Study recommendations?

[ookami]

Hello,

I'm starting to study English again... Actually, my whole study plans are: to read some short-stories (like Saki's ones), and to listen to BBC London, as I already do.

But I'll need a wider field in order to practice listening and pronunciation...
And even to practice some cold grammar, at a slow pace, though.

Do you have some recomendations? Maybe some online tool I can use to practice pronunciation or to go over grammar?

It's hard to find English teachers in Buenos Aires on January and February .

Thanks!

[poli]

If pronunciation and language rhythm concern you, I always recommend listening (or perhaps singing along with) balladeers popular in mid-20th century American music. In particular, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald were masters of American English pronunciation and cadence.
If you can pronounce English the way Fitzgerald pronounced it in songs by Cole Porter or Lorenz Hart, you will be way on the way to mastering English.

[ookami]

Thanks poli. I listen (and sing) a lot of that kind of music... Nat King Cole, Julie London, Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Brenda Lee, Perry Como, Big Bands... Glenn Miller & his Orchestra, etc. Actually, I'm not able to listen to most of actual music, I prefer car noise!

I'm open to other suggestions.

[poli]

Well, if you are comfortable American pop music for the 1930's through the about 1955, and think you can imitate that cadence and accents of people like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole *but Frank in particular), you may no longer need courses. Conversations with English speakers would surely help.

By the way, your use of actual is not common in current English. These days actual means real. It is most frequently used or overused in the adverb form meaning in fact. In fact current or contemporary are the better choices in your comment.

[ookami]

Thanks poli!

There I was using "actually" as "en realidad":

actually adverb
› really
en realidad, realmente
She actually saw the accident happen.

Is it not correct?

Regards,

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I think Poli was rather talking about "actual music", for "nowadays/current/contemporary music".


As for your original question, if you want to review grammar, you will find a good manual in your nearest bookstore. Choose those used in language schools so you'll have plenty of exercises for practicing.

[ookami]

Ups, I didn't see that "actual", now I understand.

I have a lot of those 2 x 1 English books: student book + practice book. But they are rather for traditional classes than for self-taught. (ej. exercises are not solve, explanations are vague, etc.)

Either way, I'm going to search for something like a compendium of English grammar and essential vocabulary, just to revise old knowledge once in a while.

Thanks Angélica!

[poli]

In my college years, the best English professors swore by E.B. White's Elements of Style.

It's a small book dedicated to writers who wish to maximize their communication skills. First published in the early 20th century, it's frequently updated, compact and rather inexpensive at least in the US.

[ookami]

Excellent poli! That's very usefull. I'm going to study it and then I'll tell you my experience.
Here I can buy it in digital format... But I'm soon travelling to London, so maybe I'll find it in some London (or Spain) bookstore. Thanks!

*question: is "maybe I will ..." correct? or is it reiterative?

[Rusty]

... maybe I'll ... is perfectly fine.


traveling (AmE); travelling (BrE)
useful (correct spelling in both places)