Hello people, we are back with a yet new blog to take you further in your quest of learning English. We have given you tips on learning grammar, using tenses, how to form sentences, pronounce words and ideas on conversations as well.

Now that you are adept with the basics, it is time to learn the finer nuances of the English language.

As we have already enunciated a number of times, English, besides being funny, is also a confusing language. Certain words are spelled one way, and pronounced the other. The spellings are sometimes misguiding, and many times, a whole letter is rendered useless by making it silent in the word! Then there are words in which the letters used are given an altogether different sound! Confused? Let us make it clear with the following examples:

• Cycle: In this word, the letter 'C' appears twice, and in both the instances, it carries a different sound! The first 'C' has the sound of 'S', while the second 'C' sounds like 'K'. The word 'cycle' is a perfect example of the various sounds that a single, or multiple, letter can carry. Hence, deducing the real sound of 'C' is quite difficult, given that a single word carries two different sounds of the letter. There are many other words that use the two different sounds of 'C'. Words like Carom, canyon, cattle, crop have 'K' kind of sound. While words like cyst, chance, cease, imply a 'S' kind of sound. Can you think of more such words?

• Enough: The sound of 'G' is how you pronounce it in 'goat', 'geese', or 'ground'. The sound of 'H' is the way you say it in 'horse', 'house', 'hat'. However, when these two words are merged together, they produce the sound similar to 'F', as in 'enough'. The English language is filled with such words where 'gh' produces the sound of 'F'. Cough, tough, laugh, are some good examples. However, many times, these letters together are used silently. Pronounce the word night, thigh, through, weigh – can you identify any sound associated with 'gh'?

• Phone: Many people spell 'phone' as 'fone', especially in chats or other casual conversations. Given the sound of 'PH' in this word, it is no wonder that people get confused and actually use an 'F'. Other similar examples would be 'Philip', 'Phosphorous', 'physics', and 'phantom'.



The English language is abundant with such amusing and unique words, and it is a fun activity to discover and learn new ones. For people wondering, 'How to improve your English?' the answer is this – the ways of learning English are many, each more creative than the other. All you have to do is set a goal, focus, and learn what works for you. There are many online spoken English classes like eAgeTutor, that help the students learn English, polish their pronunciation and learn various idioms and phrases.

English fluency is a requisite to excel in today's competitive world, and to develop that skill you need the support of a good online English learning course.

Do you feel shy to communicate with strangers? Do you get jitters with the thought of carrying out a conversation with your boss? Are you tongue-tied before a presentation in your office?

If your answer is YES to all these questions, then you are definitely scared of your communication skills. Many people worry about their poor communication skills to an extent that they stop communicating altogether. If you are making this grievous mistake, let me tell you it is not the right way to improve your conversation skills.

Effective communication is important in all spheres of life, both personal and professional. You cannot understand a person/subject/topic if you are unable to communicate properly. To rise and shine in the dynamic business world, good communication is a requisite. Let's look at some of the ways through which you can improve English communication.



Learn the basics

Communication means transfer of messages between a sender and a receiver through various modes, including written words, spoken words and nonverbal cues. Confidence is another essential aspect of effective communication. You should be confident that your point is worthwhile to the subject. Be aware of your opinions and stay confident in your expression. These can equip you to convey your message effectively. Start your practice of effective communication by carrying out simple conversations. Each day and every minute you can practice to better your conversational skills. Just stay on track and never give up, no matter how bleak the road ahead appears.

1. Keep your audience engaged

Communication is a two-way road and the response of your audience decides your fate. So, make an eye contact whenever you are with people. You may be listening, or speaking, it is important to maintain eye contact intact. This is the key to successful communication. Eye contact establishes the interest and at the same time motivates the speaker to go on. Hand and facial gestures are another way to support your conversation. Your gestures can speak more than your words, so pay attention. Keep your facial and hand gestures as well as your tone in sync.

2. Effective listening is vital



To improve your English communication skills it is important to develop effective listening skills first. A successful listener is the one who can decode not only the words that are being communicated but also the feelings and emotions that comes with it. Do not just pay attention to the end of the sentence, so that you can take ahead the conversation. The rule is to talk less and listen more.

3. Enjoy the power of words

When we say enjoy, we literally mean it. Words are a powerful tool and when said in the right manner, they can have the right impact. So, don't just rush with your words, speak clearly and precisely. Never mumble to get away from the conversation. If you are being asked all the time to repeat a sentence or word, then you are not communicating effectively. Make use of simple words and pay attention to your pronunciation. Speak with the right pace; if you rush with your words, people will think that you are a nervous speaker. So, be careful with your pace.

Hope the above English tutorial is helpful in improving your English communication skills.

Hello people, it is our second test of the test series! 

We hope, you have been practicing English diligently. With the simple and tried-and-tested tips we provide, aren't you guys finding learning English a lot better?

