Learn English with Steve- TOEFL Talk 7- Advanced English Writing Section

[shanavasSiegend]

hi guys i want to practise english. shanavas.siegend is my skype id add me

[MrAlexdesousa]

Great videos

Thanks

[NorikerX]

Does it matter what kind of quotes and apostrophs you use? " vs “” and ' vs ’

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

@NorikerX I'd say it would be prudent to use double quotation marks for everything with the exception of "a quote within a quote". That would be the American style of writing.

[NorikerX]

@PrivateEnglishPortal Misunderstanding, I mean do the quotation marks have to be correct: "" is not correct typographically, “” would be correct (size up if it's too small to tell a difference).

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

@NorikerX Hi, I see from your profile on youtube that it is all blank. You know me as Steve Ford teaching English on youtube to help people learn English. Can you tell me something about yourself and the context for your usage of punctuation before we proceed any further with the discussion?

[NorikerX]

@PrivateEnglishPortal As I understand it there is a written part of the TOEFL test, online that means typing I suppose. So I’d like to know wether they care about correct quotes or wether it doesn’t matter, as I can’t find that answer anywhere. So I thought you might know, since you do these videos and stuff. Obviously ignoring correct quotes allows me to type much faster. I don't know anything about YT profiles.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

@NorikerX Hmmm, still don't know who you are, but anyways here it comes. Using quotes or any other kind of punctuation falls into the category of syntax which is definitely part of the criteria used by the evaluators of TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge when they correct a student's essay. That said, some evaluators will look more at grammar in your essay while others will look more at your ideas. This is why marks can vary so much each time a student takes the TOEFL or IELTS.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

@PrivateEnglishPortal The topic of quotation marks is very confusing since the Americans do it one way and the British do it another way. To make matters more confusing, Newspapers will mix the rule of quotation marks. TOEFL markers are supposed to accept both variations, but I have my doubts if that is always the case.

Here is a link describing this better. wwwDOTgrammarDOTcccDOTcommnetD­OTedu/grammar/marks/ quotationDOThtm

[NorikerX]

@PrivateEnglishPortal Hi guys, thanks for the replies, again misunderstanding, I’m not talking about single vs double quotes I’m talking about (size up to see the difference) "" VS “” with the first being a pair of straight doubles (incorrect) and the right being shaped like 6699 (correct).

[NellPetrova]

Thank u :)

[drillococco01]

Quick question... I've been in Ireland for so long that I've been told I picked up Irish accent (you know the "TirtyTreeInATart" ;) )... could it be a problem? Do I have to work on the more proper British accent?

Thanks a lot!

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

@drillococco01 NO! They even have different accents for the profs. giving lectures in the listening portions of the test!

[gokcefun]

This is really helpful. I like this!

[MajedMajedMajed26]

thank a lot i wish i have benefits from your lessons ..

[xibuya]

i like you Teacher You are Very funny! thank you for this videos !! I am learnig !!!!God Bless your job!

[luckyperson82]

Well, you are doing the excellent work for all of us, thanks steeve .



[Nelsinhouff]

very nice man !!!

thanks !!!

[hil19bb]

thats my case

[soundofperseverance]

Simply thank you :) !

[Danuford2]

Thank you for attempting to teach us right from wrong, well I don´t know whether I´m writting wrong again, if it does, you could correct me.

I´ll be watching your vids.

[Kuwaiti8]

Steve. Thank you very much. Honestly, you are the best internet tutor ever. This is not a compliment.

[gipsygirl7000]

Great video on common errors!

[infarkt11]

Steve, you rock!

[devingurung]

thank you very much sir

[aisuluuzhunusbekova]

God bless you

[greenflower512]

thank u very much

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

You can correct yourself immediately after the fact. It's better than to just leave the mistake as is!

Steve

[EllieD199]

If I made a mistake 'he HAVE' is it okey to stop and correct myself or better continue and conseal it like an accidental mistake?:)

[hecgarciac]

thank you

[cyrus1389]

this is absoluty awesome no words to describe it

i've learned a lot with this lessons :)

1000/10

[njoom99]

One effective way in learning English as a second language is thinking and speaking to yourself in English. So do not use your mothertongue language while you are thinking.

Good job Steve

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Thank you for your comments! They mean a lot to me!

[orvymx]

hi steve, I need to improve my inglish I m mexian im innsterested in join you in your clases, how can i GET in to it, I mean the way of paying,,

[miaobauaugh]

we adooooooooooore youuur lessoooooooons

[ahmedmaoulida]

i'm ahmed from comoros.you are really explaining everything explicitly and clearly.you are very awesome at evrything you do.i'm sincerely grateful for all you have already done for us.may god bless you..stay out of trouble steve

[arielgrushka]

I just want to thank you for taking the time to help us :) God bless you!

