It's nothing new that English is the most widely recognized global language today. Owing to that, proficiency in English is a must if you’re planning to study or work abroad. While IELTS is more common as a standardized English test option, it's not the only choice out there. There are more comprehensive tests like the PTE which are easier to take and provide faster results. Here’s everything you need to know to about the PTE Test.  What is the PTE Test?  PTE or Pearson Test of English is a standardized English proficiency test designed for non-native English speakers. The test assesses the language skills of a person who wants to study or work in an English-speaking country.  The test evaluates four skills: speaking, writing, reading, and listening. PTE is recognized by various universities, colleges, governments, and organizations around the world as proof of English language proficiency. They are reputed for reliable and fast result delivery which is typically available within 5 business days.  Read more: Free Websites for Online IELTS Mock Tests Types of PTE Test  Unlike IELTS, PTE offers a range of test options. Each of these tests is designed for specific usage targeting different demographics. As part of the PTE itself, there are PTE Academic, PTE Core, and UK Visa tests (SELT). The PTE Core and SELT are designated for work and immigration in Canada and the UK respectively.  PTE Academic  PTE Academic is the most common type of Pearson test. It is designed for non-native speakers seeking higher education and professional opportunities where the medium of instruction is English. There is also PTE Academic Online which can be attempted from home rather than a test center.  The SELT is included as part of the PTE Academic. Several options under SELT include PTE Academic UKVI, PTE Home A1, A2, and B1. PTE Core  PTE Core is used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as a standard of qualification for the English language. It is designated for work and migration in Canada. Note that if you’re applying for higher education in Canada, you will need the PTE Academic unless stated otherwise.  Read more: Duolingo English Test: Everything You Need to Know In addition to the PTE Academic, SELT, and PTE Core, there are two more certificate exams held under the Pearson system. These are:  International Certificate The International Certificate is commonly known as PTE General. It is designed to assess and validate general English language proficiency for day-to-day use. Note that PTE General cannot be used for academic or immigration purposes. International Certificate Young Learners The International Certificate Young Learners test is designed for students aged between 6 to 13. It assesses the English language ability of a student in a child-friendly manner. There are four levels to the Young Learners test, Firstwords, Springboard, Quickmarch, and Breakthrough. Read more: TOEFL Preparation: Best Free Online Resources, Guidelines, and Mock Test Opportunities Test Format and Structure of PTE Test  The PTE test being a standardized module assesses a user on speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Speaking and writing parts are combined as a single section with reading and listening being separate sections. However, the test format and the test structure differ depending on the type of the test.  PTE Academic The PTE Academic Speaking and Writing section takes about 54 to 67 minutes to finish. The reading section takes about 29 to 30 minutes and the listening takes about 30 to 43 minutes. The question structure for each of the sections is as follows:  Speaking and Writing  - Personal Introduction- Read Aloud- Repeat Sentence- Describe Image- Re-tell Lecture- Answer Short Question- Summarize Written Text- Essay (20 minutes)- The total number of questions would vary between 28 to 36.  Read more: IELTS vs TOEFL: Which is better for study abroad? Reading  - Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing)- Multiple Choice, Single Answer- Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers- Re-order Paragraphs- Fill in the Blanks (Reading)- The total number of questions would vary between 13 to 18. Listening  - Summarize Spoken Text- Multiple Choice, Single Answer- Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers- Fill in the Blanks- Highlight Correct Summary- Multiple Choice, Single Answer- Select Missing Word- Highlight Incorrect Words- Write from Dictation- The total number of questions would vary between 12 to 20. Read more: IELTS Preparation: Best Online Free Resources, Mock Tests, and Guidelines for IELTS Academic and General

Mastering good English pronunciation is vital for better communication. It enables you to effectively convey your ideas and engage others better. Unfortunately, some underestimate the significance of pronunciation and believe it to be less important than other components of the English language. With better English pronunciation, one can gain confidence, enhance overall communication skills, and boost social abilities. 10 Tips for Improving Your English Pronunciation  To speak English fluently, developing a clear pronunciation is a must. However, pronunciation and accent are not the same. Pronunciation involves producing sounds, articulating words, and mastering intonation. Accent encompasses pronunciation, word usage, and grammar. Non-native speakers often have accents influenced by their native language's sounds. Pronunciation is a physical skill. Here are some tips to improve pronunciation.  Listen and Incorporate To improve your English pronunciation, start listening to native English speakers in real life or virtually. Pay attention to how they pronounce words and sentences. Then, practise repeating what you hear to develop a better understanding of the language's natural rhythm and intonation.  Read more: Duolingo English Test: Everything You Need to Know By imitating native speakers, you can train your mouth and ears to reproduce English sounds more accurately. This will help you communicate more effectively and with more confidence. Remember, practise makes perfect, so keep practising, and you will see improvements in your pronunciation. Focus on Individual Sounds Focus on specific sounds that you find difficult to enhance your English pronunciation. Identify the consonants, vowels, or combinations that challenge you. You can utilise online resources or language learning apps that offer exercises for each sound. Practise saying these sounds out loud, paying attention to how your mouth moves. Repeat them regularly to build muscle memory.  