Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Học Tiếng Anh Qua Mạng

Việc học tiếng Anh qua mạng còn qua mới mẻ ở Việt Nam làm cho mọi người trở nên lo ngại về chất lượng giảng dạy. Học tiếng Anh qua mạng là học như thế nào?

Học tiếng Anh qua mạng là việc người học dùng tên truy cập và mật mã truy cập để đăng nhập vào tài khoản của một website dạy tiếng Anh mà học đã đăng ký. Học tiếng Anh qua mạng yêu cầu người học phải có máy tính nối mạng và bộ tai nghe có micro. Người học truy cập vào website, đăng nhập vào trang thành viên sau đó lắng nghe những bài học được ghi âm sẵn và phát lại sau những cái nhấp chuột của học viên. Tuy học viên có thể luyện tập được các kỹ năng tiếng Anh nhưng việc sử dụng tiếng Anh một cách tự nhiên trong giao tiếp hàng ngày còn đòi hỏi một kỹ năng khác mà hiện các website ở Việt Nam chưa đáp ứng được.

Hiện trên mạng có một website dạy tiếng Anh tại Việt Nam rất phổ biến của tập đoàn Global education nhưng không biết hiệu quả ra sao? Bạn có thể tìm hiểu thêm về trang web này qua trang tìm kiếm google. Một trang web khác rất mới cũng chuyên dạy tiếng Anh trên mạng có giáo viên hướng dẫn, đặc biêt là các lớp học hoàn toàn trực tiếp có giáo viên online 24/24 rất thuận tiện cho học viên. Website này sử dụng một phần mềm chuyên dụng cho viêc giảng dạy online gọi là Training Center có chế độ Share màn hình giữa Giáo viên và học viên rất sinh động. Website này thường xuyên khai giảng các lớp Anh Văn Giao tiếp Trực tuyến với giáo viên hướng dẫn.

Học tiếng Anh trên mạng hoàn toàn miễn phí với một website khác và ở đấy hướng dẫn toàn tiếng anh. Bạn có thể ôn tập lại kiến thức văn phạm của bạn. Làm các bài tập Văn phạm, từ vựng hoàn toàn online. Hãy tìm hiểu về website này nếu khả năng tiếng Anh của bạn khá khá tí nhé. Nhấp chuột vào đây để xem website

Hy vọng các thông tin trên đây sẽ bổ íchh cho bạn trong việc học tiếng Anh trên mạng và có sự lựa chọn thích hợp cho mình.

Chúc bạn thành công.

Tiếng Anh Tại Việt Nam

Tiếng Anh Giao tiếp hiện nay đã nên rất quan trọng cho những ai đang đi làm, hoặc có ý định làm việc cho công ty nước ngoài. Nó đã trở thành công cụ giao tiếp trong môi trường kinh doanh quốc tế, đăc biệt là từ khi Việt Nam gia nhập WTO.

Tuy nhiên, không phải ai cũng có thể sử dụng tiếng Anh lưu loát trong công việc hàng ngày. Có nhiều lý do làm cho người Việt Nam gặp khó khăn trong sử dụng tiếng Anh. Thứ nhất, môi trường làm viêc tại nước ta đa phần dùng tiếng Việt. Cho nên, việc giao tiếp bằng tiếng Anh không phải là chuyện dễ. Thứ hai, khi học tiếng Anh người Việt chúng ta rất e ngoại luyện tập nói, việc này đã ảnh hưởng rất lớn đến khả năng phản xạ trong giao tiếp bằng ngôn ngữ thứ hai này, tiếng Anh. Một nguyên nhân nữa cũng không thể không nói đến là cách đào ngoại ngữ tiếng Anh tại các trường phổ thông, đại học. Giáo viên chỉ chú trọng đến ngữ pháp, kỹ năng đọc viết của học sinh, sinh viên mà quên đi việc học Anh ngữ là phải sử sụng được nó trong giao tiếp. Chính vì lẽ đó, người Việt nam rất yếu trong giao tiếp tiếng Anh.

