Improve Your English

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too fast, go to the Intermediate version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #28 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 6 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

The 5 Step Starting Routine
Time and experience are needed for a person to become a confident public speaker. Few people are natural, born public speakers.

However, there is a way to short-cut the learning curve, and appear much more confident than you may feel inside, by mastering the starting routine.

Just arriving at the speaker’s stand or in front of an audience, and immediately breaking into your speech by blurting out the first few sentences, catches everyone almost unawares, and also reveals your nervousness.

Likewise shuffling your notes as you begin speaking conveys a negative impression.

Instead, follow this simple 5 step routine before you begin any presentation, and you immediately appear confident at public speaking engagements and presentations:

Discipline yourself to follow this procedure and feel your self-confidence soar!
Note: While your presentation should be extemporaneous, learning the first few words or the first two or three sentences off by heart can do much to make sure the launch is positive and confident.

Here are some other suggestions which are invaluable in developing a confident public speaking style:

Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm can make up for a number of other failings on the part of a speaker.

Even if a speaker is not highly polished in his/her presentation skills, an audience won’t give it undue attention if the speaker is enthusiastic.

Enthusiasm shows how you feel about the subject. If you have a passion for it, if you just love speaking about it, this will rub off on the audience.

Be Natural
Use your natural, everyday voice. A false, overly precise manner of speaking which is not normal for you, will be easily detected by the audience as phony. There should be no need to disguise yourself.

Be yourself, use a natural, conversational style and the audience will concentrate on what you are saying, not on the way you are saying it.

Reduce Anxiety
Reduce anxiety by being in the meeting room or hall early as the audience starts to come in. Greet as many as you can and if time permits, have a few words with one or two. Just a brief greeting, introducing yourself, asking their name, where they are from, etc. will really break the ice.

When you get on the platform and see the persons you spoke to in the audience, you will feel like you are talking to friends rather than strangers.

When The Mind Goes Blank
If you have a sudden lapse of memory and your mind goes blank, you might be able to pick up the threads again by simply repeating the last words of your last sentence. It just gives you those precious seconds needed to get back on track.

In conclusion, be realistic with feelings of nervousness. Some persons may be able to overcome audience fear, but never be able to completely eradicate nervousness before beginning to speak.

With experience and practice, this initial nervousness disappears after a few seconds once you have launched into the presentation using the five step routine outlined above. Mastering this sequence alone will move you well along on the road to confident public speaking.

Next: 5 Powerful Ways To Use Volume

By combining pictures with sentence examples, it will be easy to remember the definition of CONTEMPT and how to use it naturally in various contexts.

This video provides 3 illustrated examples of how the word CONTEMPT can be used. Take a moment to look at the picture, then listen and read the sentence example. Then make sure you understand the sentence. Look up in a dictionary any other words you do not understand.

Here is a transcript of the video: “The Definition of CONTEMPT”

Slide 2:
A quick reminder, Get new additions to THE ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY
Click the subscribe button
the Bell icon
and then All

Slide 3:
CONTEMPT
Definition:
a feeling or attitude that someone or something is worthless, despised, not worthy of consideration, extreme lack of respect

Let’s look at 3 illustrated sentence examples.

Slide 4:
The sentence reads: The contempt Trump and Biden feel towards each other becomes evident in the presidential debates.

In other words, through the presidential debates, political rivals Trump and Biden clearly express their extreme lack of respect for each other.

Here’s another example:

Slide 5:
Sentence: If someone is “held in contempt of court”, it means a person is guilty of the crime of being disobedient or disrespectful to a court of law or its officers.

Note this common collocation used in a legal context: “held in contempt” or “in contempt of court”

Here is a third example:

Slide 6:
Sentence: Some young people express their contempt for the older generation and its values and perceived hypocrisy, in the way they dress.

In other words, some young people dress in a way they know their parents or older generation would not approve of, just to show that they have no regard or respect for their feelings or opinions.

Slide 7:
So remember, CONTEMPT means: a feeling or attitude that someone or something is worthless, despised, not worthy of consideration; extreme lack of respect

Synonyms include:
disdain
disregard
disrespect
scorn
aversion
hatred

Slide 8:
Here are some common collocations:

contempt for (someone or something)
held in contempt
show contempt
express contempt
atmosphere of contempt
an air of contempt
level of contempt

Slide 9:
Has this video helped you?
LIKE | SHARE | COMMENT NOW!

