HOW TO USE NON-TEXTBOOK RESOURCES TO STUDY ENGLISH

HOW TO USE NON-TEXTBOOK RESOURCES

TO STUDY ENGLISH

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Streamed live on Aug 26, 2021

Learn English with EnglishClass101.com

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You are an English beginner and want to get started with the English language? With this English lesson, we will tell you How to Use Non-Textbook Resources to Study English. You will be able to make huge progress fast and express yourself in English.

 

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HOW TO LEARN ANY LANGUAGE IN SIX MONTHS

HOW TO LEARN ANY LANGUAGE IN SIX MONTHS 

CHRIS LONSDALE - TEDxLingnanUniversity

23,250,917 views•Nov 20, 2013

TEDx Talks

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CHRIS LONSDALE is Managing Director of Chris Lonsdale & Associates, a company established to catalyse breakthrough performance for individuals and senior teams. In addition, he has also developed a unique and integrated approach to learning that gives people the means to acquire language or complex technical knowledge in short periods of time.

 

Jan-21-2014 Update.  The video transcripts are now available via the following links:

 

English Only:

http://www.the-third-ear.com/files/TE...

 

English + Chinese Translation:

http://www.kungfuenglish.com/files/TE...

 

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

 

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FOR STUDENTS : HOW TO TRIPLE YOUR MEMORY

 

HOW TO TRIPLE YOUR MEMORY BY USING THIS TRICK |

RICARDO LIEUW ON | TEDXHAARLEM

8,730,895 views•Dec 12, 2017

TEDx Talks

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Do you recall studying for your exams? You probably do. But do you remember how you studied, how you memorized French words or the year of the American civil war? Now, that’s probably harder. As a teenager, Ricardo Lieuw On was packing groceries when he knew what he wanted to study: he wanted to learn about learning. He picked up a study in psychology and learned how to reduce his learning time from 3 hours to 1 hour on the same piece of content. He gained the same knowledge in 200% less time. And specially for TEDxHaarlem, he shares the secret of his technique.

  This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

 

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FOR STUDENTS : HOW TO ABSORB TEXTBOOKS LIKE A SPONGE

HOW TO ABSORB TEXTBOOKS LIKE A SPONGE

4,740,413 views•Jul 21, 2015

Matt DiMaio

120K subscribers

 

Absorb Textbooks Like a Sponge.  Discover how to IMPROVE COMPREHENSION and GET BETTER GRADES, while REDUCING STUDY TIME. Reading a textbook is NOT like reading a novel.  You will learn an EASY & PROVEN METHOD for getting the information from any textbook to go straight into your brain, without having to cram or underline a bunch of stuff.  It takes NO practice and works instantly.  Simply follow the easy steps I've covered here and see just how much better you do. 

 

Check out my newest book on Amazon: "Straight 'A' Strategies for SUCCESSFUL ONLINE LEARNING. https://www.amazon.com//dp/B08GFSK82Z

 

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How To-139: "How to Develop Good Communication Skills"

How to Develop Good Communication Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Here are some guidelines for developing good communication
skills that you can practice anywhere and at anytime.

Steps

1. Know what communication really is. Communication is the process of transferring signals/messages between a sender and a receiver through various methods (written words, nonverbal cues, spoken words). It is also the mechanism we use to establish and modify relationships.
   
2. Manifest constructive attitudes and beliefs. The attitudes you bring to communication will have a huge impact on the way you handle yourself and those with whom you interact. Choose to be honest, patient, optimistic, respectful, genuine, accepting, and believe in other people's competence.
   
3. Make eye contact. Whether you are speaking or being spoken to, looking into the eyes of the person you are in conversation with can make the experience successful. Eye contact conveys interest, and encourages your partner to be interested in you in return. In less intimate settings, when giving a speech or when in front of several people, holding the eyes of different members of your audience can personalize what you are saying and maintain attention.
   
4. Be aware of what your body is saying. Body language can say so much more than a mouthful of words. An open stance with arms easily to your side tells anyone you are talking to that you are approachable and open to hearing what they have to say. Arms crossed and shoulders hunched, on the other hand, suggest disinterest in conversation or unwillingness to communicate. 'Often, communication can be stopped before it starts by body language that tells people you do not want to talk:' Appropriate posture and an approachable stance can make even difficult conversations flow more smoothly.
   
5. Have courage to say what you think! Communication skills begin with simple communication. Take time each day to be aware of your opinions and feelings. Individuals who are hesitant to speak because they do not feel they have worthwhile opinions need not fear: what is important or worthwhile to one person may not be to another and may be more so to someone else. In a world so very big, someone is bound to agree with you, or to open your eyes to an even deeper perspective. The courage to say what you think can afford you the opportunity to learn more than you did before.
   
6. Speak loudly enough to be heard. When you are saying what you think, have the confidence to say it so as to be heard. An appropriate volume can inform listeners that you mean what you say, you have thought about what you are saying, and what you are saying is worth hearing. An appropriate tone and volume ensure your listeners hear exactly what you are saying, and decreases room for misunderstanding.
   
7. Practice. Communication skills can be practiced every day in settings that range from the more social to the more professional. New skills take time to refine, but each time you use your communication skills you open yourself to opportunities and future partnerships.
   
8. Develop effective listening skills. Not only should one be able to speak effectively, one must listen to the other person's words and engage in communication on what the other person is speaking about. Avoid the impulse to listen only for the end of their sentence so that you can blurt out the ideas or memories that come to your mind while the other person is speaking.

Tips

• Try to speak fluently and try to make sure people can hear you when you speak.
  
• Make sure you're using proper grammar as well.
  