Hiện nay có rất nhiều Trường Anh Ngữ Quốc tế tại Việt Nam nói chung, thành phố HCM nói riêng. Dù vậy, việc tham gia các khoá học tại các trường này là một việc không phải ai cũng làm được. Thứ nhất học phí cao, chỉ có người giàu có khả năng đầu tư thì mới tham gia học dược. Thứ hai, hầu hết mọi người đều phải đi làm, bận việc chăm sóc gia đình, việc học tiếng Anh cũng không thực hiện được.

Vậy làm thế nào để Nâng cao kỹ năng giao tiếp tiếng Anh đây? Một câu hỏi đặc ra cho những người có nhu cầu sử dụng tiếng Anh trong công việc. Hãy tham gia lớp học giao tiếp trên mạng ! Tìm ra cho mình một hướng giải quyết tốt bằng cách chọc các lớp học trên mạng phù hợp cho bản thân, nâng cao trình độ Anh ngữ của mình mà không cân đến lớp học tại các trường Anh ngữ. Bạn chỉ học tiếng Anh tại nhà mình.

Chúc bạn thành công trong việc học tiếng Anh.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Hell's Kitchen

Hell's Kitchen is on the island of Manhattan. It is between Thirty-Fourth and Fifty-Ninth Streets west of Eighth Avenue all the way to the Hudson River. Dutch immigrants settled in the area in the late sixteen hundreds. Back then, it had green fields and small rivers. The Dutch called the area Vale of Flowers. How did the area get the name Hell's Kitchen? There are several possible answers. Some people say it was the traditional name of a building in the area. The building was in bad condition and the people who lived there were very poor. By the eighteen hundreds the area had become a dangerous place to live. Many poor Irish immigrants lived there. Fights and other crimes were common. People lived in dirty, crowded buildings that the owners did not take care of. The area had many factories, including slaughterhouses, where animals were killed and sold at food markets.? In the eighteen sixties there were riots in Hell's Kitchen to protest the government's order forcing people to serve in the military during the Civil War. White people attacked black people, whom they blamed for the war. Many people were killed during the riots. Some people think the area was named Hell's Kitchen around that time. It could have come from Americans who knew of a poor and dangerous neighborhood in London, England called Hell's Kitchen. There is also the story of a police officer named Fred who worked the area in the eighteen seventies. Fred and his partner were watching a fight among people in the neighborhood. The partner said, "The place is hell itself." Fred answered, "Hell's a mild climate. This is Hell's kitchen." In the nineteen thirties, the Great Depression made the poverty in Hell's Kitchen even worse. Many factories in the area dismissed employees. Port companies and slaughterhouses closed. Many people were forced to live on the streets because they could not pay for housing. Many others left the area. But new immigrant groups continued to arrive in New York, seeking a better life. Many Puerto Rican immigrants settled in Hell's Kitchen. The nineteen fifty-nine Broadway musical "West Side Story" was set in the area. It told about two young lovers torn by ethnic conflict between their Puerto Rican and white groups. The area has experienced a renewal over the years. It has many art galleries and restaurants. And it is close to Broadway Theaters. Hell's Kitchen has in fact been home to many young actors. There are also several broadcasting operations for television and radio in the area. There have been efforts to change the neighborhood's name to Clinton, after a former New York governor. But efforts to keep the name Hell's Kitchen are equal in strength.

American English Tips!

Introduction: Standard American English TipsSpeaking English is not only about using proper grammar. To use English effectively, you need to understand the culture in which it is spoken. Here are a number of important tips to remember when speaking English in the United States.

General Points to Remember
  1. Most Americans only speak English: While it is true that more and more Americans speak Spanish, most Americans only speak English. Don't expect them to understand your native language.
  2. Americans have difficulties understanding foreign accents: Many Americans are not used to foreign accents. This requires patience from both of you!