How well did you guys score in our last test (http://english.eagetutor.com/english/1-spoken-english/569-english-exercises-for-beginners.html)? To brush up your skills and to give you an idea of where you stand as far as reading and spoken English is concerned, and how much more you need to work. However, one keeps learning English constantly, because that is the beauty of this language. There are new things to learn everyday!

Without much ado, let us start the test.

1. Isn't there anything better than this on TV?
I'm sorry, ______

A: there is anything better than this

B: they isn't

C: this is the better show.

D: there's nothing better.

2. Can you speak a foreign language?

A. Yes, I can speaks Chinese.

B. Yes, I can. I speak Chinese very well.

C. I can speak the Chinese.

3. Are Audi cars expensive?

A. Yes, are the most expensive cars in the world.

B. Yes, they are very more expensive.

C. Yes, they are very expensive

4. Will you get me some salt please?

A. No, thank you.

B. Sure, no problem. How much salt do you want?

C. Yes, I will. Here you are.

5. What happened to the cake?

A. The cake was eating by Suresh.

B. Was eaten by Suresh.

C. It was eaten by Suresh.

D. Suresh eating the cake.

6. Put these words in the correct order:

A. She

B. Was about to

C. Gave her a raise

D. Quit her job

E. When they

7. Identify the adjective in the following sentence:

Ships can reach Alaska in a relatively short time because of the extreme cold conditions.

8. Which of the following sentence is correct?

A. In the kitchen of Suresh, there is a stove, a sink and a refrigerator.

B. Is boiling water in a pot on the stove.

C. The clean dishes are on the shelves, inside the cupboard.

D. Behind the refrigerator, there is many dust.

9. Which of the following is not a polite sentence?

A. May I have some ketchup please?

B. I'd like a beer.

C. Can I get some salad?

D. Could I have a cup of coffee?

E. I want a hamburger.

10. Have you ______ been to Africa?

A. Ever

B. Still

C. Always

D. Much

E. Yet

So, get your pen and paper out and crack this simple test. All the best!

Learning English grammar and spoken English can become easy and convenient, provided you join the right English speaking class. With online classes for English speaking like eAgeTutor, learning English grammar can become quick and easy. Fluency in spoken English is a must, as it reflects your mastery of the language and exudes confidence, and with a proficient online English class like eAgeTutor, you can polish your English speaking skills and also learn new terms and phrases.

Office parties are a great way to unwind, break the ice, and get to know your colleagues and to let your hair down as well. Office parties offer one more opportunity – to practice your English and social skills.

Office parties are the perfect place to strike a conversation with the colleagues you have always wished to speak with. The environment and mood is just perfect – neither too formal, nor too casual. This is the perfect setting to strike a casual conversation and indulge in some small talk.

However, for people who are complete novices, even a casual conversation at the party is enough to break them into a sweat. The fear of fumbling, making a mistake, mispronouncing, and many other such monsters come to haunt the mind when you are not confident about speaking in English. However, you should remind yourself of one thing always, if you do not practice spoken English, how will you ever improve and gain the confidence? Do not be afraid of making mistakes, rather take them sportingly and learn from them.

To help you out, we will give you a quick lesson to give you an idea of what a standard conversation at a party goes like. We, definitely, cannot predict what the mind of a conversation may crop up at a party, but we can definitely draw a rough sketch to prepare you beforehand so that you do not get caught unawares!

Here is an idea of a usual conversation at a party:

(Before we start, let us make some fictional characters amongst which the conversation will take place. Raj (our amateur English speaker), Suresh, and Priya should be good!)

Raj joins Suresh and Priya

Raj: Hey Suresh, how are you?

Suresh: Hello Raj, meet my friend Priya. Priya, this is Raj, he works in my department.

Priya: Hi, Raj.

Raj: Hi, Priya. So, which department are you in?

Priya: I am in accounts.

Suresh: Hey, let us get some finger food to eat, while we chat up.

Priya: Why, that is a good idea!

Raj: yes, let us go.

As you must have deduced by now, since this is a party, casual words like 'hey', 'chat up', etc. are acceptable. These words give your sentences a fun feel and are apt, given the situation. Now our scene is proceeding towards food. Remember, food is always a safe topic of conversation. Unlike other topics, where people can get judgmental or hurt, food is, by far, a safe topic and it is pertinent that you exploit this opportunity to its maximum.

At the buffet table:

Suresh: Priya, try these paneer fritters. They are amazing.

Priya: Sure.

Raj: I would like to has some, as well.

Suresh: Not has, Raj. You should say 'have'.

Raj: What?

Suresh: You should say, 'I would like to have some, as well.'

Raj: Oh. Thank you for correcting me.

Suresh (to Priya): Raj has been trying to improve his English speaking skills and he practices often. I must say, he has improved a lot.

Priya: Oh! That is terrific, Raj. All the best.

So, this is how you should always welcome help and correction. This is the only way you can improve spoken English. Joining an online English speaking class like eAgeTutor is also a good idea as it will help you understand the rules and nuances of English, thereby improving your spoken English.