What are the best resources for learning English?

[Cody]

When my wife came to the U.S. four years ago, she could not speak any English. Today she can carry out a basic conversation with anyone, and she has no problem communicating with others on a day to day basis. She can even read and write on a sixth grade level. While she is pleased with her accomplishments, she really wants to go to college.

 

What are the best resources for developing college-level English skills?

[warpedbored]

Check with your local community college. Many have an ESL program that will lead her through different levels of competency until she can read and write well enough to take college courses.

[Jon & Cindy]

That's what Cindy did. Worked very well plus it's usually free or very very cheap. She almost has her GED and is starting school for CNA (certified nursing assistant). Good luck!

 

Jon & Cindy

[C4Racer]

Depends on what her current skills are and how quickly she needs or wants to be ready for school. My wife found that these cheap or free course were just that very cheap in content. They are designed to help someone get through everyday life in America. Yes, you can progress to higher levels of English at your community college, but this can take years to be at a level ready for college courses if you are just at a beginner level.

 

My wife needed to improve enough to get ready to attend massage school within the year. So I found her what is called an 'Intensive English Language Program'. These courses are design to help foreign students pass the TOEFL test. This is the test foreign students need to take for college entrance to prove their English skills. Yes, they cost $500 a month or more, but you are talking about taking on thousands of dollars in investment for her future already, don't get cheap on her at the beginning. It could mean the difference of passing or flunking out. My wife took two months at $750 dollars. She is now in the top of her class at school.

 

Here is some links for the TOEFL.

 

www.ets.org/toefl/

http://www.stuff.co.uk/toefl.htm

http://esl.about.com/cs/toefl/a/a_toefl.htm

http://www.testking.com/courses/toefl.htm

http://www.englishclub.com/esl-exams/ets-toefl.htm

http://www.testden.com/

http://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/index.php

http://www.gettoefl.com/

http://www.kaptest.com/KEP_International/T...nipractice.html

http://www.princetonreview.com/toefl-test.aspx

 

 

Here are some links regarding Intensive English Language Programs. I am sure you can find something in your area that can fit your budget.

http://www.ielp.pdx.edu/

http://www.aaiep.org/

http://www.studyusa.com/

 

My wife also uses two computer software programs to help her interpret the material. One translates pages at a time. The other translate words by mousing over any word. Both are Kingsoft products. I have scanned in all of her books, OCR'ed them and purchased a netbook for her to take to school. She can bring up the books on her computer during class, mouse over any word she is having trouble with and instantly have an understanding of the material. The programs are also very helpful to her when is at home studying.

 

P.S. - My wife was about the same level as yours. She has been here about five years now. We found the Intensive English Language courses made all the difference in the world. She is continuing to improve her English skills by taking ESL classes at night at the local community college. So though those course are cheaper and not designed for what you might need at the current moment, they have their worth.

Edited August 18, 2009 by C4Racer (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

Locally there is a group called Literacy Volunteers, one of our friends has been working with my wife to help her prepare for a Civil Service test.

 

My wife has also attended several ESL classes at my college.

 

Check around you should be able to find plenty of resources.

[weiaijiayou]

like others here, my wife will be starting classes at a community college at the end of august. she went in for a placement test and, although her scores looked high to me, the school recommended that she take a class on english composition and one on grammar before starting to pursue her 4-year degree. we're both really looking forward to her starting. the classes are also extremely cheap.

 

also, we found a chinese TOEFL vocabulary book and are using that to study vocabulary that you mainly only encounter in print and in college classes.

 

our chinese loved ones' biggest resource, though, i think is ultimately "us." we can help them revise their writing, critique it and give them constructive feedback, and encourage them by noting how far they've come.

 

i'm glad to hear people's good news about their wives' english progress...

[Guest Wuhan4me]

Depends on what her current skills are and how quickly she needs or wants to be ready for school. My wife found that these cheap or free course were just that very cheap in content. They are designed to help someone get through everyday life in America. Yes, you can progress to higher levels of English at your community college, but this can take years to be at a level ready for college courses if you are just at a beginner level.

 

My wife needed to improve enough to get ready to attend massage school within the year. So I found her what is called an 'Intensive English Language Program'. These courses are design to help foreign students pass the TOEFL test. This is the test foreign students need to take for college entrance to prove their English skills. Yes, they cost $500 a month or more, but you are talking about taking on thousands of dollars in investment for her future already, don't get cheap on her at the beginning. It could mean the difference of passing or flunking out. My wife took two months at $750 dollars. She is now in the top of her class at school.

 

Here is some links for the TOEFL.

 

www.ets.org/toefl/

http://www.stuff.co.uk/toefl.htm

http://esl.about.com/cs/toefl/a/a_toefl.htm

http://www.testking.com/courses/toefl.htm

http://www.englishclub.com/esl-exams/ets-toefl.htm

http://www.testden.com/

http://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/index.php

http://www.gettoefl.com/

http://www.kaptest.com/KEP_International/T...nipractice.html

http://www.princetonreview.com/toefl-test.aspx

 

 

Here are some links regarding Intensive English Language Programs. I am sure you can find something in your area that can fit your budget.

http://www.ielp.pdx.edu/

http://www.aaiep.org/

http://www.studyusa.com/

 

My wife also uses two computer software programs to help her interpret the material. One translates pages at a time. The other translate words by mousing over any word. Both are Kingsoft products. I have scanned in all of her books, OCR'ed them and purchased a netbook for her to take to school. She can bring up the books on her computer during class, mouse over any word she is having trouble with and instantly have an understanding of the material. The programs are also very helpful to her when is at home studying.

 

P.S. - My wife was about the same level as yours. She has been here about five years now. We found the Intensive English Language courses made all the difference in the world. She is continuing to improve her English skills by taking ESL classes at night at the local community college. So though those course are cheaper and not designed for what you might need at the current moment, they have their worth.

 

This is Excellent FAQ Material...

[Guest jin979]

i have found that working improves my english alot. i even know some spanish now.

CFL helps too, so maybe get your wives to start posting and reading here.

[Zhenghong]

i have found that working improves my english alot. i even know some spanish now.

CFL helps too, so maybe get your wives to start posting and reading here.

 

Jin, yes i agree very much.

I have been in U.S. for almost two years now and i have learned most of my English from Michael and his friends/family.

 

I too have job and work with many Spanish people and i too am learning Spanish.

 

I think this is very good because i now understand three languages.

 

Chinese,English,Spanish.

 

I also look at a lot of U.S. TV and listen to radio in U.S. that helps me learn more.

 

 

I now only speak Chinese on weekends when i talk to my family and friends in China.

 

Just last week.

 

Michael and I goto friends party and Michael talk to me in Chinese so friends no understand what we say.

 

I was not to happy with him.

 

I tell him i am in U.S. now. We speak English only in public.