• Never rush with your words. Listen carefully and speak slowly so the other person can decipher what you are saying

Related wikiHows

• How to Brainstorm With a Group of People
  
• How to Listen
  
• How to Communicate in an Assertive Manner
  
• How to Give Constructive Criticism

Sources and Citations

• http://www.tips-to-organize-life.com/organize-your-speech.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Develop Good Communication Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-138: "How to Post Your Resume Online"

How to Post Your Resume Online

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

When you are out of work or looking for a better job, posting your resume online can help you cover your bases. Of the various sources you may find your next job, it is becoming increasingly more likely that you'll find a job through some career site. Resume posting can give you a jump start to your new job by increasing your chances of being seen by potential employers and recruiters.

Steps

1. If you don't have a resume yet, create one as outlined in other WikiHows listed below.
   
2. Update your resume so that it is better formatted to be posted online.
   
• Convert your resume to a text-only document (see the tips below).
  
• Update the words and phrases in your resume so that an employer or recruiter doing an online search will find your resume.
  
• For example: If you are a computer programmer and your job title was 'Programmer/Analyst II', but what you want a job for is really related to HTML webpage programming, you should make sure that you mention HTML, webpages, programming and other related words and phrases all over in your resume. Don't over-do it- your resume should still read nicely, but make sure that you include the keywords and phrases that you'll want to be found under.
  
• Keep a Word formatted copy of your resume as many job boards also allow you to upload the .doc version. Plus, interested hiring managers will generally ask for a better formatted resume than what the job board offers them.
  
3. If your resume is long, you may want to consider preparing multiple specialized resumes for each type of job you would consider. This allows you to customize your resume to somewhat match your potential employer, without you even knowing who that employer is.
   
4. Create a cover letter that makes more sense to an employer who finds you online. You can't be specific and talk directly to your new boss by name on a job board, so you should change your cover letter to reflect that. Your cover letter should also be converted to a text-only document (see the tips below).
   
5. Target the big job boards first:
   
• Monster
  
• Career Builder
  
• Yahoo/HotJobs
  
6. However, don't completely ignore the smaller boards:
   
• There are many job boards that are specific to an industry. If you find job boards for your industry, it might be best to post to all of them to increase your odds.
  
• Many of the smaller general boards are also a good shot. Many employers don't want to pay a lot of money to the big job boards, so they use a smaller board to search for a new employee.
  
• The more job boards you are on, the higher your chances of being found by your future employer.
  
7. Many career boards have what they call a Resume Builder and/or a Paste your Resume section. To fill out a job board's resume builder section, you'll need to gather your job history, your education information and skills from out of your resume and type them in separately.
   
• For each job, list:
  
• The name of the company you worked for.
  
• Your start and end date.
  
• What your job responsibilities were.
  
• Your major accomplishments at that job.
  
8. Take advantage of the free tools that a lot of the job boards offer when you post your resume on their site.
   
• A lot of the sites have what they call Job Agents or something similar; which are automatic search engines that look for jobs that match what you want. Many career site's job agents can be setup to email you a list of matching jobs as often as you like. It is worth taking the time to make sure that you have several job agents setup to send you not too many and not too few job leads. Try to setup a few different agents that target jobs that are slightly more broad than exactly what you are looking for. This allows you to filter out the job notifications you don't want, but makes sure you get all the ones you don't want to pass up.

Tips

• The majority of the job boards ask you to paste a text-only resume. When a job board asks you to paste your resume, don't paste from an HTML or Microsoft Word formatted resume. Save your resume as a .txt file, open it in Notepad and format the spacing as follows:
  
• Don't try to center or right-align text. This formatting will be lost and won't look the way you'd like it to. Left-align all text.
  
• Since you won't be able to use bold, underline, or italics, you can still make things look nice by CAPITALIZING section headings and using blank lines between sections.
  
• Put one or two blank lines between each job in your job history, then put just one carriage-return after each line of data.
  
• Consider using a professional resume writer who has experience with online resumes. It can be a science to put the right skills and phrases into a resume for you to come out on top of an employers search. If you do hire a resume writer, make sure and ask up front whether they have online posting experience and compare a few different writers.
  
• Consider using a resume posting service or a resume distribution service to save time and get the widest exposure quickly. Although most of distribution services cost from $50 - $100 dollars or more, how much money are you losing by not having your job more quickly? Using an outside service also allows you to focus your time on less tedious methods of job searching.
  
• Pay attention to what you get for your money. Some sites send your resume out by email to employers and recruiters, some sites fax your resume to employers, and others actually post your resume online as if you had done it yourself. You may want to use one or more of these types of services.
  
• If you compare different services to each other, make sure you understand which type of service each is providing so you can do an apples to apples comparison.
  
• Most resume posting sites tell you how many sites you will be posted to. Don't just base your decision on the number of sites. This can be tricky because sometimes if you post your resume to one site, it is actually putting you out on various sister-sites at the same time. A big example of this is newspaper sites. Some of the companies list each newspaper or regional site and count it as one of the sites they post to. This artificially inflates their numbers above their competition.
  
• It wouldn't hurt to look up the company at the BBB.

Warnings

• Make a decision about putting a street address on your resume. Some human resources managers require or strongly suggest putting one's home address on a resume, while others do not. Those who prefer or require it may see a home address as a sign of stability and may even discard resumes that lack home addresses on the basis that such an applicant is making it "seem like there is something to hide" from the company. However, when making this decision, weigh the privacy implications associated with this choice.
  
• Watch out for spam! Similar to your home address decision, the choice to use a particular email address on your resume is an important one. On almost every job site, when you register to post your resume online, you will need to provide an email address. Posting your email on job boards is a sure fire way to get both job prospects and a certain amount of spam. Consider getting a separate temporary email address which you can use for just your job search, then discard it when you are done. Some of the resume posting services can provide you with an email address on their servers and even filter out the spam for you.