Also, concentrate on individual sounds and practise them consistently. Gradually, you will overcome pronunciation difficulties and speak English more clearly. Do not give up; keep practising, and surely you will see the results soon.  Read more: 10 Best Free Android Apps to Learn English Vocabulary Slow Down Take a moment to slow down and embrace the art of deliberate speech. Take a moment to slow down and give yourself the time to think through each word's pronunciation. By speaking at a more relaxed speed, you can ensure that you are articulating each sound correctly.  Deliberately pausing between words and phrases creates a space for conscious reflection. Take advantage of this time to mentally review the sounds and patterns, refining your pronunciation with each utterance. Enjoy the journey, savouring each step towards confident and accurate pronunciation. Use Pronunciation Guides Look for dictionaries, online tools, or resources that provide simple explanations and symbols to show how a specific word should be pronounced. You can learn from YouTube channels where tutors discuss pronunciation guides.  Read more: Everyday Habits to Learn English Successfully The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols can help you understand the correct way to say the word. By using these guides, you can learn the right pronunciation for each word’s sound and confidently apply it to your speech.  Record and Compare Record yourself speaking using mobile apps or recorders. Then listen attentively, comparing it to recordings of fluent English speakers. Pay close attention to any discrepancies in pronunciation and identify areas for improvement. By pinpointing the gaps, you can work diligently to refine those specific areas of pronunciation.  Embrace this self-assessment process as a valuable tool for enhancing your pronunciation skills. With each comparison, you will gain a clearer understanding of the differences and take crucial steps towards bridging the gap between your current pronunciation and that of native speakers. Read more: Best Free Websites to Improve English Writing Skill

The Duolingo English Test (DET) has gained popularity in recent years as an alternative to traditional English proficiency exams like IELTS and TOEFL. This innovative online test has become popular due to its fast, affordable, and accurate way to assess your English skills. Whether you are applying to a university, seeking employment, or simply want to improve your language abilities, the Duolingo English Test offers a convenient and accessible solution. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about the Duolingo English Test, from its format and scoring system to its benefits and drawbacks. What is Duolingo? Duolingo is a language-learning platform that offers free lessons in various languages, including English. Established in 2011, the organization has experienced remarkable growth and now stands as one of the most widely recognized language-learning applications worldwide. In addition to its language courses, Duolingo also offers the Duolingo English Test, an online English proficiency exam designed to assess a person's reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Read More: IELTS Practice Tests: 7 Full Free IELTS Mock Tests to Take Online Pros of Duolingo English Test Accessibility It is an online test that can be taken from anywhere with a stable internet connection and a computer with a webcam and microphone. This makes it more accessible than traditional exams, which often require test-takers to travel to a testing center. Affordability The DET costs $59 (approximately BDT 6390; $1=108.29), which is significantly cheaper than the fees for IELTS and TOEFL, which can range from $195 to $215 (IELTS test cost BDT 20,250 in Bangladesh, and TOEFL is around BDT 21,000) Quick results Test-takers receive their Duolingo results within 48 hours, whereas IELTS and TOEFL results can take up to 13 days or more. Read More: IELTS Preparation: Best Online Free Resources, Mock Tests, and Guidelines for IELTS Academic and General Widely accepted The DET is accepted by over 4,000 institutions worldwide, including top universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Cons of Duolingo English Test Limited recognition While the DET is accepted by many institutions, it is not as widely recognized as IELTS and TOEFL. Some universities and organizations may still require IELTS or TOEFL scores for admission or employment purposes. No in-person interaction The DET is entirely online, which means there is no opportunity for test takers to interact with an examiner or other test takers. This can be a disadvantage for those who feel more comfortable in a face-to-face testing environment. Read More: IELTS vs TOEFL: Which is better for study abroad? Technical Requirements To access the test portal, a minimum internet connection speed of 1 Mbps is required. While this is typically sufficient in large cities, it can be challenging to achieve in smaller communities or with older computer systems. Additionally, your device must have sufficient memory for downloading the app, and your camera and microphones should be present and functioning properly. Is Duolingo Similar to IELTS or TOEFL? The Duolingo English Test (DET) is similar to IELTS and TOEFL in that it assesses a person's English proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. However, there are a few key differences among the tests. DET is a computer-adaptive test, meaning the difficulty of the questions adjusts based on the test-takers performance. IELTS and TOEFL have fixed question formats. The DET takes approximately 60 minutes to complete, while IELTS and TOEFL can take up to 2 hours and 45 minutes, and 3 hours, respectively.  Read More: TOEFL Practice Tests: 7 Full Free TOEFL Mock Tests to Take Online When it comes to the test environment, the DET is taken online, while IELTS and TOEFL are administered in person at testing centers. Despite these differences, the DET is gaining popularity as an alternative to IELTS and TOEFL due to its accessibility, affordability, and quick results.