Slide 10:
Build A Powerful English Vocabulary with my FREE course on Udemy
Go to: http://goodenglish.online

Now you understand clearly the meaning of CONTEMPT, check other words in The Illustrated Dictionary such as:
The Meaning of CONCEPT

Image Credits

Slide 4 – Trump Biden
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/2jN655W

Slide 5 – courtroom
Royalty Free
https://pixabay.com/photos/courtroom-benches-seats-law-898931/

Slide 6 – Death-rockers
Creative Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wave_Gotik_Treffen_2007.jpg

Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:

Creative Commons Attribution Licence
Others are allowed to copy, distribute, display, and perform copyrighted work – and derivative works based upon it if they give credit to the creator or source.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Royalty Free
The image may be used for almost any business, personal, educational or charitable purpose as long as a credit is published to the creator of the image.

If you are interested in the definition of CONTEMPT, be sure to check this entry in this entry in The Illustrated Dictionary:
The Definition and Meaning of SPARE – SPARE in a Sentence

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too slow, go to the Advanced version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #26 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 4 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

5 Preparation Techniques You Need To Know
The first of our five presentation techniques will give you the tools you need to compile great information for a truly fascinating presentation:
Questions For Digging
Use the following questions in your research and preparation to dig and gather information:

What
When
Where
How
Why

Remember these famous words from Rudyard Kipling in his short story The Elephant’s Child:
“I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.”

These are very effective tools for getting the facts and information you need to put together an interesting presentation. Just working methodically through the five questions is a simple exercise which can yield great results.

The second presentation technique provides a warning when dealing with:

Technical Terms
If you are a specialist in a particular field guard against the temptation of using technical terms before a lay audience.
It may indicate you are highly qualified in your field but if no one understands what you are saying, what’s the point?
Drawing from history, Abraham Lincoln in his first address to Congress used the expression “sugar-coated”. A personal friend suggested this phrase was not dignified enough given the audience that would be hearing it.
Lincoln’s reply?
“If you think the time will ever come when the people will not understand what ‘sugar-coated’ means, I’ll alter it; otherwise, I think I’ll let it go.”
The lesson: Use terms and expressions the audience can immediately understand. Avoid technical terms unknown to your audience. If you have to use them, make sure you explain them.

Using a Thesaurus is another great presentation technique which will enhance your style of presentation:

Use A Thesaurus
Once you have selected the material you intend to include in your speech, make generous use of a Thesaurus so you use a wide variety of colorful, emotion-arousing words.
Instead of using the word ‘beautiful’ over and over, try alternatives such as: gorgeous, superb, elegant, picturesque, exquisite, magnificent. A thesaurus is available online at thesaurus.com.

Whether you are speaking in a large auditorium or smaller conference room, this presentation technique will do much to reduce anxiety:

Check The Environment
If time allows, become familiar with the room or hall where you will deliver your presentation. Walk around, sit in different parts of the room or hall, get a feel for the environment.
Get on the platform or stand at the front and pause for a few minutes taking in the scene before you. This helps greatly in reducing nervousness and helps with visualization techniques.

Newer public speakers will benefit greatly from this suggestion:

Rehearsals
To express your ideas clearly they need to be clear in your own mind. Often it’s not until we try to put something into words we realize we don’t fully understand the idea to the extent we thought we did.
That’s why practicing our presentation out loud, in private, is so important. Rehearsals iron out the wrinkles so we do all our fumbling and groping for words in private so we can present a smooth, clear explanation in public.

These presentation techniques can do much to help you put together a presentation full of great material your audience will love and help you deliver it in a confident way that will be remembered.

Next: The 5 Step Starting Routine

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too fast, go to the Intermediate version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #27 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 5 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

5 Preparation Techniques You Need To Know
The first of our five presentation techniques will give you the tools you need to compile great information for a truly fascinating presentation:
Questions For Digging
Use the following questions in your research and preparation to dig and gather information:

What
When
Where
How
Why

Remember these famous words from Rudyard Kipling in his short story The Elephant’s Child:
“I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.”

These are very effective tools for getting the facts and information you need to put together an interesting presentation. Just working methodically through the five questions is a simple exercise which can yield great results.

The second presentation technique provides a warning when dealing with:

Technical Terms
If you are a specialist in a particular field guard against the temptation of using technical terms before a lay audience.
It may indicate you are highly qualified in your field but if no one understands what you are saying, what’s the point?
Drawing from history, Abraham Lincoln in his first address to Congress used the expression “sugar-coated”. A personal friend suggested this phrase was not dignified enough given the audience that would be hearing it.
Lincoln’s reply?
“If you think the time will ever come when the people will not understand what ‘sugar-coated’ means, I’ll alter it; otherwise, I think I’ll let it go.”
The lesson: Use terms and expressions the audience can immediately understand. Avoid technical terms unknown to your audience. If you have to use them, make sure you explain them.

Using a Thesaurus is another great presentation technique which will enhance your style of presentation:

Use A Thesaurus
Once you have selected the material you intend to include in your speech, make generous use of a Thesaurus so you use a wide variety of colorful, emotion-arousing words.
Instead of using the word ‘beautiful’ over and over, try alternatives such as: gorgeous, superb, elegant, picturesque, exquisite, magnificent. A thesaurus is available online at thesaurus.com.

Whether you are speaking in a large auditorium or smaller conference room, this presentation technique will do much to reduce anxiety:

Check The Environment
If time allows, become familiar with the room or hall where you will deliver your presentation. Walk around, sit in different parts of the room or hall, get a feel for the environment.
Get on the platform or stand at the front and pause for a few minutes taking in the scene before you. This helps greatly in reducing nervousness and helps with visualization techniques.

Newer public speakers will benefit greatly from this suggestion:

Rehearsals
To express your ideas clearly they need to be clear in your own mind. Often it’s not until we try to put something into words we realize we don’t fully understand the idea to the extent we thought we did.
That’s why practicing our presentation out loud, in private, is so important. Rehearsals iron out the wrinkles so we do all our fumbling and groping for words in private so we can present a smooth, clear explanation in public.

These presentation techniques can do much to help you put together a presentation full of great material your audience will love and help you deliver it in a confident way that will be remembered.

Next: The 5 Step Starting Routine

This video gives the definition of INDIE and then shows, through illustrated sentence examples, how INDIE is used in specific contexts.

Slide 2:
Before we start, a quick reminder . . .

Continually IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH
Click the subscribe button
the Bell icon
All

Now the meaning and definition of INDIE . . .

Slide 3:
INDIE is an informal word which refers to:

a pop group, record label or film company that is not affiliated with a larger or more commercial organization
an artistic work produced by a small independent company or group on a small budget often using unknown artists

Slide 4:
INDIE is an abbreviation of ‘independent’ relating to the arts, entertainment or media including gaming, music and film. It entered the English language around 1920 originally referring to movies.

INDIE can also be used generally to indicate something not commercial or outside the mainstream.

Let’s see an illustrated sentence example of INDIE relating to the music industry.

Slide 5:
The sentence reads: Indie rock band The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982, and regarded as one of the most important bands to emerge from the 1980s indie music.

Next, INDIE in relation to the movie industry.

Slide 6:
The sentence reads: iNDIEFLIX is a web site that specializes in indie films from all over the world.

And now the word INDIE as relating to the video game industry.

Slide 7:
MINECRAFT was the indie game success story of 2010 and became the best selling video game in history, with over 300 million copies sold as of 2023.

Here is one more example:

Slide 8:
Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day book party celebrated in the United States on the last Saturday of April each year, in support of local indie bookstores.

Slide 8:
Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day book party celebrated in the United States on the last Saturday of April each year, in support of local indie bookstores.

Slide 9:
Has this video helped you?
LIKE | SHARE | COMMENT NOW!

