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RESOURCES English Language Tools Suggestions for Pronunciation Practice Suggestions for Vocabulary and Grammar Practice Teaching English Abroad Good Books for Young Readers   ENGLISH LANGUAGE TOOLS TOP Merriam-Webster OnLine Reference Center http://www.m-w.com One of the best, most comprehensive and efficient websites for both dictionary and thesaurus; with excellent audio function for pronunciation, plus other entertaining and educational components. Online Etymology Dictionary http://www.etymonline.com/index.php One of the most extensive and reliable websites for obtaining root meanings of English words, with anecdotal historical information of interest. The BBI Dictionary of English Word Combinations An exceptionally useful dictionary for international speakers of English, going beyond definitions to provide words and expressions in combination with prepositions and other grammatical formulations they customarily take. Also available—Using the BBI, a workbook with exercises.     SUGGESTIONS FOR PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE TOP WORK WITH A NATIVE SPEAKER It’s important to work with a native speaker—a friend, colleague or language professional—in order to have a reliable model of standard English to copy and someone who can accurately correct you. LISTEN AND LOOK Start thinking about training your hearing. In large part, you are repeating what you are hearing. As your hearing of the finer sounds of English improves, what you repeat will automatically be more correct, saving a lot of time in the process of perfecting your pronunciation. It’s also advisable to look at native speakers and observe how they move the muscles of their jaw and mouth, and where and how they place the tongue in relation to the mouth and teeth. READ ALOUD Of the five or six sounds you’re working on improving, target one sound (later on, you can target two or three at a time). Select a couple of paragraphs from any popular magazine and, with a colored pen, put a dot or line under every instance of that sound. This will help you identify and articulate the sound(s) as you read the selection aloud. USE A MIRROR Virtually all international speakers of English have trouble with the sound of ‘TH,’ made by placing the tip of the tongue between the teeth. To make sure of this placement, it’s helpful at the beginning to look in a mirror while practicing this sound. You’ll also be able to see how your facial muscles move when pronouncing vowel sounds, or how your lips touch (or don’t touch) when pronouncing ‘M’ and ‘N’ (respectively), etc. SPEAK SLOWLY Of course, you want natural speech when you’re speaking. However, when you are practicing, it’s a good idea to slow down. This will enable you to remember how to make the sound, to allow the facial muscles time to move as far as necessary to create the sound, and to give yourself the opportunity of hearing the sound you make (and, if necessary, to correct it). Don’t worry about speaking abnormally slowly—when you are really speaking, you’ll naturally speed up.     SUGGESTIONS FOR VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR PRACTICE TOP English vocabulary expansion and grammar development come about much quicker and more reliably through usage than through memorization. Here are a few suggestions for independent practice. The basic idea is to use new words and grammar patterns that you have come across (usages that you are somewhat familiar with but not entirely sure of), and use them as the basis for composing a few different sentences. If, on occasion, you’re feeling creative, you can shape all the sentences on the same theme, or even link them into a short description or story. Though somewhat more rigorous than unrelated sentences, this extra challenge also tests logic and continuity. For the most efficient benefit, try to get a native English speaker, a friend or coach, to check your work. Double-space your document so there’ll be enough room to make any corrections that may be required. The first thing to do is check whether or not the word usages and/or grammatical forms are right. If they are, great—you know you’ve got that mastered. If they’re not, try to understand why they were wrong and how to correct them. Finally, use your corrected work for pronunciation drill. This is how you build momentum, and progress with self-confidence. Since these are your own words, things you yourself have thought to say, this kind of practice is one of the best ways to accomplish the most organic and lasting improvement. Make sentences using the following as a guide:    [Avoid overreaching your ability—yet do try to push your limit.] 1) Make each sentence complex—that is, the sentence should have at least two clauses with some form of separating punctuation [comma, semi-colon, colon, dash, parenthesis]. 2) Have the sentences express the unique connotation of the words being used [one should not be able to substitute non-synonyms for the target words]. 