Things You'll Need

• Your resume
  
• Your cover letter
  
• Access to a computer with Internet access
  
• An email address (preferably a separate one you don't use for anything else)
  
• Time (5-30 minutes for each site you post your resume to)
  
• However, if you use a resume posting service, you just post your resume with them, and they post it on many job boards at once, in this case you will probably need $50 to $100.
  
• You will also need a computer.

Related wikiHows

• How to Write a Resume
  
• How to Write a Cover Letter
  
• How to Find a Job Using Search Sites
  
• How to Include References on a Resume
  
• How to Write a Theater Resume
  
• How to Be a Reporter

Sources and Citations

• List of Online Job Banks
  
• Google's Directory of Resume Posting/Distribution Services
  
• Information on top job sites

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Post Your Resume Online. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-137: "How to Make a Resume"

How to Make a Resume

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Want to make your resume shine? Here's how to put together a resume that'll impress any employer.

Steps

1. Start by making a list of all the jobs you had and the dates. Don't leave anything out. Include jobs, awards, educational degrees, skills, personal projects: anything that would be impressive and/or interesting to anyone (even if not impressive or interesting to everyone). Even after your resume is finished, maintain this list. That way, you don't have to revisit those portions year after year. Organize your list by category.
   
2. Tailor your list to the position you're applying for (this will require a bit of research). Trim out each item that is not directly relevant to the job and add on two or three sentences explaining the relevance of each item. Whenever possible, list your experience in terms of accomplishments and achievements rather than tasks and responsibilities. Show your success. You may end up with many different versions of your resume, each one emphasizing a different set of skills.
   
3. Consider stating your objective. Again, keep this short and to the point, a single sentence. Personalize it to the position. Make sure your objective doesn't contradict the position you are applying for. Many employers will ignore an objective; so if it doesn't add something to the resume, don't include it.
   
4. Now it's time to format. Mind the look and feel of your resume. It should have clean lines and be easy to read. Make it two pages max, and only one page if you're just out of school - if you have more to share, save it for the interview. The font should be 8-13, no smaller, no bigger, but you should be able to read it well when you print it out. Black and white is best unless you're emphasizing your artistic or publishing skills (and even then be careful and tasteful). Keep the format neat and organized.
   
5. Include an address, phone number and email address. But, do not include an email that shows you shouldn't be taken seriously, such as beerandboys@email.com. Don't use your current employer's name, number or email, either. If necessary, get an extra email address with a professional name that you can use for job searches.
   
6. Proofread, proofread and proofread again. Have a friend or professional that you trust proofread. Have an enemy proofread. Have a stranger proofread. Then proof again! Take criticism well and remember that just because someone suggests something doesn't mean you have to make the change. Don't boast about written communication skills with a typo.
   
7. Toot your own horn, but be careful. There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. Try not to cross that line.
   
8. Follow directions. This is a huge indicator of responsibility to a hiring manager. If the ad says "no calls please," then don't call! If the job description asks you to provide your salary history, then include that information in your resume.
   
9. Consider hiring a professional to help sell yourself smart. After all they have dedicated their lives to producing these documents and should know a thing or two about what works and what doesn't.

Tips

• Remember: the point of a resume is not to get the job, it's to get the interview. Focus on your best accomplishments. Focus on things you've accomplished so that whoever reads the resume will think, "I want to find out more about how this person did that."
  
• Be consistent! Format each entry in your resume in the same way.
  
• You might not need to list your whole name if it takes up two full lines (Elizabeth Anna Emily Isringhausen; Elizabeth Isringhausen is fine or even Liz Isringhausen if that's the way you like to be addressed.
  
• Don't over qualify yourself for a position. Give enough information for interest and save the "wow" factor for the interview. Write the resume for the position you are applying for without altering the truth.
  
• Don't attach 6 letters of recommendation, your diploma, your birth certificate, and your CPR and fitness certifications. Indicate your current certifications and be prepared to give references upon request. Do not waste space on your resume by saying "References available".
  
• If you're just out of school put your educational details in before your employment details, with the most recent first on both of them. If you've been out of school for more than a year, or you have significant job credentials then list past employment and accomplishments first.
  
• Another approach is to lead with your strong suit, whether it be education, skills, work or volunteer experience. The idea is to showcase your strengths and hide any weaknesses.
  
• Detail your duties within each position but don't go overboard. Accomplishments are more impressive than duties. "Cut expenses by 25% over six months while maintaining historic revenue levels," is more impressive than, "Was responsible for a $500,000 budget." The latter says, "I did this," the former says, "I did this and I can do it for you."
  
• Highlight your expertise in software programs, languages, customer service and/or any other particular skills that will impress the interviewer.
  
• Listing personal hobbies is optional, but make sure they are sending the right impression. In other words, you might want to mention your stamp collection if you're applying for a job at a delivery company, but don't include Monday night football at Hooters.
  
• Be careful about listing volunteer activities. When you start listing things that tie you to political and other emotionally charged organizations, you might get put in a bucket of preconceived notions. It's not right, but everyone has biases and it is better to avoid them if possible.
  
• Quantify your accomplishments, if possible, by applying specific numbers to your successes. For instance, if you streamlined the flow of work for your department, define how much time it saved the company over a period of, say, 4 months. Time is money.
  
• Most people are somewhat shy and modest about what they have done on the job. Don't be! Think hard about what you've done and what you've accomplished. For instance, instead of saying "answered phones," say "answered multi-line phone and routed calls for an office of 43 people." The example here shows the prospective employer the volume of work you've handled and the complexity of the equipment.
  
