Biggest Obstacles When Learning English

There are an estimated 6, 000 languages spoken throughout the world. With so many languages, it may surprise many to learn that learning the English language can be one of the more difficult tasks. There are a number of reasons why students encounter obstacles when they are learning English.

Pronunciation: The English language has no exact pronunciation. Some words contain ‘silent’ letters which means they are not spoken. Some letters may be pronounced differently such as ‘ah’ for ‘A’. Other languages such as the German language vocalize every letter and have only one pronunciation. How the stress is placed on certain German consonants or vowels can make English such a difficult language to learn. There are hard and soft consonants like ‘c’ taking on a ‘k’ sound which depends on the context of which they are spoken. There are silent letters in some words and there are some consonants that when put together will project an entirely different sound. (i.e.th) The odd combinations and changing rules in the pronunciation of words makes English much more difficult to learn.

Grammar: The succession of nouns, adjectives, and adverbs has their own particular order for the many different languages in the world. With the English language, the order can vary. For instance, Chinese learners tend to write indirect sentences. For example: “The boy was bitten by the neighbour’s dog.” instead of “The neighbour’s dog bit the boy.” To write proper sentences and passages, English learners have to learn a new and different way of using grammar. Assimilating English into a conversation can be difficult because learners have to use different sentence structures than their native language.

Verb Tense: Some languages have very narrow connotations of verb tense. Often the use of present and past verb tense can make learning English quite complicated. For instance, in certain situations, it may be appropriate to use any of the following tenses: present; past; and future. The verb ‘sing’ can be used in the following forms depending on tense: sing, sang, or sung.

Learning Tools: Many students are only taught to learn from books so they do not have the chance to practice the speaking language. They tend to lack the confidence when they try to speak the English language in public. Reading aloud can help them improve their English speaking abilities

Slang: The use of slang is common in the English language. Words, terms, and phrases do not have the same meaning that they would normally have in a dictionary definition. Learning the language requires learning the use of slang which means understanding that different slang terms make English an almost entirely different language that has to be learned. Sometimes terms that are used are not even found in the English dictionary. This can make difficult for someone not familiar with the language. This is where television, movies, magazines, and the radio become helpful tools when learning the language.

Gender and Culture: A persons cultural practices can affect their ability to learn English. For instance, in some cultures a woman tends to be the one to stay home and raise the children. They are less likely to be interacting with English speakers unlike a man who would be out in the workforce interacting with English speakers.

The English language is one of the most widely spoken languages. The inability to speak or understand the native English language can seem frustrating. Although the complexities of learning the language may seem overwhelming, the benefits are well worth the effort. Reading, speaking, and listening to others speak English are an important part of learning the language.

Advantages of Teaching English in another Country

Teaching English in a foreign country can be both a challenge and rewarding experience. There are a number of benefits to sharing ones knowledge of the English language in another country. The following is a list of the many advantages of teaching English abroad:

Living and teaching in a foreign country allows you lo learn and absorb another culture. It is a rewarding way of learning about the language, customs, and history of another country. You will gain valuable insight into the lives of regular citizens and experience their various holidays, festivals, cultural events, and food. You will most likely be living in an apartment or renting home so you will be immersed in the culture performing such tasks grocery shopping, taking public transit, eating in various dining establishments, and engaging in various local activities.

It is a rewarding experience to help others learn English. Students will also gain a better understanding of your own culture. They will learn about your customs and practices as well as other activities they would not learn from a textbook.

It looks great on resume format. It helps improve organization skills, interpersonal skills, and management skills. It also shows prospective employers that you are flexible, willing to try new things, accepting of other cultures, and you have the ability to adapt to a new environment. .Knowledge of another language is a definite asset in the workplace.

You will likely bond with your students and make long lasting friendships. You will witness a positive difference that you make in the lives of your students.

Training to be a foreign English teacher is not a difficult process. A Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate (TESL) usually takes about 100 hours to complete. The certificate program is relatively inexpensive and after completion, most schools will help you locate the appropriate teaching position.

If you want to see the world, teaching English abroad is a great career choice. You will be able to travel throughout the country and visit various cultural and historical places. It is a fun way to learn. Paid teaching positions also provide an inexpensive way to travel to a different country.