3) Have the style and tone of the sentences match the degree of formality or intensity of the usages associated with the target words. 4) Make sentences using the target words in their various parts of speech [noun, verb, adj., adv.]. Remember, this needn’t be boring homework—the more you play with it, the more you’ll both enjoy and learn from it. Another certainty is that the more you practice, the faster you will achieve your goals.     TEACHING ENGLISH ABROAD TOP The following is a selection of quality information sources for those interested in teaching English abroad. Acronyms CELTA Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults    (local contact: International House SF, 49 Powell St. SF CA 94102, 989-4473) ELT English Language Training TEFL [Teaching] English as a Foreign Language TESL [Teaching] English as a Second Language (in Engl-speaking country) TESOL [Teaching] English to Speakers of Other Lang TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language   Certification Programs certifying qualification to teach English as a Second/Foreign Language are available via community colleges, university extensions, private and distance facilities.   Job Listings and Related Information Dave's ESL Café http://www.eslcafe.com EduFind http://www.edufind.com English International http://www.english-international.com ESL Worldwide http://www.eslworldwide.com Jobs in Japan http://www.jobsinjapan.com Teach Abroad http://www.teachabroad.com/search.cfm Teach in China http://www.teach-in-china.com TEFL.NET http://www.tefl.net TEFL Professional Network http://www.tefl.com TESOL Association http://www.tesol.org The Linguist List http://www.linguistlist.org   Publications Directory of Professional Preparation Programs in TESOL http://www.tesol.org Overseas Teacher's Digest http://www.overseasdigest.com/teacher7.html Teaching English Abroad; Susan Griffith, Vacation-Work, 2001 Teaching English Overseas; Jeff Mohamed, English International, 2000     General Information for U.S. Citizens Overseas   Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) ( http://www.osac.gov ) U.S. government agency providing news, information and advisories. Embassy and consulate addresses—available at most libraries, also from the Bureau of Consular Affairs ( http://travel.state.gov ). U.S. tax information ( http://www.irs.ustreas.gov ; 800.829.3676): publications 54 and 514. International Resource Guide (publication catalog)—send #10 SASE to Transitions Abroad Advisory Services, PO Box 344, Amherst MA 01004. CultureGrams ( http://www.culturegrams.com ; 800.528.6279) provider of concise, up-to-date, informative reports on more than 175 nations and territories.     GOOD BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS TOP Recommended titles in English-language literature Part I: 3 to 6 Part II: 7-12 Part III: 13 and older In response to repeated requests, CCC is glad to offer the following recommendations of good books for teenagers and young children (as well as adult readers new to the language). These days, in children’s and young-adult literature, both subject matter and treatment have radically changed—very different from the past. In addition to fantasy and adventure, many difficult, complicated and dark themes occur in this literature now—reflecting life in the modern world, youngsters’ increasing sophistication, and the abilities of youth of all ages to deal with ideas and realities of far greater import than adults may at first think. These titles are selected on the basis of their being interesting and entertaining, not only to youthful readers, but also to adults who read to children and like to talk with them about books. Fiction and non-fiction, informative and fun—the listings are annotated and divided into age-groups: 3 to 6; 7 to 12; and 13 and older (allowing for individual variations). The list attempts to be comprehensive in scope, yet includes only a small number of the wide range of selections currently available to young readers in English. (To save space, only the primary author is listed.) Part I: 3 to 6 Peek-a-Boo! I See You!; Joan Phillips—simple sing-song rhymes Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever—named objects for beginning     readers The Chinese Siamese Cat; Amy Tan—how Siamese cats came to be Where the Wild Things Are; Maurice Sendak—a boy in a wolf suit with other     strange creatures Glasses: Who Needs ‘Em; Lane Smith—all about eyeglasses The Cat in the Hat; Dr. Seuss—a boring rainy afternoon that turns into a     mess The Tale of Peter Rabbit; Beatrix Potter—four furry siblings out at play, but     one of them can’t help causing trouble The Matzah that Papa Brought Home; Fran Manushkin—a Passover     ‘repeat’ story Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm; Jerdine Nolen—a farmer grows balloons The Legend of Mu Lan; Wei Jing—story of a heroine of ancient China Make Way for Ducklings; Robert McCloskey—a duck family looks for a     home Camille and the Sunflowers; Laurence Anholt—a story about Vincent Van     Gogh The Velveteen Rabbit; Margery Williams—tale of a stuffed toy that comes