• Print your resume on good quality paper, such as 20 pound bond white paper. Fancy papers are nice, but it's the content of your resume that employers care about.
  
• If possible, keep the resume for a day or two before reading it again. You may think of something else you want to add before submitting it to prospective employers.
  
• Write a cover letter that is short, sweet and to the point (and specifically written for the job you're applying for). If at all possible, do not write more than a page-long cover letter (make sure, though, that you include everything the employer asks for). Try and remember that the person reading it is probably looking at hundreds of resumes. Address logical questions in your cover letter. If you're applying for a position in California but your resume has a New York address, explain why. If you don't, the reader will probably trash the resume (unless the company is ready and willing to pay for a relocation package).
  
• If you do have to use two pages, make sure that the second page is at least half filled. If not, go back and re-work the formatting to see if you can fit it on one page. You can also review all the information you have and make sure it is all necessary and relevant. Remove the "fluff".
  
• Use no more than three different fonts.
  
• Always backup your resume on a floppy (yes, a floppy), flash USB drive, or even print it out.
  
• Use white space effectively. The resume layout should be professional, crisp and well-defined. If you have too much information on the page, feel free to leave out what you feel is not 100% necessary, such as that fast food job you had in high school, if you have other more relevant experience to draw from.
  
• Do not pad your resume. This may be illegal in some instances, and is quite likely to make you look like a fool.
  
• Do not include irrelevant personal information. If you make inappropriate personal disclosures on your resumes, employers may perceive you as having poor judgment. They may also, intentionally or unintentionally, discriminate against you.
  
• Although in some cultures, it's customary to list your age, marital status, and family status, it isn't common in the United States. If you think age is important, you can allude to it with the year you graduated college or high school. Otherwise, these dates aren't necessary. Beware that, depending on the industry, you may face age discrimination if you graduated many years ago. For example, in creative industries, having graduated more than a few years ago may disqualify you from getting an interview for a junior position.
  
• In some countries (like Germany) you have to include a photograph with your application. In others, like the US and Canada, including a photo will immediately disqualify you with many employers. This just goes to show how important it is to research the local culture if you apply for a job in another country.
  
• Many word processors, including Microsoft Word, have "fill-in-the-blank" style resumes. Check for one with an appropriate style and then follow their guiding. It can give you help on how to start.
  
• Make a lot of drafts!
  
• Remember, the resume lands you the interview and the interview gets you the job!

Related wikiHows

• How to Write a Resume for graduates
  
• How to Find an Internship
  
• How to Switch Careers
  
• How to Get a Job for Which You Are Not Really Qualified
  
• How to Develop Your Personal Elevator Pitch
  
• How to Write a Good Cv (curriculum Vitae)
  
• How to Include References on a Resume
  
• How to Post Your Resume Online
  
• How to Answer an Interview Question on Your Previous Job Experience
  
• How to Write a Theater Resume

Sources and Citations

• Example CV Resume Template

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Resume. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-136: "How to Improve Your Writing Skills'

How to Improve Your Writing Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Thinking about becoming the next Ernest Hemingway? Or Stephen King? It takes a great deal of practice, planning, experience of the world and talent.

Steps

1. Write down ideas for your writing, subtitles, or even topic. (It's best to do all of this unless you're given a topic!)
   
2. Narrow down your list to important facts and details so you have your set planned.
   
3. Write an outline by listing the details for each paragraph.
   
4. By now you should have basically your whole story planned. If not: make an additional outline, edit your work, add some brainstorm ideas, or make an idea web.
   
5. You're now ready to start your "sloppy copy," otherwise known as your first draft! Begin by writing down an essay-looking model from which to work.
   
6. Revise your work with another color.
   
7. Edit! Look in the dictionary to check your spelling and look in the thesaurus to vary your word choices and make your written voice more interesting.
   
8. Read your new draft aloud to anyone and accept any feedback. Doing this aloud will just let you know whether it needs some work. If you got ahead of yourself and forgot letters or punctuation, you will immediately realize it. Add any changes in a third color.
   
9. Do your second draft. Do not skip lines. Write in "essay form."
   
10. If you are happy with the essay now, you can turn it in for credit/publishing, after editing for spelling and grammar. If you're not, do steps 6, 7, and 8 again.

Tips

. Make a mnemonic device to help you remember things you often forget.

• Similes and metaphors are fun to use!
  
• Read books, newspapers, and magazines to help you find interesting facts you could use in your writing.
  
• The info sources are for finding info about a "knowledge essay".
  
• Teachers admire people who work hard instead of racing to finish the essay at the last minute.
  
• If you are going to use a computer, write out your story or essay by hand first, then type it on a computer. Writing by hand prepares you for essay tests. It also encourages very different ways of thinking; computers can tend to make work look more "finished" or "official" than it really is.
  
• Use complete words and sentences. An essay or story is not a chatroom.
  
• Good writers read a lot. Read all the time: magazines, novels, the paper, anything. Reading a wide range of material increases your vocabulary and gives you a sense of what you're trying to achieve.
  
• Just have fun while writing. Writing shouldn't be torture, it is a skill.

Warnings

. Be careful to stay on topic. If you are writing about something important, you may find that your main message becomes buried under trivial stuff. This makes editing particularly important. Depending on your topic and form of writing, you may find it helpful to include subtitles. Subtitles may keep you focused and may help readers skip material that they do not necessarily need to read. If you have a habit of going off topic, look at each paragraph. Does the paragraph contain just one main idea? You may have information that is irrelevant or belongs somewhere else in the paper. Also be sure to use transition words. Adverbs such as “however,” “therefore,” and “finally” can make your writing easier to follow and more pleasing to the ear.

