THE 4 LANGUAGE SKILLS

I. ENGLISH LISTENING SKILLS

What is Listening?

Listening is receiving language through the ears. Listening involves identifying the sounds of
speech and processing them into words and sentences. When we listen, we use our ears to
receive individual sounds (letters, stress, rhythm and pauses) and we use our brain to convert
these into messages that mean something to us.

Listening in any language requires focus and attention. It is a skill that some people need to
work at harder than others. People who have difficulty concentrating are typically poor
listeners. Listening in a second language requires even greater focus.

Like babies, we learn this skill by listening to people who already know how to speak the
language. This may or may not include native speakers. For practice, you can listen to live or
recorded voices. The most important thing is to listen to a variety of voices as often as you
can.

To become a fluent speaker in English, you need to develop strong listening skills. Listening
not only helps you understand what people are saying to you. It also helps you to speak
clearly to other people. It helps you learn how to pronounce words properly, how to use

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intonation, and where to place stress in words and sentences. This makes your speech easier
for other people listening to you to understand!

Here are 7 Ways to Hear English Everywhere

Two simple definitions
 to hear: to receive sound with the ears
 to listen: to try to hear
You are very good at languages. That's obvious, because you already speak one language
very well - your own! And if you can learn and speak one language well, then you can
certainly learn and speak one or more other languages.
But did you ever ask yourself: "How did I learn my own language?" In fact, you never really
"learned" it at all - you just started speaking it. One day, when you were about two or three
years old, you started speaking your language. A few words at first, not full sentences. But
you spoke. And very soon you made progress without even thinking about it. It was like
magic!
But it wasn't magic. It was the result of hearing. For two to three years before you spoke, you
heard people speaking your language all day, and maybe all night. You heard people
speaking your language. Maybe you listened to people, but more importantly
you heard them. Then, as if by magic, you started to speak. All that hearing was necessary
for you to start speaking. For two to three years words went IN to your head. Then words
came OUT of your head! That is why hearing (and listening to) English as much as possible
is so important to you now. The more English you put in, the more you'll get out!
So how can you hear a lot of English when you're not in an English-speaking country or
family? Fortunately, there are many ways of hearing English in almost all countries of the
world.
1. Listen to English Radio
You can receive English-language radio in most countries. Two international networks are
the BBC World Service (from the UK) and Voice of America from (USA). Both of them
have special programmes for learners of English. You can find information about times and
frequencies for your country on their websites.
2. Watch English Television
TV is an excellent resource for hearing and listening to English. The pictures help you
understand what is being said. If you don't have access to English-language TV, you may be
able to watch TV on Internet.
3. Watch/Listen to English by Internet
It is now a lot easier to hear English by Internet. If you're reading this at your computer or
mobile device, you can probably listen to some English-language radio news right now,
without even moving! And of course you can find endless videos in English on YouTube and
similar websites (although the English is not always easy to follow). Check out our page
on links to radio by Internet.
4. Listen to Songs in English
Songs in English are everywhere, even on foreign-language radio and TV stations. Listen to
them often. Buy some MP3s or CDs, or make recordings, and try to write the words for an
entire song. But choose one that is not too difficult. That means it should be reasonably slow,
and with real words sung clearly. Some pop songs are very unclear and are difficult even for
native English-speakers to understand fully! Here are some easy songs for English learners.

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 5. Go to Cinemas with English-language Movies
Outside the English-speaking world, many large cities have cinemas that show films in
English, usually with sub-titles. Make it a habit to go to these films. If you need to read the
sub-titles, at least you'll be hearing English even if you don't understand it.
6. Use Video for English Listening Practice
You can use video to watch films from Internet or that you buy or borrow. If there are
subtitles, you can cover them with paper (which you can remove if you really don't
understand after listening several times). And sometimes you can use video to record
programmes from television and then watch them several times to improve your
understanding. EnglishClub has video just for learning English.
7. Get English-speaking Friends
Try to make friends with English-speaking people so that you can practise your English
through conversation. Of course, this will improve your speaking as well as your listening.
And if you don't have a lot of time to go out and meet people, at least you can chat a little by
telephone.
Finally, don't worry if you don't understand everything you hear. Hearing comes first!
Understanding comes next!

