Advice for those Learning English Part-II Increasing the vocabulary is a big time issue especially for new learners... here are few of the tips that might come in handy all of these are stuffs i have been doing for few years and all of them are based on my personal experiences and are referred to as 'Gyan' (Hindi word for tips based on some ones personal experience after years of try outs in some particular field in which he is considered to be an expert) 1 Read a lot of stuff especially books (fiction/biographies or whatever you like but of authors known or popular as their english is usually standardized), newspapers and magazines like The New York Times, The Herald. I prefer The Hindu and as for magazine Frontline (Indian publication but follows british english standards even more then british newspapers and content is so vast and so quality wise reading them would change your opinion about whatever topic you can think you know best of and believe that there is no flaw in your opinion) - But The Hindu and Frontline are toughest to read but if you keep reading them one day you will be able to understand it.--- These newspaper and magazine are not available everywhere but they are available online and that too free 2 Carry a pocket dictionary and if you use computer a lot install it on your pc. I recommend Collins Cobuild Lexicon for computer and Collins Cobuild Pocket Dictionary (I use them both and lexicon is available on net for free you have to just find it out). Second best is Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary Series how to use your dictionary : just open up any page and skim through it and whatever word you like tick it darkly in your dictionary and cram it up and try to make sentences including that word. keep reading them from time to time and make flashcards and carry around with yourself everywhere and when ever you get time go through them. also to remember your vocabulary associate the words you learn to images you can remember like pavement is the footpath you walk on. 3 Never ever learn more then 5-7 words in a day, you will forget them and it would get boring very soon for you. 4 One thing that i would recommend any one and everyone never ever go for dictionary the moment you see a new word. First read the complete sentence and make a guess what would that word mean and then check dictionary to see whether you are right or wrong and for Christ's sake don't cram all the words you see. Best of luck everyone with your vocab....

Advice for those Learning English Part-I Read fiction especially Arthur Conan Doyle (writer of sherlock holmes series), Agatha Christie, J.K. Rowling - simple but correct english usage in those books. Collins Cobuild Dictionary and thesaurus (Available in books as well as CD's - can get them for free on net) I am using Collins Cobuild Lexicon. Second best in my opinion is Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary. I would recommend using computer dictionaries as they have pronunciation in them which really helps. Wren and Martin high school Grammar book (No need for deep study just understand what is author trying to convey-don't read all the definitions it will make you confused... just go through it examples and the topics you can understand. Read online newspapers like The New York Times, The Herald, The Daily Telegraph, The Hindu - (Best newspaper i have ever read though Indian but uses British English Standards) Read online magazines - Frontline (from the hindu foundation) and others Also listen to BBC A piece of advice - Don't try to learn rules and regulations that much but the necessary ones instead go for the feeling of how words are used and sentences are structured and google a lot A few tips for you which I have followed 1 Always carry a dictonary with you - Collins Gem Pocket Dictionary is the best ever or you can opt for Oxford Pocket Dictionary - just randomly open any page and skim through words and any word you like just memorize it and tick it darkly in your dictionary. Revise that word from time to time. 2 Read online newspaper/ Magazines like The Newyork Times, The Herald, Outlook, Times. My Favorite are The Hindu and Frontline (Though Indian but standard of English they use is even higher then British Newspaper.) While reading try reading different books in english and you can opt for any number of topics and instead of learning grammar rules by heart get the feeling of how the words are used. 3 To learn how to speak and understand english watch BBC(British Accent mainly) and English Movies and Seasons (Serials telecasted on TV). But remember to opt for either British Accent or American Accent and repeat the way you hear them talk, repeat those words again and again. 4 Make few friends here and talk to them online from time to time( I mean call them on gtlk or skype or other source) and tell them to correct you in your pronunciation and word structuring.

Quotes I like by Shakespeare worth pondering over If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? It is neither good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Let every eye negotiate for itself and trust no agent. Listen to many, speak to a few. Mind your speech a little lest you should mar your fortunes. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; often got without merit, lost without deserving. The attempt not the deed confounds us. The valient never taste of death but once.