Wherever you teach, you will meet other teachers that will help you overcome any culture shock issues. Your coworkers will speak English so you will not have to worry about having problems communicating.

English teachers are in great demand in many countries around the world. To be a successful foreign English teacher, you must be independent and self-sufficient. You must also have great interpersonal skills that will help you adapt to a new environment. Teaching the English language to students in another country can be rewarding and a fun way to earn a living. You will be representing your country and culture so students will be eager to learn from you. Having an open mind will allow you to experience life in your new country personally and the chances are great that you will feel right at home.

Teaching English in a foreign country has become a popular choice for both young people and older adults. For many people, teaching English in another country is a job that they do for only a year or two. However, there are other teachers who make it a life long career traveling to a variety of countries for a specified period of time. These teachers make a good living and provide for their families. Those who have experienced life as an ESL teacher come away with experiences that last a lifetime.

Common Mistakes when Writing a Cover Letter

The cover letter that accompanies your resume is almost as important, if not more important, than the resume itself. This is because it is the first impression that the employer gets about you. It has to be carefully written so that the employer has a good idea of why you want to work for them. But there are some mistakes that you need to avoid when writing your cover letter so that it can be as effective as possible. If your cover letter contains mistakes, then the employer may never turn the page to your resume.

First, it is important to look at a few basics before covering the most common mistakes so that you can avoid those mistakes. You need to make sure that your cover letter is written on letter paper because it is of a higher stock and you need to ensure that you type your cover letter rather than handwrite it. You may be wondering who actually writes a cover letter by hand, but it does happen.

Below are the rest of the common mistakes when writing a cover letter:

- The failure to address the letter to a specific person is the first mistake. It is important to find out who is doing the hiring within the company so that you can address the letter to that person. If multiple people do the hiring and you have no idea who will be reviewing your resume format, you may wish to address it to the HR manager or the job title of the individuals who do the hiring.

- Many people make the mistake of not creating a new cover letter for each job they are applying for. What happens is a different employer gets the same letter, which means the career goal is going to be unrelated to one or two of those jobs that you are applying for.

- The presentation needs to be strong. Weak presentations do not keep the reader’s attention.

- Make sure you stay away from clichs and anecdotes that you feel are amusing. An employer will not find these things amusing at all.

- Make sure you don’t ramble in your cover letter. You want to get to the point and do it quickly rather than go on and on. A cover letter is not to tell your life story.

- Grammatical errors and typos are a huge turn off to employers. They want to see that you can pay close attention to detail. Letting grammatical errors and typos pass through to the employer does not show attention to detail.

- Make sure you sign your cover letter with your hand. This is the professional way to do it.

- Once you have your cover letter and your resume finished, make sure you don’t stuff them into a small envelope. It is important that you enclose them in a larger envelope so that they are not folded.

Make sure you don’t make these mistakes because these are the mistakes that will keep your resume from being the one that an employer chooses. You have to remember that your cover letter and your resume are representations of you. If they represent you well, the employer will want to speak to you to see if you really are the candidate for the job. They can tell when they meet you if you match everything you told them on paper. If they think that you are not what they saw in your cover letter and resume, then they may pass you up. So make sure you are honest, professional, and that you are everything that you say you are.

English: Should You Lose the Accent?

When learning English as a second language, many students feel that they have failed if they dont speak it flawlessly and without an accent. The simple truth is, however, that the majority of ESL students will not be able to completely get rid of their accent in English without many years of hard work. If you are able to speak clearly and have others understand you, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with having an accent.

What IS Important

Being able to speak like a native doesnt necessarily mean that youll be accent free. In fact, your accent could be just what you need to set your voice apart from millions of others. But there are a few things that you do need to know if you are serious about speaking the language well.

Avoid common mispronunciations. This varies depending on your mother tongue, but most people have some set pronunciations that can cause problems in English. For example, most adult Asians pronounce the letter “r” as “l”. Spanish speakers will usually say “b” for the letter “v”. If you know what your particular mispronunciations are, you can be conscious of them and make a real effort not to say these sounds wrong. This will make your English far more understandable. Children will have less of a problem with this than adults.

