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How to Score High on English TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Tests

Score HIGH on NEW English Tests

Why international students fail English tests

Students fail because they do not understand the test requirements.

Students fail because they underestimate the large volume of work necessary to pass.

Students fail because they have limited English vocabulary.

Students fail because some English skills are not practiced.

Students fail because they rely on “secret tips” rather than real skill.

Students fail because they cram for tests and become confused.

Students fail because they become upset and cannot perform.

How international students can SCORE HIGH on NEW English tests.

First step in your plan to score high on a specific English test is to understand the test requirements. Is the test a written test only? Do you have to read a text? Do you have to listen to a conversation on tape? How much speaking is required? What type of questions will be asked? What type of answers are required? Students must understand how the English information is presented, what English skills are being tested, and how answers must be submitted.

Second step is to understand the volume of advanced English skills and vocabulary required to score high on these tests. Students must have studied and practiced English for 2500 to 5000 hours counting school classes and self study.

Students require a vocabulary of between 8,000 and 15,000 words to score high on the new TOEFL, TOEIC, AP, IELTS and Cambridge tests.

To score high students require all four English skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening), technical language structure knowledge (grammar) and the application of the grammar knowledge in the active productions of speaking and writing.

The “secret tips” of using specific words that have a higher percentage of occurrence in the correct answers may give you the opportunity to raise your score from 0 to 1 %. If your vocabulary is less than 8000 words or your listening skills or writing less than advanced then you will still fail despite using all the “secret tips” or “secret vocabulary indicating correct answers”.

Everyone knows that cramming helps memorizing facts for a short time but does very little for the practice of the application skills. All new English tests are a combination of facts and the application of English skills including technical grammar knowledge. Students who only cram for tests will fail most of the new tests as answers require the application of English grammar skills. The students who cram can only help some of their factual knowledge if they can remember it perfectly. I have never met a student who can remember crammed English facts correctly.

Students become upset when they read questions they cannot answer, questions they cannot understand, words they do not know the meaning of, or “secret words” that occur in two or more answers.

Remember students that are prepared have less chance of becoming upset. Students that are rested, relaxed and arrive on time at the test site will score higher on the tests.

What English Should I study to PASS English Tests?

Diagram showing the overlap between the English concentrations

There is only one English language.
There are a variety of programs and courses that overlap each other. Many business English courses cover 90% of what students require to pass the TOEIC exam. Many advanced English courses cover 90 % of what is required to pass TOEFL, TOEIC, AP, IELTS and other English tests.

Many Toeic, toefl, IELTS courses only provide practice tests without teaching any vocabulary the four English skills and applied grammar practice. Students must create a plan to increase all applied English skills, vocabulary and become comfortable with the test requirements and answer formats.

Students can take combinations of programs and still pass tests.

For example: Advanced students could take 100 hours of business English, 200 hours of academic preparation and 10 hours of toefl and score high on the new Toefl test . The only secret is to have a balance of applied English skills and factual knowledge. The following is an example of a balanced study program.

EXAMPLE PLAN TO PASS ENGLISH TESTS

20% vocabulary
15% grammar comprehension
15% reading comprehension
15% listening comprehension
15% writing skills, short answer and essay
15% speaking skills
5% practicing test formats

Teaching Since 1974

To contact Author: Ross (at) eslincanada (dot) com
Full Article: http://www.eslincanada.ca/passtests.html

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How to Ace Your JLPT Level 4 Kanji

If youre reading this, youre probably looking for the scoop on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test level 4 kanji.

Contrary to what you might think, level 4 is actually the easiest JLPT–level 1 is the hardest. If youre like many other people, you find kanji tough to study up on.

For the JLPT level 4 kanji section, you need to know about 80 kanji. If you know which ones to get comfy on, there wont be any surprises on test day.