to     life Madeline; Ludwig Bemelmans—a story of an orphan girl in France The Very Quiet Cricket; Eric Carle—all books in this series have a real     surprise hidden inside My First Nature Book; B. Bampton—sweet illustrations of animals on the     farm, in the woods and in the ocean Abuela's Weave; Omar S. Castaneda—story of a Guatemalan girl’s     relationship with her grandmother Trouble With Trolls; Jan Brett—child outwits some pesky trolls Old Bear; Jane Hissey—story of a discarded stuffed toy The Little House; Virginia Lee Burton—how changing times and progress     effect a house Miss Spider’s Tea Party; David Kirk—a story about friendship Additional Titles: Frog and Toad Are Friends; Arnold Lobel—frog and toad go for a swim Matthew ABC; Peter Catalanotto—26 Matthews in a class, each with his own     idiosyncrasy What Charlie Heard; Mordecai Gerstein—picture book biography of     composer Charles Ives The Teddy Bear; David McPhail—tender story about sharing and     compassion Sometimes I’m Bombaloo; Rachel Vail—Katie lets her anger out and goes     ‘bombaloo’ Mole and the Baby Bird; Marjorie Newman—sweet story about letting go of     a caged pet Bubba and Beau, Best Friends; Kathi Appelt— adventures of a baby boy     and puppy in a Texan setting Part II: 7 to 12 The Wizard of Oz; L. Frank Baum—story of a girl’s attempt to return home     from another world The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense; Edward Lear—silly stuff from     the author of ‘The Owl and the Pussy-cat’ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Jules Verne—below the ocean depths with     Captain Nemo aboard the Nautilus The Little Prince; Antoine de Saint-Exupery—wry fable describing a lonely     but enchanting journey to different planets Talk, Talk; Deborah M. Newton Chocolate—an Ashanti legend A Wrinkle in Time; Madeleine L’Engle—three children go through space and     time in a search for their physicist father The Post Office; Rabindranath Tagore—a young boy, resting on doctor’s     orders, chats with people outside his window Harry Potter (series); J. K. Rowling—adventures of a young wizard-in-     training The Hobbit; J. R. R. Tolkien—prequel to the mythic adventure The Lord of     the Rings Trilogy Math Curse; Jon Scieszka—math made funny The Secret of the Golden Pavilion; Carolyn Keene—suspense in a     Hawaiian setting with Nancy Drew, girl detective The Story of Divaali; Nilesh Mistry—based on the Hindu epic, The     Ramayana The Cat Who Went to Heaven; Elizabeth Coatsworth—poor Japanese artist     adds a cat to a painting of Buddha’s death The Chronicles of Narnia; C. S. Lewis—in this fantasy, four children travel to     other worlds, dealing with good and evil (paralleling the teachings of     Christianity) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Roald Dahl—Willy Wonka takes     visitors on an unusual tour The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus; Joel Chandler Harris—funny and     wise folktales of the south as told in the African-American dialect of an old     slave Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; Lewis Carroll—a girl’s strange     encounters in a world different from, yet surprisingly similar to, that of her     ordinary life Additional Titles: All Creatures Great and Small; James Herriot—a veterinarian’s stories     about his first years as a country vet Little Krishna; Harish Johari—mischievous adventures of Krishna as a     young boy Wanted!; Caroline B Cooney—a girl accused of killing her own father Venus Among the Fishes; Elizabeth Hall & Scott O’Dell—dolphins have to     deal with killer whales invading their peaceful territory Ma Liang and His Magic Brush; Han Xing—a Chinese legend The Wave; Todd Strasser—a California high school history class learns a     lesson about the effects of Nazism Marie in Fourth Position; Amy Littlesugar—story of Degas’ “The Little     Dancer’ Homecoming; Cynthia Voigt—abandoned by their parents, four kids set out     alone to reach the home of an elderly relative Stellaluna; Janell Cannon—story of a lost bat The Golden Slipper; Darrell Lum—a Vietnamese legend Poppy; Avi—mouse adventures in Dimwood Forest Time Warp Trio; Jon Sczieska—time-travel tales about three boys and a     magical book Letters from Rifka; Karen Hesse—story about a girl left behind in Poland     when her parents leave for a new life in America Part III: 13 and older The Catcher in the Rye; J. D. Salinger—life from the point of view of the     world’s most articulate cynical adolescent The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Mark Twain—Huck’s journey with     runaway slave Jim along the Mississippi River Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl; Anne Frank—Jewish girl’s account     of hiding from the Nazis in Holland Lost Horizon; James Hilton—tale about the immortal lost world of Shangri-la Slave Dancer; Paula Fox—horrors of the slave trade as seen by a 13 year-     old boy Green Mansions; William H. Hudson—a magical romance of the tropical     forest Helen Keller: The Story of My Life; Helen