Slide 10:
Build A Powerful English Vocabulary
with my FREE course on UDEMY
Go to: http://goodenglish.online#

Examples of INDIE in common use:

And this was actually supposed to be more of a smaller indie movie that Wayfarer was going to completely do independently.
Source: Salon
https://www.salon.com/2024/08/12/it-ends-with-us-abusers/

No indie band had staged a gig on that scale, and the organisation didn’t all go smoothly.
Source: BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80065lx1n2o

From the indie wave of the ’90s through the golden age of prestige television and into the current streaming bonanza, the range and diversity of performances have been staggering.
Source: New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/business/dealbook/movies-hollywood-streaming-services.html

While large productions are increasingly taking this into account by adding accessibility features, this aspect is usually completely absent in indie productions due to a lack of resources.
Source: Science Daily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240311145956.htm

Mojiken Studio, an Indonesian indie developer, has accused its UK publishing partner PQube Games of manipulation and exploitation related to the funding and development of its latest game, A Space for the Unbound.
Source: The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/24/23319884/pqube-games-a-space-for-the-unbound-mojiken-studio

Image Credits

Slide 5 – The Smiths
Public Domain
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Smiths_(1984_Sire_publicity_photo)_002.jpg

Slide 6 – iNDIEFLIX
Fair Use
https://www.indieflix.com/

Slide 7 – Minecraft
Fair Use
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Minecraft_cover.png#filelinks

Slide 8 – bookstore
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/2pNCW1a

Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:

Creative Commons Attribution Licence
Others are allowed to copy, distribute, display, and perform copyrighted work – and derivative works based upon it if they give credit to the creator or source.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Fair Use
Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use.
https://copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html

Public Domain
Public domain works are not restricted by copyright and do not require a license or fee to use. Public domain status allows the user unrestricted access and unlimited creativity. These are typically very old works.

If you are interested in the meaning of INDIE, be sure to check another entry from the New Words playlist:
The Meaning of SLEAZE/SLEAZY

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too slow, go to the Advanced version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #26 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 4 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

How To Conquer Fear With Preparation
Fear of public speaking affects some speakers more than others, but regardless of the level of experience a person has had, thorough preparation can have a massive impact on reducing the anxiety level.
To see how let us first analyze what we mean by thorough preparation.

What Is Preparation?
Gathering together a bunch of material and arranging it in logical order? Much more than that.
For a presentation to be truly effective, your preparation should involve real digging for gems of knowledge or instruction that have an affect on you.

Then you apply your own mind in assembling and arranging these key thoughts and coming to conclusions and convictions you can impart to your audience. With that kind of preparation your presentation will be memorable.

Quality Information
Research and gather quality information to include in your presentation that makes you excited and eager to share. If you feel that way about what you are going to say you can be sure your enthusiasm will rub off on the audience.

So learn how to use the internet as a main research tool. This means more than just popping a few words and phrases into Google and checking the first results page.

Learn how to REALLY search the internet. There are certain little known tips and techniques you can use to quickly unearth a wealth of fascinating, fresh, interest-arousing information that will have your audience riveted and shrink your fear of public speaking.

Just spend a little time educating yourself on how to do a deep search on the internet. To get started, enter the following keywords in Google: best web search tips and tricks. You will find some excellent web sites offering numerous search tips to make your preparation time really productive. Become an internet search expert.

Preparation & Pondering
Don’t rush preparation. Learn to ponder over your subject.
True, a speech can be hastily prepared in an emergency, but if you have a date to work towards, look at the subject early and give the thinking processes time to meditate and dream. Sleep on it.
As the days go by thoughts will come into your head related to the subject. Ideas, illustrations, suggestions, may come to you at odd times. Note them down.
Just plant the seed, the main subject, in your head early on, and allow that amazing thought factory, your brain, do its work.

Extraordinary Facts
When gathering material keep on the watch for extraordinary facts about ordinary things. This kind of information adds spice and interest to your presentation.

It also has an effect upon you the speaker making you eager to want to present the information because you know the effect it will have on the audience thus overpowering any fear of public speaking.

Create A Reservoir
Collect far more information than you intend to use when preparing a presentation. Then, when you have this great reservoir of facts and knowledge in front of you, you can start to select and choose the best for your presentation.
The greater the pool you are selecting from, the greater the likelihood your presentation is going to stand apart from the norm.

Additionally, this kind of preparation will give you a sense of power. You will know much more than you are able to impart in the allotted time. You will be an authority on the subject – and it will show!
Standing up in front of an audience with hastily prepared notes or little or no preparation can be a daunting scenario.