Rather than giving you a long item-by-item checklist, Ill keep it short and sweet. Here are the JLTP level 4 kanji you need to know:

  • All the numbers, up through the kanji for 10,000. You dont need to know the kanji for zero
  • The days of the week. You do NOT have to know the complicated kanji that is pronounced you (thats level 3)
  • Anything you would use to give a time of day of time of year. You also need to know relative times like next year, last year, etc.
  • Prepositions–here, you just need the kanji that mean on, under, before/front, after/behind, and inside
  • People–you need to know the kanji for male and female, mother and father, child, and person. You also need to know two writings of friendyuujin and tomodachi (you only need to know the tomo part)
  • Adjectives–you need the kanji for ookii, chiisai, shiroi, takai, nagai, and marui
  • The 4 compass directions, as well as left and right
  • Basic verbs–iku, kuru, miru, kiku, yomu, kaku, yomu, umareru, taberu and yasumu. You also need the kanji for deru and dasu, and the one for hairu and iru

There are a few other very easy kanji on the JLTP 4 that you may know already. You can find a full list of them on the full article, or on other websites.

Mastery of the JLPT level 4 kanji will allow you to read a surprising amount of Japanese. Plus, youll ace that section of the test.

Philip Rozek will tell you more about the JLPT 4 kanji test at the full article: http://www.how-to-learn-japanese.com/jlpt_level_4_kanji.html You can try to guess the top 10 most butchered Japanese words in English, and more. Hell also let you pick from his full array of tips on how to learn Japanese.

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Conversation Starters

I never really believe in bringing items with you as conversation starters. Well what do you know, it actually works!

I experienced it myself. After a visit from the veterinarian I brought my puppy along to the grocery store to do some shopping. I couldnt believe it when complete strangers passed by and looked at us with eyes wide open and bright smiles. Some comments like what a cute puppy and is it a he or a she? Some people even went to the extent of going near me and patted my mixed poodle -terrier three month old puppy.

I said to myself wow , what a way to meet someone! It was effortless. You dont have to risk rejection, muster courage, withstand dry mouth and weak wobbly knees just to talk to someone for the first time. So from that time on, I thought with the right props, the right location and time, you are bound to meet new people and rev up your social rocket out in the launch pad.

Here are some tips on what to bring to get that good topics of conversation going. Choose conversation starters that you feel suit you personality.

1.Books.- With provocative titles like The grass is greener over the septic tank or What color is your parachute? will surely illicit questions or comments.

2.T-shirt- Wear something with a phrase in a foreign language. A sports team, A Janet Jackson concert t-shirt.

3.Magazines- You can actually target someone youd like to meet, by carrying a magazine that would appeal to his or her interests. You want to meet a fashionista? Bring Vogue, Details or GQ. An architect? Bring Architectural Digest. You get my point.

4.Travel Brochures- Pull out travel brochure from your bag about an exotic place. You can ask the one sitting next to you if he or she has been there already or know someone from there.

5.Sheet Music- Do you go gaga for a musician or local jazz singer? Carry sheet music geared to the type of music maker you have in mind.

6.A camera- Invite a female friend to the beach. When you spot a cutie ask him to snap a picture of the two of you, then offer to take his picture and email it to

him. You now have his email and when you email his photo you can drop him a note.

7.Crossword puzzles- While you are nursing a double tall peppermint frappuccino at a local Starbucks you can bring along a crossword puzzle section of your local newspaper. Then ask that cute person next to your table if (s)he knows a three letter word for untruth. If (s)he answers egg please dont laugh.

With this knowledge at your arsenal you can meet interesting people anywhere, anytime. Remember your favorite things are good conversation starters. Why not bring one item now when you head off to the nearest laundry shop?

Jovita Orais is an avid researcher. She writes on various topics including life balance, performance excellence, fulfillment, personal creativity, creative visualization,being rooted and anything related to self-improvement.

For more motivational stories, tips and free e-book that shows you how to achieve happiness and wondrous prosperity visit: http://www.articlesvariety.blogspot.com

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How is Learning Chinese Writing Different From Learning a Western Language?

In the modern Chinese writing system, each character is a form of its own, representing a particular sound and at least one meaning.

In other words, each Chinese symbol is a unity of form, sound and meaning.

To learn Chinese writing, you need to know each Chinese symbol or character individually. You will need a vocabulary of at least 3,000 characters to understand 90% of what you read.