Strategies
Here are some tips that students should follow:

 Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything.
 Keep cool (idiom=stay relaxed) when you do not understand - even if you continue to not
understand for a long time.
 DO NOT translate into your native language (synonym=mother tongue)
 Listen for the gist (noun=general idea) of the conversation. Don't concentrate on detail until
you have understood the main ideas.

II. SPEAKING SKILLS

What is Speaking?
Speaking is the delivery of language through the mouth. To speak, we create sounds using
many parts of our body, including the lungs, vocal tract, vocal chords, tongue, teeth and lips.
This vocalized form of language usually requires at least one listener. When two or more
people speak or talk to each other, the conversation is called a "dialogue". Speech can flow
naturally from one person to another in the form of dialogue. It can also be planned and
rehearsed, as in the delivery of a speech or presentation. Of course, some people talk to
themselves! In fact, some English learners practise speaking standing alone in front of a
mirror.
Speaking can be formal or informal:
 Informal speaking is typically used with family and friends, or people you know well.
 Formal speaking occurs in business or academic situations, or when meeting people
for the first time.
Speaking is probably the language skill that most language learners wish to perfect as soon as
possible. It used to be the only language skill that was difficult to practise online. This is no
longer the case. English learners can practise speaking online using voice or video chat and
services like Skype. They can also record and upload their voice for other people to listen to.

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1. Record yourself. When you're by your lonesome, you have no reason to be nervous. You
can let your brain flow freely -- so record yourself now! Your English is going to be at its
best. Find a book on tape or a clip online that you can mimic. Does your English sound the
same?
Or record yourself reading from a book. You'll be able to actually hear yourself (which we
surprisingly have trouble with in real time) and be able to pinpoint the quirks in your English
and where you slow down and have trouble. Then rerecord it and see how you've improved!
2. Read aloud. If your hands are full or you don't have a recording device, simply read aloud
-- ideally, every day for at least 15 or 20 minutes. You'll get used to speaking for longer
periods of time and forming long sentences won't phase you. And you'll run into words you
can add to your vocabulary.
It's best to choose books with lots of dialogue. The language is generally more real and a bit
simpler; after all, dialogue is conversation. Being able to read poetry is great but
conversations are a much more practical skill, you know?
3. Listen to mp3s, podcasts, and the news. We live in such a digital age; even if
youthink you don't have native speakers at your disposal, you actually do. Scientific
American, CBC, BBC and Australia's ABC Radio are great mp3s to get started with, but
there's also a million podcasts out there and handfuls of news stations, too. And the best part
is that these people generally speak clearly and have pretty generic accents.
Another bonus? You'll have interesting things to talk about in English! You'll be up on all the
news - even if you're just repeating what you've heard (not like anyone will know!). You're
improving your English by expanding your knowledge. Two birds with one stone, really
4. Listen to music, too. Alright, so it's not as good as listening to spoken news/podcasts/etc.,
but it is good. If you can concentrate on one song a day or so, even better. Just make sure you
actively try to understand it. Google the lyrics and sing along!
It's best to stick to ballads -- songs that go a bit more slowly. Pick one a day until you have it
mostly memorized and understand what the words actually mean. It's a great way to learn
idioms and slang, too.
5. Watch TV and movies. An integral part of speaking is hearing or listening. Because of
this, the easiest way to involve yourself in a conversation without actually having one is to
watch English TV and movies. If you absolutely have to, turn the subtitles on -- but try to
resist!
Movies are great because you watch them over and over; the more you watch them, the more
things you'll pick up. TV is good though, too, because you develop relationships with the
characters and you grow accustomed to how they talk and the quirks of their speech.
6. Narrate your world. As you go about your day-to-day, talk to yourself. What are you
doing? What are you feeling? What do you see, taste, smell, hear? What are you touching?
What are you thinking? Right now you're reading wikiHow. You're sitting in a chair
(probably). Maybe you're listening to music or have the TV on in the background. The
possibilities are limitless.
Think the future and the past, too. What are you going to do next? What did you just do? You
gotta get to thinking in English consistently to truly get better. The more you think in English,
the faster it'll come out.

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III. REAIDING SKILLS
What is Reading?

