a wider ra in it more of times/places (convenience)

·         Learners enjoy the language learning process more or are willing to engage in it more (motivation)

·         Learners require less space, less teacher space, less teacher time, or less expensive materials (intuitional efficiency).

 Observation. When your students are using software or doing a computer-based task in a lab or other venue where you can--watch them. You can look over their shoulder, check their interactions, and make brief notes of what you notice. Interact with the students as they interact with the software. This can give you feedback on the effectiveness of a given piece of software, CALL exercise, or CALL task, and it can also help you determine student training needs. 

UNIT 7

     Unit 7 about CALL  Learner Training. CALL has given us some amazing possibilities for improving language learning. However, these possibilities create a problem. Absent a teacher, students using computers are typically given more control over their own learning.

Technical Training

Training can be divided at least into two areas: technical and pedagogical.

Pedagogical Learning

In a2004 paper (Hubbard, 2004), I make a case for giving training not just on technical aspects but also on pedagogical ones, that is, how to use the tutorial software or tool effectively to meet specific learning objectives. To this end, I offer a set of five principles for learner training summarized below: 

·         Experiences CALL yourself.

·         Give learners teaching training.

·         Use a cyclical approach.

·         Use collaborative debriefings.

·         Teach general exploitation strategies.

Of course, in order to be effective at training students, it is necessary to thoroughly do analyze the software, task or activity you are assigning. You need to be sure that you can make the connections between given actions and learning objectives before you can expect your students to do so on their own.

my summery task

ZUHRAH BARQIL

PBI 4

20401108116

MY LINK ABOUT HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY

Hallo guys … ok, I will explain about my line that I have upload in our group facebook. Its about how to speak English fluently. From my point of view in this link so many experience that you will find if you visit it. You can study anywhere and anytime. This line is very pleasing, helpful, and educating. So many item that we will find such us how to speak accurately, pronunciation, and tips to improve the way you speak English. Ok I will explain more one by one.

A.     How to speak accurately

From a learner's point of view, the problem with English is that it is too rich in constructions and vocabulary:  There are numerous words and constructions which have similar meanings

1.Choosing English for Use or Recognition Purposes only

English people do not use every phrase and word in the English language.  They have favorite phrases which they use time and time again.  I recommend that when you are taught more than one way of saying the same thing,  choose only one version to learn accurately for future use

2. Pitfalls to Avoid

Native English speakers modify their language according to their situation, just as you would do in your own language.  Unless you have constant exposure to English over many years, you cannot expect to do this.  The trick therefore is to choose the best English for universal speaking purposes and to recognize other versions of  English, so you are not at a disadvantage.  By doing so, you will avoid misunderstandings and you will be able to judge the quality of another person's English.   

Although a knowledge of the following is essential for understanding English

3.Avoiding grammatical errors when speaking

Many students experience difficulties with the use of the present perfect, because the use of it does not correspond with a similar-looking tense in their own language.  If it helps you, it is possible to avoid the present perfect altogether by using:- 

SIMPLE PAST + SPECIFIC TIME

eg:  I have been to Tunisia.  (Time unknown)

I went to Tunisia some time ago.  (Exact time unknown)

I have just finished my homework. (Recent, but time unknown)

I finished my homework a short while ago (Recent, but exact time unknown)

English is such a rich and versatile language, it is possible to say what you want to say in more than one way.

B.     Pronunciation

1.       General

Non-native speakers of English experience different pronunciation problems according to their native language.  This is due to:

a.  Different pronunciation of some letters

b.  No equivalent sound in their own language

If students cannot hear whether they are pronouncing a sound correctly, then the only alternative is to "feel" and "see" whether they are pronouncing it properly.

English is a language which depends upon:-

2.       Common Difficult sounds

TH:  (long, soft, as in TEETH) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and blow gently.  It is a long sound and should last about 5 seconds.

TH:  (short, hard, as in THE) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and make a voice sound from your throat.  It is a short sound with a sudden burst of air.

V:  Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and make a voice sound in your throat.  Your lips should be more or less closed.

ST:  Make a long, soft 'S' sound like a snake, then suddenly add an abrupt 'T+schwa' sound by pushing your tongue against the back of your top front teeth, then suddenly taking it away

PH:  Pronounce PH as F (not P)

F:  Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and blow gently

H:  To make this sound, you need a lot of air and your mouth should be open.  