Conversation Tips

  1. Speak about location: Americans love to talk about location. When speaking to a stranger, ask them where they are from and then make a connection with that place. For example: "Oh, I have a friend who studied in Los Angeles. He says it's a beautiful place to live." Most Americans will then willingly talk about their experiences living or visiting that particular city or area.
  2. Talk about work: Americans commonly ask "What do you do?". It's not considered impolite (as in some countries) and is a popular topic of discussion between strangers.
  3. Talk about sports: Americans love sports! However, they love American sports. When speaking about football, most Americans understand "American Football", not soccer.
  4. Be careful when expressing ideas about race, religion or other sensitive topics: The United States is a multi-cultural society. Especially in the last few years, Americans are trying very hard to be sensitive to other cultures and ideas. Talking about sensitive topics like religion or beliefs, is often avoided in order to be sure not to offend someone of a different belief system. This is often referred to as being "politically correct".

Addressing People

  1. Use last names with people you do not know: Address people using their title (Mr, Ms, Dr) and their last names.
  2. Always use "Ms" when addressing women: It is important to use "Ms" when addressing a woman. Only use "Mrs" when the woman has asked you to do so!
  3. Many Americans prefer first names: Americans often prefer using first names, even when dealing with people in very different positions. Americans will generally say, "Call me Tom." and then expect you to remain on a first name basis.
  4. Americans prefer informal: In general, Americans prefer informal greetings and using first names or nicknames when speaking with colleagues and acquaintances.

Public Behavior

  1. Always shake hands: Americans shake hands when greeting each other. This is true for both men and women. Other forms of greeting such as kissing on the cheeks, etc., is generally not appreciated.
  2. Look your partner in the eye: Americans look each other in the eyes when they are speaking as a way of showing that they are sincere.
  3. Don't hold hands: Same sex friends do not usually hold hands or put their arms around each other in public in the United States.
  4. Smoking is Out!!: Smoking, even in public places, is strongly disapproved of by most Americans in the modern United States.

Speaking Strategies for English Learners

Speaking Strategies for English Learners

Many English students complain that they understand English, but don't feel confident enough to join a conversation. There are a number of reasons for this including:
  1. Students are trying to translate from their native language into English.
  2. Production "blocking" is occurring due to nervousness, lack of confidence, etc.
  3. The speaker is looking for a specific word, rather than using simple language to describe what is meant.
  4. There aren't enough conversation opportunities in or outside of class.
  5. Students aren't able to speak to peers (for example: mixed classes of adults and teenagers).
  6. Exam preparation focuses on grammar, vocabulary, etc. and leaves little time for active use.

Here are a number of resources, lesson plans, suggestion pages and more which will help you and your students improve English speaking skills in and outside of class.
Speaking Strategies
The first rule of improving speaking skills is to speak, converse, talk, gab, etc. as much as you can! However, these strategies can help you - or your students - make the most out of your efforts.
Understanding how Americans use English and what they expect to hear can help improve conversations between native and non-native speakers.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Bài Học Anh Ngữ: Grammar Review- Pronouns

Pronouns: There are five forms of pronouns in English: Subject pronouns, Object pronouns, Possessive Pronouns, Reflexive pronouns, and Relative pronouns. Possessive adjective will also be included in this lesson, though they are not pronouns.
Note:
It is important to know the five forms of pronouns and the possessive adjective that are often confused with them. Errors may include the use of one type or form of pronouns in place of another.
SUBJECT PRONOUNS:
I / YOU / WE / THEY / SHE / HE / IT
The Usage:
1.When it is the subject of a verb: They live south of the equator.
2. when the subject of two clauses are compared: They are more protected against the cold than we(are)
3. After the verb to be: It is he with the egg.
4. After as and than : She is not as tired as he (is)
OBJECT PRONOUNS:
me / you / us / them / her / him / it
The Usage:
1. when it is the direct object: She gives him the egg.
2. Afetr prepositions: when she returns, she takes over the egg from him.
Note:
But when the preposition introduces a new clause, the subject pronoun must be used because
the pronouns is now the subject of the new clause: He leaves after she returns.
3. when the object of two clauses are compared: It is easier for them than us.
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE:
my / your / our / their / her / his / its
The Usage:
1. To modify a noun and show ownership: They lay their egg about fifty miles from the coast.
2. To refer to parts of the body: The male penguin rolls the egg on on the top of his feet.
3. To modify a gerund: We are surprised by their nesting in such harsh conditions.
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS:
myself / yourself / yourselves / ourselves / themselves / herself / himself / itself
The Usage:
1. To emphasize the subject noun or pronoun it refers to and to emphasize the fact that the subject did the action alone: He takes care of the egg himself. Or He himself takes care of the egg.
2. As the subject of verb when the subject and object are the same: They stand together to protect themselves from the cold.
3. As the subject of the preposition by when the subject did the action alone: The penguine chick is unable to get food by itself.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS:
who / whom / whose / which / that
The Usage:
who: refers to people and househhold animals.
whom: refers to people and household animals. It is used in the object position in formal
written English or with who plus a preposition in spoken English.
Whose: refers to people, animals, and things. It shows possession.
Which: refers to things, collective nouns, and animals.
That: refers to people, animals, and things.
Above are the Grammar review for Pronouns in English.

