SKIMMING

SKIMMING

We often have to read & comprehend large amount of material. Ability to read faster is an important skill, which will make our reading easier, & we will be able to read more in lesser time.

Skim reading is an important tool to improve our reading speed. It is also an important skill for IELTS Reading module.

Skim Reading:

In skim reading, we just scan though the texts letting our eyes just catch the key words. This gives us the crux of the written material. Then, we read the material second time more carefully, but still at high speed.

Skim Several Times:

When reading complex & extensive material, we can first skim over the chapter, section & titles to get an idea about the material. Than scan the material second time, & maybe even third time. Finally, read the material rapidly.

Read First Sentence:

Often, the first sentence of each paragraph states the main idea of that paragraph. Other sentences simply elaborate on that idea. We can skim read by just reading the first sentence of each paragraph. This will give us enough idea about the matter of the paragraph. But, we must be careful to use this method because at times, many authors give many ideas in one paragraph by making it very long.

Grouping Words:

Most of us read one word at a time, often saying the word to ourselves. This is extremely slow method of reading, especially when our mind is capable of processing information at a much faster pace. Hence, instead of looking at a single word, look at group of words & phrases. Instead of reading word-by-word, we must read in chunks. In addition, we do not have to say the words to understand their meaning.

Practice with Newspaper:

We must try to read several words, a phrase, or even a sentence at a time. A good way to do this is to read newspaper articles by scanning down the column, digesting all the words across, instead of reading one word at a time. A newspaper column usually has 4-5 words per line, & we should be able to carry out this process easily.

In Conclusion:

We must make effort to pick the pace of reading & concentrate on it until it becomes a habit. Ability to read fast is a very useful skill for anyone to cultivate.

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Common Mistakes in use of English

Common Mistakes in use of English

I don't mind

Incorrect: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'I don't mind.'

Correct: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'Thank you' OR 'No, thank you.'

ü Say ‘Thanks’ or ‘Thank you’ while accepting an offer.   

ü Say ‘No, thanks’ or ‘No, thank you’ while declining an offer.

'I don't mind' is rude. It shows indifference: that the person does not care whether he drinks coffee or not. 'I don't mind' should be used only when it is permissible to indicate no strong preference.

If clauses

Incorrect: If it rains we would cancel the match.

Correct: If it rains we will cancel the match.

Incorrect: If you hit the dog, it would bite you.

Correct: If you hit the dog, it will bite you.

When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple present tense, we use will/shall/can/may + infinitive in the main clause.

 Incorrect: If you studied hard, you will get a first class.

Correct: If you studied hard, you would get a first class

When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple past tense, we use would/should/could/might + infinitive in the main clause.                              

 Sentences of these types are used to talk about purely imaginary situations.

Incorrect: If you had studied hard, you would get a first class.

Correct: If you had studied hard, you would have got a first class.

When the verb in the main clause is in the past perfect tense, we use would/should/could/might + have + past participle in the main clause.

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Use of Present Simple Tense

This is one of the most widely used tenses in English and is often misused. It is important to know correct usage of this tense. Please read on to know correct use of this tense.

subject + verb/verb + (e)s                     (Positive Sentence)

He plays tennis. She studies English.

subject + do/does not + verb                  (Negative Sentence)

He doesn't play tennis. She doesn't study English.

(wh word) + do/does + subject + verb?        (Interrogative  Sentence)

( Why) Do you study English?

The principal uses of the present simple are listed below.

To refer to habitual or repeated actions:
I read the Gita just about every day.
She never goes to the cinema.
He doesn't come here very often.
Do you smoke?
With the present simple, frequency adverbs are often used (e.g. usually, always, frequently, generally, sometimes, rarely, often, never, normally, every day).

To refer to permanent states:
She holds a university degree in economics.
Note: use the present perfect, not the present simple when describing how long or since when something has continued:
She has taught economics since 1991. (not She has teaches economics since 1991)

To talk about factual information, such as generally accepted truths or scientific facts:

§  Parents are generally blind to their children's faults.

§    Water boils at 100°C.
The following frequency adverbs are often used: generally, normally, usually

To give instructions (e.g. cooking) or directions:
First, you add the sugar to the butter; then, you add two eggs.
You go up the stairs and turn right.

To talk about what happens in books, plays and films:
In the film, a young woman travels to the countryside and soon falls in love.

To use with state verbs when the meaning is not temporary. These verbs often describe a state rather than an action and therefore do not normally have continuous tenses.

Verbs that describe senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel, look, sound
The coffee tastes really bitter.
Note: when something is happening now, we use can:
I can’t see anything. It’s too dark.

Verbs of possession: have, belong, possess, own
This camera belongs to my wife.

Verbs of perception: know, believe, understand, forget, think, remember
I think she's too young to get married.