L:  When making the L sound, you tongue must temporarily go up to the roof of your mouth and come down again

R:   When making the R sound, your tongue does very little;  it just stays at the bottom of your mouth. 

W:  When making the W sound, you must pucker your lips as if you are going to kiss your favorite film star.

3.       Consonants

In order to speak English well you must make all your consonants (except silent ones) sound loud and clear.   Many English parents reprimand their children with "Sound the ends of your words!", because many children swallow the last consonant sound in their words, particularly if the last consonant is a 'T' (as in the word 'BUT').   When English children do this, it is poor quality pronunciation, but when non-native speakers do this, it is often impossible to understand what they are saying.

4.       Long Sounds VS short Sounds

The long sounds in English are extremely important.  Throughout England, Australia, Canada, America, there are fluent native speakers of English.   The accents vary enormously, yet we are all capable of understanding each other.   This is because the consonant sounds change very little and there is a uniformity of long and short sounds.

C.      10 tips to improve the way you speak English

Yes, you can. All you need to do is train yourself to speak English as comfortably and perfectly as you speak your mother tongue.This is the first step to learn any other accent.

1. Observe the mouth movements of those who speak English well and try to imitate them: When you are watching television, observe the mouth movements of the speakers. Repeat what they are saying, while imitating the intonation and rhythm of their speech.

2. Until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English, slow your speech down: If you speak too quickly, and with the wrong intonation and rhythm, native speakers will have a hard time understanding you. 

3. Listen to the 'music' of English: Do not use the 'music' of your native language when you speak English. Each language has its own way of 'singing'. 

4. Use the dictionary: Try and familiarise yourself with the phonetic symbols of your dictionary. Look up the correct pronunciation of words that are hard for you to say.

5. Make a list of frequently used words that you find difficult to pronounce and ask someone who speaks the language well to pronounce them for you: Record these words, listen to them and practice saying them. Listen and read at the same time.   

6. Buy books on tape: Record yourself reading some sections of the book. Compare the sound of your English with that of the person reading the book on the tape.

7. Pronounce the ending of each word: Pay special attention to 'S' and 'ED' endings. This will help you strengthen the mouth muscles that you use when you speak English.

8. Read aloud in English for 15-20 minutes every day: Research has shown it takes about three months of daily practice to develop strong mouth muscles for speaking a new language.

9. Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes: Many people hate to hear the sound of their voice and avoid listening to themselves speak. However, this is a very important exercise because doing it will help you become conscious of the mistakes you are making.

10. Be patient: You can change the way you speak but it won't happen overnight. People often expect instant results and give up too soon. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to put some effort into it.

my summery task

ZUHRAH BARQIL

PBI 4

20401108116

MY LINK ABOUT HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY

Hallo guys … ok, I will explain about my line that I have upload in our group facebook. Its about how to speak English fluently. From my point of view in this link so many experience that you will find if you visit it. You can study anywhere and anytime. This line is very pleasing, helpful, and educating. So many item that we will find such us how to speak accurately, pronunciation, and tips to improve the way you speak English. Ok I will explain more one by one.

A.     How to speak accurately

From a learner's point of view, the problem with English is that it is too rich in constructions and vocabulary:  There are numerous words and constructions which have similar meanings

1.Choosing English for Use or Recognition Purposes only

English people do not use every phrase and word in the English language.  They have favorite phrases which they use time and time again.  I recommend that when you are taught more than one way of saying the same thing,  choose only one version to learn accurately for future use

2. Pitfalls to Avoid

Native English speakers modify their language according to their situation, just as you would do in your own language.  Unless you have constant exposure to English over many years, you cannot expect to do this.  The trick therefore is to choose the best English for universal speaking purposes and to recognize other versions of  English, so you are not at a disadvantage.  By doing so, you will avoid misunderstandings and you will be able to judge the quality of another person's English.   

Although a knowledge of the following is essential for understanding English

3.Avoiding grammatical errors when speaking

Many students experience difficulties with the use of the present perfect, because the use of it does not correspond with a similar-looking tense in their own language.  If it helps you, it is possible to avoid the present perfect altogether by using:- 

SIMPLE PAST + SPECIFIC TIME

eg:  I have been to Tunisia.  (Time unknown)

I went to Tunisia some time ago.  (Exact time unknown)

I have just finished my homework. (Recent, but time unknown)

I finished my homework a short while ago (Recent, but exact time unknown)

English is such a rich and versatile language, it is possible to say what you want to say in more than one way.

