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English Learners Must Learn Homophones and Homographs

7 months ago



Homophones
So, you know how some words sound the same but mean different things? Like "bare," which means empty or uncovered, and "bear," the animal? Those are called homophones!

Homographs
Then there are words that are spelled the same but can mean different things. Like "lead," which could mean to guide someone, or it could be a type of metal. Those are called homographs!

English Can Be Confusing – Dictation Practice Can Help
English can be a tricky language because it has words that sound or look the same but mean totally different things. This can make it confusing to know which word to use when you're talking or writing. But don't worry! One cool way to get better at this is by doing dictation. That's when you listen to someone say a sentence and then you write down what you heard.
Practicing dictation is like a superpower for your ears. It helps you get really good at figuring out which word is being used in what way. This is super important for big tests like TOEFL and also when you're in a job talking to people in English. People take you more seriously when you get these words right!
So, remember, practicing dictation can help you get way better at understanding these tricky words and make you a superstar in English!

Listening and Dictation Practice
Steps to Reach Goal

1. Initial Listening
· Listen to the sentence or passage without taking any notes. https://breakingnewsenglish.com/dictation.html
2. Focused Listening
· Listen again, paying close attention to the words spoken.
3. Dictation
· Listen to the passage a third time, writing down what you hear as accurately as possible.
4. Check and Review
· Compare your written text with the original transcript to identify any errors or misunderstandings You may have heard some homophones or homographs.

How You'll Check What You've Learned
  • Immediately correct the written text you produced during the dictation exercise by comparing it to the writer’s text.
  • Identify if you wrote down words with wrong spelling because it sounded like another word you know. You may have written down the wrong homophone.
  • Review the internet list of common homophone and homographs https://www.edudose.com/english/homophones-and-homographs-list/
Resources for Dictation Practice
For additional practice, you can visit Breaking News English for Dictation Exercises. This platform offers various dictation exercises suitable for different levels, and you can use it to focus specifically on passages that are rich in homophones and homographs.

By making dictation a regular part of your English study regimen, you can effectively improve your listening comprehension, especially concerning tricky homophones and homographs. This will not only help you in everyday communication but also give you an edge in exams like TOEFL. Would you like more tips or further clarification on this approach?
https://www.verbling.com/teachers/marie