Italians who use English or other foreign words in official correspondence might face fines of up to EUR 100,000 (USD 108,705) under new law proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party. The legislation was introduced by Fabio Rampelli, a member of the lower chamber of deputies, and is backed by the Italian PM, reports CNN. Read More: Sparks fly as neutral pronoun included in French dictionary While the legislation applies to all foreign languages, it is aimed especifically against "Anglomania", or the usage of English phrases, which the draft argues "demeans" the Italian language, and is made worse because the UK is no longer a member of the EU, the report said. The bill, which was yet to be debated in the Italian parliament, requires anybody holding a public administration position to have “written and oral knowledge and mastery of the Italian language.” It also forbids the use of English in official paperwork, including "acronyms and names" of employment functions in domestic firms. According to a draft of the legislation, foreign firms would be required to have Italian language versions of all internal regulations and employment contracts. Read More: Int’l Mother Language Day: Discussion on multilingual education held at UN HQ The proposed law would create a body whose mandate would include “correct use of the Italian language and its pronunciation” in schools, media, commerce, and advertising, said the CNN report.

Are you a novice who wants to speak English fluently or improve your communication abilities? Installing English-learning apps on Android phones is a fantastic approach to learning English rapidly. Some schools and institutions throughout the globe urge students to use these applications rather than social media and gaming apps. The English-learning applications may educate kids and adults greatly about what they have learned in schools and training centers. Having said that, continue reading to discover the most effective English-learning apps for android phones. Best Apps to Learn English Vocabulary Ultimate GRE® Vocabulary Prep This program is one of the most popular English vocabulary applications available on Google Play, and for a good reason. Not only is it useful for learning English vocabulary, but its design and game-like features also make it rather addicting. You gain points for accurately defining each word. With these points, you may unlock more words as your fluency improves. The factor of difficulty is a lot of fun! Galvanize Test Prep developed and released the app on PlayStore on 5th May 2017. It requires 10 MB of storage on the phone. The current rating of the app is 4.8 stars. Read More: Everyday Habits to Learn English Successfully Busuu Busuu is an excellent application for joining one of the biggest online learning groups. According to its website, its global network comprises millions of language enthusiasts. The features emphasise community-based learning and include a video chat platform. The app's claim that it covers all aspects of language acquisition suggests that it may be used as an all-encompassing learning tool. In their classes, you will study English vocabulary and get the opportunity to practice writing, pronouncing, and reading each word. The developer company’s name is also Busuu. They released the game on PlayStore on 29th July 2011. It is topping the PlayStore Vocabulary learning app with a 4.5 rating. VocApp English Flashcards Flashcards continue to be popular because they are effective for teaching vocabulary terms! This flashcard tool from VocApp is ideal for all levels of English learners. Within the app, you may set your favourite level of difficulty. Read More: Best Free Websites to Improve English Writing Skill This vocabulary flashcard software is distinctive in that it employs more complicated aspects to teach you every facet of a word, from its sound to its use in sentences to its explanation. For a more personalised experience, you may design your flashcards inside the program. VocApp Flashcards created the app on 19th August 2018. The game has a 4.5-star rating on PlayStore. Word of the Day Incorporating new words into your everyday life is the greatest learning method. Daily exposure to one or two new words will be beneficial in the long term. If you are already occupied with employment and other responsibilities and can only commit a little time to study, there is a simple software that may assist. With Word of the Day, you will learn a new word daily, remember your favourite terms, and browse to see what other users prefer. They also provide a variety of pronunciation choices, allowing you to place accents and stresses correctly! Vocabulary Apps created the app and published it on 6th April 2018. It takes 6MB of storage and is currently available on PlayStore with a 4.4-star rating. Read More: English Writing Skill: How to Start Writing and Improve Continuously Memrise Memrise is a flashcard application. However, this should not lead you to believe that it is straightforward. SRS, or Spaced Repetition System, is a proven technique that helps you recall words and phrases more quickly. The software offers video samples of real-world language use, so you can learn by listening to actual native speakers use their language naturally. The gamified learning style will help keep you amused and motivated to finish your education. The developer company’s name is also Memrise, and this app first came out on 20th May 2013. The app has a 4.4-star rating in PlayStore. FluentU FluentU combines actual content such as music, news, and politics to help you expand your English vocabulary and cultural understanding simultaneously. The films are designed for native speakers to expose you to original and pertinent material. Read More: How to Think in English: Learn some effective ways You may begin by viewing any movie in the vast collection that piques your interest; they are categorised by subject and difficulty level (beginner to advanced). You may click on the interactive subtitles for a quick description, pronunciation, and sample sentences for every word. FluentU has developed the app and released it on PlayStore on 2nd October 2018. The app has a 4.3-star PlayStore rating. Voxy Voxy focuses on offering English instruction to company and organisation personnel. Voxy adjusts to your requirements and provides customised instruction. Whether you require English vocabulary to pass a test or wow a customer, Voxy guarantees you acquire the appropriate terms. It evaluates your educational requirements and presents audio and video information. With the app, you can take your lessons anywhere and enjoy entertaining practice alternatives, such as karaoke-style music lessons. Read More: Best Free English Editing, Proofreading Courses Online Schedule a live, one-on-one tutoring session and get feedback. If you're studying alongside others, such as a team of workers, Voxy