B.     Pronunciation

1.       General

Non-native speakers of English experience different pronunciation problems according to their native language.  This is due to:

a.  Different pronunciation of some letters

b.  No equivalent sound in their own language

If students cannot hear whether they are pronouncing a sound correctly, then the only alternative is to "feel" and "see" whether they are pronouncing it properly.

English is a language which depends upon:-

2.       Common Difficult sounds

TH:  (long, soft, as in TEETH) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and blow gently.  It is a long sound and should last about 5 seconds.

TH:  (short, hard, as in THE) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and make a voice sound from your throat.  It is a short sound with a sudden burst of air.

V:  Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and make a voice sound in your throat.  Your lips should be more or less closed.

ST:  Make a long, soft 'S' sound like a snake, then suddenly add an abrupt 'T+schwa' sound by pushing your tongue against the back of your top front teeth, then suddenly taking it away

PH:  Pronounce PH as F (not P)

F:  Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and blow gently

H:  To make this sound, you need a lot of air and your mouth should be open.  

L:  When making the L sound, you tongue must temporarily go up to the roof of your mouth and come down again

R:   When making the R sound, your tongue does very little;  it just stays at the bottom of your mouth. 

W:  When making the W sound, you must pucker your lips as if you are going to kiss your favorite film star.

3.       Consonants

In order to speak English well you must make all your consonants (except silent ones) sound loud and clear.   Many English parents reprimand their children with "Sound the ends of your words!", because many children swallow the last consonant sound in their words, particularly if the last consonant is a 'T' (as in the word 'BUT').   When English children do this, it is poor quality pronunciation, but when non-native speakers do this, it is often impossible to understand what they are saying.

4.       Long Sounds VS short Sounds

The long sounds in English are extremely important.  Throughout England, Australia, Canada, America, there are fluent native speakers of English.   The accents vary enormously, yet we are all capable of understanding each other.   This is because the consonant sounds change very little and there is a uniformity of long and short sounds.

C.      10 tips to improve the way you speak English

Yes, you can. All you need to do is train yourself to speak English as comfortably and perfectly as you speak your mother tongue.This is the first step to learn any other accent.

1. Observe the mouth movements of those who speak English well and try to imitate them: When you are watching television, observe the mouth movements of the speakers. Repeat what they are saying, while imitating the intonation and rhythm of their speech.

2. Until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English, slow your speech down: If you speak too quickly, and with the wrong intonation and rhythm, native speakers will have a hard time understanding you. 

3. Listen to the 'music' of English: Do not use the 'music' of your native language when you speak English. Each language has its own way of 'singing'. 

4. Use the dictionary: Try and familiarise yourself with the phonetic symbols of your dictionary. Look up the correct pronunciation of words that are hard for you to say.

5. Make a list of frequently used words that you find difficult to pronounce and ask someone who speaks the language well to pronounce them for you: Record these words, listen to them and practice saying them. Listen and read at the same time.   

6. Buy books on tape: Record yourself reading some sections of the book. Compare the sound of your English with that of the person reading the book on the tape.

7. Pronounce the ending of each word: Pay special attention to 'S' and 'ED' endings. This will help you strengthen the mouth muscles that you use when you speak English.

8. Read aloud in English for 15-20 minutes every day: Research has shown it takes about three months of daily practice to develop strong mouth muscles for speaking a new language.

9. Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes: Many people hate to hear the sound of their voice and avoid listening to themselves speak. However, this is a very important exercise because doing it will help you become conscious of the mistakes you are making.

10. Be patient: You can change the way you speak but it won't happen overnight. People often expect instant results and give up too soon. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to put some effort into it.

my summery task

ZUHRAH BARQIL

PBI 4

20401108116

MY LINK ABOUT HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY

Hallo guys … ok, I will explain about my line that I have upload in our group facebook. Its about how to speak English fluently. From my point of view in this link so many experience that you will find if you visit it. You can study anywhere and anytime. This line is very pleasing, helpful, and educating. So many item that we will find such us how to speak accurately, pronunciation, and tips to improve the way you speak English. Ok I will explain more one by one.