Verbs of emotion: care, like, dislike, love, hate, mind, prefer, enjoy, adore
Do you mind if I open the window?
I adore my brother.

Verbs of description: seem, mean, look like, contain, sound, resemble, weigh
             You resemble my father.

Grammar Tip

Continuous verbs are usually active verbs (verbs such as to learn), that refer to an action. Stative verbs (such as to like), refer to a state, and are usually used in simple tenses, e.g. I like this song. Who sings it? NOT I’m liking this song as to like is a state, not an action.

Some verbs such as to feel have both an active and a stative meaning.

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4. Training Workshops

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How to Build the Brand ‘You’

21^st century is the century of brand building and self promotion. 

Without effective self promotion and brand building, it will be difficult for anyone to achieve his/her full potential.

But, how do I build my brand? The answer, as explained below, lies in the word ‘BRAND’ itself.

B: (Brand in You)

R: Reputation

A: Achievement

N: Notice ability / Networking

D: Dividends

This can be explained as:

To build the brand in you, work to improve your reputation/character (ethically-reputation is what people think you are, character is what you really are)), 

have some achievements to show (work smartly-be the master of your subject. Be the ‘to go to person’ for others in your field), 

increase your notice ability by proper networking (through personal contact and through social media).

This will automatically pay you dividends and increase your brand value.

However, be aware that building brand is not an overnight process. Won’t happen overnight (you can, however, become notorious overnight!) Building brand takes determination and focus. It is a long haul process.

May sound too simplistic. But, this essentially is how anyone can build his/her brand.

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Does Your Resume Contain These Words?

‘Project Smart English’

Say it Right

 Does Your Resume Contain These Words?

We express our thoughts through words. We also get impressed by the words used by the other person. Hence, it is necessary that our CV must contain the words which impress the receiver & induce him to call us for interview.

Given below are few such words which impress the reader. Our chances getting interview call increase if our CV contains such words. The basic purpose of these words is to demonstrate your hold of a particular situation and the actions you took to achieve the result or how you came out of a tough situation.

Please also note that the statements are written in past tense. Using past tense shows that you actually completed the work project or task successfully. Adding some figures and facts adds more impact.

A very important point to keep in mind is that the resume should contain measurable achievements and not feelings, like I completed my project in 50 days (measurable achievement) as against I worked very hard on my project (which is just a feeling).

Given below are some of the words which all resumes must have :

ACHIEVED

Good example:      Achieved the target of implementing the software onsite for 200 users 15 days before the deadline.

Bad example:      To implement the software onsite.

This sounds more like a responsibility. The interviewer is mainly interested in knowing about your output.

BUILT

Good Example:    Built  new premises to convert the study center into a residential college accommodating 200 students.                                                                                                   

Bad example:                                            

Building a new premise for the residential college.

DEVELOPED

Good example:    Developed guidelines for 50 users to understand and use the new process.                                   

Bad example:        Developing guidelines to use the new process for client handling.

The selector and the interviewer will be amused with questions like: What guidelines? When? For whom? The good example here answers these queries and shows your output rather than your responsibility.

ELIMINATED

Good example:                                                                                                            Eliminated the use of thick brown tape for sealing the packages to reduce the cost by over 15 per cent.

Bad example: 

To eliminate wasteful of resources.

 The selector do not know: 'what type of resources?', 'how did your action help?'

FORECAST

Good example:                                                                                                                     Forecast a downturn in the FMCG business because of economic slowdown. Suggested measures to combat it and achieve the quarterly target.

Bad example:                                                                                                        

To analyze and forecast the market.

INTRODUCED                                                              

Good example:                                                                                                                 Introduced a new process to handle queries from potential customers to increase the conversion rate by 60 per cent.                                                                                     

Bad example:                                                                                                          Introducing a new process to handle client queries.

MODERNIZED

Good example:                                                                                                   Modernized a chain of 15 retail outlets across three states to meet the taste of youth.

Bad example:                                                                                                                     To modernize the look of retail chain outlets.

ORGANIZED

Good example:                                                                                                                     Organized re seller conferences in three cities while maintaining a close co-ordination with three internal departments and four vendors.

Bad example:                                                                                                              Organizing events like exhibitions and retailer conferences.

RECOMMENDED

Good example:    Recommended five new ways to ensure that the company is able to roll out the new version of its 'shampoo' before the competitor.

Bad example:                                                                                                       Recommending ways for the company to launch new 'shampoo'

SECURED

Good example:                                                                                                                       Secured first position in the university while pursuing MBA course and helped the college stand at the top of the list.

Bad example:                                                                                                          University topper during MBA.

We conduct workshop on ‘Powerful Resume Writing and Interview Skills’ and many other soft skills improvement workshops in educational institutes. We also conduct softy skills and English improvement workshops in industries. These work shops are conducted in our training center as well as in client’s premises.

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By:

Sarwan Singh

@sarwan_singh