Keller—autobiography of a blind     deaf-mute who learned to communicate with the world The Good Earth; Pearl S. Buck—story of changing life in late imperial China The Mists of Avalon; Marion Zimmer Bradley—the legends of King Arthur     and the Knights of the Round Table Black Elk Speaks; Black Elk—spirit journey of an Oglala Sioux Indian holy     man The Lord of the Rings Trilogy; J. R. R. Tolkein—fantasy epic of the Third     Age of Middle-Earth based on pre-Christian Scandinavian lore 1984; George Orwell—prophetic work about an all-powerful totalitarian     society The Joy Luck Club; Amy Tan—intertwined stories of Chinese-American     mothers and daughters Catch-22; Joseph Heller—surreal satire on the insanity of war The Color Purple; Alice Walker—young black woman in the South learns     about the difficulties of life and love Frankenstein; Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley—original story of the man-made     monster Tales of the Dervishes; Idries Shah—Sufi Muslim teaching-stories Brave New World; Aldous Huxley—frightening portrayal of a possibly     imminent future Never Cry Wolf; Farley Mowatt—naturalist discovers the truth about wolves     in the Canadian Arctic War of the Worlds; H. G. Wells—most infamous of all alien death-machine     invasion stories Lottery Rose; Irene Hunt—young boy, physically abused by his alcoholic     mother and her mean companion, comes to find safety and love One Hundred Years of Solitude; Gabriel Garcia Marquez—magical realism     in the life of a Latin American village The Picture of Dorian Gray; Oscar Wilde—a man remains mysteriously     young and handsome, while a hidden portrait undergoes a strange     transformation The Hound of the Baskervilles; Arthur Conan Doyle—master detective     Sherlock Holmes is on the case Hiroshima; John Hersey—account of the dropping of the first atomic bomb Stranger in a Strange Land; Robert Heinlein—innocent messiah arrives on     Earth from Mars, causing complications and controversy The Three-Inch Golden Lotus; Feng Jicai—novella about a Chinese     woman with bound feet and what she sacrifices to save her daughter from     the same fate The Night Country; Loren Eisley—anthropologist describes secrets and     wonders of his Nebraska childhood The Education of Little Tree; Forrest Carter—Cherokee Indian boy taken     from his people to an Anglo boarding school Pride and Prejudice; Jane Austen—a comedy of manners in early 19th     century England Seabiscuit: An American Legend; Laura Hillenbrand—story of unlikely     heroes, both equine and human, in a time when the whole country needed     to believe in itself Additional Titles: The Time Machine; H. G. Wells—traveling a million years into the future The Book of Daniel; E. L. Doctorow—based on the McCarthy era Rosenberg     espionage case Animal Farm; George Orwell—utopia is transformed into totalitarianism when     animals act like humans Murder on the Orient Express; Agatha Christie—murder mystery that keeps     the reader guessing Folktales from India; A. K. Ramamujan—a selection of stories from 22     languages The Bad Seed; William March—thriller about a child serial killer Jane Eyre; Charlotte Bronte—plain but spirited governess falls for a man with     a dark secret The Children’s Hour; Lillian Hellman—play about how accusations of     lesbianism impact the lives of two school teachers and their students Guys and Dolls; Damon Runyon—stories in outrageous English about the     underworld denizens of old Broadway The Red Badge of Courage; Stephen Crane—young Civil War recruit     perplexed by the madness of war Remembering the Good Times; Richard Peck—transition to high school     changes the lives of three best friends The Three Musketeers; Alexandre Dumas—historical novel of comradeship     and daring set in the court of Louis XIII of France The Grapes of Wrath; John Steinbeck—destitute Oklahoma families must     leave the dust bowl behind and make a new life in Depression-era     California On the Road; Jack Kerouac—thinly fictionalized autobiography of an icon of     the ‘Beat’ phenomenon, pioneering the cultural changes of the ’60s Daniel’s Story; Carol Matas—the Holocaust experience through the eyes of     a young Jewish boy Heart of Darkness; Joseph Conrad—haunting journey up the Congo River     by a Polish-born master of English literary style One Bird; Kyoko Mori—15 year-old Megumi must cope with Japanese     customs when her parents divorce The Old Man and the Sea; Ernest Hemingway—story of an old Cuban     fisherman and his ordeal with a giant marlin Treasure Island; Robert Louis Stevenson—swashbuckling adventure on the     high seas The Fountainhead; Ayn Rand—young architect sticks to the author’s     principles, battling conventional standards and those attempting to defeat     him The Forest People; Colin Turnbull—the author’s experience living with the     primitive BaMbuti Pygmies of Africa Cold Mountain; Charles Frazier—odyssey set in the closing months of the     Civil War, with elements of English characteristic of that period