is built to facilitate that. Voxy, Inc. has done a tremendous job by creating super user-friendly. The app first came out on 23rd November 2011. English Vocabulary Builder This vocabulary-building application is essential for English learners of all levels. The UI is straightforward and very user-friendly. Choose a word topic and take the test to assess your knowledge of that specific word set. After that, you may evaluate the terms you mistakenly defined and save them to a specific study list. It's a really basic application, but sometimes simple is best! This vocabulary builder is helpful for students of all levels, but novices will profit the most from the terms offered. Praveen Yuva developed the app. It requires 3MP storage and is available on Playstore. The current rating is 4.4-star rating. Read More: Best Native American Podcast Sites to Learn English Alphabear Alphabear is a really entertaining game for people who like puzzle games to learn vocabulary. You must spell new words, and bears will emerge when you pick letters near one another. These bears may raise your score, lengthen your timer, or assist you in another manner. The game's design is adorable and entertaining to guarantee that you like playing. There is also an integrated dictionary for English language learners. This game will help you pick up where you left off in your memorisation of new words if you've grown tired of it. Spry Fox LLC created the app and published it on 4th September 2018. It takes 119MB of storage and is currently available on PlayStore with a 4.9-star rating. Crossword Puzzles Crossword puzzles are a fun way to spend time travelling or waiting for something. If you like crossword puzzles and are eager to increase your worldly knowledge, then Words of Wonders is the game that will push your English vocabulary to the maximum. Read More: Free English-Speaking Mobile Apps for the Non-native Speakers You will be given a few letters as hints. You will utilise them to generate new words and link them to determine the final crossword answer. With each correct response, you will virtually explore new towns and attractions. Conclusion If you are serious about enhancing your English vocabulary, the above-mentioned English vocabulary apps for android can help you. Relevant English phrases and terms should be memorised and occasionally reviewed. Find chances to utilise these newly-learned terms often, and even if you make errors, learn from them and persevere. As long as you stay enthusiastic and dedicated to your studies, you will surely be successful in cultivating a beautiful English word garden. Read More: Best YouTube Channels to Learn English

English is indispensable around the globe. International businesses hold meetings in English, Universities offer courses in English, and all over the world, travellers and tourists use English as a standard language. Therefore, it is impossible to compete in the current competitive market without having good English writing or speaking skills. However, learning English can be challenging, and that progress requires time and effort. Can everyday habits help your English learning process? 10 Habits Can Help You Improve Your English We have many habits. Some are good while some may be bad. But practising some good habits can help your learning process. Here are 10 proven tips to help you establish solid learning habits to make English learning a part of your everyday life. Make a Routine The process of learning a language isn't something that can happen over the night. It is necessary to set aside time for it and think about the best time and place to incorporate it into your schedule. Small, regular pieces of work tend to be more efficient than long, more frequent ones. Therefore, spending much time is not essential.  Read How to Think in English: Learn some effective ways You can take five to ten minutes to review your vocabulary or complete some exercises daily. A regular session with your teacher will eventually help increase your proficiency. Focus on Pronunciation When planning is done, focus on your pronunciation. Research on the internet and local English language learning institutes to collect resources. You can also follow helpful YouTube channels who teach English pronunciation accurately.  Learning the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) will help you pronounce every English word accurately. Start studying and practising the correct pronunciation through following a daily routine. It would be best if you can practise your pronunciation while communicating with friends, colleagues or teachers in everyday life.  Read Best YouTube Channels to Learn English The habit of improving pronunciation does not mean getting rid of your original accent artificially. Rather, it means making your pronunciation clear enough for others so that they can comprehend what you are saying when you speak. Proper English pronunciation will help you avoid many hassles and confusion in both daily life and career path. Apply English for Doing Things You Love You will be able to master the language faster by using the language while learning it. There are various ways to achieve this, but the most effective is to utilise it to perform something you love.  For instance, if your passion is music, travel, sports, fashion, art, or even reading news, you should try doing your work and making the necessary communications through the English language. This habit will help you hone your English language skills in a stress-free and natural way. Read English Writing Skill: How to Start Writing and Improve Continuously Write Make the habit of writing every day. It has incredible advantages. Writing is among the most effective ways to remember new English terms and phrases that you have encountered recently. It is the best way to remember vocabulary too. While reading a book, online article, or watching television shows, you come across fresh concepts and phrases. Rather than just listening to the terms, and allowing them to remain in your head, note them down. You can keep a notebook for this purpose. Later, you can utilise the new vocabulary and sentence structures to express your thoughts through spoken or written English. Read Best Free Websites to Improve English Writing Skill Read The habit of reading will help you learn new vocabularies, sentence structure, etc. You should read something every day. It may be online news, articles, journals or a printed book or newspaper. However, you may feel overwhelmed confronting new words. If you are at a basic level, consider comics or books for children. Although it may seem silly, the images, common words, and basic structure of sentences will help you comprehend the story. Thus, you can strengthen your grasp in English day by day. Regular reading practice will not only help you to understand everyday vocabulary, but also enable you to develop the skill of speaking and writing in the English language. Read 10 Most Useful Foreign Languages to Learn in 2022 Listening Everyone loves movies. Find the english dubbed versions of your favourite television shows, dramas or movies. For the beginners, it is an excellent idea to enjoy movies with English subtitles.   