Bài Học Anh Ngữ: Elementary Level

Read the following passage and Answer the questions:
DAILY ROUTINE
Sam Taylor lives in London. He is married and has two small children. He teaches in a secondary school. He gets up early and has breakfast at 7 o'clock. He starts work at 8 o'clock and leaves work at 4 o'clock. He likes his job because he likes teaching children. But he doesn't teach every day. On Tuesday and Thursday he stays at home with his children.
Andrea Taylor is Sam's sister. She doesn't have children. She's only 23. And she doesn't live in Britain. She lives in Italy. She works in a travel agency in Rome. She doesn't get up early. She starts work at 10 o'clock. She doesn't have breakfast. She has a sandwich for lunch at 12 o'clock. She likes her job because it is very interesting. At weekends she visits her boyfriend, Roberto. He lives in Florence.

Practice:

A. Complete these sentences about Same and Andrea:
1. Sam.........in London.
2. He............in a secondary school.
3. He ........... two small children.
4. He............. up early.
5. He ............breakfast at 7 o'clock.
6. He ............work at 4 o'clock.
7. Andrea ........... ............ in Britain.
8. She ................. ........... children.
9. She ................ ............ up early.
10. She ................ ........... breakfast.
11. She ................ ............ work at 4 o'clock.

B. Make Questions about Sam and Adrea(both Yes-No and WH - question)

C. Talk about your Daily Routine.

Note: Simple Present tense:
- affirmative form
- negative form
- Question form(yes-no & WH-question)

Monday, July 30, 2007

English Expressions using the Word "Mouth"

Mouth Expression The Experience Left a Bad Taste in My Mouth

People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the English language, there are many expressions using the word mouth. But some of them are not so nice.

For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest and say “Do not bad mouth me.”

Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member that they later regret because hurts that person’s feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to tell.

The speaker might say: “I really put my foot in my mouth this time.” If this should happen, the speaker might feel down in the mouth. In other words, he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing.

Another situation is when someone falsely claims another person said something. The other person might protest: “I did not say that. Do not put words in my mouth.”

Information is often spread through word of mouth. This is general communication between people, like friends talking to each other. “How did you hear about that new movie?” someone might ask. “Oh, by word of mouth.” A more official way of getting information is through a company or government mouthpiece. This is an official spokesperson. Government-run media could also be called a mouthpiece.

Sometimes when one person is speaking, he says the same thing that his friend was going to say. When this happens, the friend might say: “You took the words right out of my mouth!” Sometimes a person has a bad or unpleasant experience with another person. He might say that experience “left a bad taste in my mouth.” Or the person might have had a very frightening experience, like being chased by an angry dog. He might say: “I had my heart in my mouth.”

Some people have lots of money because they were born into a very rich family. There is an expression for this, too. You might say such a person, “was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”

This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives from hand to mouth. This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food.

Parents might sometimes withhold sweet food from a child as a form of punishment for saying bad things. For example, if a child says things she should not say to her parents, she might be described as a mouthy child. The parents might even tell the child to stop mouthing off.

But enough of all this talk. I have been running my mouth long enough.

From VOA, special English.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Verb Tensenses - The Simple Present Tense With "BE"

The verb 'BE' = am / is / are.

