FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(QUESTIONS ABOUT THE   ENGLISH LANGUAGE)

Listening

1. How can I improve my listening?

Listening TV news may help, especially if you get hold of the newspaper version of the news items. This will not only improve your listening, it will also increase your vocabulary for use.

2. I can't listen to westerners when they speak English, how to solve this problem?

One effective way to learn how native speakers join words in speech is to listen to songs while reading the lyrics. Many songs have joined words like 'wanna', 'gonna' (for want to, going to). Watching movies and English TV programmes may help as well.

3. When I watch some English channel TV programs at home, it's hard to hear or understand what the actors say. I find that my listening skill is very poor. How can I improve that?
   

There are a number of strategies you could use:

1. In conversation, you could ask the person to speak more slowly.
2. In lectures, you could tape the lecture and listen later. Or you could concentrate on the main ideas.
3. You could get a lot of the meaning from the speaking context or situation. This will require you to make some guesses about what the speaker is saying. Also, use your knowledge of the world, your practical knowledge of how conversations develop, to make some guesses about what the speaker is saying. Use body language to help you, too.
4. Get as much exposure as you can to English. Leave the TV or radio on the English station while you are studying or playing. Even though you are not concentrating on the English you will be hearing similar words and patterns over time that your brain will absorb.
5. Join the GILLS Programme in the Centre for Independent Language Learning (CILL), ground floor, core E.

5. I find that listening is difficult for me. Link-together is very difficult. How can I improve listening?

There are many ways to improve your listening, such as listening to the radio and to TV news programmes, but the best way is to listen to people speaking and then having to answer them. This you can do if you join the GILLS programme in CILL. Check out their homepage for more details:
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/
Also, we have some tips on how to improve your listening on our homepage. You can go directly to :
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/ELSC/material/Listening/kListening.htm

Speaking

1. How can I be confident when I speak English?
2. What can I do to improve my oral skill?
3. What kind of vocabulary is suitable for conversation?
4. Should we follow grammar rules when we speak English?
5. I am a student in Hong Kong. There are not many foreigners to talk to. How can I improve my English and be able to speak idiomatic English like native speakers?
6. When I speak in English, I can't express my ideas fluently. Can you help me?
7. I can't understand the meaning of what people speak. What can I do?
8. How to speak English, like more westerners?

1. You could join the GILLS Programme in the Centre for Independent Language Learning (CILL), ground floor, in Core E. You need to find a group and make an appointment to practise.
2. Pronunciation is sometimes a problem. You could do this in a GILLS group or on your own by using their pronunciation materials.
3. Look on this website for our material on Keys to Better Speaking. Start with Materials, then go to Speaking, then to the Keys.
4. A new English Club has been formed. Join it and become involved in its activities.
5. Relax and get as much exposure as you can to English. Leave the TV or radio on the English station while you are studying or playing. Even though you are not concentrating on the English you will be hearing similar words and patterns over time that your brain will absorb.
   

9. I always feel nervous when speaking in English. When ideas come to my mind, I cannot express it fluently.

Speaking English fluently is a hard skill to master. It takes a lot of practice. Many people have been trying to learn how to do it for a long time! There is no easy way, it takes practice, but there are many things you can do to improve your fluency and your confidence. I suggest you join CILL and sign up for their GILLS programmes. This involves working together with a few fellow students in a small group with a tutor, who will help you to work on your speaking skills (or any other aspect of your language). For more information, visit the CILL homepage: http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/

10. Should we mind the grammar speaking English?

11. Should we obey the grammar rules even in speaking English?

Rules exist in language in order to make communication possible. Think of the traffic lights. All drivers know red light means 'stop'. So they stop when they see the red light. Similarly, in language, rules exist to facilitate communication. However, once everyone knows and uses the rules, there is no need to fully put all grammar rules into practice. Actually, all native speakers sometimes break rules when they speak. Many sentences are left unfinished. However, it is necessary to know the rules first in order to decide how to break them so that communication will not break down. For learners, it is better to follow the rules as much as you can. However, fear of breaking the rules should not hinder you from speaking and communicating. After all, the aim of learning a language is communication, isn't it?

Oral Presentations

1. How can I catch the attention of the audience when I present? Should I always

ask questions?

Yes, it is a good technique to ask the audience questions, but not all the time. You need to use other methods. For example:

• Tell an anecdote (something related to your topic that happened to you).
• Relate your topic to the audience's experience or interest.
• Use a few quotations from famous people
• Use some interesting facts or statistics
• Use visual aids that are clear and interesting.
• Keep your voice loud and clear.
• Use intonation to make your voice lively.
• Practice in front of friends and get their feedback.

2. How can I improve my presentation?
3. How can I speak more confidently during presentation?

1. You could join the GILLS programme in the Centre for Independent Learning (CILL), ground floor, in Core E. You need to find a group and make an appointment to practise your presentations.
2. You can practise at your home. Stand in front of your family members and practise. It doesn't matter if they don't understand you. The important thing is to get used to standing and have people look at you while you are talking. You can practcise using your eye contact and body language, too.
3. Pronunciation is sometimes a problem. Improve this also by going to CILL. You could do this in a GILLS group or on your own by using their pronunciation materials.