A vocabulary of 4-5,000 characters allows you to understand almost everything written in Chinese in the modern context. Although there are more than 60,000 characters listed in the largest Chinese dictionaries most of them are ancient symbols and no longer in use.

Only a very small proportion of Chinese characters- some 300, perhaps- are simple representations of natural objects; all others are composite signs.

Each sign generally has two components: a graphic component (which represent a man, woman, tree etc.) and a phonetic component, which gives some idea of the pronunciation.

Learning Chinese writing is quite different from learning a Western language.

To learn a Western language like English, you need to know a whole series of sounds. If you take an English word apart, separating it into its many phonetic syllables, it would lose its meaning altogether.

In learn Chinese writing, you first learn the characters and then you learn the word.Take, for instance, the Chinese word da4 xue2 大学 which means “university”. First you learn da4 big and xue2 school; learn separately.

Although the meaning of da xue has to do with da and xue, it is not a simple case of da big plus xue school. It does not mean “big school”.

If you were to take the English word university and try to figure out its meaning based on the meanings of the five syllabic components u/ni/ver/sit/ty, you would not understand anything because they mean nothing.

So, the Chinese character forms the basis in learning Chinese writing whereas the word or sentence forms the basis for learning a Western language.

In Chinese writing, the symbol is the unit carrier of meaning whereas in English it is the word which serves the same purpose.

Chinese characters are essentially pictures and they appeal to the eye. In comparison, Western letters and words are based on
sound rather than sight.

Want to learn Chinese for pleasure and profit in less time? Like to creatively enhance your life with Chinese characters and symbols? Liow Kah Joon is your guide. Sign up for his free Chinese Symbols ezine at Living Chinese Symbols

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Poetry is Quintessence of Literature

Man, the supreme being has got intelligence, reason, emotions and impulses. Cognition, affection, and cognation are the various aspects of human consciousness. The more conscious he is, the more cultured he becomes. He has constantly strive for mental (intellectual) culture sad aesthetic culture. The fruits of his love for learning and quest for beauty and excellence are the various sciences and art .Cultivation of arts is art and parcel of aesthetic culture.

The aim of Aesthetic culture is the appreciation and enjoyment of the best Art. Art stirs our emotions. Science is related to the intellect while Art appeals to the emotions. Beauty does not pass through the gate of intellect. It has its own short cut to soul. Art and science are not independent, but are interdependent. The noblest, art is a source of unalloyed happiness and perennial inspiration. It arises as deep feelings and lives zest to life. It furthers the process of evolution. The unique power of art, its quality is to take us out of ourselves, out of our personal petty selves.

Poetry is the most sublime of the five classical arts. It is most imaginative and has the highest emotional appeal. Poetry is the most ancient art. The Greeks called poetry as the dirking of Muses. It is the plant that has thrived in all the climes and countries. People have always cherished and honored great poets. Depth of feelings and universality of appeal are the two criteria of great literature. Homer Virgil, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Ghalib and Allama lqbal are the greatest by virtue of these unique qualities. They have most powerful appeal because their poetry is the voice of the living souls.

It is more important to read and love poetry than to define it. We do not define a flower or a sunset; we enjoy it. Poetry has been defined differently by different poets and thinkers.

Poetry has been lavishly praised and poets loved in different ages. Poetry is the cry of human soul. All vital interests and basic institutions that are supremely important for the happiness of human race are cherished with a deep abiding force. They evoke profound emotions that safeguard them at all times. A poet is first and foremost an artist. He fascinates us by the witchery of words.

Poetry adorns and embellishes literature. Anyone who does not enjoy poetry, is feeling less. It is indeed a great pleasure to read and enjoy poetry, for nobody can deny its uses.

Frank Desantis is a philanthropist from the U.S.A. He is a writer by hobby and writes on various topics, especially Literature and Life in general.

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Learning English

Many people consider it one of globalisations greatest inequities that English, one of the worlds hardest languages, has become the international one. Few languages of any type have a grammar as complicated as Englishs, and English which, like so many of the worlds other languages, stems from a number of distinct linguistic lines adds to the grammar rules a catalogue of exceptions thats enough to make new learners despair.