A.     How to speak accurately

From a learner's point of view, the problem with English is that it is too rich in constructions and vocabulary:  There are numerous words and constructions which have similar meanings

1.Choosing English for Use or Recognition Purposes only

English people do not use every phrase and word in the English language.  They have favorite phrases which they use time and time again.  I recommend that when you are taught more than one way of saying the same thing,  choose only one version to learn accurately for future use

2. Pitfalls to Avoid

Native English speakers modify their language according to their situation, just as you would do in your own language.  Unless you have constant exposure to English over many years, you cannot expect to do this.  The trick therefore is to choose the best English for universal speaking purposes and to recognize other versions of  English, so you are not at a disadvantage.  By doing so, you will avoid misunderstandings and you will be able to judge the quality of another person's English.   

Although a knowledge of the following is essential for understanding English

3.Avoiding grammatical errors when speaking

Many students experience difficulties with the use of the present perfect, because the use of it does not correspond with a similar-looking tense in their own language.  If it helps you, it is possible to avoid the present perfect altogether by using:- 

SIMPLE PAST + SPECIFIC TIME

eg:  I have been to Tunisia.  (Time unknown)

I went to Tunisia some time ago.  (Exact time unknown)

I have just finished my homework. (Recent, but time unknown)

I finished my homework a short while ago (Recent, but exact time unknown)

English is such a rich and versatile language, it is possible to say what you want to say in more than one way.

B.     Pronunciation

1.       General

Non-native speakers of English experience different pronunciation problems according to their native language.  This is due to:

a.  Different pronunciation of some letters

b.  No equivalent sound in their own language

If students cannot hear whether they are pronouncing a sound correctly, then the only alternative is to "feel" and "see" whether they are pronouncing it properly.

English is a language which depends upon:-

2.       Common Difficult sounds

TH:  (long, soft, as in TEETH) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and blow gently.  It is a long sound and should last about 5 seconds.

TH:  (short, hard, as in THE) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and make a voice sound from your throat.  It is a short sound with a sudden burst of air.

V:  Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and make a voice sound in your throat.  Your lips should be more or less closed.

ST:  Make a long, soft 'S' sound like a snake, then suddenly add an abrupt 'T+schwa' sound by pushing your tongue against the back of your top front teeth, then suddenly taking it away

PH:  Pronounce PH as F (not P)

F:  Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and blow gently

H:  To make this sound, you need a lot of air and your mouth should be open.  

L:  When making the L sound, you tongue must temporarily go up to the roof of your mouth and come down again

R:   When making the R sound, your tongue does very little;  it just stays at the bottom of your mouth. 

W:  When making the W sound, you must pucker your lips as if you are going to kiss your favorite film star.

3.       Consonants

In order to speak English well you must make all your consonants (except silent ones) sound loud and clear.   Many English parents reprimand their children with "Sound the ends of your words!", because many children swallow the last consonant sound in their words, particularly if the last consonant is a 'T' (as in the word 'BUT').   When English children do this, it is poor quality pronunciation, but when non-native speakers do this, it is often impossible to understand what they are saying.

4.       Long Sounds VS short Sounds

The long sounds in English are extremely important.  Throughout England, Australia, Canada, America, there are fluent native speakers of English.   The accents vary enormously, yet we are all capable of understanding each other.   This is because the consonant sounds change very little and there is a uniformity of long and short sounds.

C.      10 tips to improve the way you speak English

Yes, you can. All you need to do is train yourself to speak English as comfortably and perfectly as you speak your mother tongue.This is the first step to learn any other accent.

1. Observe the mouth movements of those who speak English well and try to imitate them: When you are watching television, observe the mouth movements of the speakers. Repeat what they are saying, while imitating the intonation and rhythm of their speech.

2. Until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English, slow your speech down: If you speak too quickly, and with the wrong intonation and rhythm, native speakers will have a hard time understanding you. 

3. Listen to the 'music' of English: Do not use the 'music' of your native language when you speak English. Each language has its own way of 'singing'. 

4. Use the dictionary: Try and familiarise yourself with the phonetic symbols of your dictionary. Look up the correct pronunciation of words that are hard for you to say.

5. Make a list of frequently used words that you find difficult to pronounce and ask someone who speaks the language well to pronounce them for you: Record these words, listen to them and practice saying them. Listen and read at the same time.   

6. Buy books on tape: Record yourself reading some sections of the book. Compare the sound of your English with that of the person reading the book on the tape.

