Sound phát âm
Có bao nhiêu âm? Chia thành mấy nhóm
1. Single-letter Sounds 26 phonics từ a-z
2. Short vowel sounds 27 âm. Một nguyên âm kết hợp với một phụ âm ( sẽ đọc ngắn). Kết thúc bằng phụ âm đó
3. Long vowel sounds 28 âm. Kết thúc bằng một nguyên âm một phụ âm và âm e. Lúc này nguyên âm đọc dài, phụ âm đọc sound, âm e không đọc.
4. Double-letter consonant Sounds: 30 âm. Gồm 2 phụ âm cạnh nhau, cặp này có thể bắt đầu 1 từ hoặc kết thúc của 1 từ.
5. Double-letter vowel sounds: âm đôi kết hợp giữa 2 nguyên âm hoặc 1 nguyên âm với một phụ âm
Trọng âm
Nghe nói đuổi
Đọc truyện theo chủ đề
Các trường hợp nói với các âm sát nhau
Viết
Xây dựng câu với các động từ thông thường và các thì
Luyện nói theo các ngữ cảnh
Gặp mặt
Hội thảo
Chủ tọa
Hỏi đáp
Learn 4 Important English Lessons with the Lyrics of Popular Music
To help you take your English to the next level, we’re going to explain some important and common English concepts using the most popular English songs on the radio right now:
1. Don’t Get Fooled by Idioms and Common Expressions
Idioms are sayings or
phrases in English that have double meanings and should not be taken
literally. A common example is something you’ve probably heard: “It’s
raining cats and dogs.” Are cats and dogs really falling from the sky? No.
That would be bad. This saying means that it’s raining heavily.
Idioms
are used constantly in English. They’re everywhere. They can be confusing to an
English language learner, though, because their meanings are not literal.
You should learn the
meaning of these different expressions, so you can fully understand what others
are talking about, whether in person or in writing. Identifying them in context
will not only make their meanings much clearer, but you’ll also begin to
incorporate them into your everyday speech and sound like a native!
Below
are some idioms and common expressions you’ll hear in our list of songs, along
with their meanings.
“Stay” by Zedd and Alessia Cara
This
song is full of references that have to do with time and change.
Here
are some that would be helpful to understand:
“Waiting for the time to
pass you by”
This
means you’re waiting for something, or you want time to go by faster.
“The winds of change”
This
isn’t actual wind. It refers to a force that has the power to change someone’s
mind or change something important.
“The clock is ticking”
Again, we’re not
referring to an actual clock. Someone might say this to another person as a way
of expressing “Hurry up!” or “Stop wasting time!”
“Issues” by Julia Michaels
“I’ve got issues”
In
English, “issues” refers to when someone has a personal problem. In this song,
the singer is very jealous and emotional when it comes to her lover.
“When I’m down, I get
real down”
This
isn’t talking about the direction down. It means when someone is feeling sad or
unhappy.
“When I’m high, I don’t
come down”
This is
the opposite of the last definition. In this song, to be “high” means to be in
a good mood. When she says, “I don’t come down,” she means that it is hard to
get her out of the good mood.
“Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur
“Won’t Let Go”
The title of this songmeans
to not give up on something. In this case, the two lovers’ relationship is what
they don’t want to give up on.
“You lit me up”
To
“light someone up” is to make someone feel good or happy. “Lit” has become a
popular slang word recently (“That party was so lit!”). It means to feel good
or have a good time.
“You made me feel as
though I was enough”
This
means to make someone feel appreciated or acknowledged. In the song, the girl
makes the singer feel good and more confident about himself.
2. Understand Contractions and Slang
Musicians
love to put contractions into their songs. Contractions are shortened
versions of phrases. For example, “I’m” is a shorter version of
“I am” and has the same meaning.
Learning
the meanings of contractions can help improve your English vocabulary because
they’re used all of the time in everyday conversation. Knowing their meaning
will help you understand what people are trying to say and will also help you
communicate.
Sometimes,
however, certain contractions are considered slang or incorrect
grammar. Even so, you should learn their different definitions. Let’s look
at the contractions and slang used in our list of songs.
“It Ain’t Me” by Kygo and Selena Gomez
This
song loves contractions! Here are some that you’ll see in these songs, along
with explanations.
“Who’s gonna walk
you through the dark side of the morning?”
Who’s = who is (“Who
is gonna walk you…”)
“Who’s gonna rock
you when the sun won’t let you sleep?”
