Why do you study English?

I study English just for fun.

I study English, because it is an international language.

I study English for my job.

We study English because of many reasons. Now, let’s go!

How can I speak English like an American?

By Aziem

A student of New York University

I’ve answered this question asked by someone else already, but here I go again.
First, WHY would you want to speak like an American? I’m Indonesian. I’m still studying at New York University. I have been living in America during a year and three months. Believe me; you should aspire to speak like an American instead. All of which is frowned upon in the U.S. If you speak with an accent indicating that English is not your first language, this is a NORMAL thing and no one will think any the worse of you.
Second, if you insist on speaking like an American, you do NOT have to learn your grammar as others have suggested; rather, FORGET the grammar you do know, especially the present perfect. Americans do not say, “I have forgotten my key.” They say, “I forgot my key,” and they wouldn’t be able to explain when one is supposed to use the present perfect as opposed to the past simple.
Third, Americans have a tendency to swallow their words, so I would recommend you put large amounts of gum in your mouth and speak while you chew.
Fourth, there are so many different accents throughout the North American continent. You can’t just say “American accent”.
Fifth, be proud that you have learned English on top of your mother tongue. It’s not easy to learn a different language. Congratulations on having done so.
Good luck in your Endeavour.

To speak well like the Americans, speak to Americans. Find and create every opportunity to have a conversation.

Watch more American movie or TV program.

Don’t be embarrassed about your grammar or vocabulary. The most important thing is to use t as often as possible.

Other answers are:

Practice makes perfect, they say. It is not always true though. Depending on how old you are, whether you live in America or not, and of course depending on the amount of communication (both when you speak and listen), you will get to a certain degree of pronunciation. Try hard, attempt to listen not only to the words, but the ways they are pronounced. Also try to sing after American singers - it will be fun, not boring way to practice. If you have an opportunity asks an American to correct your pronunciation, and don’t get offended by it. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, don’t forget, that the main thing is your ABILITY to speak the language - they understand you, that’s really all that matters. HOW you speak it is another matter - you want to be better? Please yourself, but don’t get stressed if it doesn’t work out - most of people don’t even speak a second language.

Watch CNN instead of BBC ;) And - American films ;) Well, generally I think most of us have no accent - only the one of our native language… I would love to speak British, but … I don’t know, looks like I was born with American - somebody told me… And it “improved” as I had an American teacher... - Maybe try that?

Watch more American movies, talk to more Americans, and speak English at all times. You can record your speech and listen to it to see how you improve.

And, finally, have fun with your study

FEAR AND WORRY

"I, a stranger and afraid

In a world I never made."

In a difficult world, fear and worry are two of our biggest problems. You are not alone. Many of us share them.

Do some of these describe what you are feeling?

Fear of:

• the future - all the bad things that may happen to me tomorrow, next week, next year.
• evil - bad luck, curses, evil spirits.
• being alone - that no one cares or understands, and I seem far away from other people.
• illness - of sickness I have now, or may get in the future, such as cancer.
• being a failure - at work or study, in relationships, with friends - not achieving what I or others expect of myself.
• not having enough money - now, or in the future.
• losing my job.
• having to take important decisions.
• other people - not wanting to be too close to them, in case they find out what I am really like, and then don't like me.
• not finding someone to marry.
• death - that old enemy.

How to handle fear

Often we don't face up to what we fear. We try to hide it in the bottom of our minds, so that perhaps we don't even know what we are afraid of, or are worrying about. It is important to find out exactly what we are afraid of, and also try to understand how the fear started. There may be a particular time, or event, which started it off.

Then here are some ideas to help you look at the problem:

Facing up to it

Sometimes, when you face up to the problem, it doesn't seem so bad. Sometimes, the fear of something is worse than the thing itself! Perhaps tomorrow, the problem may seem less! Remember, "Today is the tomorrow that you spent your time worrying about yesterday."

Talk to someone

This always helps. Find someone you can trust, and share how you feel. In some cultures, this is more difficult than others. You will probably find they have had a similar experience, and can help you.

Look at yourself

Are you one of life's worriers? Your character or family upbringing may make you worry easily. But learn to change negative ways of thinking. There are two ways of looking at a cup of water. The negative way says, "The cup is half empty". But the positive way sees the same cup, yet says, "The cup is half full." OK, its difficult. What we actually need is a new mind, that thinks differently! But yes, this is possible! See later.

Some more common-sense ideas

Don't worry about things at night, or in bed.

Do get good food and exercise.

Try and get out of your usual surroundings - go somewhere else.

Get involved in things which take your mind off worries. Particularly, do things that will help other people in some way.

Fears and worries will grow bigger if you don't deal with them.

Do talk to others.

If fear and worry are affecting your health, or leading to depression, see a doctor.

THE WORLD SITUATION

Where are events taking us?
'1000 people dead!' 'New war situation'. 'Flood kills hundreds!' It is difficult to watch TV news, or read a newspaper, without seeing sadness everywhere.
Where is this world going? As we come to the end of the twentieth century, many are looking back over the last 100 years. What do we see? More wars than can be counted. In the biggest, the 2nd World War, it has been estimated that, including events leading to it, and indirect deaths, a hundred million people died. Right now, there are 30 serious wars in progress. Expenditure on armaments and defense around the world in 1995 was $800 billion, of which $15.4 billion was by poor developing countries!
General Lebed, Russian security chief, speaking in Moscow in September 96, estimated that 90,000 people have died in the war in Chechnya.
AIDS
Many countries struggle with pollution. The burning of fossil fuels is causing world temperatures to rise, which may have terrible effects on some countries. AIDS is sweeping many parts of the world. Maybe it does not affect your country much. But in one country recently (we are not allowed to say which one) an AIDS worker has told us privately that a test on one particular high school class gave 98% HIV infection rate!
Maybe the old slave trade has been almost closed. But the new slave trade is the sex industry. There are estimated to be 10 million children involved in sex industry around the world! The UN estimates that one million children enter child prostitution every year. The picture is shocking.
SEX FOR SALE
"Prostitution and trafficking of women and children is the third largest income-earner globally. The only two bigger are drug trafficking and arms sales." (source: Jonathan Nambu, 'Samaritana Bulletin' 1996)
40,000 of the 100,000 prostitutes in Bangkok are 14 or younger. In Sri Lanka, researchers believe there are at least 10,000 boy prostitutes, receiving as little as one dollar per day.
Although some illnesses have been beaten, others have found new resistance. Malaria kills 3 million children a year. New types of tuberculosis are resistant to drugs, and difficult to treat.
FAMILY BREAKUP
In Europe, nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. Many children never have the love of two parents. We abort at least 40 million babies a year, worldwide.
The twentieth century has been the century of the refugee. 100 million people have been forced to move from their homes by war, famine, hatred.
But does the world stop to think what is wrong? Some people and governments try to make changes. But these changes have been compared to "moving the deckchairs on the 'Titanic".
(The 'Titanic' was the famous passenger ship which hit an iceberg in April 1912, sinking with 1517 people drowned.)
Where is the world going?
What do you think?