7. Pronounce the ending of each word: Pay special attention to 'S' and 'ED' endings. This will help you strengthen the mouth muscles that you use when you speak English.

8. Read aloud in English for 15-20 minutes every day: Research has shown it takes about three months of daily practice to develop strong mouth muscles for speaking a new language.

9. Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes: Many people hate to hear the sound of their voice and avoid listening to themselves speak. However, this is a very important exercise because doing it will help you become conscious of the mistakes you are making.

10. Be patient: You can change the way you speak but it won't happen overnight. People often expect instant results and give up too soon. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to put some effort into it.

HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY

n order to imprint words on your memory and also to feel comfortable about pronouncing them at a moment's notice, it is necessary to practise vocabulary a number of  times.   1.  Decide which constructions and vocabulary are ideal for you to learn.   (Be discerning, because you cannot learn everything.)   Choose about ten new words per day to practise.  2.  Practise them until you are word-perfect.  Then use them in real situations by incorporating them into conversations with as many people as possible (at least six times each word or construction, but more if possible).     The more you manage to use them in conversation, the more readily you will be able to say them fluently in the future.   REMEMBER:  Fluency in English is accuracy with good pronunciation - not speed.

HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH MORE ACCURATELY

From a learner's point of view, the problem with English is that it is too rich in constructions and vocabulary, ie:  There are numerous words and constructions which have similar meanings.  Mistakes occur when students remember half of one construction and half of another;  they end up with a hotch-potch which is at best "incorrect but understandable" and at worst "nonsense". 1.Choosing English for Use or Recognition Purposes only English people do not use every phrase and word in the English language.  They have favourite phrases which they use time and time again.  I recommend that when you are taught more than one way of saying the same thing,  choose only one version to learn accurately for future use.  Then store the other one(s) vaguely in your mind for future recognition purposes only. 2. Pitfalls to Avoid Native English speakers modify their language according to their situation, just as you would do in your own language.  Unless you have constant exposure to English over many years, you cannot expect to do this.  The trick therefore is to choose the best English for universal speaking purposes and to recognise other versions of  English, so you are not at a disadvantage.  By doing so, you will avoid misunderstandings and you will be able to judge the quality of another person's English.    Although a knowledge of the following is essential for understanding English (and possibly for some exams), I recommend you avoid them as much as possible when speaking in normal situations:- Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, Slang (which can sound insolent when used at the wrong time) 3.Avoiding grammatical errors when speaking Many students experience difficulties with the use of the present perfect, because the use of it does not correspond with a similar-looking tense in their own language.  If it helps you, it is possible to avoid the present perfect altogether by using:-  SIMPLE PAST + SPECIFIC TIME eg:  I have been to Tunisia.  (Time unknown) I went to Tunisia some time ago.  (Exact time unknown) I have just finished my homework. (Recent, but time unknown) I finished my homework a short while ago (Recent, but exact time unknown) English is such a rich and versatile language, it is possible to say what you want to say in more than one way.

IMPORTANT REGIONAL DIFFERENCES In spoken American English, the use of the Simple Past and Present Perfect are often used contrary to the rules of grammar, particularly where the words 'yet' and 'yesterday' are concerned. In South West England, the following regional errors can be heard:  I be, he be, we be, they be, etc. In Yorkshire, the definite article is often omitted in speech.

PRONUNCIATION

GENERAL Non-native speakers of English experience different pronunciation problems according to their native language.  This is due to: 1.  Different pronunciation of some letters 2.  No equivalent sound in their own language If students cannot hear whether they are pronouncing a sound correctly, then the only alternative is to "feel" and "see" whether they are pronouncing it properly. English is a language which depends upon:- AIRFLOW, LIP SHAPE, TONGUE POSITION, TEETH POSITION, JAW MOVEMENT