However, when a speaker is so thoroughly prepared that he or she becomes an authority on the subject, armed with a bristling array of interesting facts and information sure to enthrall an audience, fear of public speaking will rapidly recede into the far distance!

Next: 5 Preparation Techniques You Need To Know

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too fast, go to the Intermediate version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #26 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 4 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

How To Conquer Fear With Preparation
Fear of public speaking affects some speakers more than others, but regardless of the level of experience a person has had, thorough preparation can have a massive impact on reducing the anxiety level.
To see how let us first analyze what we mean by thorough preparation.

What Is Preparation?
Gathering together a bunch of material and arranging it in logical order? Much more than that.
For a presentation to be truly effective, your preparation should involve real digging for gems of knowledge or instruction that have an affect on you.

Then you apply your own mind in assembling and arranging these key thoughts and coming to conclusions and convictions you can impart to your audience. With that kind of preparation your presentation will be memorable.

Quality Information
Research and gather quality information to include in your presentation that makes you excited and eager to share. If you feel that way about what you are going to say you can be sure your enthusiasm will rub off on the audience.

So learn how to use the internet as a main research tool. This means more than just popping a few words and phrases into Google and checking the first results page.

Learn how to REALLY search the internet. There are certain little known tips and techniques you can use to quickly unearth a wealth of fascinating, fresh, interest-arousing information that will have your audience riveted and shrink your fear of public speaking.

Just spend a little time educating yourself on how to do a deep search on the internet. To get started, enter the following keywords in Google: best web search tips and tricks. You will find some excellent web sites offering numerous search tips to make your preparation time really productive. Become an internet search expert.

Preparation & Pondering
Don’t rush preparation. Learn to ponder over your subject.
True, a speech can be hastily prepared in an emergency, but if you have a date to work towards, look at the subject early and give the thinking processes time to meditate and dream. Sleep on it.
As the days go by thoughts will come into your head related to the subject. Ideas, illustrations, suggestions, may come to you at odd times. Note them down.
Just plant the seed, the main subject, in your head early on, and allow that amazing thought factory, your brain, do its work.

Extraordinary Facts
When gathering material keep on the watch for extraordinary facts about ordinary things. This kind of information adds spice and interest to your presentation.

It also has an effect upon you the speaker making you eager to want to present the information because you know the effect it will have on the audience thus overpowering any fear of public speaking.

Create A Reservoir
Collect far more information than you intend to use when preparing a presentation. Then, when you have this great reservoir of facts and knowledge in front of you, you can start to select and choose the best for your presentation.
The greater the pool you are selecting from, the greater the likelihood your presentation is going to stand apart from the norm.

Additionally, this kind of preparation will give you a sense of power. You will know much more than you are able to impart in the allotted time. You will be an authority on the subject – and it will show!
Standing up in front of an audience with hastily prepared notes or little or no preparation can be a daunting scenario.

However, when a speaker is so thoroughly prepared that he or she becomes an authority on the subject, armed with a bristling array of interesting facts and information sure to enthrall an audience, fear of public speaking will rapidly recede into the far distance!

Next: 5 Preparation Techniques You Need To Know

Click here for the 3000 English Words Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LFrjIsjhMlmw-Zk5P5ZbDBjA3jGbSg-

Enlarge your English vocabulary with this list of 1000 most common adjectives in English. The goal of the playlist is to provide 3000 English words that are important for students to learn. The playlist will expand to include 1000 adjectives, 1000 adjectives, and 1000 verbs.

Each word is given a clear definition. Then a picture and sentence example provide a clear connection so the word is easily remembered. The sentence example provides context for the word and where additional meanings exist for any given word, multiple illustrated sentence examples are provided.

By learning these words in English and their meanings, your fluency will skyrocket. The word lists are split into 20 word modules. Repeat each module until you can do the reviews easily.

Common English collocations are indicated in the sentence examples by an underline. Pay special attention to the collocations and your naturalness when speaking English will greatly improve.

Here then are the most common English verbs, the English verbs most often used by intermediate to advanced, and native speakers.

Here is a transcript of the video: 1000 ENGLISH VERBS 21-40

Slide 2
Just a quick reminder before we continue:
If you have not already done so,
be sure to SUBSCRIBE to this channel.
Click the subscribe button, the Bell icon, and All

Slide 3
Pause the video at any time to analyse the sentence or check words or phrases that are new. Remember, common collocations are underlined.

