How to make others like you?

Relationship is important, of course not only between valentines, but also between people. It’s kind of science. We always face problems in relationship, a lot of us has high IQ, but low EQ. How to deal with people? Human beings are complex, are there any ways we can do to be a popular?

Actually, there’re 15 rules can help you:

No.1 Appearance is not rebarbative. If you’re not good-looking, then be intelligent; if you can’t, then smile all the time.

No.2 Habitude is important. If you can’t be elegant, then be pure.

No.3 It’s unnecessary to begin a sentence with “I” all along. Try beginning with “We”.

No.4 Don’t force your friend to see your family album.

No.5 Insist saying good things behind people, don’t worry your words can’t be heard by the one you praised.

No.6 When someone talking illness on others before you, just smile.

No.7 Do not let all your past be known by others.

No.8 Respect the one dislikes you.

No.9 Self-critical is believable, neither does self-praise.

No.10 Learn to be a thankful person.

No.11 Sometimes ask while knowing the answer, such as: “Your diamond ring must be very expensive.” Sometimes shut up even you want to know the answer, such as: “How old are you?”

No.12 Applaud for anyone who is on stage.

No.13 Learn to be a listener.

No.14 Never ever expecting everyone likes you, that is impossible. Make most people like you is successful enough.

No.15 Of course, love yourself first.

Above all are the golden 15 rules. If you want to be popular, then practice them. Less narrowness and more smiles can make a better world.

How to live my life?

Mr. Ng told us that people in Hawaii enjoyed their life every day. They liked singing and dancing. Nothing will worry them at all. If they are hungry, they will go fishing. They can eat by themselves or sell them to earn money. They will be satisfied if they can sell all the fish instead of thinking sell more.
I think this is the life I really want. Now people in the cities are all busy earning money. Making more money and buying houses and cars, and then continue to make money. People are living between earning and buying. There are no differences between human beings and robots. Especially in China, everyone wants to earn more and more money, but forget what life should be. They don’t know that there is something else apart from making money. We should enjoy our lives. For example we can spend more time with people we love. Lie on the beach and be showered with the sunshine. Sit under the tree and drink tea with your father talking about the same interesting topic etc.
I have heard a joke. A Chinese woman said before she died:“I saved enough money to buy a house eventually.” Another American woman said:“I pay off the loan of the property eventually.” The Chinese woman didn’t have a comfortable life, but busy earning money. Though she could afford the house, she couldn’t understand the essence of life.
So we should learn from the people in Hawaii. Try to get out of the pressure of life. Go and enjoy the life with anyone you want.

Memories and ambition

I can’t help laughing when I recall my first English class in primary school: forty children, all in their 4th grade, clumsily imitated the tape, speaking out words which didn’t make any sense to them. Yet this is precisely a typical scene in any English class in China then. As children, we had no idea why we should learn it. My father told me that decades ago educated young people all learned Russian, when China was on good terms with the former Soviet Union. After the reforming in the 1980s, they shifted to English for some reason.

After graduate from primary school, I went to a middle school which focused more on English learning. I was lucky to be exposed to a more active English learning environment and our text book “Look Ahead” was like a mirror reflecting the real life in an English speaking world. We were curious about the lives people lead in a different culture and it was always a pleasure to read a novel in its original language edition, for you can discover something that ordinary people will never learn by reading translated editions. That really makes you feel that you are somebody. Sounds naïve? But that was my true feeling.

Then in senior 3, I plunged myself (as other students did) in harried cramming study, preparing for the college entrance exam. The purpose of learning English changed; I just wanted to get higher grade within the shortest time possible, turning a blind eye to my future development. I had no choice for I must spare far more time on my science subjects. I admit with shame now that my passion for English has vanished since then. In today’s economic climate, most people like me are shortsighted. We learn things which are useful in short-term and can pay back immediately. Majoring in Science seems to give me an excuse not to study English with all my effort. Sometimes I comfort myself that my chance of achieving the level of native speakers is remote, just like wishing for the stars. After all I major in science! Why should I trouble myself with learning English so hard?