Won’t = will not
(“the sun will not let you sleep”)
“Who’s waking up to
drive you home when you’re drunk and all alone?”
you’re = you are
(“when you are drunk”)
“It ain’t me”
Ain’t = am
not; are not; is not (“It is not me”)
The
contraction “ain’t” is considered slang. In some American dialects, it’s
perfectly fine to use (and it’s pretty common). But in other places, it’s
considered improper grammar. However, the other contractions used in the song
are usually okay to use.
“Issues” By Julia Michaels
Look
closely at the way this song plays with language:
” ‘Cause I got
issues”
‘Cause = because (“Because I
got issues”)
But you
got ’em too
‘em =
them (“But you got them too”)
“And I’ll give
mine to you”
I’ll = I will (“And I
will give mine to you”)
Here’s
a warning. “‘Cause” and “’em” are slang. You can probably get away with
using them in spoken conversation, but you won’t want to use them when you’re
writing. They aren’t considered real words.
Also,
the line “I got issues” isn’t grammatically correct. It should be “I have got
issues.” Pop quiz! What contraction can we use here? (Answer: we could change
“I have” to “I’ve.”)
3. Recognize Rhyme When You Hear It
A rhyme
is when two words have the same ending sound. An example would be “cat” and
“hat.” Musicians tend to use rhyme in their lyrics to make the song catchier
(easier to remember).
Rhymes
can actually help teach you about different vowel and letter sounds and
patterns.
They can also teach you
how to pronounce words with the same vowel sound. For example, if you know
that “boat” is pronounced with a long osound, you will know how to
pronounce other words you come across, such as “goat” or “coat” because the
words rhyme!
“Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur
“I wake you up with some Breakfast in bed I’ll bring you coffee With a kiss on your head”
In this lyric excerpt,
“bed” and “head” rhyme because they both end in the short e sound.
Notice how they’re spelled slightly different. Although “head” has an
extra a, it still makes the same e sound.
English
can be tricky like that sometimes, but learning these different sounds and
their spellings is essential for fluency.
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
“With some
superhuman gifts. Some superhero, Some fairy tale bliss. Just something I can turn to. Somebody I can kiss. I want something just like this.”
In this song, “bliss,”
“kiss” and “this” rhyme. They all have a short isound and an s sound
at the end of the word. However, even with the presence of the “t” in “gifts,”
it rhymes as well because it makes the same ending sound as the other words.
If you
aren’t sure, “bliss” means extreme happiness. You just learned a new vocabulary
word!
4. Allusions: What Story Is That From?
Allusions
are when someone makes a reference to literature or pop culture. English
speakers use them all of the time in conversational English.
For example, someone
might say, “I felt as a strong as Hulk!” The Hulk is a superhero with superhuman
strength from a popular comic book series. The speaker just made an
allusion. Using allusions can actually help make your meaning more clear
to others because it gives them a point of reference.
Many songs like to use
allusions too because it makes their lyrics stronger and easier to relate to. A
popular example from a tune that’s not on our list is Taylor Swift’s “Love Song.” In the lyrics, she refers to
two lovers as “Romeo” and “Juliet,” two very famous characters from William
Shakespeare’s influential romantic play “Romeo and Juliet.”
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
This
popular song has a super hero theme and is full of allusions. The lyrics can
help expose you to different characters from modern pop culture and ancient
myths that are referenced a lot in English. Let’s look at some examples:
“Achilles and his gold”
Achilles is a hero from Greek mythology who
fought in the Trojan war. The phrase “Achilles’ heel,” which refers to
someone’s weakness, comes from this character (in the story, his weakness was
his heel). There’s also a part of the ankle referred to as “the Achilles’
tendon” in English.
“Hercules and his gifts”
Hercules is a demi-god (half human, half
god) from Greek mythology who had tremendous strength. He’s referred to often
in English. There have been many movies and stories based off of his legend,
including a Disney movie.
“Spiderman’s control And Batman with his fists”
We’re pretty sure you’ve
heard of the big-wigs (important characters) of the Marvel and DC comic
world, Spider-Man and Batman, so we aren’t going to explain who they
are here. But now you know the reference made to these characters is called an
allusion!
Allusions are everywhere
in music and songs. I mean, everywhere. For even more
examples, here’s an article that
explains allusions in some popular songs from the ’90s.
After
reading this article, you should be really conscious of the lyrics in songs.
Even if
you’re just listening for fun, try to think of all of the different elements of
English you can learn.
Just
doing this passively can really help you improve your language skills!
Sau khi thực hành những câu hội thoại ngắn đơn giản, bạn cần chuyển sang nói một tổ hợp các câu dài hơn với một ngữ cảnh cụ thể
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxb8EpyhKro
If you need a push to start talking to people, watch this for motivation. Then, any polite conversation starts with a greeting (saying hello). There are many ways to greet someone, and your choice will depend on who you are talking to.
