Speaking: Siri & Ok Google

 Have any thoughts on Siri or Ok Google?

Well, both of them are part of mobile phone application. It claimed as the mobile phone user's personal assistant. It is a built-in "intelligent assistant" that enables users to speak natural language voice commands in order to operate the mobile device and its apps (Webopedia).

 

We can set the reminder, call someone, text someone, play music and many more by talking and not push or touch the button in the phone. As we know, the features is already updated. So, Siri and Ok Google can be change into many languages or our first language. But for the ELL, why don't you try to speak with Siri and Ok Google in English. If they can't understand of what you saying, maybe you can fix your pronunciation and practise more. It's fun to try, also it doesn't harm you because you can use it directly from your phone.

When you speak with them with wrong grammar, they still can understand you. Also, sometimes they correct it for you by showing the blue underline under your wrong word.

It's fun talk with them, and it could be as a tool to improve your speaking. Or, as your partner in learning English if you don't have a partner in real life.

So, try it! 

My Experience: Facebook as An E-tool to Improve Writing Skill

In this post, I'll tell little bit of my experience of using Facebook as an e-tool in writing class. Last year, I got a project to write a short biography of a person. My choice is Chris Pine, my favorite actor ever! I won't talk about him, I'll talk about how to use Facebook for writing.

At first, I make a new account (because I don't have one before). Then, I started to write and post it. Don't forget to attach an image to make it more interesting.

 

The great thing from this project is, I still can study together with my friend even though they not around. I ask my friend to analyze the structure, the content, and the information. Turn out really great, I got some responses from my friends. 

 

I did the same thing to them, analyzed their writing. So, we were like commenting each other to see whether our writing is correct or not.

You can do the same thing to improve your writing skill. Ask your friend to analyze your writing when you have already posted it. You can still connect with your friend even though you're not in the class!

ExamEnglish.com to Test Your Listening Skill

 There are lot of website that provide the users to test their English skills. But for this time, my choice goes to examenglish.com . This website is really useful for me (personaly). It's easy, and free. Easy because you can answer the questions directly from your phone with your headphones on (if it's listening test). Also free, because it doesn't need your credit card to join the test.

This website not only provide listening test, but another tests. But I think this is the best one so far to test your listening skill. Because there's no ad, no direct clik triple clik (which is a trap!!), and no charge. 

There are 15 questions total. Push the 'play' button before answering the question. Make sure to prepare a stopwatch. So, you can measure how fast you can answer it. After you have answered the questions, you can ask the result to be sent to your email. But, you can't see the explanation from your wrong answer. You can see it bellow:

 

What you waiting for? It's easy and free!

Using Games Online to Improve Your English (In Communicative Way)

 

Who doesn't love game? Everyone love it, enjoy it, and play it. But, have you ever wonder if there is another benefit of playing games beside satisfying  yourself? Yeah, of course there is! We can improve our skill to communicate with other in speaking English. Well technically you will not speak, but you will write. The example I give to you is Farmville. It is one of online game you can play in handphone or personal computer. Usually the users will find many people as much as they can from all around the world to help their farm (in virtual life).

How they ask for help? Of course the users must chat the random person or friends to ask for help. Maybe at first you will not understand the message, so google translator is the only way to make you understand. But practise makes you perfect. You will soon understand naturally what message a friend give you. Later, you will easily sending chat to your friends  and understand it (with or without google translator, it doesn't matter because you still learn). Maybe the topic of the chat is not only about game, it could be other things that relate with improving your English. Have you tried it? If it so, congratulation you are making friends now!