Besides entertainment, make the habit of listening to English contents or resources for professional and education purposes. For instance, you can use the internet to search for the topics you are interested in such as science, technology, sports, business, history or anything else. You can listen to international news telecasts, podcasts, youtube videos, etc, Overlook Mistakes It's easier to say than to do. Continue the practice of learning. Use the English language for listening, writing and speaking whenever you get the chance.  Read: English Listening Skills: Some effective ways to improve Don't worry about mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, including native speakers! and making mistakes is the most effective learning method! There will be a time when you will easily identify the errors you have made. Thus you can develop the ability to rectify mistakes without the help of your teacher.  Speak and Record Try to speak in English when you communicate in professional life. Even if it's difficult to know how to express something, don't translate directly, but find a way to convey what you wish to say. Make use of simple phrases. Simple sentences can make you feel more comfortable and assist you in translating what you are thinking into words. Self-critical learners attempt to evaluate their progress. Record yourself speaking a short text or discussing the topic. You can utilise the webcam of your laptop or computer and the video camera of your phone. Read: How to be a Confident English Speaker? After you have made your recording, review it immediately and consider what you could do to improve the quality of your recording. Re-record it, then watch it and compare it to your original recording to see whether it's better. Continue this process regularly and save all of your old recordings. After a few months, you will begin to notice a noticeable improvement.  Vocabulary and Grammar Refresh your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. This will allow you to write well-formed sentences and increase your confidence when speaking English.  You can learn new vocabularies from online resources, printed books, dictionaries, etc. Besides these, the habit of reading, and listening to English contents will introduce you to many new vocabularies. For memorising vocabulary you can use diverse techniques like using vocabulary cards, writing blogs, etc. Read Best Free English Editing, Proofreading Courses Online Grammar is very essential to write and speak English correctly. The basic Grammar includes, Parts of Speech, voice, narration, syntax, idioms, Phrases, etc. Pick a good grammar book to learn the basic to intermediate level grammar. Then advance your knowledge accordingly. You can take the help of a mentor to learn Grammar in a systematic way.  Make the habit of applying the grammar lessons in your everyday English communication including speaking and writing. Join a discussion Participate in English discussions about something you are interested in. You can join or create an online community. Schedule some time in your daily routine to check in and look at what other people are talking about a certain topic. Try to share your opinions too. Read Best Native American Podcast Sites to Learn English While navigating social media or social networking platforms, you will see that numerous people are placing queries regarding many issues. If you have knowledge regarding any of these queries, take it as an opportunity to express your opinion. Stop scrolling and share your opinion in English. This habit will encourage you to communicate in English without hesitation.  Bottom Line  In your suitable time of the day practice reading, and writing in English. Create a flexible schedule to get you started. During leisure time, try to watch dramas in English or with subtitles. For professional purposes try to communicate in English with the right pronunciation. At home, practise English speaking by recording yourself regularly and then re-listening the recordings. So far, we have discussed some simple but efficient habits for successful English language learning. Keep in mind that developing healthy habits requires a bit of time. It's not as simple as deciding you should do it.  Read Free English-Speaking Mobile Apps for the Non-native Speakers

Writing itself is never easy. And if you are someone who is not a native English speaker, the process becomes even more difficult. But does that mean it's not possible to get better at writing in English? Of course not. In fact, being smart and practicing hard is all that it takes to get better in English writing. And here are some of the most popular open source internet-based tools and websites to support your English writing journey. Top 10 Free Tools, Apps, Websites for Improving Writing Skill in English  Before getting into the details, it's important to understand that these are companion tools. Meaning they will not write a piece for you. Instead, each of these tools can be used to understand the different lacking points. With effort and correction, it is easily possible to get better in a short time. Grammarly The first one on the list is Grammarly. Grammarly is a premium grammar-checking software that can correctly identify up to 250 types of grammatical errors in texts. The software also helps to make texts more readable and increase engagement with readers. Read: English Writing Skill: How to Start Writing and Improve Continuously The free version of the software can be used as an add-on to most word processing software. Users need to subscribe to their monthly plan to access the premium features. The premium features are a collection of advanced suggestions. It helps to make a piece more appropriate depending on its target audience and tone. Google Translate Google translate is probably the most comprehensive translator out there. it supports every major language including their different dialects. Google translate can be very useful for non-native writers as it effectively helps them find the perfect English word based on their own tongue. It’s also a great source for synonyms, antonyms, and different forms of a word. Google translate is an effective tool to increase the vocabulary as well as the readability of any writing. Read: English Listening Skills: Some effective ways to improve Grammar Girl Grammar is probably the most difficult thing to grasp for both native and non-native writers. While an app like Grammarly is a great way to correct grammatical mistakes, it doesn’t really provide the writers with the scope of learning the grammar rules. That’s where Grammar Girl comes in. The