It is conjugated as follow:

A. Affirmative Form( Dang khang dinh):
  1. I am ---- In short form( dang viet tat) : I ' m
  2. You are ----//---- You ' re
    We are ----//---- We ' re
    They are ----//---- They ' re
  3. She is ----//---- She ' s
    He is ----//----- He ' s
    It is ----//---- It ' s

Example:

  • I am his math teacher.
  • You are a doctor.
  • We are students in English class.
  • They are farmers from Vietnam.
  • She is a wise girl.
  • He is a naughty boy in my class.

B. Negative Form(Dang phu dinh):

Add "NOT" after AM / IS / ARE to make the Negative sentence.
Them NOT sau AM / IS / ARE de thanh lap cau phu dinh.

Short Forms:

I AM NOT <--------> I'M NOT
*Chu y: Ban KHONG viet ngan I'M NOT thanh I AMN'T

IS NOT <--------> ISN'T

ARE NOT <-------> AREN'T

For Example:

He is a naughty boy in my class(khang dinh) ------> He is NOT a naughty boy in my class(phu dinh)

C. Question Form( Dang cau hoi):

  1. Yes-No Question:( Dang cau hoi bat buoc ban phai tra loi "Yes" hoac " No"

    The Verb "BE" is at the beginning of the sentence:

    Are you Mr. Brown? Ong co phai la ong Brown?
    Yes, I am<---------> No, I'm not.
    Is she your English teacher? Co ay la giao vien tieng Anh cua ban a?
  2. WH-question:( Dang cau hoi bat dau bang tu de hoi)
    Tieng Anh co mot so tu dung de hoi khi ban khai thac thong tin ve van de, su viec gi do.
    Tu de hoi trong tieng Anh: Where (o dau), When (khi nao).....

    Where is Tom? Tom dang o dau.
    He's in the bathroom. Anh ay dang trong nha tam.

    When is your birthday? Sinh cua ban vao ngay nao?
    My birthday is on May 15. Sinh nhat cua toi vao ngay 15 thang 05.

* Chu y: Trong tieng Anh, tu de hoi nhu "Where", "When"... dung dau cau cau hoi

Chuc ban co mot ngay that vui ve. Neu ban co thac mac, dong gop y kien....Hay click vao "comment' o cuoi moi bai doc, dat cau hoi, hoac dong gop y kien. Chung toi se sang san giai dap thac mac cua cac ban, cung nhu rat tran trong nhung Y kien quy bau cua cac ban.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

PRONUNCIATION OF FINAL -S:/z/ AND /s/

Cach Phat Am cua duoi -s : /z/ va /s/

I. Am huu thanh (Voiced):

/b/ as in 'rub' am /b/ nhu trong chu 'rub'
/d/ as in 'ride' am /d/ nhu trong chu 'ride'
/v/ as in 'drive' am /v/ nhu trong chu 'drive'

Some sounds are "voiced". You use your voice box to make voiced sounds. For example, the sound /b/ comes from your voice box. The final sounds in (I) are voiced.

Mot so am la "huu thanh". Ban dung thang quan cua ban de tao am huu thanh. Vi du am /b/ phat tu thanh quan cua ban. Am cuoi trong (I) la am huu thanh.

II. Am vo thanh (Voiceless)

/p/ as in 'sleep' am /p/ nhu trong chu 'sleep'
/t/ as in 'write' am /t/ nhu trong chu 'write'
/f/ as in 'laugh' am /f/ nhu trong chu 'laugh'


Some sounds are "voiceless". You don't use your voice box. You push air through your teeth and lips. For example, the sound /p/ comes from air through your lips. The final sounds in (II) are voiceless.

Mot so am la "vo thanh". Ban khong dung thanh quan cua ban. Ban day hoi qua rang va moi cua ban. Vi du, am /p/ phat tu hoi qua moi cua ban. Am cuoi trong (II) la vo thanh.

III. Cach Phat am cua duoi - s:

  1. rubs = rub/z/
    rides = ride/z/
    drives = drive/z/
  2. sleeps = sleep/s/
    writes = write/s/
    laughs = laugh/s/
Final - s is pronounced /z/ after voiced sounds, as in (1.)
Duoi -s duoc phat am /z/ sau cac am huu thanh, nhu trong (1.)

