Commonly used English abbreviations

 Let me first provide a brief summary of my views on the contentious issue of learning grammar of a new language.

I think grammar learning ought to be combined with conversational practice and vocabulary learning (first fixed thematic conversational phrases, and then free conversational practice on each topic with sentences based on known grammar (to reduce grammar mistakes) alongside learning grammar).

In my opinion, learners can learn grammar and practice it in communicative grammar exercises with real-life content (with sentences that most likely can be used in real-life situations).

It's very helpful for learners to have the key to exercises for self-check. Grammar exercises that contain dialogues, interrogative and statement (or narrative) sentences on everyday topics, thematic texts, and narrative stories are especially effective for mastering grammatical structures. Grammar practice should include exercises in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. I think it ought to be effective to combine input (listening, reading) with output (speaking and writing). Therefore I prefer communicative English courses that practice those four skills in each lesson and include (integrate) grammar material in thematic conversation and vocabulary practice activities (exercises) in each lesson. I agree that vocabulary matters much more than grammar to use a language. The more vocabulary a learner knows how to use correctly the easier it is to convey a thought in a language in speaking, in writing, and to understand the reading and listening content.

HOW TO PRACTISE ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION AND SPEAKING SKILLS

In order to have good skills in listening comprehension in English and to speak it fluently, a learner should practice listening to audio and video aids in English (dialogues, thematic texts, and narrative stories) with subsequent speaking. It is preferable to have English transcripts of audio and video material. I suggest that learners practice listening comprehension with subsequent speaking on a variety of topics and with materials for all levels on a regular long-term basis in the following sequence:

1. Listen to each sentence several times. Alongside listening see and read each sentence in the transcript.

2. Make sure you understand everything clearly in each sentence in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar.

3. Without looking into the transcript, try to repeat each sentence (say it aloud) exactly as you have heard it. Being able to repeat a sentence means that a learner has remembered its content.

4. Listen to that particular conversation or text (story) in short paragraphs or chunks, say each paragraph aloud, and compare to the transcript.

5. Listen to the whole conversation or story without interruption several times, and try to tell the content of the whole conversation or text (story) you’ve heard. You can write key words and phrases, or main ideas as a plan, or questions on that particular dialogue or text to make it easier for you to convey the content in English. It is important to compare what you’ve said to the transcript.

It is a good idea to record one’s speech on audio aid to compare it with the original audio/video recording.

I believe that for practicing listening comprehension and speaking in English it is a good idea to include various practical topics for potential needs of learners with comprehensive vocabulary on each topic. As you know the content of materials matters a great deal.

Ready-made thematic dialogues, questions and answers on conversation topics, thematic texts (informative texts and narrative stories), grammatical usage sentences (in the form of dialogues and texts), and sentences with difficult vocabulary on various topics, especially with fixed phrases and idioms can be used in practicing listening comprehension in English.

It’s possible and effective to practice listening comprehension and speaking in English on one’s own this way through self-check using transcripts, books, audio, and video aids to provide additional solid practice and to accelerate mastering of English.

METHODS FOR MASTERING ENGLISH CONVERSATION AND VOCABULARY

I have developed my own unique suggestions on mastering English conversation and vocabulary. They are based on my experience and knowledge, and my tips and advice may be valuable for all students of English. I hope that they will become a short but indispensable guide for many learners of English. I have thoroughly read on the issue of effective methods and aids for learning English. Those aids include audio, videos, websites, study books, etc. I want to share with you that information for English language learners. Of course, everyday talking in English to native English speakers on a variety of topics helps best in order to be able to speak English fluently. But relatively few learners of English have such long-term opportunities. To eventually be able to speak English fluently, first of all, learners of English must have materials with important content on all everyday topics (audios, videos, printed texts/study books, etc.) for beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of study. The materials must include dialogues, monologues (thematic texts), questions - answers with important content, thematic lists of difficult word meanings and phrases (expressions) with usage sentences, and comprehensive vocabulary on all everyday topics. I believe that learners can master English conversation and vocabulary with the following methods:

1. It is important for learners of English to listen to each sentence in conversations (thematic dialogues) in audio materials several times and to see their transcript at the same time, and to understand everything in those sentences clearly.

2. It is helpful for learners of English to read (pronounce) each sentence aloud and to compare their pronunciation to the narrator's pronunciation.

3. Speaking activity with self-check. It is a good idea for learners to check if they can orally convey the content of those dialogues closely to the original dialogues as much as possible.

It is expedient for them to try to be an actor for both speakers in the dialogues. The most important thing for them is to speak English and to check in the transcript of conversations (dialogues) whether they have made any mistakes in speaking.

Learners can also make up their own written questions on the dialogues that require long answers contained in the dialogues to facilitate (make easier) imitation of the dialogues. Alternatively, learners can write keywords and phrases, or main ideas as a plan to make it easier for them to imitate those dialogues.

There are English conversation books and websites with thematic dialogues and narrative/informative texts on various topics to practice speaking in English.

4. It is useful for learners to prepare potential questions and answers with helpful content on all everyday topics, and to practice speaking. To show different ways of expressing a particular thought they can make up several potential questions and answers on one point in this speaking activity.

There are a few websites that contain a lot of ready-made questions in English on a wide variety of topics: