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The following are some practical solutions to help you improve your English grammar. Some learn grammar intuitively, while others struggle with tenses, clauses, sentences, and so on. Here are some tips from the team at RPI College for learning and improving English grammar.

1. Make a commitment to yourself.

Once you are ready to begin studying English grammar, stick with it until the end. It is easy to get sidetracked or distracted with everything else going on in life. If you truly want to improve your English grammar, you need to make it a priority!

2. Make sure you have a grammar book on hand.

By keeping an English grammar book, you will be able to revise what you have learned in class and reinforce what are learning or have learnt on a regular basis.

3. Use a grammar app to improve your writing.

Almost everyone has a smartphone today. Use it. Download dictionaries and grammar apps so you can use them while commuting or during free time.

4. Make sure you practice every day.

The best way to improve your grammar is to solve as many exercises as possible. RPI College’s General English courses will expose you to the correct grammar and encourage you to use it through various interesting and efficient activities. Do not forget to take notes during classes and complete all your homework before your instructor confirms your answers and explains in detail the grammar rules behind them. The mastery of English grammar also requires the acquisition of five critical skills (reading, thinking, listening, speaking, and writing). Put these skills into practice in your daily activities.

5. Do not be afraid to learn new words.

Throughout RPI College’s General English courses, our instructors encourage their students to acquire as much vocabulary as possible so they can use it both for speaking and writing. Every day in life and in your course, you will see new words everywhere. Write them down, so that you can use them again. Set a goal of learning and using 5-10 new words a day.

6. Read more in material written in English.

To improve your grammar, do not overlook this important step. Reading allows you to observe grammar in action. Pick a topic that captures your attention and explore it through books, magazines, or newspaper articles appropriate for your level of English. With each reading, you will encounter new vocabulary and grasp the writer's style and approach to grammar. If anything seems unfamiliar, do a quick search or consult your instructor for clarification. Keep in mind that when you are used to making grammatical errors, correct sentences may sound odd at first.

7. Listen to English audio.

It is not just about learning English in the classroom. You can learn English all day, every day by watching and listening to what is going on around you, whether you are on the street, taking transit, or in a supermarket. You will be amazed at how much English, and the culture of the people who use it, you will be able to pick up if you keep your ears, eyes and mind open.

8. Communicate with your family and friends in English.

At RPI College, you have the opportunity to think and speak in English exclusively while studying English. As you practice conversational English with your instructor and classmates, you will gradually begin to understand grammar rules, such as tenses, regular verbs, irregular verbs, pronouns, etc. Take these skills home with you and practice with your family and friends!

9. Watch English movies or TV shows.

A great technique you can practice while watching movies or television is called “shadowing”. Simply turn the subtitles on and recite them aloud as you are watching.

10. Use English more often.

It is important to practice writing in class and outside of class to improve your English grammar. By posting your Instagram, Facebook, or X/Twitter status in English and leaving comments and replies in English instead of your mother tongue, you can practice writing.

11. Understand the logic behind grammar rules.

A grammar rule always has a reason behind it. Write down all the grammar rules you erred in previously and figure out why a particular word or sentence is the way it is. Once you learn and understand the logic, you will rarely make the same mistake again.

12. You can ask your instructor for extra help if you need it.

Whenever you are unsure about anything, ask your instructor! All of our instructors at RPI College are more than happy to help you identify areas that you can improve on and help you develop your revision skills.

Podcasts and audiobooks are a great tool that can help you with your English listening practice. However, they are also effective in helping you practice your English speaking with a technique called “shadowing”.

Shadowing is an imitation technique where one is imitating another speaker, or certain aspects and elements of someone else’s speech. A great way to practice shadowing is to read along with a narrator during a podcast or audiobook. Most podcasts and audiobooks have word-for-word transcripts that you can download.

After downloading the transcript, you can play the podcast or audiobook while reading along out loud. If you match the speed and accent of the speaker, this technique can be effective in helping improve your English intonation and pronunciation. It can also help you unconsciously improve other things in English such as rhythm, grammar, and vocabulary. If the audio or video is too fast for you, you can pause at the end of each line, or slow down the playback speed.

Here’s a list of resources you can use for shadowing:

- Podcasts with transcripts and/or subtitles

- Audiobooks with transcripts and/or subtitles

- YouTube clips with subtitles

- TED Talks with subtitles

- Movies with subtitles

- Television Shows with subtitles

If you are looking to improve your English, RPI College offers several General English courses for all proficiency levels including Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced.

To determine what proficiency level you are at, we offer a brief placement test that you can complete to determine which of our English courses is a good starting point to match your current skill level.

To take the placement test, please click the following link: https://rpicollege.ca/en/apply

Language students are welcome in Canada and should submit their visitor visa applications now to benefit from faster processing by the Government of Canada.

Canada recently announced an intake cap on international student permit applications, effectively putting a moratorium on study permit application processing until provinces can implement attestation procedures.

Why is that good news for international students looking to study English in Canada?

First of all, a study permit is not required to attend short-term language programs in Canada. On a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), international students can study English or French in Canada for less than six months. Approximately 100,000 students come to Canada on TRVs and eTAs each year.

Second, while the government of Canada isn't processing study permit applications (or very few), IRCC will have more resources available to process other visa applications until at least the end of March, so short-term language students applying for TRVs and eTAs will receive faster processing times.

It is important to remember that there are no restrictions on visitor visas (TRV or eTA) to Canada. In fact, Destination Canada estimates 21.2 million international visitors will visit Canada in 2024. By 2025, the number is expected to reach 23.5 million!

Similarly, there is NO CAP on short-term English language students coming to Canada on TRVs or eTAs, or students on work permits like the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.

So, Canada remains open and ready to welcome international language students. Now is the time to submit visitor visa applications!

Here are just some of the reasons to choose RPI College for your English courses:

  - Choose from a variety of flexible courses that meet your specific needs.

  - The option of both in-class and online courses.

  - Experience Canada’s culture, values, and way of life.

  - Learn and socialize with students from different cultures.

  - Explore the many attractions and natural beauty that North Vancouver, Canada has to offer.

For more information on the courses available at RPI College, or to speak with a team member about any questions you may have, please fill out our Contact form: https://rpicollege.ca/en/contact

Are you struggling with your English speaking skills? Do you find it challenging to express yourself fluently and confidently in conversations? If so, you're not alone. Many people face obstacles when trying to improve their speaking ability, but there is a solution: Discussion Courses. These courses provide an excellent opportunity to practice speaking with others while also improving vocabulary and pronunciation. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of taking a discussion course for enhancing your English-speaking skills and how they can help individuals from all backgrounds excel in language proficiency.

Introducing the course

Discussion courses are an interactive and dynamic way to enhance your English-speaking skills. These courses provide a platform for students to engage in meaningful discussions with their peers, practice speaking fluently on various topics, and develop critical thinking skills. The primary objective of discussion courses is to improve learners' oral communication abilities by providing them with opportunities to interact with other speakers in real-life situations that they may encounter. Through these interactions, learners can learn how to express themselves more effectively and confidently while also improving their vocabulary and pronunciation. Unlike traditional language classes that focus on grammar rules and vocabulary drills, discussion courses allow learners to practice using the language in natural settings where the emphasis is placed on communication rather than perfection. Students are encouraged to share their thoughts, opinions, experiences, and cultural perspectives through group discussions led by a trained instructor who provides feedback throughout the session. In addition to enhancing speaking skills, discussion courses also help individuals develop valuable interpersonal skills such as active listening, empathy-building techniques, effective questioning strategies and conflict resolution methods. If you're looking for an engaging way of improving your English-speaking ability while also developing essential social skills – consider taking a discussion course!

