How to Improve Your English

How to Improve Your English Each learner has different objectives  and, therefore, different approaches to learning English. But some tips and tools are likely to help most English learners. Lets begin with the three most important rules:   Rule 1: Be PatientLearning English is a Process The most important rule to remember is that learning English  is a process. It takes time, and it takes lots of patience! If you are patient, you will improve your English.   Rule 2: Make a Plan The most important thing to do is to create a plan and follow that plan. Start with your English learning goals, and then make a specific plan to succeed. Patience is key to improving your English, so go slowly and focus on your goals. Youll speak English well soon if you keep to the plan. Rule 3: Make Learning English a Habit Its absolutely necessary that learning English becomes a habit. In other words, you should work on your English every day. Its not necessary to study grammar every day. However, you should listen, watch, read or speak English every day - even if its for a short period of time. Its much better to learn 20 minutes a day than to study for two hours twice a week. Tips for Learning and Improving Your English Have patience: Remember that learning a language is a gradual process- it does not happen overnight.Define your learning objectives early: What do you want to learn and why?Make learning a habit:  Try to learn something every day. It is much better to study (or read, or listen to English news, etc.) 10 minutes each day than to study for 2 hours once a week.Choose your materials well:  You will need reading, grammar, writing, speaking and listening materials.Vary your learning routine:  It is best to do different things each day to help keep the various relationships between each area active. In other words, dont just study grammar.Find friends: Finding friends to study and speak with in invaluable and learning English together can be very encouraging.Keep it interesting: Choose listening and reading materials that relate to what you are interested in. Being interested in the subject will make learning more enjoyable - thus more effective.Relate grammar to practical usage: Gramm ar by itself does not help you USE the language. You should practice what you are learning by employing it actively. Use reading to help with other English skills:  Reading can be used to help with vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and much more.  Flex your mouth muscles: Understanding something doesnt mean the muscles of your mouth can produce the sounds. Practice speaking what you are learning aloud. It may seem strange, but it is very effective. Exercises like  tongue twisters can help improve your flexibility.Communicate: Grammar exercises are great, but having your friend on the other side of the world understand your email is fantastic!Use the Internet:  The Internet is the most exciting, unlimited English resource that anyone could imagine and it is right at your fingertips.

Pros and Cons of Term Limits for Congress

Pros and Cons of Term Limits for Congress The idea of imposing  term limits  for Congress, or a mandatory restriction on how long members of the House and Senate can serve in office, has been debated by the public for centuries. There are pros and cons and strong opinions on both sides of the issue, perhaps a surprise, given the electorates less-than-flattering opinion of their representatives in modern history. Here are some questions and answers about term limits and the ongoing debate surrounding the idea, as well as a look at the pros and cons of term limits for Congress. Are There Term Limits for Congress Now? No. Members of the House of Representatives are elected for two years at a time and can serve an unlimited number of terms. Members of the Senate are elected for six years and also can serve an unlimited number of terms. Whats the Longest Anyone Has Served? The longest anyone ever served in the Senate was 51 years, 5 months and 26 days, a record held by the late Robert C. Byrd. The Democrat from West Virginia was in office from Jan. 3, 1959, through June 28, 2010. The longest anyone ever served in the House is 60 years, a record held by U.S. Rep. John Dingell Jr. The Democrat from Michigan was in office from 1955 to 2015. Are There Term Limits for the President? Presidents are restricted to only two four-year terms in the White House under the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which reads in part: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Some conspiracy theorists claim that President Barack Obama was secretly plotting to repeal the 22nd Amendment and run for a third term in the white house. Have There Been Attempts to Impose Term Limits on Congress? There have been numerous attempts by some lawmakers to pass statutory term limits, but all of those proposals have been unsuccessful. Perhaps the most famous attempt at passing term limits came during the so-called Republican revolution  when the GOP took control of Congress in the 1994 midterm elections. Term limits were a tenet of the Republican Contract with America. The contract called for a removal of career politicians through a first-ever vote on term limits as part of the Citizen Legislature Act. Term limits never came to fruition. What about the Congressional Reform Act? The Congressional Reform Act does not exist. It is a fiction passed off in email chains as a legitimate piece of legislation that would limit members of Congress to 12 years of service - either two six-year Senate terms or six two-year House terms. What Are the Arguments in Favor of Term Limits? Proponents of term limits argue that restricting the service of lawmakers prevents politicians from amassing too much power in Washington and becoming too alienated from their constituents. The thinking is that many lawmakers view the work as a career and not a temporary assignment, and therefore spend much of their time posturing, raising money for their re-election campaigns and running for office instead of focusing on the important issues of the day. Those who favor term limits say they would remove the intense focus on politics and place it back on policy. What Are the Arguments Against Term Limits? The most common argument against term limits goes something like this: We already have term limits. Theyre called elections. The primary case against term limits is that, indeed, our elected officials in the House and Senate must face their constituents every two years or every six years and get their approval. Imposing term limits, opponents argue, would remove the power from voters in favor of an arbitrary law. For example, a popular lawmaker seen by her constituents as being effective and influential would want to re-elect her to Congress - but could be barred from doing so by a term-limit law.