Language Development Tips for PACE Students
Reading
•
•
•
•
When you encounter a word you don’t recognize, use a vocabulary app and review it daily
(or write it down in a notebook).
 App Example: Quizlet
Mimic the sounds to work on pronunciation.
Translate the word or phrase back into your first language to check your learning (you could
use Google Translate as a quick check).
Use the word in a sentence.
Writing
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Translate into your preferred language, then translate it back into English to confirm your
understanding and writing (even on parts of an assignment or your paper).
Grammar book (from your preferred language) check the rules and pay attention to where
instructors are correcting you.
Use Grammarly to determine your most common pattern of errors and then review the rules
and learn them (don’t rely on Grammarly; use it as a tool to understand your mistakes).
Focus on one area to improve per week (articles, sentence structure, punctuation etc.).
Use the writing tutoring/writing supports/tutoring supports available through PACE.
Use peer editing.
Learn editing strategies to apply to your assignments.
Use Quiltbot to check writing, especially for emails.
Take small breaks while writing to improve your ideas with a fresh mind.
Try to finish your assignments with plenty of time so you can read your work at least once to
make corrections.
Look for synonyms whenever you see you are using repetitive words.
Listening
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Connect with an English partner (perhaps a few with various accents).
Talk to instructors about potential mentorship.
Attend association events/networking events (exposure).
Listen to podcasts etc. in English related to your program or something you are interested
in or individuals with different accents.
Slow the podcasts down.
Listen to podcasts about learning a language.
Informational interviews (call a company and ask them to chat about their workplace).
Use E-book features to read your textbook out loud to you.
Watch videos in English (1x no subtitles, 2x subtitles, 3x no subtitles) to see what you can
pick up (don’t rely on subtitles) helps with comprehension.
Practice active listening skills by repeating what you understand from others to ensure you
are getting the correct message.
Ask the person speaking gently to slow down or repeat the idea whenever you feel you are
not understanding.
1
Speaking
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Be ok with making mistakes, and ask for feedback in the moment
• For example, ask: Did that make sense? Do you understand what I am saying?
Join Toastmasters or other speaking groups.
Speak in English 24-7 (with classmates/family/friends).
Practice, practice, practice.
Read course material out loud.
Find an audiobook (listen to it, stop it, speak along with it to mimic pronunciation etc.) or
use the speak out loud feature of your textbooks.
Ask a friend (who’s speaking the same language and learning the foreign language) if they
want to talk in the foreign language with you.
Practice your presentations with a mirror or record yourself while practicing your
presentation so you can judge yourself on how to improve your speaking skills.
Try not to be afraid while speaking (Imagine no one is watching you). Be confident in your
knowledge and pay attention to your mistakes so you can learn from them to improve in the
future.
2