website has rules and explanations about all the major grammatical items in both lessons and podcast form. For those who want to really get into the details and intricacies of English grammar, Grammar Girl can be a great starting point. Hemingway App Hemingway App strategically focuses on the readability of any writing. It doesn’t check for overall grammar items per se, but rather focuses on how easily a piece can be read by a non-technical person. Read How to Think in English: Learn some effective ways While the name suggests it to be an app, Hemingway App is most commonly used as a website. Users will simply have to copy and paste their writing on the website. A left tab will open up instantly which will show several readability indicators. It will also show the optimum use of passive voice, adverbs, and complex sentences and highlight where to make changes. VisuWords Most traditional dictionaries, thesaurus, or even a google search will simply list out the different words. The words are listed as antonyms, synonyms, or based on their parts of speech. Needless to say, it’s a very boring approach to making someone understand how and where, which words should be used. VisuWords aims to solve that problem. The platform is a modified form of a dictionary that comes to life in the form of visual relationships. Type in a word and the platform will show you links between different variations of the word and how to use them in a different scenario. It definitely helps to make the learning process more interesting. Read Best Free English Editing, Proofreading Courses Online A Journal A journal isn’t really a tool for writing. Instead, it’s a process that provides the opportunity to practice more and more. The journal can be about anything. It can focus on daily life, personal goals, experience, or even travel experiences. Regardless of the type, the journal helps a writer to write more and more and make a consistent stride in getting better at it. Ginger Ginger is a similar app just like Grammarly. The main function of the app is to catch grammatical errors and make necessary corrections in the writing. But it does one thing better than Grammarly. Read Best Native American Podcast Sites to Learn English Ginger can trace a pattern of mistakes the more you use the platform. Based on the common mistakes, Ginger can produce a comprehensive report made specific for each user. The platform also offers lessons to get better on certain topics. ZenPen Most of us use a word processor on our laptops or PCs. Being connected to the internet becomes an easy source of distraction. Sometimes one might write a few lines and take an hour-long break browsing social media or watching YouTube. While it reduces productivity, it also reduces the flow of writing. And that might hurt the overall writing quality. ZenPen helps to block out distractions. Just fire up the word processor and start writing. Users won’t be able to exit the application before they have achieved a set word count goal. Read Free English-Speaking Mobile Apps for the Non-native Speakers Expresso Expresso is another Hemingway App alternative. Just like Hemingway, Expresso takes a deep dive into writing and checks for passive voices, complex sentences, and even word choices. It goes up a notch from Hemingway and even includes filler sentence analysis. Users will be able to easily check the readability of their writing as well as make it more concise by curtailing the fillers. A Dictionary A dictionary is probably the oldest and still most useful writing tool out there. Nowadays, there are all sorts of different dictionaries available online ranging from Dictionary.com to Merriam-Webster. Combine the dictionary with a thesaurus and it becomes even better. Read Best YouTube Channels to Learn English Whether it's checking for meaning, finding a suitable replacement, or even application, a dictionary can do all that without being too intrusive to the writing. Final Words Writing is more like an acquired taste. Some are inherently good at it; some get good by practice. Either way, there needs to be a concerted effort to be consistent and concise while writing. Different people might have different styles of writing, but continuous practice can improve their skill. So far, we have discussed some of the best free websites, apps, tools to hone your English writing skill. These resources are really useful to create correct and easily readable pieces. Read English Vocabulary: Ways to Improve and Expand Your Knowledge of Words

English is a global language and one of the most commonly studied languages in the world. It can also be a challenging language to learn, as it has many rules that must be followed in order to sound natural. However, with practice, anyone can become a proficient English speaker. And with the right approach, anyone can improve their English writing skills too. There are a variety of resources available to help beginners get started, and there are many ways to keep improving throughout the years. With the right method by following some tips, anyone can learn to write effectively in English. Beginner’s Tips to start writing in English English is a difficult language to learn for many people, but with the right tips, you can start writing in English quickly and easily. Here are five beginner’s tips to help you get started. Write Everyday If you are just starting to write in English, it can be hard to keep up with the flow and make your sentences sound natural. But practice writing every day can make your learning job easier. So, what does “write every day” mean? The literal meaning is to carry on writing continuously to develop the skill. Thus, it will develop as a habit, and you can overcome the fear of English writing. Read How to Think in English: Learn some effective ways Find the Best Time and Place to Write Everyone possesses a certain time of day when they feel at their greatest. Maybe your brain is the heaviest at daybreak. Perhaps you sleep until very late, and you concentrate most during the evening. Try putting together at different times of the day to find out what time works best for you to practice writing. Once you know when to write, you will also need to know where. Maybe you have difficulty writing in a loud environment, and you may want to write in a quiet place like a library. Maybe you want a little background noise, and that means writing is best done in a busier location like a café. Test and find what works best for you. Start With Simple Sentences Beginning English writers often struggle with the mechanics of writing: creating clear and concise sentences. As a beginner in the English language, you may feel overwhelmed by all the different rules and grammar structures. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, start with simple sentences to improve your writing. This will help you build up your skills gradually and make fewer mistakes.  