However, in the bottom of my heart, I still cherish the hope that one day I can write an essay as elaborate and as coherent as Singaporean students. People must push themselves to their limits, so as to live life to the fullest. Since I’ve chosen to come here, I choose to be more ambitious.

Give

Yesterday I have just read an article against giving seats to the old . According to the author, young people have to support the family and bear more pressure,so they are in more need of seats to relax on.What's more,it is harsh to require them to stand while exhausted after the whole day's hard work .Besides,people who are ready to give their seats are always thought to want to get praised by others.Above all,the author believed young people shouldn't be encouraged to give seats to the old .
It sounds quite resonable.But suppose you are old ,how will you feel when nobody wanna give you a seat?Now that young people who are stronger than the old feel too tired to stand,how about the old?They can be too weaker to bear the swing of the bus and need the seats more.As for me,I'll get the old to take my seat.In my view,standing is an anneal for me to strengthen myself.Plenty of modern young people are lazy to work out in gyms or even walk instead of getting on bus or MRT.
The weak old people standing on the bus or MRT make me feel sad.The phenomena results from self-concern and inhospitality.I wonder how can the selfish people pretend to sleep while an old person is beside them? I believe giving brings happiness to the people who get help as well as whoever lends a hand to others.More importantly,giving will fill the world up with love if everyone is eager to give help.Let's begin with giving seats to the old,which is small ,though.Of course,it needs both the goverment and all the people to participate in.How about you?Do you will join us to make a contribution?What can we do to give help?

Why I like to learn English

I am in the minority of students in Group 3 who started learning English in junior middle school. Compared with others, it was very late. But it has no effect on my interest in English.

When I first learned English, I only regarded it as a task, which I should complete. At that time, what we should do with English was to recite and write again and again. It was very boring indeed. I had no choice but to do all the tiring things. At that time, I thought the reason we learned English was to cope with the entrance exam to the senior high. So the motivation of learning English was just to do my best to get a highest mark.

As the time passed by, I was in senior high. And I got more freedom. I began to watch films, for example, BLACK HAWK DOWN, THE SECRET FLIGHT, STAR WARS, and so on. The more films I watched, the more I was addicted to them. In order to understand them better, I knew I should put more efforts in the learning. As a result, although the learning in the senior high was the same as in the junior middle, I got more involved in the English learning. Then, I think it is the time I began to like English.

And now, the reason again changed. I still remember a drama called CAT. It is really a wonderful one, especially the aria. When the actor performed, I was shocked to hear the aria. I should say that it was very beautiful. So I want to the history and the culture behind the language, especially songs created in the religious ways like the aria in CAT.

Now I am in Singapore, where I will live in my next ten years. I will use English during the time. I also will find more about English. I like English indeed.

Lost and Found

1Sometimes lost things make, if not everyone, me lost.
2Last week I lost my khaki blouse in the laundry and my bottle in a supermarket. Yesterday evening I lost my sleep even though I tried to curl like a shell which is my trump card against sleeplessness. Consequently, without any reader involvement, I find myself losing today's beautiful early morning-- I don't want to open my eyes or move a musle, just wandering between sleep and nonsleep and waiting to spill into what people call the real world. These things, instead of being expensive or rare, were what I already got used to. They were in my cells, my body and the way I moved. It was me who gave them breath. You see that it's never easy for me to say farewell since they can't respond and it's even harder to find a new one to fill the blank left since I myself may not respond.
3Additionally, I lost the quantity of my birthday presents, however, I found surprises followed by surprises presented by my new friends. You can't imagine the elation when discovering a huge and appealing bear the very moment I woke up and the contentment when melting the unexpectedly delectable cake in my mouth. Every time I touched the wax drops left on the tablecloth, in my mind's eyes, I could still see the imprint of the birthday candles burning yellow as a field of sunflowers. To be honest, I have to say that I lost some of my friends in China with whom I used to watch the clouds moving, the train roaring and the railway stretching to forget about the troubles of the day, however, I find new friends who care me, wait for me and make funny faces to me. We can hold each other's hand swaying to the music and can spend a whole afternoon playing simple games together. What's more, I lost the wonderful flavour of my mama's cooking and the special smell of smoke permeated around papa's forfinger, however, I found the family romance even stronger by loving them from a distance.
4Till now, I can feel the tightness in my shoulder start to release. During my adaption to the new country, this is the life Imust lead now, learning where to go and what to say, when to hold on and when to let go. Things are lost and then found, similarly, relationships are ruined and then built. Truth is, every moment is built to last if I'm living without a past.
5Back, yet beginning. Familiar, yet new...