What discussion courses are

Discussion courses are a type of language course that focuses on improving speaking ability through conversations. These courses involve group discussions that cover various topics, allowing participants to practice their English skills in a supportive environment. The goal is to help students develop their vocabulary and pronunciation while building confidence in their ability to communicate effectively. In discussion courses, instructors typically provide prompts or questions related to the topic at hand, encouraging students to express themselves freely and creatively. This approach helps learners expand their vocabulary and develop critical thinking skills while also practicing grammar and sentence structure. One of the key benefits of these courses is the opportunity they provide for individuals who struggle with speaking English in social situations. Discussion classes offer a low-pressure environment where participants can practice speaking without fear of judgment or embarrassment. This allows them to build confidence gradually over time as they become more comfortable expressing themselves in English. Discussion courses can be an excellent way for individuals looking to improve their spoken English skills quickly and efficiently. By providing opportunities for regular practice, feedback from instructors and peers, and exposure to new ideas and perspectives, these classes can help anyone become a more effective communicator in any situation.

How they improve speaking ability

Discussion courses are an excellent way to improve your speaking ability in English. This is because these courses create a platform for learners to express their ideas and thoughts on various topics openly. As such, the learner gets to practice and refine their vocabulary and pronunciation skills while building confidence in themselves. During discussion courses, learners get exposed to different accents that help them train their ears and tongues towards proper enunciation of words. Additionally, through group discussions or debates, students learn how to structure sentences coherently by using appropriate grammar rules. Furthermore, discussion groups enhance critical thinking as students engage in challenging conversations over complex topics. Through this process of exchanging opinions with other learners from diverse backgrounds helps build communication skills while also improving listening abilities - both essential aspects of effective communication. Taking part in discussion groups exposes learners to new vocabulary that they can incorporate into their daily lives effortlessly. The more we use newly acquired words or phrases during conversations with others outside the class environment, it becomes easier for us when expressing ourselves naturally without struggling. Participating in discussion courses has numerous benefits beyond just practicing our speaking ability. It enhances our listening skills while also improving our overall comprehension levels thus making us better communicators regardless of language proficiency level!

Who benefits from discussion courses

Discussion courses are beneficial for anyone who is looking to improve their English speaking skills. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, these courses can help you develop your vocabulary, pronunciation, and fluency. If you’re someone who struggles with confidence when speaking in English, then discussion courses can provide a safe and supportive environment for you to practice. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in conversation with others who are also learning the language, which can help reduce anxiety and build your self-assurance. Additionally, those who use English professionally or academically can benefit greatly from discussion courses as it provides them with an opportunity to refine their language skills. They will be able to learn new vocabulary words that they may not have come across before while working on proper pronunciation of commonly used words. Anyone looking to improve their speaking ability through engaging in stimulating conversations about various topics would find participating in discussion courses very useful!

Course structure

The structure of a discussion course can vary depending on the provider. However, most courses consist of weekly sessions with a small group of students led by an experienced teacher. Before starting the course, students are usually given a placement test to assess their level and ensure they are placed in an appropriate group. This guarantees that all participants have similar language skills and can benefit from working together. During each session, students discuss various topics relevant to their interests or current events. These activities encourage participants to express their opinions freely and practice speaking English in a relaxed environment. In addition to discussions, teachers often incorporate other activities such as role-playing exercises or debates into the lessons. Participants also receive feedback on their pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary usage during class time. At the end of each session, homework is assigned for further practice outside of class time. This may include writing assignments or additional reading materials related to the discussed topic. Discussion courses provide structured learning opportunities for individuals looking to improve their speaking ability while interacting with others in a supportive environment.

Conclusion

If you're looking to improve your speaking ability in English, taking a discussion course is an excellent place to start. Not only will you learn new vocabulary and practice pronunciation, but you'll also gain confidence in your ability to communicate effectively with others. Whether you're a beginner or more advanced speaker, there's always room for improvement when it comes to speaking skills. By participating in group discussions and receiving feedback from experienced instructors, you'll be able to identify areas of weakness and work on them over time. So why wait? Sign up for a discussion course today and take the first step towards becoming a fluent English speaker!

Any English language learner knows that often spelling isn’t very helpful if we want to know how to correctly say a word. Take a look at this sentence, focusing on the words in bold - do you know how to pronounce them?

"The man didn't feel very comfortable in his grey suit. He didn't enjoy wearing smart clothes, and when he wore them he felt a subtle difference in his personality.''