Read Best Free English Editing, Proofreading Courses Online However, when you are starting out, focus on building a strong foundation in basic grammar and vocabulary. This will help you communicate more effectively and avoid making common mistakes. Keep a Journal in English By keeping a private journal (diary) in English, you ensure you write every day. It’s a great method to develop English writing in the past tense and future tense. For example, in your journal, you will describe everything you did during the day in the past tense, and you will write about what you intend to do tomorrow in the future tense. When you are accustomed to writing in your journal regularly, you will start writing in English more often during the day. That’s because you will find that the things you do throughout the day frequently lead you to think about what you need to write about in English. Read Best YouTube Channels to Learn English Write More Than One Draft There are many benefits to writing more than one draft of your writing. It can help you to improve your English writing skills. It can help you to stay organized and avoid making any mistakes. Experts' Tips to Improve Writing Skills in English Once you get acquainted with basic English writing, you can practice advanced writing to take your English writing to the next level. Read as Much as You Can You have to be a good reader to become a good writer. Reading as much as you can helps you learn how to properly use standard English punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary. By reading, you will also improve your comprehension skills and learn new terms. Reading can also give you ideas for your own writing projects. Read English Listening Skills: Some effective ways to improve There are many resources available to read, including books, articles, and online resources. Begin by reading what others have written, and then try out some of the techniques that you find helpful. Brush up your grammar Anyone who has ever written in English knows that there is room for improvement. Whether you are a novice or have been writing for years, there are some simple things to improve your writing more and more. And polishing your grammar will enhance your writing level. To improve, you can use a dictionary to look up unfamiliar words and their definitions. Also, check your usage against a standard grammar guide and practice writing in a formal style. Learn How to Organize a Paragraph Learning how to organize a paragraph can help improve English writing. A well-organized paragraph is easy to read and follows a specific structure. It begins with a topic sentence that provides information about the paragraph, followed by supporting sentences. Paragraphs also use transitions to move from one idea to another. By following these tips, you can develop your writing skills and create paragraphs that are easy to follow and understand. Read How to improve your English speaking skills at home? Don’t Over-Explain Everything If you are practiced enough, you should be able to keep your thoughts well organized, according to your goal. The goal is just to provide readers with sufficient info to understand exactly what you are communicating without overwhelming them with superfluous details. Try To Eliminate the Filler Words and Phrases We have to use certain phrases or words throughout our writing, which may be unnecessary and don’t contribute much of anything. However, more often than not, they contribute nothing except extra wordage. So, eliminating those filler words will improve your writing and make it meaningful. Final Words In conclusion, English writing skill can be improved by taking the time to learn the basics and then practicing often. However, without practice, even the best techniques will not produce effective results. Therefore, it is important to keep up the practice and continually strive for better-written content. Read 10 Most Useful Foreign Languages to Learn in 2022

As the most common second language in the world, the importance of English cannot be overstated. It's easy to learn English in an environment with native speakers or where the majority speaks the language. The constant interactions help to develop an innate speech process where the mind automatically starts thinking in English. But what if the learner doesn’t have access to such facilities? There are some efficient ways to develop thinking in English even while learning alone. Let's find out. Why Should You Think in English to Speak Fluently? There's a popular saying that goes “Your mouth speaks what’s in your heart”. Human beings have the fascinating ability to visualize, think and analyze any situation in their head. The complex ability of the brain allows humans to formulate thoughts into words inside the head before one even speaks. Thinking in English simply allows a person to repeat with their mouth what’s in their head. Most people shy away from English because they are afraid to make a mistake or stutter. Sure enough, it's normal to make mistakes upfront. But the notion that a thought itself can be conceived in English rather than having to translate it, makes a world of difference when it comes to achieving fluency. Read Best Free English Editing, Proofreading Courses Online How to Train Your Mind and Brain to Think in English The One Word Drill The one-word drill is a highly effective method of developing English vocabulary. And it requires no extra emphasis that a strong vocabulary makes for effective command of the language. In this method, the learners will have to simply go through the names of the objects they see in front of them in English. For example, you are walking down the road and you see a tree or a car. Try and repeat them in your head in English rather than in your native tongue. Make a habit out of this process. The brain will eventually start to identify the objects around you in English subconsciously. One important heads-up here is to constantly learn new words as well. Because the process becomes useless if you see something and can't find the English word for it. Even if such cases arise, follow the next point. Read Best YouTube Channels to Learn English Delineate Unknown Words It's normal for a person learning English to not know the name of many things or objects around us. Developing the vocabulary is a constant process and even the natives have a brain fade at times. But that doesn’t mean you should give up. Instead, it offers you the ability to expand on the one-word drill and make a sentence out of it. Try and describe the unknown word in your head using simple and easy English. For example, you entered the “Kitchen” but can’t recount the name. What do you associate with a Kitchen? “A place where cooking is done”. That’s it, the single word is now replaced with a complete sentence. Keep repeating the process as it's an effective way to develop sentence structuring fluently while speaking. Recount the Day