English- WINglish

English WINglish

“I can understand English but cannot speak.”

“I go blank in office meetings and interviews.”

“I can’t recollect the right words.”

“Tenses are confusing.”

“I want to speak English confidently and fluently.”

Are these your thoughts?

It’s time to challenge the fear and WIN against this battle with poor English communication.

So, let’s English WINglish.

Good English is now a requirement. It is a global language- a clear necessity for business growth, travel, international study or work experience.

Some quick tips to WINglish:

• Good Reading and Listening produce good Writing and Speaking.

Reading and Listening are receptive skills while Writing and Speaking are productive skills. Only when input is appropriate, the output is great. Active and regular loud reading of stories, comprehension passages as well as listening to lectures of good speakers are effective strategies.

• Good communication does not mean usage of complex vocabulary:

Words are integral to language but not the only component. Choice of words is important to convey the right meaning. Do not mug up difficult words. Words have contextual implications. Hence, a so-called complex word may be a complete misfit in a given context. Learn words by contextual usage. Use the vocabulary you know. Improve vocabulary by reading, not by rote learning.

• Never translate from mother tongue:

It is not a good idea to translate from local or native language. Word to word replacement from local language can be erroneous and even hilarious. Use short and simple sentences to convey the right meaning instead of confusing the listener or becoming a laughing stock yourself with word-to-word translation. I mean would it be appropriate to call “kale paani ki saza” as “black water punishment?” 😊

• No fake accents at all!

Natural tone is highly desirable. Faking the accent to have a western tone in Speaking will cut the impression. I mean, why to ape when we are good in ourselves. Agreed?

• Do not underestimate yourself or compare with others:

We all are talented and have unique qualities. Your intellect, attitude, confidence speak volumes. Let these not be shaken when you hear someone speaking fluent and impeccable English. Copying others, comparing language skills and simply giving up in front of good speakers is a threat to your skills and personality.

• Good training, Practice and Assistance can be helpful

It is always a good idea to get trained by experts. Language learning is necessary but challenging too. It requires regular teaching, guidance, feedback and motivation which is done by good language teachers. Strategies learnt here assist you for a life-long learning.

In a nutshell, these strategies will definitely help you in English-Winglish. Language skills can be easily mastered. It’s not surprising to see students from vernacular background speaking fluently and confidently in English. Wishing you all the best in your journey of learning!