• Be sure that your writing is well organized! Poorly organized writing may not read well and may even confuse your readers. As you go from paragraph to paragraph, check for cohesion. Try to put your paragraphs into some kind of logical order. Oftentimes, you will do well to save the best for last. In a persuasive essay, try to save your best argument for last. In a feature article, save the most interesting information for the end (or the beginning).
  
• Writing takes patience and practice.
  
• Use synonyms with care. There is no quicker way to sound ignorant than to use a word as the wrong part of speech or in the wrong context. Always look up words in the dictionary and make sure you understand their meaning before using them. Also consider connotations of words and know the importance of good word choice.
  
• Do not plagiarize! Realize that your references are very important in essays. They even lend credibility to your research. If you are writing something for a writing class, you may want to ask your teacher how to cite your references because there are many different styles. Be careful how you use words and phrases from the original text. You may need to use quotation marks around certain words that you borrow from the original, depending on how common the words are.

Things You'll Need

. A dictionary
. A thesaurus
. Lots of paper - legal pads (long-sized & yellow color) work well
. Pens (in various colors)
. An encyclopedia
. Info sources
. A computer (for the final draft)
. Reading material (optional)

Related wikiHows

. How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing

• How to Use English Punctuation Correctly
  
• How to Write a Report
  
• How to Write a Resume

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Writing Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-135: "How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

We are presented with a plethora of alternatives. Critical thinking helps us analyze each alternative and choose one over the other. Colleges are paid good money for developing our critical thinking skills. Whether it be for critiquing a wikihow article, considering a business proposal, or analyzing a poem, these simple steps will help you:

Steps

1. Understand your own purpose: Criticism, especially artistic, is subjective. What do you want to achieve by your critique? Do you want to evaluate an artistic work, or an objective business proposal?
   
2. Understand the purpose of the person whose work you're analyzing: Most criticism goes off its target simply because the critic doesn't take into account what the writer or painter wants to convey. The writer may aim for and hit the branch, while you may think he has actually missed the bird on the branch. Has the writing or painting succeeded in accomplishing its original purpose?
   
3. Know the alternatives: Research works related to the one you're reviewing. Criticism can only be done by a standard: A thing is higher or lower in relation to something. Find out about contemporary writings and similar endeavors in past ages. If you are evaluating whether to buy a car from someone, find out how much other options like buying second-hand, or renting a car will cost you. If you can find nothing related, let the standard be your own vision of how the project should shape up, or how the originator of the proposal wants it to shape out.
   
4. Learn logic: Study how an argument is constructed, what premises are, and how the conclusion is reached. Then study the fallacies of logic, and practice pointing them out in your daily life.
   
5. Learn the critical jargon: Every field has different critical jargon. For example, in poetry terms like alliteration, enjambment, and the trochaic meter, show that you know what you're talking about. These terms will help make your critique more concrete, and give you hotspots on which to focus your critique.
   
6. Use the GBI technique: The lateral thinking psychologist Edward de Bono states that we should list the Good, the Bad and the Interesting points.
   
7. Don't just say you don't like it, say why you don't like it, and add suggestions to make it better.

Tips

• Don't be absolute, yet don't be timid in your criticism: Try to avoid absolutes like "never", and use them only when you're completely sure. However, at the same time, be assertive in your criticism. Think how much less motivating this saying would be: "Slow and steady, in certain cases, wins the race."
  
• Use libraries and the Internet, to find out information on the topic you're critiquing. An uninformed critique is sometimes worse than one merely executed badly.
  
• Ask for other people's opinions. They most likely will offer a new perspective which could change your approach. Consider people both from different age groups and different occupations.
  
• Practice critiquing, as you'll get better at it. Take notice if others critique your critique.
  
• You can critique something much, much better if you can actually do it.
  
• For example, only a writer can properly analyze another writer's works. *Read other people's critiques in newspapers and books, and learn from their mistakes and strengths to improve your own style.
  
• Be diplomatic. Your aim is not the person himself, but the proposal he puts forward.

Warnings

• Give criticism in a non-offensive way. People get defensive if something they pride themselves on gets attacked. Prefacing criticism with praise usually works well.

Related wikiHows

• How to Restate a Thesis
  
• How to Write a Paper in a Night
  
• How to Write Articles
  
• How to Write a Swalesian Introduction

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-134: "How to Improve Your Reading Skills"

How to Improve Your Reading Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Many people have trouble with reading. Reading is a process of the brain where you look at symbols on a page, and your mind sees the patterns of characters and understands the meaning in them. If you develop good reading skills, it'll be very helpful to your future. Aren't your school teachers always saying 'Read more books!'? Here are a few steps and tips to get started.

Steps

1. Find some easy reading material. Find a children's book or a newspaper article, or something on wikiHow.
   
2. Sound out each letter as best you can and you will notice they form some sort of word. Some letters fit together. For example, "th" is not pronounced as t + h, but rather as one unit. This is called a 'phoneme'.
   
3. Find a place to read where you can concentrate. This may be someplace secret where no one will bother you, or simply your home at a time when it is quiet.
   
4. Begin your reading by looking at the pictures, or listening to the music to get a feel for what you are going to be reading about.
   
5. Start with titles, names, or other large print items that you may know.
   
6. Read as much as you are able. When you start getting bored or need a break, take one. Reading should be fun and enjoyable, don't force it. After your break, return to where you were, and continue.
   
7. Reread the material. It is okay to reread something if you do not understand it fully the first time.
   
8. Go to the library and pick up lots of books. Pick books depending on your age level.
   
9. Read the page carefully. Don't rush, take your time. Most people think that skimming the page(skimming means to just scan the whole page and hardly take in a couple of words)is a way of fast reading, but this is definitely not true.
   
