Importance of Speaking EnglishWord格式.docx

1、 In Toronto, speaking English can be the first step to clear, effective communication. Absiye identifies 5 Cs for new immigrants; they are five major challenges, all starting with the letter C:1. Colour: barriers as related to race and appearance. 2. Cultural Confusion: newcomers may expect one thin

2、g of Canada and experience something different. 3. Climate: it is often shocking to newcomers that up to seven months out of the year are spent indoors. 4. Computers: many new immigrants are not as experienced with technology as we expect them to be and this can prevent them from accessing some info

3、rmation. 5. Communication: not being able to converse with the people around you can lead to frustration, isolation and missed opportunities.Absiye calls communication a key step to settlement and considers language barriers one of the biggest problems newcomers will face when they move to Canada.Ac

4、cording to a 2005 study by Statistics Canada, one in four newcomers found learning English or French to be one of the biggest challenges in their settlement process. They considered it the second biggest difficulty only after finding an adequate job, which can also be affected by a newcomers ability

5、 to speak English.Analyses of data from the 2006 Census on immigration and citizenship, conducted by Stats Canada, showed that 70 percent of the foreign-born population does not speak English or French as a first language. This group is formed mainly by immigrants who arrived in Canada between 2001

6、and 2006 close to 1,110,000 newcomers.Ticket to Employment The employment rate of immigrants increases with their ability to speak English. Newcomers with stronger English are also more likely to find jobs related to their preferred fields.This is why it can be so beneficial to attend an ESL class,

7、join a discussion circle or seek out a settlement agency for help with the English language, especially when these services are both excellent and free. The skills newcomers can learn in these classes will also make day-to-day life easier, like communicating with a doctor.Although the Canadian gover

8、nment guarantees this freedom （equal access to health care） among others, like the right to a fair trial, it is not always possible to find a translator, particularly at the last minute. This is why newcomers can benefit from arming themselves with English language skills.There are healthcare provid

9、ers who try to accommodate their patients as much as possible, but these cases are more the exception than the rule, says Dr. Marco A. Fiola, an Associate Professor with the School of Graduate Studies at Ryerson University.In cases like that, it is obvious how valuable independence can be. It is a b

10、lessing not having to seek a translator every time you need to buy new clothes or do some banking.Many newcomers make an effort shortly after their arrival in Canada to learn English. According to Canadas 2006 Census, six months after arriving in Canada, 58 percent of immigrants reported being able

11、to speak English well or very well. After living here for four years, 69 percent said they could speak English well or very well. This may be due in part because 45 percent of newcomers take training in English.This is not to say that these newcomers are as fluent in English as those who have spoken

12、 it all their lives for some immigrants, English comes easily in some situations but not in others.For example, they will be completely fluent in English for their work purposes, but once they are home, they revert to their home language, or once they are at the doctors office, they need the service

13、s of an interpreterthey dont know the words for things or concepts that go beyond a certain area of their lives, says Dr. Fiola.While more research is necessary in this area, it is apparent that newcomers who seek help with their English skills will have a better quality of life in Canada, particula

14、rly if they wish to be free of language barriers in day-to-day situations.Dr. Fiola believes many newcomers who can maintain their native tongue and culture while learning English and experiencing life in Toronto can be extremely happy.Learning English does not mean giving up culture, background or

15、a native tongue, its simply adding a new and valuable skill that will make the transition much smoother for most newcomers.www.Gmag.ca/issue-22/513-importance-of-speaking-englishThe Importance of Speaking PracticeThere are 4 key skills when you learn a language:1. listening2. speaking3. reading4. wr

16、itingWhich one of these is the Odd-One-Out? Which one of these is different from the other three? The answer is speaking. The other three you can do alone, on your own, without anyone else. You can listen to the radio alone. You can read a book alone. You can write a letter alone. But you cant reall

17、y speak alone! Speaking to yourself can be dangerous because men in white coats may come and take you away!That is why you should make every effort possible to find somebody to speak with. Where can you find people who can speak English with you? And how can you practise speaking when you are alone?

18、At SchoolIf you go to a language school, you should use the opportunity to speak to your teachers and other students. When you go home, you can still practise listening, reading and writing, but you probably cant practise speaking. If your teacher asks you a question, take the opportunity to answer.

19、 Try to say as much as possible. If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs or groups with other students, try to say as much as possible. Dont worry about your mistakes. Just speak!Conversation ClubsMany cities around the world have conversation clubs where people can exchange one language for anot

20、her. Look in your local newspaper to find a conversation club near you. They are usually free although some may charge a small entrance fee.ShoppingIf you are living in an English-speaking country, you have a wonderful opportunity. Practise speaking to the local people such as shop assistants or tax

21、i drivers. Even if you dont want to buy anything, you can ask questions about products that interest you in a shop. How much does this cost? Can I pay by cheque?Which do you recommend? Often you can start a real conversation - and it costs you nothing!Pubs and BarsEven if you dont live in an English

22、-speaking country, there are often American, British, Irish and Australian pubs in many large cities. If you can find one of these pubs, youll probably meet many people speaking English as a first or second language.Language is all around YouEverywhere you go you find language. Shop names, street na

23、mes, advertisements, notices on buses and trains. Even if you are not in an English-speaking country, there are often a lot of English words you can see when walking in the street, especially in big cities. And there are always numbers. Car numbers, telephone numbers, house numbers. How can this hel

24、p you? When you walk down the street, practise reading the words and numbers that you see. Say them to yourself. Its not exactly a conversation, but it will help you to think in English. For example, if you walk along a line of parked cars, say the number on each car quickly as you pass it. Test you

25、rself, to see how fast you can walk and still say each number. But dont speak too loud!Songs and VideoListen to the words of an English-language song that you like. Then repeat them to yourself and try to sing with the music. Repeat the words as many times as possible until they become automatic. So

26、on youll be singing the whole song. Or listen to one of your favourite actors on video and repeat one or two sentences that you like. Do it until it becomes automatic. Its good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles that you need for English.Above all, dont be afraid to speak. You must try to speak, even if you make mistakes. You cannot learn without mistakes. There is a