It may be an informal conversation with a friend or an acquaintance (someone you know, but not very well). Or you may use a more formal dialogue with a colleague, a teacher, a stranger or a government employee.
Informal greetings
Let’s start with informal greetings. Here is how you can say hello:
·Hello! (A universal greeting that works for every conversation.)
·Hi! (A neutral and friendly greeting.)
·Hey! (An informal and relaxed greeting.)
·Greetings! (This is quite formal and rare these days, but could be used humorously among friends.)
Formal greetings
For a more formal way to greet someone, use the model “good + [time of day]”:
·Good morning! (Reserved for any time before noon.)
·Good afternoon! (Typically used between noon and 5-6 p.m.)
·Good evening! (Any time after 6 p.m.)
Remember that “good night” normally means that you are saying goodbye. It is also commonly used right before going to bed.
Introductions
What if you have never met the person you are talking to before? Then, after greeting them, it would be polite to introduce yourself and ask for their name. Here’s how:
·My name is ~. What’s your name? (This is simple, neutral and always works well!)
If you met somebody once before, but you do not remember their name, you can say this:
·I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name. You are… ? (This is a bit more informal.)
If you want to introduce a person to someone else, you can simply say:
·Please meet + [name] Please meet my friend Tom!(Formal introduction)
·This is + [name] This is Tom!(Common introduction)
Now that you have introduced yourself, here is how to respond to someone’s introduction:
·Nice to meet you! (The most common)
·Pleasure to meet you! (Simple and polite)
·It’s a pleasure! (Informal, but nice)
Great job! You are already having a conversation!
Making Small Talk
After you have exchanged names and greeted each other, you may go on to make some “small talk.”
Small talk is common in many English-speaking countries, especially in the United States, Canada and England. It is considered polite to add small talk to the beginning of the conversation before talking about the subject of the conversation, whether it is personal or professional.
The most widespread (common) question is “How are you?” In fact, it is so common, that it becomes automatic for people to say, even when they hardly know the person! “How are you” is often even considered part of the greeting (i.e. “Hi, how are you?”). That is how necessary it has become!
There are several ways to ask someone how they are doing:
Instead, a simple answer and a “how are you” in return is usually enough:
·I’m well. How are you?
·It’s going well, thank you. How are you doing?
·Fine, thanks. And yourself?
Note that you might often hear people say “I’m good” when they mean that they are well and doing well. “I’m good” is grammatically incorrect in this context, but it is very common, just like a few other mistakes English speakers make, so be careful!
Small talk can also be the primary goal of a conversation, especially when you are talking to people you don’t know and are unlikely to meet again. There are many ways to use small talk successfully.
Asking and Answering Questions
A conversation is an exchange of ideas, questions and thoughts. The best way to keep a conversation going is to ask questions!
There are two types of questions you may ask: closed-ended and open-ended questions.
Closed-ended questions are also called “yes/no” questions, because their goal is to confirm or deny certain information. For example:
·Are you having a good day?
·Did you just get to the office?
·Have you seen my email?
Compare the examples above to the open-ended questions below. They will ask a person to elaborate—that is, to give more information instead of simply saying “yes” or “no.”
·How is your day going? (A perfect example of small talk!)
·When did you arrive at the office?
·What do you think about that email I sent?
Open-ended questions typically begin with “who,” “what,” “where,” “when” and “why.” They are important to make your English conversation informative and productive. See more examples here.
When the person you are talking to is asking you a question, listen for the keywords and pay attention to the verb being used. This will help you construct your answer using proper grammar.
Don’t worry about using difficult words—it is fine to keep things simple! And if you don’t understand a certain question or word, don’t be afraid to ask.
As a beginner, you may have trouble understanding everything being said in English. This is okay! You are still learning.
Asking for Clarification
You are getting good at conversing in English, but suddenly you realize that you are lost. Maybe the other person is speaking too fast. Maybe she has an unfamiliar accent. Maybe you didn’t hear the last thing she said.
It is perfectly normal to ask for clarification or to repeat something. Just remember to be polite!
If you don’t understand something, let’s say a word or even some idea relating to your conversation, you could say:
·I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Could you please repeat that?
·I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Could you please explain that?
or even…
·Care to elaborate? (This very informal question is the short version of “Do you care to elaborate on this?”)
If you simply didn’t hear something, just say it like this:
·I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that. Could you please repeat?
·I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you please repeat?
or even…
·Say it again, please?