English spelling hasn't evolved much over time, but how we pronounce words has. This makes pronunciation a real challenge for language learners.  But good pronunciation is not just 'how words and letters sound'; there are other equally important features to consider, like intonation (how the tone of voice changes during a sentence, going up or down), stress (which words and syllables have more 'weight' when we are speaking), and connected speech - how words can sound different when they are joined together in natural speech. All of these features contribute to good pronunciation - but don't confuse them with accent. 

In the UK, the USA and other English speaking countries there are many, many different types of accents, but people with those different accents can all be considered to have correct pronunciation.  When you are learning English you don't have to sound British or American. Good pronunciation means being understood; not necessarily sounding like you were born in New York or London. In fact, many native speakers love hearing English spoken with a Spanish, Italian or French accent!  So, how can you work on your pronunciation so that people from all over the world can understand you easily, even if you retain your native accent? Here are six top tips for you to practice and perfect your pronunciation.

1 - Listen!  Listening to examples of authentic speech is the most obvious way to improve your own pronunciation. There are lots of ways to do this - watch a film in its original version, listen to podcasts about a topic that interests you in English (you could try the British Council English podcasts app here ), even listening to music can help. Try to notice the intonation that people use.  You can add to this by 'shadowing'. Shadowing means listening to a short sentence or phrase, and then repeating it afterwards, trying to imitate the sounds, intonation and word stress and noticing how your mouth and tongue move when you speak.

2.  Record yourself. Once you have practiced shadowing, you could record yourself speaking - either repeating a short phrase that you have listened to, or doing a longer speaking task from a coursebook, like describing a picture. Listen back and make a note of any sounds that you have problems with - practice these words / sounds slowly and then record yourself again. Can you notice an improvement?

3. Get to know the phonemic chart. TheInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)  is a visual representation of different sounds. It might look strange and it might feel like you are learning a whole new language, but it can really help you with pronunciation. All dictionaries have a phonetic transcription of words so that you know how to pronounce them. This is really helpful with English because as we have already seen, English spelling doesn't always correspond with its pronunciation. Think about the letters 'ough' in the words 'though', 'through', 'tough', 'ought'. It would be impossible to guess how to say those words without some help. 

Take a look at the British Council's phonemic chart (see link above) or download the Sounds Right app . You can click on the different phonemes and listen to how they sound. This can help you to hear differences between similar sounds.

4. Use a dictionary. As well as printed dictionaries which will give you a phonetic transcription of a word, there are lots of online dictionaries where you can click and listen to the word being spoken. A particularly good one is howjsay  - even the name of this website is a useful guide as to how to pronounce the common question 'How do you say...?' in a natural way.  It's a great resource for checking how new words sound.

5. Do some exercise! Different languages have different sounds, and our mouths adapt to those sounds.  Some sounds are physically very difficult for us to make, as they don't exist in our native language.  Just like when you are learning a new sport or dance move, it's important that you train your mouth to know how to form new sounds - the more you practice the easier it gets. For example, lots of Spanish speakers have problems with the difference between the /b/ and /v/ sound.  We make the /b/ sound by joining our lips together and then letting go. The /v/ sound is similar but your top teeth should touch your bottom lip before you let go.  The more you practice this, the easier it gets - try saying  " I'd like a very big beverage please''! The Sounds of English section  on the BBC's Learning English site has a good selection of video tutorials which explain how to make different sounds and activities to practice them. 

6. Get to know your minimal pairs. Minimal pairs are words that have almost the exact same pronunciation, but with one sound that is different - for example, ship and sheep. The difference between the /I/ in 'ship' and the /i:/ in 'sheep' is the length of the vowel. This can be difficult to hear for many language learners, and comes up in lots of different words.  The first step is to be able to tell the difference between the sounds when you hear them, them. You can listen to some common minimal pairs here  - can you hear the difference? Can you make the different sounds yourself?

Finally, don't feel bad if you still make mistakes with pronunciation - English is famously tricky. As far back as 1922, a Dutch language learner wrote a very long poem about the problems of English pronunciation called 'The Chaos '' - it may be chaotic, but with practice it can definitely get better!