English class? Not enough! Just go out for a tour!

English class is not so interesting sometimes, right? So, why not find something interesting to do after class? for me, it’s a good choice to go out for a tour.
How many places have you been to? Are you still wondering how to get to little India from Funan Digital Hall? And have you got your pictures in Sentosa or East Coast Park?
If you are confused by these questions, never mind, It’s never late to start! So, when you are wondering what to do in the weekend, take your EZ-LINK and catch a bus, then get off at anywhere you are interested in. Destination is not so important. Vivo is good. China town is good. Bugis is also good …
I like reading the advertisements given by all kinds of shops. And sometimes communicate with the touter. It’s interesting and I can improve my English meanwhile.
How to learn a language well? Use it! You will benefit a lot in the communication as well. So, why not?

25 Jan 2009

To Touch the Sound of Nature (Enya)

Off were the lights, gone was the moon in silence, lying on the bed alone was me whose soul were seeking the Sound of Nature.

At every noiseless night, I was always turning on my ipod to talk with a singer named Enya to ask "why"s, why she cannot easily miss the voice from the life, why she can calm down my unpeacefulness with few simple notes. She never answers, just tell the stories of the nature with her nice singing one by one.

May it Be, one of the stories, is the theme song of the movie the Lord of the Rings, when you was frustrated that the paradise described in the movie couldn't be brought into reality, do listen to this melodies of paradise to give a purification of your heart. And then you couldn't help appreciating the sunshine, worshiping the moonlight and believing the blinks of the stars full of the heaven.

My time flies is a tribute to the king of nature to embrace the freedom in life with gratitude. In Enya's own idea, "Time flies!"doesn't mean any complaint and regret about the lapse of year, but a sort of excitement that she can shuttle from the past to the future to rekindle the faded memories and predict the bright future. When will all these happen to your life? When one of your step on the moon and next step into stars, when crossing the streams barefoot, when you sleeping underneath the tree and an apple falling on your head, when the sound of nature telling the time to stagnate and fly......

Orinoco flow is a vividly description of the freely flow of a river. She is yearning to be sail away along with the river and carry herself on the waves to the lands that she have never been, to beach on the shore of the happiness. As long as the sound of the nature is there, the heart of pursuit will follow. Listen! The elves of the waves are smiling and dancing.

To gain the beauties of the nature is a fulfillment of one's spirit journey. Enya will lead you to a special way of reaching the truth of the works of God. Please open all your ears to the fabulous nature with her. I've been on the way there, and you?

The sea of Labrador

Generally speaking, I am a boy who does less exercise than average, and I don’t think I have a good health. But I want to change the situation. So, I decided to exercise more. However, I knew exercise can be tough and hard to persevere in, so I found a motivation to encourage myself. That’s the sea of Labrador.

About 3 or 4 kilometers from Eton hall, there is a wonderful resort named Labrador. Labrador doesn’t have a beach, so maybe this is why there won’t be too many people. But what Labrador has are the tall trees, the cute birds, the peaceful fishers, the beautiful sunset and most important, the blue sea. For a people who had lived far from the sea for like forever, it’s always exciting to see the sea, so it became the reason I run ever other day.