Don’t be shy to ask for help. People are generally very happy to explain or repeat something! Please don’t forget to thank them after they do.
Bringing the Conversation to a Close
Say you have got all the information you need from the person. It is time for you to go. Maybe you are running late and want to keep the conversation brief. No matter the reason, it is always nice to let the person know you cannot continue talking to them for much longer.
There are many ways to do it depending on the situation. For example, if you are late, say:
·I have to get going. / It’s time for me to go. (This is polite and neutral.)
·I have to run; can we continue later? (This is more informal, but also polite.)
And if you have all the information you’d wanted:
·Thank you so much for your help! (A very common and useful expression)
·Got it, thanks! (Very informal and friendly)
·I think I have everything I need, thank you! (This is formal and may come across as rude if you don’t thank the person after, so use it with caution.)
Using Small Talk to End a Conversation
Hey, guess what? Small talk can be used at the end of the conversation too! Before saying goodbye, it is polite to say something like…
·Have a good day! (This works in any situation.)
·Enjoy your day! (This one is a bit more formal.)
·Good luck! (If the person needs it; it will depend on the situation.)
·Talk to you soon! (This is neutral and does not necessarily mean that you will really talk to the person soon.)
·Great seeing you / Great talking to you! (This is informal yet common.)
·Catch you later! (This is very informal and fun.)
And after that, the only thing left to do is…
Saying Goodbye
This one is easy. You really cannot go wrong with just a simple “goodbye” or “bye.” You can also use any small talk expression to complement your goodbye. For example:
·Bye! Have a good day!
·Catch you later! Bye-bye!
And, as mentioned at the very beginning of this guide…
·Good night!
Simple, right?
You are now an English conversation master!
Having a conversation in English does not have to be complicated. You may feel a little awkward and a little shy at first, but it is okay.
If you are scared of making a mistake, it is understandable. But mistakes are going to happen; it is absolutely normal. Making mistakes is a big part of learning. This is how you get better.
Just go for it. Just start talking, because now you know what to say!
Starting the
Conversation
If you need a push to
start talking to people, watch this
for motivation. Then, any polite conversation starts with a greeting (saying
hello). There are
many ways to greet someone, and your choice will depend on
who you are talking to.
It may be an informal conversation with a friend or an
acquaintance (someone you know, but not very well). Or you may use a
more formal dialogue with a colleague, a teacher, a stranger or a government
employee.
Informal greetings
Let�s start with informal greetings. Here is how you can say
hello:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Hello!
(A universal greeting that works for every conversation.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Hi!
(A neutral and friendly greeting.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Hey!
(An informal and relaxed greeting.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Greetings!
(This is quite formal and rare these days, but could be used humorously among
friends.)
Formal greetings
For a more formal way to greet someone, use the model
�good + [time of day]�:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Good
morning! (Reserved for any time before noon.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Good
afternoon!
(Typically used between noon and 5-6 p.m.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Good
evening!
(Any time after 6 p.m.)
Remember that �good night� normally means that you are
saying goodbye. It is also commonly used right before going to bed.
Introductions
What if you have never met the person you are talking to before?
Then, after greeting them, it would be polite to introduce yourself and ask for
their name. Here�s how:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>My name
is ~. What�s your name?
(This is simple, neutral and always works well!)
If you met somebody once before, but you do not remember their
name, you can say this:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I�m
sorry, I don�t remember your name. You are� ?
(This is a bit more informal.)
If you want to introduce a person to someone else, you can
simply say:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>This is
+ [name] This is Tom! (Common introduction)
Now that you have introduced yourself, here is how to respond to
someone�s introduction:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Nice to
meet you!
(The most common)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Pleasure
to meet you!
(Simple and polite)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>It�s a
pleasure!
(Informal, but nice)
Great job! You are already having a conversation!
Making Small Talk
After you have exchanged names and greeted each other, you may
go on to make some �small talk.�
Small talk is common in many
English-speaking countries, especially in the United States,
Canada and England. It is considered polite to add small talk to the beginning
of the conversation before talking about the subject of the conversation,
whether it is personal or professional.
The most widespread (common) question is �How are you?� In fact,
it is so common, that it becomes automatic for people to say, even when they
hardly know the person! �How are you� is often even considered part
of the greeting (i.e. �Hi, how are you?�). That is how necessary it has become!
There are several ways to ask someone how they are doing:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>How are
you? / How are you doing?
(Neutral)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>How�s it
going?
(More informal)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>How are
things?
(Informal)
Instead, a simple answer and a �how are you� in return is
usually enough:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I�m
well. How are you?
