Want to learn English? Learn English through lyrics

Learning English through songs is a good way to practice your speaking skills.
You can start memorizing the lyrics of your choice and sing along anytime anywhere.
Learning through songs and lyrics is a fun way to improve your english.

Not everything you do when you are learning a language has to be serious. It's great to use the language you are learning to have fun and to communicate with people.

I hope you have fun singing along this song! When you have the chance, why don't you try to write a song of your own!

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Kissing a fool
Song by George Micheal



You are far when I could have been your star
You listened to people who scared you to death and from my heart

Strange that you were strong enough to even make a start

But you’ll never find peace of mind

Till you listen to your heart

*People
You can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will if you let them steal
Your heart from you

People will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through

Fooled me with the tears in your eyes
Covered me with kisses and lies
So goodbye, but please don’t take my heart

You are far I'm never gonna be your star
I'll pick up the pieces and mend my heart
Maybe I’ll be strong enough, I don’t know where to start
But I’ll never find peace of mindWhile I listen to my heart

* Repeat

And people will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved youWe could have shown them all

But remember this every other kiss
That you ever give long as we both live
When you need the hand of another man
One you really can surrender with

I will wait for you like I always do
There’s something there
That can’t compare with any other

You are far.When I could have been your star
You listened to people who scared you to death and from my heart
Strange that I was wrong enough to think you’d love me too

Guess you were kissing a fool
You must have been kissing a fool

***

Sample questions on Interviewing

Tell us about yourself.

What makes you special? Why should we hire you?

Tips: Prepare several selling points about yourself. Give a quick "elevator speech" that overviews your experience and achievements.

What are your greatest strengths?

How do you perceive your talents and abilities as a professional? Will you be an asset to our organization?

Tips: Sell yourself. If you don't promote your strengths, nobody else will. Prepare six or seven responses. Be "confidently humble."

What are your greatest weaknesses?

How honest are you being about yourself with us? How realistic are you?

Tips: Present your weakness as a positive. Don't talk too long or emphasize your downfalls.
Why are you interested in working here?

How dedicated are you? Do you have a passion for this type of work?
Tips: Keep your answer simple and to the point. Stay away from such responses as, "Many of my friends have worked here." This response isn't very impressive.

Why should we hire you?

Can you convince us you're "the one?" Can you sell your "product?"

Tips: Make a powerful statement about the value you'll bring to their organization. Toot your own horn, but be wary of sounding arrogant.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Will you be here for only year a before moving on, or are you committed to staying here for a while? Are you a stable person? Can you set goals for yourself?

Tips: Be aware that they might not want to hire someone who will be around for only a year or two. Feel free to say that you have one goal at the moment: to be the very best employee for that particular job.

What are some of your hobbies?
How well-rounded are you? What do you do outside of work that might transfer positively into the workplace?

Tips: Emphasize any hobbies or activities that may relate to the job. Help the interviewer learn more about you and perceive you as a person, rather than a job candidate. Therefore, don't just answer questions, respond to them.

Would you be willing to pursue an extra certificate or credential?
How is your attitude? How flexible are you?

Tips: Tell the interviewer how important professional growth is to you. Understand that the person who will impress the interviewer the most is the one willing to do the extra work.
What were you hoping we'd ask today, but didn't?

Is there anything special about yourself that you want us to know?

Tips: Consider this a "show and tell" opportunity.
Use materials from your portfolio to convince them how valuable you'll be to their organization.

source:
http://www.trincoll.edu

How to write a cover letter

Writing a cover letter often seems like a particularly daunting task. However, if you take it one step at a time, you'll soon be an expert at writing letters to send with your resume.

A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out. Your cover letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and having your resume ignored, so, it makes good sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing effective cover letters.

1. Research the company and the specifics about the position so you can tailor your letter to the needs of the organization.

2. Avoid using too many sentences that start with "I" or writing in the passive voice
(ex. "This experience enabled me to..." or "Through my internship, I was responsible for..."); instead, make yourself the subject of each sentence and use active descriptions
(ex., "In this internship, I demonstrated sound judgment and problem-solving skills on a daily basis.").

3. Do not use contractions (I'd, didn't, it's).

4. Spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes are out of the question! Cover letters are a reflection of your writing skills, so make each cover letter an example of your best work.

5. Be sure to sign your letters. (Black ink is suggested)

6. Keep your letter short and simple. This is not the time to tell your whole life's story.

7. Use good quality paper that matches your resume paper and envelopes.

source: Virginia Tech Career Services

Words in the news

These stress tests have divided the strong banks, who don't need any extra capital, from the weak, who now have to find new money. The US government has ordered ten of the 19 banks tested to boost their capital. Top of the list is Bank of America, with a shortfall of nearly $34 billion, followed by Wells Fargo, Citigroup and GMAC - the finance arm of General Motors. The Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, said the tests had brought reassurance and clarity:

''These actions are critical to help get lending flowing again, to make sure that there's going to be the credit necessary to help support recovery, to help this economy get back on track''.