10. Use context clues to find out a word's meaning. Context clues are when a person figures out the meaning of a word by seeing how the word was used in a sentence. For example, you were reading the following sentence and wanted to know what 'pessimist' means:My mother is always happy and optimistic, the total opposite of my brother, the pessimist. So from the sentence, you can gather that 'pessimist' means the opposite of happy, so pessimist means being moody and angry. Good, experienced readers always use context clues! If you find a word that you're totally stumped on, use the dictionary! If you want to save time and the hassle of turning pages, go to the online dictionary.
    
11. Reread! If you don't understand what you are reading, read over the sentence(s) again. Try reading the words out loud to yourself. If you still don't understand something, ask a good reader nearby to explain the sentence(s)to you, or simply pick up a book that is easier to read and more appropriate to your age level.
    
12. Keep reading! Try to read as much as you can on your free time. Reading will help you in lots of ways; your vocabulary will become larger and more sophisticated and you will notice your grades change for the better in school. Have fun reading!

Tips

• Standing works better for some people. Some read while walking on a treadmill or a track, exercising both the body and mind!
  
• While most people disagree with this, most things you need to know are in books. Therefore it is wise when you are comfortable reading general material to increase your reading speed as soon as possible. A good guide to this is Wade E. Cutler's Triple Your Reading Speed.
  
• Use a spreadsheet creatively. ( spreadsheets and not word processors) Engage in a lively dialog, spend time making sure that you get the gist, make it entertaining.
  
• Remember that you should read at your own pace.
  
• If you want to see how efficiently you're reading, take a pencil and make a dot with the pencil for every time you reread the page.

Warnings

• Sitting in one position for a long time can make you sleepy or even injured. Make sure you stretch before and during reading to keep awake and comfortable.
  
• Reading in the dark can be potentially damaging to one's eyesight, so ensure that you have sufficient lighting before reading.

Things You'll Need

• Reading material: book, magazine, song lyrics, newspaper, etc. Try to pick something interesting, otherwise you will most likely be using your reading material for a pillow.
  
• Table or other place to put your reading material. This could also be your lap.
  
• Comfortable place to sit. Find a quiet place without distraction.

Related wikiHows

• How to Understand the Book You Are Reading
  
• How to Build Literacy Skills Through Games
  
• How to Become an Advanced English Speaker
  
• How to Use Children's Books to Encourage Kids to Read
  
• How to Fall Asleep With Audio Books
  
• How to Get Your Boyfriend to Read

Sources and Citations

• http://www.uk-student.net/modules/wfsection/viewarticles.php?category=10

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Reading Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-133: "How to Develop Good Communication Skills"

How to Develop Good Communication Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Here are some guidelines for developing good communication
skills that you can practice anywhere and at anytime.

Steps

1. Know what communication really is. Communication is the process of transferring signals/messages between a sender and a receiver through various methods (written words, nonverbal cues, spoken words). It is also the mechanism we use to establish and modify relationships.
   
2. Manifest constructive attitudes and beliefs. The attitudes you bring to communication will have a huge impact on the way you handle yourself and those with whom you interact. Choose to be honest, patient, optimistic, respectful, genuine, accepting, and believe in other people's competence.
   
3. Make eye contact. Whether you are speaking or being spoken to, looking into the eyes of the person you are in conversation with can make the experience successful. Eye contact conveys interest, and encourages your partner to be interested in you in return. In less intimate settings, when giving a speech or when in front of several people, holding the eyes of different members of your audience can personalize what you are saying and maintain attention.
   
4. Be aware of what your body is saying. Body language can say so much more than a mouthful of words. An open stance with arms easily to your side tells anyone you are talking to that you are approachable and open to hearing what they have to say. Arms crossed and shoulders hunched, on the other hand, suggest disinterest in conversation or unwillingness to communicate. 'Often, communication can be stopped before it starts by body language that tells people you do not want to talk:' Appropriate posture and an approachable stance can make even difficult conversations flow more smoothly.
   
5. Have courage to say what you think! Communication skills begin with simple communication. Take time each day to be aware of your opinions and feelings. Individuals who are hesitant to speak because they do not feel they have worthwhile opinions need not fear: what is important or worthwhile to one person may not be to another and may be more so to someone else. In a world so very big, someone is bound to agree with you, or to open your eyes to an even deeper perspective. The courage to say what you think can afford you the opportunity to learn more than you did before.
   
6. Speak loudly enough to be heard. When you are saying what you think, have the confidence to say it so as to be heard. An appropriate volume can inform listeners that you mean what you say, you have thought about what you are saying, and what you are saying is worth hearing. An appropriate tone and volume ensure your listeners hear exactly what you are saying, and decreases room for misunderstanding.
   
7. Practice. Communication skills can be practiced every day in settings that range from the more social to the more professional. New skills take time to refine, but each time you use your communication skills you open yourself to opportunities and future partnerships.
   
8. Develop effective listening skills. Not only should one be able to speak effectively, one must listen to the other person's words and engage in communication on what the other person is speaking about. Avoid the impulse to listen only for the end of their sentence so that you can blurt out the ideas or memories that come to your mind while the other person is speaking.

Tips

• Try to speak fluently and try to make sure people can hear you when you speak.
  
• Make sure you're using proper grammar as well.

Related wikiHows

• How to Brainstorm With a Group of People
  
• How to Listen
  
• How to Communicate in an Assertive Manner
  
• How to Give Constructive Criticism

Sources and Citations

• http://www.tips-to-organize-life.com/organize-your-speech.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Develop Good Communication Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-132: "How to Improve Your Spelling Skills"

How to Improve Your Spelling Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Have you ever searched over your paper/essay/article looking for mistakes, typos, and misspellings? Do you find yourself spending a lot of time referencing a dictionary? With a little work (and some time), you can improve your accuracy. There will always be that 'one that got away', but you will save a lot of time in the long run.