"Reading" is the process of looking at a series of written symbols and getting meaning from
them. When we read, we use our eyes to receive written symbols (letters, punctuation marks
and spaces) and we use our brain to convert them into words, sentences and paragraphs that
communicate something to us.
Reading can be silent (in our head) or aloud (so that other people can hear).
Reading is a receptive skill - through it we receiveinformation. But the complex process of
reading also requires the skill of speaking, so that we can pronounce the words that we read.
In this sense, reading is also a productive skill in that we are both receiving information and
transmitting it (even if only to ourselves).
Do we need to read in order to speak English? The short answer is no. Some native speakers
cannot read or write but they speak English fluently. On the other hand, reading is something
that you can do on your own and that greatly broadens your vocabulary, thus helping you in
speaking (and in listening and writing). Reading is therefore a highly valuable skill and
activity, and it is recommended that English learners try to read as much as possible in
English.
Guide to Reading for English Learners
 Why Read?
 What To Read
 Tips
 Strategies
 Levels
 Tests
 Categories
 Glossary
Why Read?
You probably know that even in your own language reading is regarded as important because
it can be entertaining and educational, can open up new worlds and enrich your life, and can
improve hand-eye co-ordination and enhance social skills.

But for learning a foreign language, in this case English, reading in that language has
additional important benefits that can help you learn the language faster and more
completely.

Reading is an essential skill for language learners. When your reading skills improve, your
listening, speaking and writing skills improve too. Here are some of the specific reasons why
English learners are encouraged to read in English:

 The constant repetition of words and patterns in reading helps you learn and
remember vocabulary and grammar structures.
 Reading helps you become familiar with the rhythm of English. Over time it will start
to feel natural and you will notice when a sentence or phrase doesn't seem right.
 Unlike conversation, reading is something you can do on your own.
 Reading is not expensive, often free.

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  Good reading skills can improve your other language skills. You need to learn to read
before you can write.
 Reading is the best way to learn and remember the proper spelling of words.
 Listening as you read aloud can help you improve your pronunciation skills.
If you want to improve your English, learn to love reading in English. The best readers often
get the best grades, jobs and opportunities.

What to Read
Are you overwhelmed by the reading materials that are available? Without spending a penny,
you can read printed texts (books, magazines, newspapers at the library), online materials
(websites and blogs), and ebooks (on your mobile devices).

Think about what you like to read in your native language. Can you find these written
materials in English?

There are two important things in deciding what to read:

1. It should interest you, so that the reading is fun and not boring.
2. It should be at a level that is not too difficult for you.
Here are some types of reading material to try:
 books (including children's books and graded readers)
 newspapers
 online news articles (try EC's easy news)
 online blogs about topics that interest you (search for "top 10 blog" lists by topic)
 letters (personal and commercial)
 transcripts (of some online videos) and sub-titles on films
 short stories (try these on EC)
 poetry
 proverbs
 cartoons and jokes
 recipes for cooking
 advertisements and brochures
10 Reading Tips
1. Read at a level slightly lower than what you understand. You should not have to look
up a lot of words. It's okay to look up a few words.
2. Make reading a ritual. Choose a time and place to read every day or week. Commit to
this reading time as if it were a job.
3. Read what interests you.
4. Understand what you'll be tested on. If you're working on your reading skills for a
particular test, make sure to learn about the test. There may be specific formats such
as advertisements that you'll have to read in the test.
5. Find free reading materials. Project Gutenberg is an excellent source, but be careful
with public domain books that are written in outdated English. Some words and
expressions are no longer in use.
6. Visualize what you are reading. Some people try to imagine they are reading a movie
or a how-to video.
7. Listen and read. Find podcasts or videos that have transcripts and read along silently.
You can also read out loud with the recording.

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 8. Relate what you read to your own life. How does the reading apply to you?
9. Think about the author or journalist. How would the reading differ if you were the
author?
10. Check your eyesight. If you haven't had your eyesight checked in the last few years,
make an appointment
Reading Strategies
Here are some strategies for improving your comprehension skills.

 Skim: read for the brief idea or overview.