Another great way to start thinking in English is to recount the day. It's natural to feel stuck at first with what to think. Recounting the day in the evening or at night gives an easy way to deep dive into processing thoughts. Read English Listening Skills: Some effective ways to improve Think about when you woke up, or what you had for breakfast? How was the weather? What about lunch and the commute? All of these make for an effective and meaningful structuring inside your head. Similarly, you can plan your day when you wake up, all in English and your head. Regardless of how you do it, it’s habituating the brain to feel comfortable in thinking away from the native tongue. Strike a Conversation in Your Head Okay, so this might feel like something straight out of the Hollywood movie “Fight Club” but it's also an effective way to excel in one-to-one communication. Read How to improve your English speaking skills at home? You don’t have to have a conversation with a partner to practice speaking English. Rather make up a scenario in your head and ask questions. Think of the possible replies and counter replies. It doesn’t have to be completely meaningful as long as it makes sense. This trick will help to build confidence for actual real-life conversations. Keep Notes Whether it’s the one-word drill, imaginative scenario, or delineating unknown words, each of these tasks will eventually introduce completely new words. The best way to retain these new words is by taking notes. Try to take 5 to 15-word notes daily and look up their meaning from the dictionary. Recount them after a few days of learning from the notebook. This is a much more effective way than simply crunching on vocabulary. Read 10 Most Useful Foreign Languages to Learn in 2022 Follow English to English Dictionaries Speaking of dictionaries, many people use English as their native tongue. This process should be avoided. Yes, it's important to properly understand what a word means but English to English dictionaries explain each word in a single term. So, if you have enough expertise to look up a word in the dictionary, you will also be good enough to understand the meaning written beside. It also helps you to develop the second method we discussed earlier. Remember, the goal here is to develop a through and through English thinking capability. A native dictionary will only hinder the process. Practice, Practice, and More Practice Practicing is the ultimate process in honing each of the methods mentioned above. None of these methods will work unless there is a regular practice. It's not like you have to give a set time to the process each day. Just make sure you are incorporating them into your routine little by little. Read What is the Best Programming Language to Learn First? Eventually, it won’t feel like a task anymore. And more importantly, it will help you make a significant stride in speaking English fluently. Final Words The process of learning English is both easy and difficult. It's difficult for those who bind the language learning process in just textbooks. But for those who incorporate the language into daily life and thoughts, the process becomes significantly easy for them. So far we have discussed some easy and practical ways to think in English. If you can train your mind and brain for thinking in English, you can grab the ability of speaking English smoothly. Hope it helps!

In this day and age of globalization, English skill is one of the must-have ones to hold an edge over the rest. For an aspiring writer or a journalist, the English medium offers a diverse and larger audience. So naturally, the importance is immense. But the simple knowledge of the language and grammar isn’t enough to create a compelling piece. Proper editing and proofreading can make good writing into great writing. With that said, here are some top rated free online courses for learning English editing and proofreading to get started on the journey. Why Should You Learn English Editing and Proofreading? English is the most spoken second language in the world and the de-facto international mode of communication. With a basic knowledge of English, anyone can go about writing stuff. Of course, there is a huge difference between just writing and telling a story. Editing helps to make any writing clear and concise and adds or deletes certain parts of a complete piece. There are different types of editing and each follows a set of rules. Learning the process helps to identify what to implement where. Proofreading comes along with editing because let's be honest, who wants silly grammatical or spelling mistakes in their writing? Also Read: TEDx Talks: Everything You Need To Know The prospect of English writing is immense in the context of Bangladesh. From English dailies, blogs, and online news agencies to freelance copywriting gigs, the opportunities are endless. Most of these jobs are also home-based with a handsome payout. In short, it’s a great career opportunity for anyone into writing. Combine the interest with necessary editing and proofreading skills and one can be a master of words in no time. Top 8 Free Online Courses to Learn English Editing and Proofreading Online Proofreading Classes – Skillshare Proofreading makes up the basics of editing. This foundation course on proofreading is offered by Skillshare for beginners. This is a self-paced course that mainly follows the very basics of the proofreading process, identification, replacement, and contextual compatibility. The free course will take the learner from a beginner to an intermediate level. The course duration is 1 month but since this is a self-paced learning opportunity, learners can go about it at their own discretion. Read Best Native American Podcast Sites to Learn English Writing for Young Readers – Coursera This is another beginner-level editing and proofreading course offered by Coursera. The course has been designed in association with Commonwealth Education Trust for aspiring writers. The course focuses on editing and proofreading for storytelling. This self-paced learning will take the learners through cultural boundaries, narrative style, writing art form, and self-editing. The learning outcome from here can be implemented in investigative writing as well. It will take about 13 hours to complete the course. English Writing Skills – Alison The English writing course from Alison focuses on the basics of sentence structuring for cohesive storytelling. The course itself doesn’t focus on a specific stream. Rather it aims to educate the learners on different narrative and writing styles and where to apply them. Read Free English-Speaking Mobile Apps for the Non-native Speakers The course also focuses on audience management. It will entail different audience identification and demographic and learning to change the narrative style accordingly. This is a self-paced course that usually takes around 12 hours to complete.