Dear friends
As you told us that you would want us to work on your Spoken English skills, we shall be sharing with you simple and effective techniques which are backed by science and research. Spend 10 to 15 minutes every day implementing these suggestions and very soon, you will be giving Mr. Shashi Tharoor a run for his money. All the best.
#1 learn from the masters
- Read a short passage from any popular book. Make sure that the language is simple and easy to understand. Here, you can start with this excerpt from Harry Potter.
Harry Potter was still there, asleep at the moment, but not for long. His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day.
“Up! Get up! Now!”
Harry woke with a start. His aunt rapped on the door again.
“Up!” she screeched. Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove. He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having. It had been a good one. There had been a flying motorcycle in it. He had a funny feeling he’d had the same dream before.
His aunt was back outside the door.
“Are you up yet?” she demanded.
“Nearly,” said Harry.
“Well, get a move on, I want you to look after the bacon. And don’t you dare let it burn, I want everything perfect on Duddy’s birthday.”
2. Read it again. Till the events and dialogues are clear to you. Now take your eyes off the passage.
3. Take a fresh sheet of paper and recreate the passage in your own words. Don’t refer to the original. Be yourself.
4. Once you have completed your version, read it with a critical eye. Do some editing if you want to make it better.
5. Once you are satisfied with your work, compare it with the original. Compare the words used, the style and the grammar. Find at least 5 to 6 areas for you to improve your writing.
6. Without copying the original, try to improve your passage.
Isn’t it awesome to get J.K Rowling as your English coach? Do this with other books that are popular amongst youth and in no time, you will be speaking and writing much better.
Dr. Sangeeth Ibrahim