[SinaJasmin]

I like the music at the beginning of your videos, it's kind of motivating

[broadwayandhinterlan]

may God Bless u and always show you the right path- thanku

[keyrolnua]

i can't download this video..sob..

[khaoeoe]

Thank you Mr Steve for your video. It's easy to understand

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Thanks for all of the wonderful comments everybody! Keep up the great work!

[TheCoolio7]

Thanks Steve, very funny your way for teach us.

[dharan70]

thanks Steve, its really helpful.

[geckoaimable]

May God bless u Steve!

[idannyblanz]

Hi Mr steve my name is danny , grate video, I thought I was the only one with this kind of mistakes but I just found out that am not ,your videos are very helpful,

what Country are you from? you sound like U.S english but I don't know I might be wrong.

[gnda99]

thanks steve ,seriously those are the most of my often mistakes I used to be worried about them as well some time I feel shy to ask my teacher about those simple details.but not anymore specialy now after I watched your video it's really encourage me to feel free to ask and work on my basic rules and fix them.thanks again

[architectus777]

Thanks Steve, seriously, those are the mistakes I make most often. I used to worry about them as well some times. I felt too shy to ask my teacher about those simple details, but not anymore, especially now after watching your video. It has really encouraged me to feel free to ask and work on the basic rules and fixz them. Thank again. << Study this version and your version side by side. I hope it helps you.

[gnda99]

Thank you architectus777 :)

[Kalnaimi2009]

Thank you Steve ^_^ good job.

[Askanae]

Thank you very much for all what you are doing for us!

[aimantub]

Hi Mr.Steve, I hope that you are doing well. Could you please prepare a vdeo that talks about punctuation. I have difficult time writing with correct punctuation. Thanks

[jasontta]

Your are right, by watching out those little mistake, even though, your sentences are not the best in content, at least, you have all the basics covered. I am sure that will help to collect some marks on the exam . Bottom line is, to score whatever point you can get . Then, after the test, learn whatever that you don't, and fix your langauge skills. Move on and keep on learnning.

[mido0manson]

videos** and i think they are great *** :)

[mido0manson]

Hi Steve! how r u?

i watched lots of your youtube video and they are great.

i took the TOEFL IBT and i got 74

it was my first time to take the test and i wasn't really prepared...anyway

i had big problem with the time of answering the speaking questions so, i want every one willing to take the test to speak in english with their friends or work mates or whatever befor taking the test its really important guyz.

i also wanted to know if 74 is a bad score or not.

thank you.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Thanks Heba! It is great that you are also participating in the Peppy Radio Show! You are welcome! I am happy to be of some help to you once again !

[HebaAlaaEldin]

Awesome, nice advices , but I think these advices we can use them not only on the tofel test , we already use them while u are writing msgs to those who already speak English or even while i was taking course in English and the teacher ask me to write topics about any thing ,so I have to pay attention for grammer mistakes and sometimes correct my self ,to be honest with u not in every thing ,cuz i didn't ware of every thing, I made.

Any ways , thank u so much Mr steve

[Xmadish]

Thank you, you've really saved me.

I used these videos as a short preparation for Toefl (no books, just videos :D) and I've passed the toefl ibt with 100 points! :D

But I still think that my english can be a loooooot better than it's now.

So people, listen to this guy, he really knows what is he talking about!

[TiffanyStar06]

Hi Mr. Steve. You help a lot of people, I learned a lot now. I just started today. Thanks a lot and God bless you.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Sure! Why don't you listen to my radio show on Saturday regarding speaking tips on the TOEFl! I am also giving a live radio show about phrasal verbs. It's free and you can find the links to the radio show on my youtube page.

Steve

[mirapark1012]

Thank you Steve.

I just watched your several videos. It was a great. I might see you everyday by using your video. Thank you again.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

You are very welcome !

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Thank you very much!

[Pujc]

Na csak azt a hatmilló szót kellene megtanulni és hopsz máris menne az egész :)

DE basszus olyan videót nem találok  ahol alap magyar angolt löketnének..

Thats a great video.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

I am happy to be of some help!

Steve

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

I understand! Keep going! You can make your English better! Don't worry!

[wl1983]

hi i speak well english but my writing is bad

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Hi Erika! I encourage you to join my Free student community 'peppyclub'. There is a TOEFL group there.

[erika197697]

sorry, I have forget something. Im very weak in grammar, writing , vocabulary and speaking too. Im very scared when i have to speak in English. All the vocabs that i know will disappeared.. So can you help me..

[erika197697]

can i be your friends steve.. I have send an email to you in the english portal.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Sure! You can join my student community 'peppyclub'

Regards,

Steve

[erika197697]

i like the way you teach to me. Can I have the free online class. My standard proficiency in English is fair only. Im a teacher too and Im in teaching in science subject. Hope can hear from u. Thank you.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

you are very welcome!

