All through my teaching career, there is only one subject in English I noticed that most ESL/EFL learners tried to avoid - Grammar. They say things like: "Grammar is difficult."; "Grammar is a boring topic."; Grammar is not that necessary to study."; "Grammar rules are so confusing."; et cetera. But the truth is that the study of Grammar Usage is very much important for a person attempting to learn or hone his skills in English communication.

Many believe that the rules on grammar are needed only for formal writing purposes and so tend to disregard these rules when communicating through speaking. We must remember that what make up a language are words, and words are what we use in speech. Therefore, words are parts of speech. Now, did it ring a bell? What first thing comes into your mind when you hear the words "Parts of Speech"? Grammar, isn't it? Obviously, to learn how to have a good command of English, one has got to know the different parts of speech since they are the fundamental units of English and directly connected to Grammar. By becoming familiar with the different parts of speech, it is easier to determine what word must be used and what must not be used.

Now that we already know the importance of studying Grammar, our next concern is how to wipe out the idea that Grammar is difficult to study. One reason why they are saying that English Grammar is difficult is because of the many rules that they need to memorize aside from the fact that there are also many exceptions to these rules. Granted that it is difficult; now, how can you make it easier. Here are some of my suggestions:

1. Provide yourself a notebook; one that would look unique, attractive and easy to carry for your own pleasure and convenience. Make it special, so special that you would always want to carry anywhere you go. This notebook will serve as your guide and reference all through out your English course. In this notebook, you will list the Grammar rules that you have read, searched and learned. But write only the rules and write in a list.

Divide the pages of the notebook in to different sections. Label each sections according to the category of the items. For example, label one section with "List of Don'ts". This List of Don'ts comprises only different rules you must always remember about what you should not do. This is how it should appear:

1.) Do not drop the -ly from an adverb when using the comparison form. (Then write one concrete example where the rule applies.).

Example: He runs more quicker than his brother. (wrong)

He runs more quickly than his brother. (correct)

2.) Do not use of in place of have.

Example: I should of done it. (wrong)

I should have done it. (correct)

Remember to write in a list and not in a paragraph form. Do not add so many details as that would surely defer your reading. Itemized concisely in your notebook the rules that must be remembered. Organizing your notebook in this manner will make it easier for you to locate one rule over the other, especially when you are in a hurry. Just make sure that you classify and label each section accordingly and appropriately. Do not mix them up. The Don't Rules must go with the don'ts and the Do's Rules must go with the do's. Or you may list rules for verbs only in one section and for subject and verb agreement in another section. Whichever is more convenient for you.

I also suggest you make a list of confusing words and their differences, and a list of common mistakes in grammar usage separately. Make your notebook a compilation of the rules on grammar you are trying to remember. Let us perhaps name your notebook "My Grammar Organizer".

2. Learn to distinguish the functions of each and every words used in a sentence. Practice identifying the noun, pronoun, verb, et cetera. Always start by picking out the verb first and then the subject. Using this technique will help you easily recognize the functions of the rest of the words in the sentence. Knowing the functions of every word and seeing where they often times are placed in a sentence would develop in you fluency without you actually realizing that, not only in speaking, much as well in writing. As you become more curious with sentence construction, the faster you will learn. I am not saying that you go deeper in studying the parts of speech; having the ability to name the kinds of words is enough.

3. Read the rules you wrote in your organizer repeatedly until it sink into your brain. The more frequently you read the rules, the easier you will remember them. Eventually, you will be surprised to hear yourself applying those rules correctly and automatically without really thinking about them.

4. And most importantly, make reading a habit. Just like in reading the rules on grammar repeatedly and frequently, reading a lot of good English text will expedite your learning progress.

There is no difficult task to a person striving and enjoying at the same time. Enjoy learning English. Remember that possessing a good command of English is one of the keys to your success!

To help you practice and improve your English fluency, I recommend you attend to our free English conversation sessions. To know about the schedule, visit http://eslglobe.webs.com/ Let us help you achieve your goal of becoming fluent in English in a fun and easy way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5274705

Fast and Effective English Learning Strategy By Cordelyn Hernandez a.k.a Teacher Cords

Not to have English as a second language should not be a hindrance to expedite one's learning progress. It is up to a person's attitude and knowledge on what to do.