Slide 4
Just to let you know, after we complete this group of 20 words, there’s a review later in the video. Make sure to take a couple of minutes for the review and make a note of the new words you want to add to your vocabulary. So let’s start . . .

Slide 5
train
to teach a particular skill or behaviour through practice and instruction

Sentence: Here we see handler Johnathan Mendoza, training Canto, a military dog.

Slide 6
listen
to pay attention to a sound, to make an effort to hear something

Sentence: The little girl listened carefully as her teacher explained how to do the homework.

Slide 7
stimulate
to rouse to action or increased activity, to excite

The picture shows 3 people concentrating on a jigsaw puzzle.

Sentence: Some people do jigsaw puzzles to stimulate their mind and thinking capacity.

Slide 8
deny
to declare something as untrue, to refuse to give something that is requested

The picture shows a man in handcuffs being questioned by the police.

Sentence: During police questioning, he repeatedly denied all charges of assault.

Slide 9
disappear
cease to be visible

Sentence: Amelia Earhart was an American aviator who disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937, while attempting to be the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world.

Slide 10
carry
to hold or support while moving

In the picture we see two men walking together. One man is carrying a bag in each hand.

Sentence: He was a very polite young man and said to the elderly gentleman: “Please, allow me to carry those bags for you.”

Slide 11
break
to separate into pieces, to make something useless, to destroy

The picture shows a smart phone lying on the ground with a cracked screen.

Sentence: She was really upset when she accidentally dropped her phone and broke the screen.

Slide 12
draft
to prepare a preliminary version of a document

In the picture we see a member of a team writing notes.

Sentence: She told her colleague: “I’ll leave you to draft the letter and then you can send it to the team for approval.”

Slide 13
shout
to utter something in a loud cry, to yell

Sentence: When she saw her husband reversing the car into the garden wall, she shouted at the top of her voice: “STOP!”

Slide 14
speed
to move quickly

Sentence: It can be very dangerous to speed in a snow storm.

Slide 15
pause
to briefly interrupt or suspend an action

In the picture we see a man giving a presentation.

Sentence: When you pause before stating something important, it arouses anticipation and the audience is more likely to remember it.

Note the collocation: arouse anticipation

Slide 16
challenge
to invite someone to engage in a contest, to confront or struggle with someone or something

In the picture we see two business colleagues sat at a chess board.

Sentence: Knowing he was a complete novice, she said to her colleague: “I challenge you to a game of chess.”

Slide 17
ride
to sit on and control the movement of something, or be carried or supported by something

Sentence: She learned to ride a horse from a young age.

Slide 18
exceed
to go beyond the limits of something, to be greater in size or number

Sentence: The driver was pulled in by the police for exceeding the speed limit.

Note the collocation: exceed the speed limit

Slide 19
facilitate
to make an action easier

The picture shows a long corridor in a prison with an open door at the end.

Sentence: A lapse in security facilitated the prisoner’s escape.

Slide 20
happen 1
to take place or occur

The picture shows a truck broken down in the middle of the road.

Sentence: How did this happen?

Slide 21
happen 2
to find something by chance

In the picture we see a traditional coffee shop in a village in Cyprus.

Sentence: Wandering around the backstreets, we just happened upon this quaint coffee shop.

Slide 22
buy
to acquire in exchange for payment

The picture shows a young woman putting a strange object on her head in a store.

Sentence: Her friend said: “You’re not going to buy that are you?”

Slide 23
quit
to stop, cease, discontinue

Sentence: Although she had suffered an injury, she refused to quit.

Slide 24
admit 1
to confess to be true

Sentence: She called to her husband: “I must admit, this job is taking me much longer than I thought it would!”

Slide 25
admit 2
to allow entry

Sentence: Following severe chest pains, he was admitted to hospital yesterday.

Note the collocation: admitted to hospital

Slide 26
enquire
to ask for information

The picture shows an employee working in an open office.

Sentence: He was a bit upset with his colleagues when nobody enquired about him when he was off sick for 3 days.

Slides 27-71
So let’s do the review. We will go at quite a fast pace. You can pause the video at any time if you need to think or check something.

Slide 72
Well done!