Steps

1. Buy yourself a word search magazine, do a search to find puzzles on-line, or maybe, borrow some word searches from friends.
   
2. Use the list that comes with each word search to know what words to look for.
   
3. Using the list is helpful, but once you have gained enough experience, you will find the list almost unnecessary. Give yourself an extra challenge by not using the list.
   
4. Look for words in the puzzles, and then start looking for words without using the list...perhaps pitting yourself against the puzzle by seeing if you can find all the words without the list.
   
5. Notice that you will start to recognize patterns, as well as, knowing what order the letters are likely to be in.
   
6. Play word games, for instance, Scrabble. This will help you increase your word building skills.
   
7. Use the Internet. There are sites that will give you ideas on what to look for. A couple of sites are these two OWLs (online writing lab).[1][2]

Tips

. You will need, more than anything, the desire to improve these skills and an interest in word search puzzles.

• Always remember that words will read both ways, frontwards and backwards.
  
• Puzzles can be found in large and small print and different degrees of difficulty. Look around.
  
• Remember, you are exercising your brain. Like any exercise, the more you do it, the better you get.

Warnings

• Doing puzzles can create the desire to do more puzzles and more types of puzzles. You are much better off finding on-line sources of free puzzles, because you will probably save money that way.

Related wikiHows

• How to Have Good Mental Health
  
• How to Improve Your Writing Skills
  
• How to Analyze Your Skills and Job Options
  
• How to Improve Your Reading Skills
  
• How to Develop Good Communication Skills
  
• How to Use Your wikiHow Skills to Advance Your Career
  
• How to Strengthen Study Skills
  
• How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills
  
• How to Inventory Your Knowledge and Skills to Write Articles for wikiHow

Sources and Citations

• http://www.allstarpuzzles.com/ This site is free and has a VERY wide variety of puzzles to choose from, and note: this site is in part the basis of this article.

1. ↑ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/561/01/


2. ↑ http://ualr.edu/owl/proofreading.htm

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Improve Your Proofreading or Spelling Skills. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-131: "How to Succeed at Psychometric Tests"

How to Succeed at Psychometric Tests

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Psychometric testing is a commonly used method of assessing prospective employees. With preparation it is possible to improve your test scores. Psychometric tests focus on certain aspects of your knowledge, typically aptitude things like number or spelling aptitude, things that are easily answered in a 'yes/no, black and white' kind of way. And this is why they're frequently administered from a computer. Personality questionnaires also form part of the psychometric testing world.
While some people think psychometric testing is rubbish, more than a few companies invest a lot of money in buying it - so, love it or loathe it, there's a chance you'll have to undertake the tests at some stage.

Steps

1. If you've been away from formal education for a while, (or your education wasn't that formal in the first place) get some practice at doing tests. The tests you set yourself up with for starters could be as simple as the surveys you find in popular magazines. The personality psychometric tests are not vastly different, so start there.
   
2. Practice working against the clock. Psychometric tests are always timed - so there's a pressure to get answers down and move on to the next question. If you are using the 'Word Power' test found in Reader's Digest (as an example), set a timer (or have someone time you) to allow for about 20 seconds per question. Don't worry if you don't get the test done within the time. What you are trying to do is a) get used to the stress of doing short tests under time pressure, and b) expand your vocabulary.
   
3. Practice on other tests.
   
• If you find magazines that have surveys that tell you your personality, do those as well; again, set up a timer for 15-20 seconds per question. The kinds of questions asked in the personality psychometric tests are about as complex. Things like 'I would like to be a fighter pilot' - yes / no. Usually the personality tests are not timed, but there are a couple of hundred questions - it's about sufficiency of evidence in this case. The timer part of this step is, again, about helping you get used to reading quickly, and to give you some time pressure.
  
• Any sort of IQ test, visual puzzles, trivial pursuit - the name of the game is to buff up your mental maths, reading, and comprehension skills. Oh, and get used to doing tests in short time frames.
  
4. Finding puzzles where there are simple graphics - pick the odd one out, or 'if this is to this, then that is to ...?' type questions are the kinds of tests that look at your reasoning and spatial abilities. Find them, time them, do them. Sudoko helps you look at patterns, add a timer to spur you on.
   
5. Refresh your math skills. Maths - these usually take the form of problem, with five or six possible answers. If you've slipped away from percentages, fractions, decimals, proportions, ratios, and relationships - it's time to return to those kinds of answers.
   
6. Use any online word-of-the-day type services, along with crosswords, hangman, word match, and other sorts of word puzzles - try at www.thefreedictionary.com for starters. Keep doing them with a timer, and try to get faster, and of course, accuracy is the name of the game. Challenge colleagues, friends and family.
   
7. Take the test. Ok - test time. If you don't feel 100%, reschedule if possible. Don't feel pressured - the object of the exercise is to get in, do the tests, get on with life. Ask for clear information about the time required - the tests might be 10 minutes, but there's always a bit of delay before and afterwards. Slipping in during a lunch break might not put you in the best frame of mind if you're suddenly starting to run out of time.
   
8. Usually there's a few sample questions to warm up with. Work through them calmly, check your answers, get a feeling for the layout and style of the questions. The timing doesn't start until you start the test, so spend a few moments relaxing and getting yourself ready for action.
   
9. Get the best answer down and move on. Trust yourself. You get a better chance to find questions you can answer if you move on rather than spend two minutes grinding away on a problem. That would waste the opportunity of another 6 questions @ 20 seconds each.

Tips

• Don't panic if you don't finish the tests - they're designed to give results even if you don't answer every question.
  