One day, while I was waiting for my next English class to start, I heard the students in the group class before my, asking the teacher about how will they learn English fast and easily if they do not actually use it in their country as a second language. After hearing that, I thought of butting in, but realizing I am not in the position to answer their question since they have a teacher at that time to respond to that, I stopped myself. And then I wondered, "Do they have a point there?" "Ah no," I told myself. For me, it is just an excuse. I personally, do not speak English just because it is our secondary language. Absolutely not! We had not even been talking in English at home. And I did not, as well, learn English very well in school. But mind you, it was not because my teachers were not good, but it was due to the fact that I did not give much attention to the subject at that time, which of course was not a really good attitude. I have learned English by heart.

Then suddenly, I remembered my previous students who have learned to speak fluently in English in just a short period of time, and English is not their second language. I examined closely their characteristics, one by one. I thought of their similarities and differences. They are from different countries, for sure. Certainly, their cultures and school curriculum are not the same, too. Ah, they all in fact have on thing in common --their attitude when it comes to English; they are "unstoppable." They are aggressive, eager learners who do not rely on their teachers alone when it comes to studying English. They listen intensively and repetitiously consistently to voices in English, whether in person, on T.V.s or through online classes. They practice every now and then with trust and confidence that they will eventually become effective English speakers. And I salute them because they knew what they wanted and they acted and are still acting upon it.

Learning English is just like any other tasks; you have to study by heart and habitually practice with positive attitude. Do not ever think that it is impossible. It was not impossible to us, and so, it is not impossible to you, too. It is just a matter of practice. Just like what Napoleon Hill, one of my favorite motivators, in one of his books stated, "Perfection will come through practice. It cannot come by merely reading instructions." I follow the same principle and I hope you follow the same, if you really want to become a good English conversationalist.

To help you practice daily, I recommend you attend to our English conversation sessions and experience our advanced, diversified, and totally interactive classes.  If you have some questions. Let us help you achieve your goal of becoming fluent in English in a fun and easy way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cordelyn_Hernande

By:  "Cordelyn Hernandez, a.k.a.  Teacher Cords"                                                          

Aside from at least, Basic Grammar, vocabulary is another very important area to enhance when trying to speak English. As a matter of fact, it is the first thing one has to develop. Yet the most common question English learners ask is how to quickly learn new words. To improve your vocabulary, you should have a clear-cut plan to follow constantly and continuously along your English course. It is not enough to read English books, or listen to native speakers if you really want to learn fast. neither perseverance nor determination is sufficient help too, to a swift speech development. No matter how persevering you are, without a concrete plan or strategy to adhere upon, learning will take too slow.

It is also very important for a student to set an achievable goal or target, so to challenge oneself. Of course, in every goal one has to set, there must always be a corresponding deadline - the date or time you want your goal to be accomplished. For example, target to learn and use every day at most five (5) words each week and so memorized a total of twenty (20) words every month. Just imagine how many English words you would learn in just a year which I'm sure you only had done when you were a child to your own language, so to speak. Through out the course of doing this, you are to yourself inadvertently yet automatically reinforcing the desire to learn because you are steeped fully to achieving your target.

How many words have you learned this month? Do you remember the last unfamiliar word or words you learned? How many are they? Can you remember if you have been able to learn and memorized five new words for the last four weeks? Most probably, your answer is "No, I can't remember." That is because even if you are trying to, since you have no set plan, strategy, goal, and target date, it is so easy for you to just ignore the words you had wished to learn, though you actually ought to learn them.

One tip I can give you to easily remember a new word is to play with the word. Think of a funny thing, event or name of a very familiar person or maybe another word which you may connect to that word. Let us use for example the word "badger". Badger is a verb that means persuade through constant effort. You may associate it to a boy or girl you know, maybe your brother or child who you believed to be so insistent and at times annoying when asking or pleading for something from you. Or maybe associate it to a colleague from childhood who never got tired of teasing you. Let us say the name of the boy was Tom; you may then remember him as "Tom Badger".

In my next article, I will demonstrate more simple but systematic techniques to learn new vocabularies, and those techniques you may use as you pursue your goal. Remember that in order to be able to communicate effectively in English, you must know a lot of words. But without a set plan on how to learn new words and retain them in your memory, your English learning will stay slow; you will lose your courage to learn and eventually will stop, only to find yourself studying all over again because you realized you needed to. In order not to pass through this cycle, which most if not all students have gone through, take steps. Start by setting a plan.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5979465