[kykker88]

heeey... nice video!! it helped me a load XD.. thanks!

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

you are welcome spikeymaycry2 !

[kushal1419]

Hello Mr. Steve . Today I hear and see your video first time. Specially TOEFL task 7 is very useful for me because I am not native speaker and I did this mistakes. Thanks a lot.

Krish84

[spikeymaycry2]

thank you alot sir , i'v learned alot from you :)

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Ah ok! great!

[l00katy0u]

Sorry I stopped at 1:23 and made previous comment, I did not finish the whole video.. yeah you are right, I can correct myself

[l00katy0u]

That's so true! I have been in America for 3 and half years now. I have so many basic mistakes got nobody corrected them on... I've asked many Americans around me: why don't you correct me when I said something in the wrong way? Most of them answer me: Because we afraid to hurt your feeling... No, you won't! English is not my first language, I will make mistakes is so natural. Please correct me, to help me to improve my English!

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Hi there! TOEFL Talk 6 is to be reposted on youtube within the next week or so! It will be with regard to speaking!!!

Have a great day!

Steve

[Flokysleeping]

Really Steve? I will be waiting this video, because all are very usefull!!!

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Thanks! I am happy to be of some help!

[TNTgear]

Hi Steve, you are just great !!! By the way I didnt find your video TOELF Talk 6 ='/

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

you are very welcome!!!!!!!!!

[link2pk]

thanks

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Happy to be of some help Mirkablock!!!!!!

Steve

[mirkablock]

Thanks. It is really useful points.Good luck.

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Hey Agnieszka! Thanks for the feedback!

Steve

[AgnieszkaD1990]

Great job !! Thanks for the tips in writing!

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Hey Gera1293615,

So the big day is on Friday! Relax and try your best! Nobody can ask you to do more than that! It's important to train with a watch or a clock to get an intuitive feel for 45 and 60 seconds.

You have brought up a point that I should bring up in future videos i.e. pronunciation.

Speak slowly........ you might think you are going slow...but because of the intensity of the test it's best to go a bit slower. It will give you more time to think.

[gera1293615]

hey steve im from mexico im taking the test on friday... im afraid about the speaking section , you know about it , about the questions and how to develop a good answer in the given time.. damn it!

pd. you know what are the points they evaluate .. pronunciation , the use of diffucult words bla bla?

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Thanks Sagehearts!

Please say hello to your friends and family in Germany!

Steve

[Sagehearts]

Good Video.

Thank you

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Reading- make sure you time yourself

Listening- try to practise with lectures that are less familiar. For example, if you are good at science, listen to lectures about music and the arts, business etc

Speaking- Watch TOEFL Talk 1-3 . I give lots of tips

Writing- Watch the rest of my videos on writing.

Good luck on Sept 21st! Is this your first time taking the test?

[Moojgoo12]

i'm gonna take toefl test in 21 sep, in this month. can you give me most useful tips and what do i gotta pay attention etc plz

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Great point Supaniceguy ! I am trying to empower my students so that they can evaluate their own writing mistakes. Please watch this video and the following ones regarding writing erros to have a better grasp of what you have written in your comment.

Regards,

Steve

[supaniceguy]

My english is not perfect but not as bad as your examples. What's the chances of meeting fellow students and you end up being told to leave because of a rough draft having a few run-on sentences and a few fragments, this being the very first meeting of a class project? Are University standards so high that you have to be perfect early into any project? And does a slight english problem really hold up a project from moving forward?

[rokyat]

hello Mr.steve...

really I'm crazy about ur prenounciation,how amazing it is..waw!!!

Can you give me a pieces of advice plz?i want to improve my English;I know that I have to read books,but the issue is ,I feel bored with them,what can i do??? I like english language,but I hate reading!!

I WANT FOLLING IN LOVE WITH READING!

looking forward,

thnk u.

Ghizlane from Morocco

[gabriellehbl]

Thanks

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

I understand how you feel! I just had a student who had to wait an hour and a half to do her test without any reason. Thanks for sharing your comments here and I hope at least now you have passed and are on to bigger and bettter things!

[DJALIPETITA]

toefl, and tls. worse companys ever....they are no serious people to take an oficial test. incompetent till the bone. I had to retake the test 4 times.! yes 4 times, because each time soemthing happned, one pc crashed the other the speaking didnt work out, the other they cancelled it because there was no server.....OUTRAGEOUS, RIDICULOUS.! and the administration???? no answer..no way to solve things.

[rafafloyd]

Very nice!!

I´ve just subscribed!

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Cool! Keep up the good work!

[iamjhou]

Awesome!

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Thanks for the feedback!

It makes me want to make more videos to help you!

Steve

[Jayefla]

Muiot bom!!

[timothyjesus]

thanks

[PrivateEnglishPortal]

Hey guys!I re-posted this video since the previous version was a little poor in the second half of it.

Regards,

Steve