All About English Grammar & Vocabulary

[smartmummy]

TakGol:

smartmummy:

Hi TakGol!

My good T's advise is write it down in a book that u can carry everywhere or flash card.In the bus stop while u waiting for a bus,in mrt while you travelling place to place,just see and say.I had a list of words with meanings (often come in ST Newspaper).I follow his instruction and I got to know that I can remember in a month.He gave a sentence for each word so we can understand the meaning and know how to use.I agree with cherrygal.Once u learn u have to apply so u can't forget.U can speak or u can write in a forum.Have a habbit to read and discuss with a friend.Find a friend who read Newspaper and talk about it.It will motivate you to read more.Good luck!

Thank you!i used the bold sentece normally..oh and btw write all the meaning(s) even if there is only 1 word rite???

the list consists of one meaning to each word.I think better to identify the meaning in the newspaper for the word.Then write it down the meaning.We no need to worry about the other meanings.If other meanings often use in newspaper then add on.First learn one meaning then go to another.
My son reading storybooks from young.He never see dictionary.If asked any word he didn't know the meaning in the beginning.But slowly he knows.cos he can guess while he reading.now he has no problem in English.He never learn the meaning like me.Best way to read a lot as much as you can.Read aloud another key to improve the language.

[bananamonster]

I don't know if anyone else has tried this, but reading the newspaper every day really helps, both in vocab and compo It just does!

[dovetail]

TakGol:

Thank u.is that book expensive??

Can't remember exact price. Should be 20+.

[dovetail]

cherrygal:

And English is not just about reading and memorising. You also need to speak good English to your bunch of friends. If you don't have parents who speak good English to you at home, find a friend who can speak good English with you in school.

Takgol,

I agree with cherrygal. You need someone to speak well with you and I know it's very hard to find as Singlish is everywhere.

Another way to help is to listen to good English. A good reference of well spoken English will help you to know how to switch to good ennglish when the need arises. The age old advice is to listen to BBC news. If you have good attention span you can listen to audio books. My kids started on audio books at a very young age. They do not need to do assessment books for grammar and vocab thru their primary school. In fact, they didn't need to study English like a subject like Chinese because of exposure. Try to get the dramatization ones instead of narration type. For the latter, the has narrator has to have a good voice to keep you from falling asleep.

Other than vocab, you need to know how to use the words in context and listening will help. But most of all, writing is everything. In my dd and ds class. They do mostly writing thru the year and very little on grammar and vocab. The latter 2 are suppose to be taken care of mostly by yourself
through reading and exposure.

Don't worry about vocab, etc.. Just find your interest in things you want to know more about and read about it. Read to gain knowledge and for enjoyment and don't be too conscious about learning the language like a subject.

All the best!

[lisayvonne]

dovetail:

TakGol:

May I ask how do I improve my vocabulary?Also,when I read a book,should I quickly check to a dictionary and make flash cards?Please help.I am trying to do better in Sec 1.thank u


:?:

I don't think it is a good idea to check every word you don't know when you read a book. It's a killjoy to reading.

I think better to learn to guess the meaning of the word you don't know based on context. Only check those that you find a strong urge to get the exact meaning or you can't guess from context.

My son's school is using a book \"Barrons 1100 words you need to know\" In fact, I have a copy I use for myself too as I find it a great book. Just have to spend 15mins a day on a couple of exercises. The learning is cumulative.

I'm with dovetail. If check every word you don't know, it will definitely slow down your reading speed. I think the best method to learn words is reading more books and guess the meaning of strange words. When you meet the same stange words many times, you will know the meaning involuntarily.
Lisa

[fightingmom]

To improve, you really have to use the new word that you have just acquired, be it in your conversation or in writing.

[HAPPYH]

fightingmom:

To improve, you really have to use the new word that you have just acquired, be it in your conversation or in writing.

Yes, I agree. Although my vocab skill is not good, I am trying my best to encourage DD to use new words more often. Hope her vocab skill improves over time.

[optimistforum]

Hi


Does anyone, please, have an answer key Pick and Choose Multiple Choice Comprehension Passages - Robert Best.

I know it is a long shot; this book was published in 1971, again 1973 with a separate answer key. I cannot find the key on Amazon UK, Com or Ebay UK, Com.

It is for English FCE, and my feeling is that itis suitable for and would stretch PSLE finalists.

Any help is much appreciated.

[jenniferpass]

It’s said that reading is really the best way to go when you’re thinking about how to improve your vocabulary in English and to increase your command over the language and to add words to your vocabulary. But if reading is not your forte, you might find it difficult to get through a book. This can be rather boring to a reader who doesn’t really have the vocabulary to grasp the detail in these pages properly, and this is why people tend to find reading difficult. But reading is essential if you’re searching for a way to increase your English vocabulary. So the best thing that you can do if you find this to be the case with a book you’re reading is to simply do the sensible and obvious thing and skip the first twenty pages or so. You’ll find yourself in the thick of the action, with the plot in full swing, and irrelevant details thinned out.

[Picolo]

TakGol:

dovetail:

I don't think it is a good idea to check every word you don't know when you read a book. It's a killjoy to reading.

I think better to learn to guess the meaning of the word you don't know based on context. Only check those that you find a strong urge to get the exact meaning or you can't guess from context.

My son's school is using a book \"Barrons 1100 words you need to know\" In fact, I have a copy I use for myself too as I find it a great book. Just have to spend 15mins a day on a couple of exercises. The learning is cumulative.

Thank u.is that book expensive??

Hi TakGol

It's a good book! I remember seeing the pdf version somewhere. I have the book, purchased at Popular at 20% discount. BookDepositary sells it at a cheaper price. If you like to have the pdf version, PM me your email address.