 Scan: read for specific details or a specific reason.
 KWL: determine what you Know about the topic, what you Want to know, and what
you Learned.
 Skip: if you don't understand a word or section, keep reading ahead. Come back to the
section or word again and try to figure out the meaning. Use a dictionary if necessary.
 Look for headings, subtitles and keywords.
 Read out loud: children read out loud when they first start reading. You can too. Get
comfortable hearing your English voice.
 Create timelines or charts: reorganize what you read in a different format.
 Rewrite in a different tense.
 Rewrite in a different format: for example, rewrite an article in letter or list form.
 Illustrate: if you think you're a visual learner, sketch images or an infographic related
to what you read.
 Write the questions: as you read, think about which questions you might find on a
test or quiz. Write them down and answer them, or quiz a friend.
 Summarize or retell: you can do this by writing a letter to a friend, writing a blog
post, making a web cam video, or just starting a conversation on this topic.
 Learn affixes: knowing prefixes and suffixes will increase your word recognition.
 Keep a vocabulary journal.
 Get a vocabulary partner.
 Use a pen or ruler: some people find it is easier to read with a pacer. A pen, ruler or
fingertip can help you keep your place and prevent your eyes from wandering off.
This may not be suitable if you are reading on a computer or mobile device. Adjust
the screen to a larger size if necessary.
 Reading Levels
 It is important to read texts that are at the right level for you - not too easy, not too
difficult.
 You need to know what your personal reading level is. (Note that your reading level
may not be the same as your overall level in English. For example, your reading level
is normally higher than your writing level, and higher than your overall level.)
 Ask your teacher to help you determine your reading level. If you don’t have a
teacher, try reading a few texts from different levels. If you have to look up a lot of
words in a dictionary, the text is too difficult for you. If you don't have to look up any
words, the text is too easy for you. Try something at a lower or higher level. A
teacher, librarian or bookstore clerk can help you find something easier or more
difficult.
 You can also try our reading test to help determine your reading level.

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  Designate a place and time for reading every day. Your reading level will increase
with time.
What Are Graded Readers?
Graded readers (also sometimes called "readers") are books that have been written for
English learners at a specific level. Different publishers may use different ways of describing
level, but essentially they range from Beginner to Advanced. The language in graded readers
is graded by vocabulary and grammatical structure. Beginner graded readers typically use
only easy grammatical forms (eg basic tenses) and a limited number of words (eg 300
headwords). Advanced graded readers may use the full range of grammatical structures and
many more words (eg 3,000 headwords). Most publishers of English language learning
materials publish a range of graded readers on a variety of subjects covering fiction and non-
fiction.

Reading Tests
If you are taking a standardized English test or attending English language classes, you will
probably be tested on your reading skills. Here are some things that you may be asked to do
in a reading test or assignment:
 Find the gist or main idea. Write (or say) one sentence that explains what the reading
is about.
 Summarize. Describe a few of the main points that are presented.
 Locate details. Find specific information that is provided in a piece of text.
 Understand inferences. Make assumptions based on information you are given in a
text. You may be asked to make inferences about the author.
 Make predictions. Guess what a reading will be about. Guess what will happen next.
 Identify genre and style. Name the type or category of writing that you read.
 Sort information. Organize details in a systematic or chart form, such as creating a
chronological timeline or labeling a map.
 Match information. For example, match dialogue to a character.
 Paraphrase. Rewrite the text in your own words.
 Identify parts of speech.
 Compare and Contrast.
 Identify key words.
 Match paragraphs to headings.
 Write an opinion.
 Draw conclusions.
 Write comprehension questions.
 Decide whether something is True, False or Not Mentioned in a text.
Did you know you can increase your score by understanding the format of the reading and
questions on a standardized test? Stress stems from not knowing what to expect. Learn as
much as you can about the types of questions and the rules for the test before you take it. This
will help you to feel more relaxed on test day. Also, be sure to note how long you will have to
read and answer the questions. Do some timed reading practice before test day.

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Reading Categories

Read what interests you. Here are some categories that can help you find what you are
looking for in a library, bookstore or online search. Other categories such as poetry and
drama may also interest you.
Fiction
Writing that describes imaginary events and people (such as short stories and novels):

 classics
 crime and mystery
 fantasy
 horror
 literary fiction
 popular fiction
 romance
 science fiction
 short stories
 women's fiction
 young adult fiction
Non-fiction
Writing about facts, real events and real people (such as history or biography):

 arts and crafts

 autobiography
 biography
 cooking
 gardening
 history
 how to
 memoir
 science
 self-help
 technology
 trave

FURTHER READING

Reading Academicall
1.0 Introduction to the QUASAR Method
Reading for academic and research purposes is very different from leisure reading. It is
important that you develop and improve your skills for reading academically so that you are
more efficient and can pick out relevant information more effectively. All your tutors will
emphasise the need to READ CRITICALLY. In other words they want you to consider what
you are reading and weigh up what is being said with what other people have written.
The key to success is being an ACTIVE reader rather than someone who passively lets the
information flow over them!

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