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>It�s
going well, thank you. How are you doing?
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Fine,
thanks. And yourself?
Note that you might
often hear people say �I�m good� when they mean that they are well and doing
well. �I�m good� is grammatically incorrect in this context, but it is very
common, just like a few other
mistakes English speakers make,
so be careful!
Small talk can also be
the primary goal of a conversation, especially when you are talking to people
you don�t know and are unlikely to meet again. There are many ways
to use small talk successfully.
Asking and Answering
Questions
A conversation is an exchange of ideas, questions and thoughts.
The best way to keep a conversation going is to ask questions!
There are two types of questions you may ask: closed-ended
and open-ended questions.
Closed-ended questions are also called �yes/no� questions,
because their goal is to confirm or deny certain information. For example:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Are you
having a good day?
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Did you
just get to the office?
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Have you
seen my email?
Compare the examples above to the open-ended questions below.
They will ask a person to elaborate�that is, to give more information instead
of simply saying �yes� or �no.�
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>How is
your day going?
(A perfect example of small talk!)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>When did
you arrive at the office?
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>What do
you think about that email I sent?
Open-ended questions
typically begin with �who,� �what,� �where,� �when� and �why.� They are
important to make your English conversation informative and productive. See more
examples here.
When the person you are talking to is asking you a question,
listen for the keywords and pay attention to the verb being used. This will
help you construct your answer using proper grammar.
Don�t worry about using difficult words�it is fine to keep
things simple! And if you don�t understand a certain question or word, don�t be
afraid to ask.
As a beginner, you may have trouble understanding everything
being said in English. This is okay! You are still learning.
Asking for
Clarification
You are getting good at conversing in English, but suddenly you
realize that you are lost. Maybe the other person is speaking too fast. Maybe
she has an unfamiliar accent. Maybe you didn�t hear the last thing she said.
It is perfectly normal to ask for clarification or to repeat
something. Just remember to be polite!
If you don�t understand something, let�s say a word or
even some idea relating to your conversation, you could say:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I�m
sorry, I don�t understand. Could you please repeat that?
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I�m
sorry, I don�t understand. Could you please explain that?
or even�
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Care to
elaborate? (This very informal question is the short
version of �Do you care to elaborate on this?�)
If you simply didn�t hear something, just say it like this:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I�m
sorry, I didn�t hear that. Could you please repeat?
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I�m
sorry, I didn�t catch that. Could you please repeat?
or even�
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Say it
again, please?
Don�t be shy to ask for help. People are generally very happy to
explain or repeat something! Please don�t forget to thank them after they do.
Bringing the
Conversation to a Close
Say you have got all the information you need from the person.
It is time for you to go. Maybe you are running late and want to keep the
conversation brief. No matter the reason, it is always nice to let the person
know you cannot continue talking to them for much longer.
There are many ways to do it depending on the situation. For
example, if you are late, say:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I have
to get going. / It�s time for me to go.
(This is polite and neutral.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I have
to run; can we continue later?
(This is more informal, but also polite.)
And if you have all the information you�d wanted:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Thank
you so much for your help!
(A very common and useful expression)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Got it,
thanks!
(Very informal and friendly)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>I think
I have everything I need, thank you!
(This is formal and may come across as rude if you don�t thank the person
after, so use it with caution.)
Using Small Talk to
End a Conversation
Hey, guess what? Small talk can be used at the end of the
conversation too! Before saying goodbye, it is polite to say something like�
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Have a
good day!
(This works in any situation.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Enjoy
your day!
(This one is a bit more formal.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Good
luck!
(If the person needs it; it will depend on the situation.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Talk to
you soon!
(This is neutral and does not necessarily mean that you will really talk to the
person soon.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Great
seeing you / Great talking to you!
(This is informal yet common.)
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Catch
you later!
(This is very informal and fun.)
And after that, the only thing left to do is�
Saying Goodbye
This one is easy. You really cannot go wrong with just a simple
�goodbye� or �bye.� You can also use any small talk expression to complement
your goodbye. For example:
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Bye!
Have a good day!
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Catch
you later! Bye-bye!
And, as mentioned at the very beginning of this guide�
<![if !supportLists]>�<![endif]>Good
night!
Simple, right?
You are now an English conversation master!
Having a conversation in English does not have to be
complicated. You may feel a little awkward and a little shy at first, but it is
okay.
If you are scared of making a mistake, it is understandable. But
mistakes are going to happen; it is absolutely normal. Making mistakes is
a big part of learning. This is how you get better.
Just go for it. Just start talking, because now you know what to
say!