But, fortunately, languages are more than their grammars, and the upside to the situation is precisely that English is almost everywhere. Anyone who really wants to learn English and its one of the best-kept secrets of the teaching of English that only those who really want to learn the language, for its own sake, have much of a chance can gain exposure to the language in a variety of ways, many of them fun.

Finding places to store all the baggage of English in your brain is always time well spent, but whats more important is to get the music of English in your ears. Having a large English vocabulary and strong command of standard word order and sentence structure is generally helpful, and almost enough to get most students through the things they need to read. But if that reading includes fiction, new problems may emerge. In English, fiction writing often reflects and even mimics the spoken language, making knowledge of how English sounds when native-speakers use it essential understanding.

Understandably, students think that reading and writing are the essential English skills, and they are while you are a student. But once you enter what English speakers like to call the real world or if thats the only place you need English, as is the case with most people who work in the worlds largest industry, hospitality and tourism its listening and speaking that are likely to be the most important.

Its the rare new learner of English who isnt shy about speaking the language often remaining stuck in that shyness for long periods of time. Given how far English is from being a phonetic language, thats completely understandable. Groups of letters that are pronounced in one way in a certain word are spoken using completely different sounds in another. Few people want to be heard making a pronunciation mistake and being laughed at. Yet, like most everything else in life, its mistakes that people learn the most from.

So, people who really need or want to use English as a communication tool learn early to overcome their inhibitions and start speaking out, fearless of the consequences. One of the first things most of them learn is that native English speakers are, overall, a forgiving lot. If they can understand what the speaker is trying to say at all, theyre most likely to overlook errors of pronunciation. At most, theyll correct them, but theyre unlikely even to do that (unless theyre asked to). The truth is, most native English speakers dont speak another language, for the simple reason that they dont have to, and consequently they are both self-conscious about their own language limitations and appreciative of the trouble other people go to trying to communicate with and usually help them.

Along with the other things it is, speaking is a muscular activity. Like a sport, it needs to be practiced to get the complete physical apparatus tongue, lips, throat and mouth cavities, nose, even sinuses to perform properly. Unlike most sports, however, once the physical effort of getting the sounds correct has been mastered, it doesnt require practice anywhere near as intense to maintain. Once learned, an English phoneme, or basic sound, is seldom forgotten.

The real fun, though, is in listening practice. The sources of good listening exercises are virtually innumerable. Oddly, the less effective ones are the more academically oriented tools such as cassette tapes, CD-ROMs, and listening-oriented videos. The problem, not obvious at first, is that their content is limited in scope to a particular situation or set of circumstances. In short, they never change. As a result, the student who uses them learns what a particular set of words means in an even more particular context. Whats missing is the flexibility that is the lifeblood of any language. The student learns only canned responses to highly specific groups of words and then in a particular order. Theres not much gain for the pain, to return to the sports-training analogy.

But almost everyone certainly anyone who needs to learn a second language owns a radio, the most basic source of English as actually spoken by native speakers. And most people own or have ready access to a television and some kind of VCD or DVD player. With those basic pieces of equipment, you can gain virtually unlimited access to the sound of spoken, vernacular English. Theres simply no substitute for hearing native speakers use their language in the full range of ways they actually do in real life to get an ear on English.

Listening to English for which there is no accompanying printed text is initially frustrating for most learners. But the feeling that listening to foreign sounds unaided is a pointless waste of time usually disappears quickly, as patient listeners begin to pick up repeated word patterns, the rise and fall of the actual sounds of English sentences and questions, and words and phrases they have encountered in other contexts (just not with the sounds associated with them).

Still, probably the least appreciated language teaching tool in the world is the subtitle. Being able to read the words while hearing them (whether in English or in the students native language) offers the best possible chance of coordinating comprehension with real-time exposure to the spoken sounds. The specific learning opportunities are countless.

At the most obvious level, theres vocabulary, which is absorbed most quickly in context. But beyond the meaning of individual words are all the ways of using them that together constitute what linguists mean by the idiomatic use of a language. At the most obvious level, that means slang, the way people speak when theyre not necessarily attempting to speak correctly. But it also has to do with the use of actual idioms words that have one meaning when taken individually but an altogether different one when used in other combinations and even proverbial ways of speaking (which are used far more often in common speech than most people realise). Simply learning how to understand English when it is not being spoken in complete sentences, as it typically is not in conversations, can be an ear-opening experience.

