Which is the right preposition to use?
Archive for 2009
Is it “surrounded with” or “surrounded by”?
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009Giving a Captivating Speech
Monday, December 28th, 2009Usually the audience applauds after a speech feeling either entertained or relieved that the speech is over. If you do not want the audience to sigh in sheer joy that your speech is over, bear in mind the following tips:
1. Start with an attention-getter
Before you deliver your speech, interest the audience with an attention getter: an anecdote, a joke or maybe even a video. First impressions count!
Open your speech with something the audience can relate to and they are likely to be with you for a while. The attention-getter also sets the stage and invites the audience to tune in.
2. Keep sentences short
Use words that are easy to understand and keep sentences concise. This will ensure that the audience can capture the essence of your message.
Avoid complex words and technical jargon. The last thing you want is to baffle the audience with your speech.
3. Use examples
The audience usually listens more when the speaker shares real life scenarios and experiences. Modify your examples accordingly to suit the audience.
An example can also come in the form of an appropriate visual aid. Showing an object, for example, can sometimes break the monotony and appear more convincing.
4. Inject humour
Most of us welcome a good laugh. If you are not a natural when it comes to comedy, try injecting subtle jokes in between the speech.
The jokes may or may not leave the audience in stitches but they may get their responses. The audience will appreciate your effort to engage them.
The next time you are asked to speak to a group of people, incorporate these four tips and you are on your way to winning the audience’s applause of appreciation at the end of the speech.
Source: Edited from the english@work e-newsletter by 938LIVE. Subscribe to the english@work newsletter.
Speak Good English Newsletter: Issue 14
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Common English Mistakes In Public Signs
Fix That Sign, an online contest by STOMP and the Speak Good English Movement, has ended and we’ve got a huge collection of photos of public signs found in Singapore that contain broken English!
Check out the hundreds of public signs that come with reader-suggested corrections now!
Podcasts: 6 Perfect Punchy Podcasts For Professionals
We’ve got some great podcasts from the British Council that can help you to improve yourself for work.
Learn how to manage your time, deal with conflict, develop creativity, motivate yourself when working, improve your emotional intelligence and work effectively as a team.
Practical Magic: Prop Stories for Young Children
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009There are many ways of telling stories, and using objects while telling is one of the most enjoyable, for both the teller and the audience.
In this very practical workshop, you will be introduced to a number of stories that are enhanced by the use of objects. These will include: string stories, drawing stories, paper folding or tearing stories and handkerchief stories. This workshop is suitable for anyone who wants to tell stories to young children.
Programme Schedule
- Saturday, 30 Jan 2010: 10am – 1pm
- Facilitator: Sheila Wee of Storywise
- Venue: Kembangan Plaza – just across the road from Kembangan MRT.
Fore more information, please click here.
Tips On Reading Comprehension
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009What Are Comprehension Skills?
Comprehension is the process of making meaning from a written text. Typically, children might have difficulty understanding due to limited vocabulary and/or a lack of familiarity with the subject matter. Both these constraints may be remedied by reading more widely and making friends with a good dictionary. Comprehension skills can also be acquired through practice, and here are some interactive reading strategies you can use to guide your child.
Thinking Aloud: Good readers think while they’re reading. They draw on their personal experience and knowledge, language skills and strategies in order to make sense of what they’re reading. By thinking aloud for your child as you read along with her (she should have a copy of the passage in front of her) you will be modelling those same reading strategies she should learn to use on her own. You’ll be coaching her to recognise what she doesn’t understand, identify the difficulty and where it occurs—this is also the mark of a proficient reader.
When she comes across a difficult spot you might suggest that she try to paraphrase the section in her own words; or if a particular word or idiom proves troublesome, encourage her to consult a dictionary. When appropriate, advise her to skip forward in the passage, or refer back, for information that might help her.
Asking & Answering Questions: Asking your child questions about the story or passage will help to focus his attention and intellectually engage with it. Questions could be as basic as who, what, where, when, why and how. What is the passage about? Where are these events happening? Why are they happening? Who are the people involved? And so on. You may also want to ask open-ended questions, which require your child to express his personal opinion and draw on his own experiences.
A final tip, with assessment tests and exams in mind. By reading with your child and following the strategies outlined above, you’ll be able to identify the types of comprehension passages that challenge him. You can then make a special effort to practise with similar texts and topics.
© 2008 Elly Sim