COMMON DIFFICULT SOUNDS  (See also spelling & pronunciation rules) TH:  (long, soft, as in TEETH) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and blow gently.  It is a long sound and should last about 5 seconds. To test whether you are making this sound properly, place your hand approximately 12 cm from your mouth.  If you can feel a good flow of cool air halfway down your arm and your teeth and lips are in the right position, your pronunciation of this sound will be OK.  Do not forget to check the length of time you are allowing for the sound. You must produce this amount of air whenever you say a word with a soft TH in it.  TH:  (short, hard, as in THE) Put the tip of your tongue between your teeth and make a voice sound from your throat.  It is a short sound with a sudden burst of air. To test whether you are making this sound properly, place your hand approximately 6 cm from your mouth.  If you can feel a sudden burst of air on your hand, you are making the sound from your throat and your teeth and lips are in the right position, your pronunciation of this sound will be OK.  You must produce this sound whenever you say a word with a hard TH in it.  V:  Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and make a voice sound in your throat.  Your lips should be more or less closed. If you are making this sound correctly, you will feel an uncomfortable vibration.  You must feel this vibration every time you say a word with V in it, otherwise you are not pronouncing it properly.   The listener must hear the vibration to be sure of what you are saying.  ST:  Make a long, soft 'S' sound like a snake, then suddenly add an abrupt 'T+schwa' sound by pushing your tongue against the back of your top front teeth, then suddenly taking it away.  (Practise the 's' sound first, then the 'schwa' sound alone before adding the abrupt 'T' sound.) PH:  Pronounce PH as F (not P) F:  Put your top front teeth onto your bottom lip and blow gently.  Your lips should be more or less closed. To test whether you are making this sound properly, place your hand approximately 12 cm from your mouth.  If you can feel a good flow of cool air onto your hand and your teeth and lips are in the right position, your pronunciation of this sound will be OK.  You must produce this amount of air whenever you say a word with F in it.  H:  To make this sound, you need a lot of air and your mouth should be open.   Stand or sit up straight and take a deep breath, open your mouth, then let out the air quickly as if you are disappointed about something.  Allow your body to slump at the same time. To test whether you are making this sound properly, place your hand approximately 12 cm from your mouth.  If you can feel a good flow of hot air onto your hand and your mouth and body are in the right positions, your pronunciation of this sound will be OK.  You must produce this amount of air whenever you say a word with H in it.  L:  When making the L sound, you tongue must temporarily go up to the roof of your mouth and come down again.  It must not touch your teeth unless the next sound is TH. To check your tongue is in the right position, use a mirror.  Practise saying La, La, La, so you can see what your tongue is doing. R:   When making the R sound, your tongue does very little;  it just stays at the bottom of your mouth.  However, your lower jaw quickly moves forward, down and back as you say the sound.  Use a mirror to check that your tongue is not moving up to the roof of your mouth and that your jaw is moving properly.   If you do not have this sound in your language, you will need to practise moving your jaw.  At first, it will be painful, because you will be flexing  unused muscles just as you would if you attempting a new sport.  If you persevere the discomfort will eventually subside. W:  When making the W sound, you must pucker your lips as if you are going to kiss your favourite filmstar.  Use a mirror to achieve the correct lip shape.  To make the sound, you must push a sound out through the lip 'funnel' as if you have hurt yourself a little BEFORE saying the word, then at the end of this strained sound you open your lips a little and make a different sound as if you are saying the number ONE (but stop before you stay the N sound).  Only after all this can you say the rest of the word.   Therefore, for the word WAR, follow these instructions:-   decide which film star or singer you would enjoy kissing.  think of this filmstar or singer and pucker lips into a kissing shape (check in the mirror) make a strained sound through puckered lips for 1-2 seconds open your lips and begin to say the number ONE (without the N) then complete the word by adding an OR sound.  Make it a long sound (3-4 seconds).  Better to make the word too long than not long enough. by following these instructions, you should have completed the word WAR Read the above instructions for L and R, then practice saying:- WAR, LAW, RAW

CONSONANTS In order to speak English well you must make all your consonants (except silent ones) sound loud and clear.   Many English parents reprimand their children with "Sound the ends of your words!", because many children swallow the last consonant sound in their words, particularly if the last consonant is a 'T' (as in the word 'BUT').   When English children do this, it is poor quality pronunciation, but when non-native speakers do this, it is often impossible to understand what they are saying.

LONG SOUNDS v SHORT SOUNDS The long sounds in English are extremely important.  Throughout England, Australia, Canada, America, there are fluent native speakers of English.   The accents vary enormously, yet we are all capable of understanding each other.   This is because the consonant sounds change very little and there is a uniformity of long and short sounds. When studying English you may feel it is very strange to say long sounds, because they do not exist in your own language;  however, unless you do use long sounds, your English will be difficult to understand.  In fact, it is better to make your long sound too long, rather than not long enough