Reading

1. How can I improve my English reading speed? What should be the usual speed of reading an English book for university students?
2. How can I read a book faster?

It is easy to be dicouraged to read if one reads too slowly.  Usually, slow readers tend to stumble on unfamiliar  words and fail to grasp the general meaning of a passage. One of the most common ways of increasing reading speed is to time yourself while you read. Don't bother about the details. This is a method to enhance your speed of reading. Keep a log of the amount of time it takes. If the time decreases, then you should be getting more information more quickly.

Visit the site: http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/elsc/Learning_m/reading.htm

Writing

1. How long the paragraph should be appropriate for an introduction?

There is no fixed length for an introduction, however it is usually about 10 or 20 % of the total of the essay. For example, if you are writing 1000 word essay, then the introduction will be about 150 - 200 words.

2. Do I need to compare main points before conclusion?

Yes, you must summarise the main points in your conclusion and then evaluate them, which will lead you to your opinion and the final conclusion.
If you have a problem, make an appointment at ST 405 to see a teacher in the WAP who will have a look at your essay and give some advice and suggestions.

3. I am Chinese and I find that it's difficult to write what I'm thinking about. So, I want to know how to write a simple and clear article.

Come along to either of the areas listed below and we will guide you.
WAP ST405
CILL L008
You can visit one of these sites
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/elsc
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk//elsc/links.htm

4. Could you suggest some methods that can help me to improve writing skills?
5. How to improve the structure of sentence when writing a essay?
   Join the Writing Assistance Programme (WAP) in ST 405. Bring an essay with you and the teacher will give you some strategies.
   

If you need grammar review, go to the Centre for Independent Language Learning (CILL), ground floor, core E. There are lot of good resources there for reviewing sentence structure in essays.

Grammar

1. I'd like to ask:1) the difference between "throw at" and "throw to" 2) how about "made of", "made from" and "made in"?

When you throw something "at " someone, you wish to hurt that person. "The Palestanian youths threw stones at the Israei soldiers."
When you throw something to a person, it is a way of giving that thing.
"Throw the ball to me will you?"
Made of - "The book is made of paper." (the material)
Made from - "The book is made from paper." (same as "of")
Made in - "The toys we buy here are all made in China." (the place)

2. What's the difference between 1.) "weak at" and "weak in"; "next to" and "at the side of"? Is there any recommended reference book about grammar?

"weak at" or "weak in" have the same meaning and either can be used, e.g., "The student is weak at/in maths."
"Next to" or "at the side of " again mean the same thing, e.g. "I keep my teeth in a jar next to/at the side of my bed."
A good grammar book is "The Cobuild Grammar". It is very comprehensive. For usage, I suggest looking in a dictionary such as the Longman Language Activator".

3. I always confuse the use of prepositions, how can I improve?

Prepositions are notorious but there are still some general rules of using them. You can consult the section on prepositions in good grammar books. The resources area in ELC stores a lot of materials which you may find useful.

4. I want to know what's the difference between a phrase and a clause. And there something called participal phrase and clause. Also, would you tell me something more about different types of clauses and phrases and their usage?

6. I am confused with the past perfect tense and present perfect tense.

• The present perfect tense is used:
  

To describe actions beginning in the past and continuing up to the present moment: "I have lived in HK for twenty years."
To refer to actions occurring at an unspecified time in the past with some kind of connection to the present: "I have lost my key." (that's why I can't open the door now.)


• The past perfect tense is used mostly to refer to an event that happened earlier than another past event: "They had eaten dinner when I arrived home."

You will find a more comprehensive discussion of tenses in most good grammar books. The resource area in ELSC has a lot of grammar reference books as well as exercise books. Why don't you come and study some of them?

Vocabulary

1. How can I improve my vocabulary in a more interesting way?
2. How can I use the new vocabulary correctly?
3. Why do I always forget the meaning of the words I learn?
4. How to memorize more vocabulary?
5. How can I improve my vocabulary in a short time?

There are several ways of learning vocabulary. Is it English vocabulary you are talking about? If that is the case, let me know what you have already tried? Go to the following sites for discovering ways of learning vocabulary:
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/elsc
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/

6. Where can I learn more vocabulary?

There are several ways of learning vocabulary. Is it English vocabulary you are talking about? If that is the case, let me know what you have already tried? Go to the following sites for discovering ways of learning vocabulary:
http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/elsc
http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/

7. How to improve the vocabulary usage in my writing?
8. Sometimes I don’t know the meaning and spelling of new words. I also do not know the usage of some words and vocabulary when I am writing.
9. I always can’t recall the meaning of the new vocabulary learnt.

You can do two things: First, associate a familiar idea, event or object with a newly learnt word. The stranger the association, the easier it will be to remember. I suggest trying funny things like associating "misunderstanding" with a girl (miss) standing under a tree. Two, write the word down in a notebook along with a sentence that contains this word. Try to imagine talking to someone using the newly learnt word. When you have a chance, use the word in speech or writing. If you draw a cartoon or picture next to the word, it will make the word more memorable.

Pronunciation

1. When I speak, I don’t know how to pronounce some words, even when I know the spellings. How can I improve my pronunciation?
2. How can I improve my pronunciation by myself?