Whats far too seldom noted is that when people starting getting English in their ears, they also start making fewer errors in speaking and writing. Especially in matters such as articles about which there are rules, although many and confusing its when learners start to say and write what sounds right, rather than what conforms to a learned rule, that they more often get it right.

Getting to know how characters in English TV dramas and action film stars speak and what the things they say mean often back-translates into better academic English as well. Learning to understand Superman can help your English take tall leaps forward.

Hugh OConnell is a business owner and university lecturer. He is a director of Plan-it Consultants Limited, Thailand and UniRoute Limited, Hong Kong. Plan-it provides off line resources to students wishing to study overseas: study abroad program. UniRoute offers online advice on study abroad and study UK. Currently Hugh resides in Thailand and is working towards his doctorate.

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The Lowdown on Medical Translation

All of the recent growth of medical science and technology has no real value if it has limited accessibility and is confided to the country where it takes place. In order for this important information to provide the maximum benefits it has to reach people all over the world. This is impossible if people are not able to read it in the language that they understand. This is why it is important to have a translated version of the research published. This is made possible by professional medical translation services.

All medical translations are performed by a medically qualified person who also is an expert in their native tongue. There are a team of doctors who formed to specialize in undertaking translations in various popular languages. There are medical translations that are done in Portuguese, French, Swedish, Italian, Chinese, German, Polish, Korean, and Japanese.

The medical translation companies that offer service in this field only hire language specialists to translate medical documents for pharmaceutical industries and scientific journals. There are also translations that are done for websites, hospitals, as well as medical advertising agencies for patients. All medical translations are done with the strict guidance experts.

The authenticity of medical translations are guaranteed by undertaking intensive research and repeated proof reading to make sure there are absolutely no mistakes. A draft is first prepared and is rectified and improvised prior to being released. There are recommendations and agreements of specialists in the field which are also sought prior to publishing a translated version.

Medical translations are also needed for medical conferences and are handled by highly skilled people or experts who have had relevant experience in the field. The companies who offer medical translation services also arrange for the final document to be printed. These companies will also take the final product and apply it to presentable slides for conferences or even into CDs, websites, and videos.

Written by Misty Keaton. Find the latest information on Medical Translation

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Medical Translation

Innovation in medical technology and diagnostic procedures across the globe has paved the way to Medical translation, which offers a lucrative opportunity in a quantum expanding publishing field. It is graceful, money churner, besides a complete knowledgeable work, requiring skilled and efficient manpower to carry out the work with quality and speed. Medical translation describes the process of translation of files related to medical/paramedical field from one language to another. The process of Medical translation just like any other translation calls for skills besides in depth knowledge of medical terminologies.

Medical translation are carried out by a genre of medical translators who besides having vast knowledge of subject area also are quite comfortable in using various audio and publishing software designed for the purpose. While majority of such medical/paramedical files are outsourced from non English speaking countries, therefore, these files need to be translated in common or target language which is then interpreted by the medical fraternity.

Medical translation is carried out either via listening to audio recordings of the monologues/dialogues of the patient and the physician, or else it is simply scripted and saved in compatible digitized formats. Most of such specialized translation services calls for higher level of performance, besides, knowledge of various software implemented for task. The cost of each medical translation file varies with the amount of text contained, besides, the language. Each medical translation is proofread and edited to make it sure that final documents are error free.

With medical translation making buzz, it is surely a positive indication for the medical fraternity, whod have an extended reach to colossal medical data listing various diagnostic procedures undertaken in different diseases.

All Translation Services is adept in offering medical translation and translation service in majority of languages spoken across the world.

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Spanish Prepositions "Por and Para" - The Easy Way to Use Them Perfectly

When it comes to mastering the uses of POR and PARA in Spanish, there is a very simple, yet powerful approach that can help you in 95 to 98% of the cases and even more.

Rather than teaching all the uses of POR and PARA as all teachers do, I prefer to narrow down my teaching. Does that mean I am teaching “less” than I should? I dont think so.

