7 Reading Tips...& some cool links

1.If there're more than 5 words you don't know in 3 sentences, try something easier!
2.BUT – you don’t need to understand every word. Guessing is an important skill to develop! Try to guess by:
Skimming (searching for the main idea only). This quiz will help you. www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/reading/techniques/skimming/index.shtml
Scanning (searching for details quickly). This game is a fun way to practice. www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/reading/techniques/scanning/index.shtml
3.To read the news,
Advanced learners -> You can try anything (CNN? BBC? Google News?), but for something different, try the very cool - www.wired.com/
Intermediate learners -> try BBC made simple www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ or follow @SeanBanville for links to www.breakingnewsenglish.com on twitter. MP3
Elementary learners > try www.newsenglishlessons.com/. MP3
4.To read fairy tales, try http://storynory.com/ It is a great site with stories and MP3. To read other children’s stories , try www.starfall.com/n/level-c/index/play.htm?f
Reading children’s stories is one of the best ways to pick up grammar points (such as past tenses & articles) naturally. Sentence patterns are often repeated many times.
Fairy tales help us understand modern culture, eg Tim Burton's movies are more meaningful if you've read Brothers Grimm stories.
The language is often simple, but colourful.
5.To read conversations:
Advanced learners – try movie transcripts. Check out www.script-o-rama.com
Elementary learners – try comics. Here’s Snoopy with some wise words to motivate you. http://comics.com/peanuts/
Intermediate learners – try both!
6.To read quizzes, try http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/slink/play/quizzes/
Reading quizzes can help us pick up question forms
Personality quizzes often have a lot of useful descriptive adjectives
Quizzing your friends can be a good way to practice reading aloud

Of course there are lots of other things you can do too. Please leave a comment or tweet @getgopam with suggestions for Tip No. 7!

Ken Watanabe & why 'perfect' English is not important!

The big debate at my school now is: Is Ken Watanabe's English in Inception really good? Our office manager, Mayumi, says - No. She thinks his accent sounds unattractive. My partner, Junshi, says - I don't know. He thinks Watanabe's English was more difficult to understand than diCaprio's, though. I say - God, yes! His grammar was perfect, his vocabulary great & I will never understand why Mayumi dislikes his accent. Accents are great! & Ken Watanabe has a beautiful, expressive voice.

Of course, in Inception he had a script. In real life, his grammar & vocabulary are not so perfect. But check out this clip to see how well he can connect with people & express his ideas, despite this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP-cvU7va9s

Isn't he great? Notice how he uses his face & hands to help him. & when he can't think of the words he wants, he just stops mid-sentence & uses other words instead.

Now listen again, and try to catch exactly what the interviewer asked him.

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Interview about Inception with Ken Watanabe - Transcript

Hello. Good Evening. It’s an amazing experience ________the film.
Oh thank you.

What was your reaction when you _______ __________ the script?
So confusing. So confusing. And, uh, I needed to back and read again 3
times. Yeah, definitely. And then… But when I saw the movie it’s more clear
and visualize it’s speed and the good speed. And then everybody can understand
about the story. I hope it.

What’s Christopher Nolan ________, as a director, to work with?
So talented. Sometimes mad.

And diCaprio? Fun to work _________?
Yeah. Very. Yeah. Thank you.

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Want to check the answers? Write to me.

Also, challenge yourself! Try to correct Watanabe-san's English so that it IS perfect & check it with me.

& tweet @getgo_pam under the #ebookclub conversation to join the debate about whether his English is good or not.