• Don't waste time or energy getting angry with what might appear to be dumb or repetitive questions. If you don't know the answer, or can't work it out; don't get mad, don't get frustrated - go for your best guess, and move on to the next question. The more answers you get through, the better your chances are. Like in so many things in life, a good attitude will help.
  
• Maths - if this hasn't been your strong point, relax and keep it simple. Try to pick up tips, tricks, and shortcuts eg if you add two even numbers the answer has to be an even number. Two odd numbers add up to an even number. An odd and an even number add up to an odd number. So, even if you can't figure out the answer, it's possible you can find the answer by deduction and eliminating the wrong answers. It's ok to count on your fingers, make notes on paper and come up with something like it: the answer has to be bigger than that and that, and it has to end in an even number because the problem added two numbers that ended in odd numbers...
  
• Ultimately, relax. Psychometric testing is an indication, it's not YOU. If you are a creative, artistic person, it is very possible that the maths and writing tests are not going to show all of your best sides. If, as a result, you miss the job, you should probably thank your lucky stars while you are running like the wind - you don't want to work for a company like that anyway.
  
• If you're chasing a job, you can't control the interviewer or how they ask the questions, you can't read the minds of the interview panel or know how they'll read your resume/cv. One thing you can do is get proactive and do some practice and preparation for the test. Good luck. Oh, and don't forget, even if you don't get the job, and you don't bedazzle the testers, there's a very good chance many of the successful people throughout history would've also flopped at this kind of testing process. You're probably in good company. Take some heart that odds are the company have short-listed you enough to offer you the test in the first place.

Warnings

• If the tests are in English, and it's not your first language, you really need to practice. The language used can be quite complex and full of confusing double negatives. Practice, baby, practice.
  
• If the tests are using USA or UK questions (and you're not from there) the wording or the cultural content can be a little strange. Remember, in the case of maths, it's about the numbers - don't be put off by pounds (or dollars).

Sources and Citations

• http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Succeed at Psychometric Tests. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-130: "How to Develop an Appetite for Reading"

How to Develop an Appetite for Reading

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Reading can be a brilliant way of escaping the world's stresses and can help develop your creativity. As a hobby, reading is inexpensive and can be enjoyed at any time and if you can develop an appetite for reading, it can give you endless hours of enjoyment.

Steps

1. Start small. If you try to begin developing your appetite for reading on a one thousand word tome with many complex issues and a huge cast of characters you may find this stops you wishing to further pursue an appetite for reading. Consider trying to read short story collections at first.
   
2. Ask a reader. Do you have a friend who always has his/her nose in a book and may have recommended several books to you in the past? If you ask someone who knows you and reads a lot what books they'd recommend for you this may be easier than trying to find a suitable book yourself. As an additional bonus you will then have a friend to discuss the book with later.
   
3. Avoid distractions. Some readers can read on a crowded train or even whilst walking down the street but not all can read with distractions and to truly enjoy a book it might be better to read in quiet places where you can give the book your full attention. Consider creating a reading nook for this purpose.
   
4. Analyze your experience. If you don't enjoy the book you were reading then consider why not. Did you feel it went on too long? Try short stories. Was there too much violence? Stay away from horror and crime. Often people do not have an appetite for reading because they feel they dislike reading, when really they have simply read the wrong books for them. If you did like a book see if you like others by the same author or in the same genre.
   
5. Join a book club. Or read the same book as a friend. This will allow you to share your opinions of the book and enjoy it in a different way. It may also give you the chance to try books you wouldn't have otherwise have thought of reading.
   
6. Enjoy! Having an appetite for reading allows you to get a lot more from books and is an easy hobby to keep.

Tips

• Try not to rule anything out. Children's literature can be enjoyed by adults and stereotyped genres such as science fiction are more varied than you might think. Graphic novels often have intriguing plot lines and characters and non-fiction can sometimes be just as entertaining as fiction.
  
• You probably won't enjoy every book you read so don't let yourself be put off gaining an appetite for reading simply because you don't enjoy a few books.

Related wikiHows

• How to Create a Reading Corner
  
• How to Find Free eBooks

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Develop an Appetite for Reading. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-129: "How to Read the Classics"

How to Read the Classics

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Reading classic novels and other works in school is often difficult when working with a time limit. Here are some helpful tips to fully understand the novel/work of literature as well as getting its full meaning.

Steps

1. Read up on the author (where they lived, what happened in their life that is significant, family information, etc.). Make sure to take notes and don't forget to make a working bibliography!
   
2. Obtain a brief overview of the work of literature so you know its main idea. This way, you can spend more time while reading the novel looking for symbolism, imagery, allusions, foreshadowing, etc.
   
3. Read the novel. After each chapter write down key information about the plot, characters, and figurative language. After you're done with the novel of make a list of the characters in detail. Since you have already read it, you should have a great understanding of the characters.
   
4. Look up any literature critiques on the work. By getting someone else's opinion through a critique, you can obtain a better analysis of the book.

Tips

• It helps to keep a notebook for each novel. This way, you can have all of your information for that novel in one place.
  
• Always make a bibliography! When you write down any information from a source, make sure to add that source to your list of bibliographies. In doing this, you will always have a list of the exact sources you visited to refer back to.
  
• Don't forget to reflect on what you've read throughout the work. If you wait until the end, you risk forgetting what happened.
  
• Remember that classics are hard to understand for most people. Just take your time and you will get it! Good luck!
  
• Circle words you don't understand and look them up in a dictionary. Even if you believe you know the definition, it doesn't hurt to double check.

Related wikiHows

• How to Select the Perfect Library Book
  
• How to Read Words With the Middle Letters Mixed Up
  
• How to Read Les Miserables
  
• How to Flatten a Paperback Book

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Read the Classics. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.