Introduction
We get many comments and emails from our friends online who use this course to learn English. In the video this week, we answer some of your comments.
Asif writes that he spends lots of time on different websites to practice English. But he doesn't know how to be a regular on VOA. He says "Please can you help me to be regular?"
The important thing in learning a language is to practice it regularly. Decide on a time every day when you can listen to English and practice speaking. You can set an alarm on your phone to remind you.
Another learner, Muneer, writes: The most important things here for me are the pronunciation and speaking parts.
Muneer, you learned that you can play the Speaking Practice video and repeat each new word. Do you record yourself on your phone or computer? When you do, you can listen to see if what you say matches the native speaker's words. After you watch the Pronunciation Practice video do you use the new expressions in your conversations with friends? You should!
Ederson in Brazil writes, "The course is excellent! I have done all activities and can easily read texts in English. However, I still find it very difficult to talk in English."
Ederson, you should find a friend nearby who is also studying English. Get together for coffee on a regular basis to talk in English. Try watching an episode of Let's Learn English and then act out the conversation with your friend. The words to each video are on the web page, so you can read them aloud easily. Make your learning of English fun and you will be able to keep up a regular practice schedule.
One way to study every day is to get our podcasts and daily emails.
For the Learning English podcast, click the link on the web page to go to the Learning English Broadcast and click on "View in iTunes." Then, click on "Subscribe." Then when you connect your phone or iPod to the computer, choose to automatically update the podcast. Now you can listen when you are out of the house, walking, riding on a bus or train, or running. Listening while your body is active helps your brain work well.
We hope you return every week to Let's Learn English for a new lesson.
I'm Jill Robbins.
Here are links to the podcasts and mailing list pages:
- Daily Emails of New Learning English Stories: Check the box, put in your email and click on "Subscribe."
- Click the link to go to the Learning English Broadcast and click on "View in iTunes." Click on "Subscribe."
- For all of VOA's podcasts, open your iTunes app and go to the VOA page.
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Review Quiz
In this quiz, you can test your listening skills. Watch a short video and answer each question.
Quiz - Review of Lessons 20 - 24
Start the Quiz to find out
Lesson Review
Grammar focus: Expressing ability; Can & Can't; Contractions
Topics: Occupations and skills; Helping friends
Learning Strategy: Identify Problems
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Asking clarification questions; Pronouncing can & can’t
Lesson 21 Can you come to the party?
Grammar focus: Have to, Can, Can't, Contractions
Topics: Invitations, Apologizing, Hobbies & Personal Skills, Expressing Obligation
Learning Strategy: Cooperate
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using then to talk about a result; Using have to or reduced hafta to express obligation
Grammar focus: Talking about a sequence of events using going to to talk about future events
Topics: Vacations; Seasons
Learning Strategy: Planning
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Talking about plans; vacation activities; shadowing and summarizing
Grammar focus: Using want to express desires
Topics: Asking the time; Counting back change; Time and Punctuality
Learning Strategy: Respond
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Counting change, Reduced form of "out of;" Reduced form, "whaddaya;" Informal agreement using "yep."
Lesson 24 Yesterday Was Amazing!
Grammar focus: Regular past tense verbs
Topics: Festivals and cultural traditions
Learning Strategy: Substitute
Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Voiced and voiceless past tense pronunciations; Substituting one word for another
Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of these lessons.