Just a question . . .

Has this video helped you?
Hit LIKE now and/or SHARE it with friends!

Slide 73
Build A Powerful English Vocabulary
with my FREE course on Udemy
Go to: http://goodenglish.online

Image Credits

21 CC
https://flic.kr/p/pcpbNU
22 RF
lauramusikanski
https://morguefile.com/p/1017882
23 CC
https://flic.kr/p/8NQpU
24 RF
saurabhsinha
https://pixabay.com/photos/criminal-suspect-arrested-8444883/
25 PD
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amelia_Earhart_standing_under_nose_of_her_Lockheed_Model_10-E_Electra,_small.jpg
26 RF
MabelAmber
https://pixabay.com/photos/man-person-people-together-two-3244702/
27 RF
Glavo
https://pixabay.com/photos/smartphone-mobile-phone-2971064/
28 RF
StartupStockPhotos
https://pixabay.com/photos/startup-meeting-brainstorming-594090/
29 RF
krivitskiy
https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-scream-monochrome-shout-mad-6140061/
30 RF
fviggiani
https://morguefile.com/p/4105
31 RF
rocheartist
https://pixabay.com/photos/speaker-public-speaking-message-4610564/
32 RF
rawpixel
https://freerangestock.com/photos/121206/three-business-people-playing-chess.html
33 RF
RebeccasPictures
https://pixabay.com/photos/horse-making-a-face-western-ride-3449620/
34 RF
southernfried
https://morguefile.com/p/92870
35 RF
https://pixabay.com/photos/escape-door-exit-light-prison-7719080/
36/1 RF
Piresco
https://morguefile.com/p/200376
36/2 RF
dimitrisvetsikas1969
https://pixabay.com/photos/cyprus-maroni-coffee-shop-entrance-2966311/
37 CC
https://flic.kr/p/5rqCVF
38 RF
Unsplash
https://freerangestock.com/photos/94398/woman-running-down-a-street-in-a-race.html
39/1-admit-Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/pBQdjv
39/2 RF
Engin_Akyurt
https://pixabay.com/photos/man-patient-thermometer-doctor-8687778/
40 CC
https://flic.kr/p/4QsEbr

Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:

Creative Commons Attribution Licence
Others are allowed to copy, distribute, display, and perform copyrighted work – and derivative works based upon it if they give credit to the creator or source.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcodePublic Domain

Public Domain
Public domain works are not restricted by copyright and do not require a license or fee to use. Public domain status allows the user unrestricted access and unlimited creativity. These are typically very old works.

Royalty Free
The image may be used for almost any business, personal, educational or charitable purpose as long as a credit is published to the creator of the image.

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too slow, go to the Advanced version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #25 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 3 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

4 Ways To Control Public Speaking Anxiety

Calls for “Speech, Speech” can send many men and women into panic and fear. Others may be given an assignment to present information before a group, and feel overwhelmed by public speaking anxiety in the run up to the presentation.

This anxiety may be manifest in physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, dry mouth, stomach discomfort, or shortness of breath.

The 4 key suggestions here will do much to alleviate the problem and assist anyone to control and overcome public speaking anxiety.

Thorough Preparation
What is the biggest antidote to audience fear? Thorough preparation! There is no short-cut.
If you have carefully researched your material so you are convinced it is worth delivering, and you firmly believe your audience needs to hear it, and you have practiced and practiced the delivery, you can stand up in front of an audience with confidence!

Breathing
Control nervousness by taking deep breaths to relax the body. Concentrate on your message and the things you have prepared to present to your audience rather than on your nervousness.

Use positive speech, even in your own thoughts. Instead of saying to yourself, “Boy, do I feel nervous”, which only reinforces the feeling, say, “My adrenaline is pumping and I’m going to use it to deliver an unforgettable presentation!”

Visualize Confidence
To increase confidence and combat uncertainty use visualization techniques. These can be VERY effective.
Running through the whole presentation over and over again in your mind, including the approach to the speaker’s stand, the initial pause, the first few sentences, will create great confidence.

End Result Visualization
Include the end result in your visualization exercise.
See yourself having successfully concluded an excellent presentation with the applause of the audience in your ears. See the smiles, hear the compliments afterwards and make them real in your mind.