After all, my experience has clearly shown me that students are presented with so many rules, patterns and uses that they are not able to use them well in most cases. What do I do? I cut to the chase as I am going to show you.

When do we use PARA?

1. To express PURPOSE: Any time that in English you can use “in order to,” in Spanish you must use PARA.

I work to make money (or.. in order to make money)

Trabajo PARA ganar dinero.

2. To show who the recipient of an action is:

I bought these flowers for you.

Compr estas flores PARA t.

3. To show destination:

I am going to Spain.

Voy PARA Espaa.

4. When I want to say BY or FOR a SPECIFIC TIME.

I need your answer by Monday.

Necesito tu respuesta PARA el lunes.

These are all the instances when PARA is used. When do you use POR? In all the other cases. Just that! Any time you want to say something and doubt whether to say por or para, just go through this checklist mentally: a) IN ORDER TO b) RECIPIENT c) DESTINATION D) SPECIFIC TIME.

If what you want to express fits any of these possibilities, then the word to use is PARA. If it doesnt, use POR.

Simple enough, right? I challenge you to try to find and do as many exercises on the Internet as possible and see for yourself how useful and accurate this approach is!

Enjoy!

Julio Foppoli is a teacher of English as a Second Language and a teacher of Spanish as a Second Language. He is the creator and owner of http://www.esaudio.net/Spanish/online_classes.html, an online educational website with a technological edge, specialized in the teaching of Spanish as second language via audio-conference to native speakers of English from all over the world.

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The 5 Rules For Learning English

When writing in the English language, there are rules that must be followed in order for the reader to understand what is written. Without writing rules, it would be impossible for words to be organized into thoughts. Words would be sprawled all over the page without conveying a message or meaning to the reader. Language rules allow what is on the page to be processed and a mental image can be developed.

Spelling

Spelling is one of the most important things when writing because misspelled words can ruin the credibility of the person who wrote them. Following such rules as “I before E except after C or when it sounds like A as in neighbor or neigh” can help in the spelling of words, especially if the writer is not sure which comes first - the I or the E.

Punctuation

Punctuation is very important in making a sentence read correctly. The most common punctuation mistake is the placement of the comma. Sometimes people are called “comma happy” because they place commas every five words. This is not necessary as commas are supposed to be used to separate two distinct thoughts. As a general rule of thumb if there are two thoughts or parts to a sentence they should be separated by a comma, such as parenthetical sentences. An example of a parenthetical sentence: “There was so much candy, not that I minded, but I knew I could not eat it all alone.” Also, avoid using commas after conjunctions such as “and” and “but.”

The run-on sentence

It is only appropriate that run-on sentences be listed next under punctuation because it is due to lack of punctuation that a run-on sentence is born. An example of a run-on sentence is: “We went down to the store to get some candy but they did not have the kind we wanted so we went to the next store and they did not have what we wanted either so we decided to go home when we saw a store we had never seen before and it had exactly what we wanted.” Try saying that one without taking a breath. Okay, you might be able to do it and it might make sense, but it will read much better with some punctuation. Two or three sentences could be formed out of that run-on sentence with a couple periods, a comma, and added words to make it read less choppy.

Capitalization

There are some who think that the words at the beginning of sentences are the only ones worthy of capitalization. People and places, referred to as proper names, should be capitalized and so should acronyms and titles.

Tense

When referring to the time, tense is very important. The time period in the whole piece of writing should be consistent. When talking about yesterday, the entire piece should be written in past tense, unless the reader is being brought into today. A sentence that reads, “He missed the bus yesterday and he is mad” is not correct. The correct tense is, “He missed the bus yesterday and he was mad.” True, he might still be mad today, but chances are the sentence is not speaking of today.

These 5 rules are amongst the many grammar rules that exist, but they do tend to be the worst offenses that when made will compromise the quality of the content. The reader can become frustrated with the writer if it appears that they were napping during English grammar. By building a strong foundation with these five basic rules, other rules will fall into place with practice. Before long, your writing will be of better quality and your audience will thank you!

Learn English in the Comfort of your own home!

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