Final -s is pronounced /s/ after voiceless sounds, as in (2.)
Duoi -s duoc phat am /s/ sau cac am vo thanh, nhu trong (2.)

All comment are welcomed. Please leave your comment at the end of this post.

Tat ca moi dong gop y kien, thac mac cua cac ban deu duoc giai dap. Cac hay dat cau hoi hoac dong gop y kien trong phan comment o cuoi bai viet nay.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Verb Tensenses - The Simple Present Tense.

In order to speak or write English, we need to know the rules of making sentences. You are new to English, or you have been learning it for long time, The grammar is aways along with you.

In this Post I would like to share with you the Simple Present tense.

The Simple Present Tense, in general, expresses events or situations that exist always, usually, habitually; they exist now, have existed in the past, and probably will exist in the future.

Example:

It snows in Alaska.
I watch television every day
The Usage:
  1. The simple present says that something was true in the past, is true in the present, and will be true in the future.It is used for general statement of fact

    Example:

    Water consists fo hydrogen and oxygen.
    Most animals kill only for food.
    The world is round
  2. The simple present is used to express habitual or everyday activity.

    Example:

    I study for two hours every night.
    My classes begin at nine
    He always eats a sandwich for lunch.
  3. Certain verbs are not used in the progressive(continuous) tense. With these verbs, the simple present may indicate a situation that exists right now, at the moment of speaking.

    Example:

    I have only a dollar right now.
    I don't regconize that man.
    He needs a pen right now.

Nonprogressive Verbs:

Some verbs are nonprogressive verbs: they are not used in any of the progressive tenses. These verbs describe states (i.e., conditions that exists); they don't describe activities that are in progress. ex. Ali knows this grammar.

Common Nonprogressive Verbs:

  1. MENTEL STATE:
    know - realise - understand - recognize - believe - feel - suppose - think* - imagine - doubt - remember - forget - want - need - prefer - mean
  2. EMOTIONAL STATE:
    love - like - appreciate - hate - dislike - fear - envy - mind - care
  3. POSSESSION
    possess - have* - own - belong
  4. SENSE PERCEPTIONS:
    taste* - smell* - hear - feel* - see*
  5. OTHER EXISTING STATE:
    seem - look* - appear* - cost - owe - weigh* - be* - exist - consist of - contain - include

* Verbs with asterisk are also commonly used as progressive verbs, with a difference in meaning, as in the following examples:

Nonprogressive (existing state) Progressive (Activity in progress)

think I think he is a kind man. I am thinking about this grammar.

have He has a car. I am having trouble. She is having a good time

taste This food tastes good. The chef is tasting the sauce.

smell These flowers smell good. Don is smelling the roses.

see I seea butterfly. Do you see it? The doctor is seeing a patient.

feel The cat's fur feels soft Sue is feeling the cat's fur.

look She looks cold. I'll lend her my coat. I am looking out the window.

appear He appears to be asleep. The actor is appearing on the stage.

weigh A piano is heavy. It weighs a lot The grocer is weighing the bananas.

be I am hungry Tom is being foolish**

** Compare

  1. Bob is foolish = foolishness is one of Bob's usual characteristics.
  2. Tom is being foolish = Right now, at the moment of speaking, Tom is doing something that the speaker considers foolish.

    The verb be(+ an adjective) is used in the progressive to describe a temporary characteristic. Very few adjectives are used with be in the progressive; some of the most common are : fooling, nice, kind, lazy, careful, patient, silly, rude, polite, impolite.

Subject and Verb Agreements.

In Simple Present tense, The subject and verb agreement will be as following:

Structure: Subject+ verb(-S/ES)

For the pronouns: I- You- We- They + Verb(ex: like)

Example: I/you/we/they like this this book.

For the pronouns: She- He - It

Example: She/He/It likes this book.

Verb+ ES: Cac dong tu tan cung bang: -sh, -ch,- ss, -x, - o as in verb Push, Watch, Miss, Fix, Go khi theo sau Subject She/He/It se them +ES

Have/Has : I/you/we/they have
She/He/It has

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