Enunciate. In your rush to speak English like a native, you may try to speed up, but this can make it hard for people to understand you. Slow down a little and make sure you say each word clearly and there will be far less chance of misunderstanding. You can practice your enunciation, as well. This doesnt mean that you need to get rid of your accent, only that you need to speak clearly so everyone will understand what you have said . . . this is something that many native English speakers also have problems with. Increase your vocabulary. Its far easier to express yourself if you know what words to use. This basically means you need to do a lot of studying and reading. Watching movies and television shows in

English can also help with building vocabulary, as well as improving your accent. Speaking with others is another method of learning new words, as long as you are with someone you feel comfortable asking the definition from. Otherwise, get in the practice of carrying a small pocket English dictionary with you that you can use in your daily practice.

Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the better youll get at speaking English. That means striking up conversations with strangers, calling up friends on the phone to speak English (phones can be difficult, but are excellent practice for speaking clearly), and getting in as much conversation time as possible. Many English students even hire someone to converse with them, but you should be able to find plenty of people who are happy to just have a conversation.

If you really do wish to reduce your accent, then there are specialists who help people with this. A speech therapist will be able to help you move your mouth differently than you are accustomed to and help you correct the more common pronunciation problems so that you will be able to speak more like a native speaker.

Speaking English well takes time and practice. Theres no instant method for picking up a new language perfectly and while you may want to work on speaking more like a native, it isnt necessary. In fact, you may find that many people enjoy listening to an accent, as long as you are able to speak clearly and be understood.

Common Mistakes When Writing a Resume

With so many people competing for jobs, employers are finding themselves swamped with stacks of resumes. Employers are now looking for resumes that standout from the pile. The key to landing a job interview is to present a strong and effective resume. A resume that is filled with errors will only end up in the waste basket. The following is a list of common mistakes people make when writing a resume:

1) No Cover Letter: Employers want to see a cover letter with a resume. A cover letter is your introduction and summarizes your job intentions.

2) Typing Errors: A resume with typos and grammatical errors will make an employer think that you do not pay attention to details. A computer spell check does not always pick up every mistake. Proofread your resume and then have a friend read it.

3) Disorganized Content: It is important to list the most important information at the top of the resume. Experience and employment history are the most important parts of the resume. Your hobbies should be placed near the end of the resume. Make sure your information is easy to read. Filter out information that is not relevant to the job.

4) Unprofessional email address: Email addresses should not be amateurish. For instance, happyguy104@hotmail.com is not appropriate. A better email would be JohnDoe@hotmail.com.

5) Layout Lacking Consistency: You should have equal spacing between headings. Your margins should be equal. Include dates on your resume. A recommended font size is 11 or 12. When using verbs, make sure you are using the correct verb tense. Use different action verbs when highlighting your skills. Do not use abbreviations or contractions.

6) Unclear Focus: Your resume should be written to match your experience and education with the job you are seeking. You want the employer to think that you are the best person for the job.

7) Boring Content: Your resume should tell a mini story about your experience and education. Dont just list your duties. Highlight valuable experience to show why you should be chosen for the job. Do not use phrases such as responsibilities included or duties included.
Lacking Extracurricular Activities: Employers want to read about additional activities such as certificates of achievement, training, volunteer experience, and awards. This will show employers that you are out going and well-rounded. When listing your achievements, make sure you emphasize the results of your work.

9) Key skills Do Not Stand Out: Use a format such as bullets to highlight skills the employer will like. You want to show the employer that you will be an asset to the business.

10) Inappropriate Personal Information: Dont put in personal information such as gender and age. Do not include a picture of yourself. . Keep your personal and professional life separate in order to be taken seriously.

11) Inaccurate Information: It is important that you do not lie or embellish. It would be embarrassing if you were caught lying. Your resume should be truthful.

12) Job Experience Too Old: It is important not to go back too far when listing your employment experience. If you are older, employers will not want to see what summer job you had in high school.

A resume is the entryway to a job interview. It is important to understand that your resume is a marketing tool, not an autobiography. Make your resume an interesting read. A resume should be written so that it is focused on the job position. When you write a professional resume that stands out from the others in the pile, you will have a better chance of getting your dream job.