In a TV interview, Mohammed Ali once explained how he prepared for a fight. He would concentrate his mind on imagining actually being there in the ring, in the stadium, at the venue. He would see himself there at the end of the fight, victorious.

He created a very real scene in his mind with the smells, feelings, sounds, sights, he expected to experience at that moment. He used the phrase ‘Future History’ to describe what he created in his mind.
Why not create a ‘Future History’ for yourself before your next presentation and see how it triggers the necessary energy to overcome any feelings of self-doubt.

It may be unrealistic for some individuals to think they will conquer public speaking anxiety completely. Perhaps some public speakers with many years experience can walk in front of an audience without any nervousness at all.

For the majority however, who may only be called on occasionally to speak before a group or an audience, there will always be some anxiety. However, a realistic expectation regarding public speaking anxiety, and following the suggestions above, can do much to control it so it does not overwhelm the speaker.

Next: Part 4 of 28
How To Conquer Fear With Preparation

To improve your English fluency and confidence when speaking, use the Synchronized Reading Method. Be sure to watch the Introduction video in the link above first, to understand the methodology. These English reading exercises will dramatically improve your English fluency.

These exercises are designed for intermediate to advanced students who want to sound like a native speaker. By reading along with the teacher at the same time, with the teacher’s voice superimposed over their own, students start to self-correct in the areas of pronunciation and fluency, learning to read and speak in natural word groups.

If you find the pace is too fast, go to the Intermediate version, and repeat until you are fluent in sync with the teacher’s reading.

Here is a transcript of the video: ENGLISH Reading Exercise #25 (Advanced) Presentation Skills 3 of 28

Be sure to watch the introductory video to this playlist before doing this exercise.
Click on the link below in the Description . . .
(https://youtu.be/IOeaBha6dUU)

4 Ways To Control Public Speaking Anxiety

Calls for “Speech, Speech” can send many men and women into panic and fear. Others may be given an assignment to present information before a group, and feel overwhelmed by public speaking anxiety in the run up to the presentation.

This anxiety may be manifest in physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, dry mouth, stomach discomfort, or shortness of breath.

The 4 key suggestions here will do much to alleviate the problem and assist anyone to control and overcome public speaking anxiety.

Thorough Preparation
What is the biggest antidote to audience fear? Thorough preparation! There is no short-cut.
If you have carefully researched your material so you are convinced it is worth delivering, and you firmly believe your audience needs to hear it, and you have practiced and practiced the delivery, you can stand up in front of an audience with confidence!

Breathing
Control nervousness by taking deep breaths to relax the body. Concentrate on your message and the things you have prepared to present to your audience rather than on your nervousness.
Use positive speech, even in your own thoughts. Instead of saying to yourself, “Boy, do I feel nervous”, which only reinforces the feeling, say, “My adrenaline is pumping and I’m going to use it to deliver an unforgettable presentation!”

Visualize Confidence
To increase confidence and combat uncertainty use visualization techniques. These can be VERY effective.
Running through the whole presentation over and over again in your mind, including the approach to the speaker’s stand, the initial pause, the first few sentences, will create great confidence.

End Result Visualization
Include the end result in your visualization exercise.
See yourself having successfully concluded an excellent presentation with the applause of the audience in your ears. See the smiles, hear the compliments afterwards and make them real in your mind.

In a TV interview, Mohammed Ali once explained how he prepared for a fight. He would concentrate his mind on imagining actually being there in the ring, in the stadium, at the venue. He would see himself there at the end of the fight, victorious.

He created a very real scene in his mind with the smells, feelings, sounds, sights, he expected to experience at that moment. He used the phrase ‘Future History’ to describe what he created in his mind.
Why not create a ‘Future History’ for yourself before your next presentation and see how it triggers the necessary energy to overcome any feelings of self-doubt.

It may be unrealistic for some individuals to think they will conquer public speaking anxiety completely. Perhaps some public speakers with many years experience can walk in front of an audience without any nervousness at all.

For the majority however, who may only be called on occasionally to speak before a group or an audience, there will always be some anxiety. However, a realistic expectation regarding public speaking anxiety, and following the suggestions above, can do much to control it so it does not overwhelm the speaker.

Next: Part 4 of 28
How To Conquer Fear With Preparation