The stress tests were designed to find out how much extra capital the banks will need to cover their losses if the recession worsens. They can try to raise the money from private investors. Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley have already announced plans to do just that. But if that doesn't prove possible, then the US government says it will help them.

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Vocabulary list

stress tests: a way of finding out how banks will cope with further financial difficulties

capital: wealth, especially a large amount of money used for producing more wealth

to boost: to increase, make larger

shortfall: amount of money which is less than is needed or expected

the finance arm: the division or part of the company which deals with money

reassurance: actions or words intended to make someone/something (here, the banks) feel less worried

clarity: the ability to be understood easily/not be confused

get lending flowing: to encourage people and banks to borrow and the movement of money to start again

back on track: return to a successful way of working, in the same way it was before

cover their losses: pay for any shortfalls which may occur

Source: CNN

Learning English with Obama

It's been described by its publishers as a huge hit in Japan - a compilation of the speeches of Barak Obama has sold well over 400,000 copies, and students at an English class in Tokyo are even memorising the new President's words to improve their own pronunciation and understanding.

CLIP English class'On behalf of the great state of Illinois let me express my deepest gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention.'
Barak Obama's message of change has been well received in Japan where politics is often characterised by grey figures and backroom deals. The clear language of the speeches makes them an obvious choice for teaching material. But the new President's words are said to hold particular appeal.

CLIP English class followed by an English teacher- Perseverance.- Perseverance.- Just practise like that.It's from his personality, first of all. And also, his technique, his rhythm in English sound beautiful to the Japanese people who may not understand English well but still find his English as something they want to learn from.
And so, in shops across Japan the face of the new American President is a fixture on the bookshelves, as well as on the newsstands. And for students, the question of whether they'll succeed in improving their English can be answered - 'Yes we can'.

Source: BBC News, Tokyo

Talk about English

Hi all

Here is a good resource to learn English online. BBC Learning English

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

What Is English?

It was once thought that English was the most difficult language to learn. It is a vast language that evolves more quickly than any other language. Being a Latin based language; English has an extensive vocabulary with complex grammar, punctuation, and syntax rules. Some even consider it to be one of the most advanced languages on the planet. Like other languages, learning English requires diligence, hard work, passion, enthusiasm, and an effort to make learning it part of your everyday life. Determination will make you prevail at mastering the English language.

If you truly want to be fluent in it you will need constant daily practice, a variety of study materials, lesson plans, guidelines, audio tapes, and possible even a tutor or mentor. With constant daily practice and a deep and sincere interest, you can make learning English easily attainable. With hard work on your part, you can soon be a fluent speaker and master of the language.

Study Tips

When you learn English, you will come across new words all the time. Even native speakers find new words in English that they have not heard before. For this reason, you should make it a habit to look up and write down the definition of any and all new words you come across. Then make an effort to learn how to pronounce them correctly and how they should be used in context.

After you have looked the word up, try to assign the word to its meaning in your language. Think of it as a new way of describing a particular action, object, or feeling. When you strive to translate a new word and assign it meaning in your language you are better able to retain the new word.

Then make an effort to replace that word with one of equal value in your language. Sometimes this is not possible. Even so, often there is a counterpart in each language that corresponds to the new word. This will enable you to memorize new words much more quickly than just by memorizing their sound and meaning and moving on.

If the definition of the new word seems elusive to you than simply look up its synonyms and antonyms. Often this will lend a clue into the meaning of the word. Doing this regularly will also impress upon your mind and make you learn English easily.

When you can easily recall these words in your mind be sure to begin using them regularly. Write them down, use them when you take notes, speak them to yourself when you reason. Make attempts to formulate sentences with these new words. Then try to play with the new words you are learning and the words you have already mastered. Switch out mastered English words for unfamiliar ones. This will teach your mind how to create speech patterns with your new language.

Once you have mastered the beginning levels of English it is time to move onto reading lessons, audio tapes, and dialogues. Be sure to use these as soon as you can grasp simple written or spoken sentences. By reading texts, following along in texts with audio recordings, and using listen and repeat dialogue tapes, you can continue to build a solid foundation in your new language.

Remember, even though English seems easy, it is a vast and difficult language to fully master without full attention and determined effort.
With the right tools and the right mindset, you can really become a fluent speaker over time. As long as you do not take shortcuts when learning you will find that you too can learn English easily.