Up to now, I had run to Labrador just with my ipod twice, and I believe I will persevere. To run that far is not only because I want to be stronger or to see the sea, but also because I want to enjoy the silence which is precious in this on-the-go society. We all need to have a quiet space for ourselves to think about something, maybe something annoying you, and maybe the meaning of being. Every time I sit on the sea shore, I enjoy this kind of romance of being alone very much.

Above all, welcome to Labrador.

Prison Break

I have just seen an American series called Prison Break. I think I have lost myself in it. The story shows how deep the relationship of brothers can be. I am already moved by what the two brothers and their friends did for each other. Furthermore, I also admire the intelligence of the leading actor-Michel Scofield. He wanted to save his brother Linc who was falsely incriminated by others. So he robbed bank on purpose to be arrested and could serve a sentence in the same prison with his brother. And then he started his plan which he had made cautiously before he was arrested.

Before I saw the series, I had heard many comments about Prison Break. But I just ignored what they said, because in my opinion it must just focus on how they get out of the prison. To my surprise, what the director mostly wants to tell people is the emotion among people such as friendship, love and relationship of brothers. And also the story is based on the background of the politics of the USA. So the adventurous experience of them attracted me so much that I can not get out of it.

I think another reason of the success of this series is the undulating development. My heart was always caught by the development of everyone when watching the story. Sometimes I might worry about whether they could escape smoothly; sometimes I would analyze who was the real murderer. The sudden death of someone could make me very sad; the accidental rencounter can also make me happy.

I think a successful film should not only be attractive but also can show the viewers some principle or something to take in consider. Prison Break is the one which I say above. As a result, more and more people, no matter the old or the young, like to join the Prison Break funs.

I hope that you can be fond of it after my introduction and learn something in it.

A WONDERFUL ENGLISH MOVIE I HAVE WATCHED

A WONDERFUL ENGLISH MOVIE I HAVE WATCHED
Profile of Pride And Prejudice

I have watched a wonderful English movie called pride and prejudice, telling five girls’ love stories, especially Elizabeth’s.

Mr. Darcy, who is a rich and handsome man, had fallen deep love with the beautiful girl, Miss. Elizabeth, and proposed to her regardless the large difference on the family status. However, because sometimes Mr. Darcy behaved like an arrogant person who was not considerate at all, and it seemed that it was he who destroyed the love between Mr. Bingley and Miss. Jane, Elizabeth’s beloved sister, Elizabeth rejected him without any hesitation. Even worse, Elizabeth held the prejudice that his unkindness towards Mr. Wickham resulted in his poverty.

But as time went by, all the misunderstandings between them were cleared up gradually. Elizabeth found that he was so kind a person that he offered the money and did everything departing from his will for the marriage of Lydia and Wickham. She found she was definitely wrong to think Mr. Darcy was an arrogant and indifferent guy. At last, they got married happily.

The reason I like this movie is partly because of the romantic environment. But I think it’s more important that this movie shows the values of marriage. It’s tells that the marriage should be based on true love, but it’s also not advisable that absolutely regardless the fortune and the status. Apart from these, the actors and the actresses in this movie are good-looking and perform very well. And the music is very romantic. So I really love this movie and I hope you can love it, too. Thank you very much.

Twilight

He is running. Along an unknown path. No moonlight. No sound.

He doesn’t know how long he has been running, he doesn’t know whether he is thirsty, hungry or not. He is running, sweating, and clapped-out. There’s no aim, there’s one way. Run, run, and keep running. He is escaping.

Slight, warm, yellow light comes along the road. It’s a log cabin. And smell of Chicken soup. He swallowed hard. He knew the smell. It’s mum’s.

As a criminal, he is crazy, but as an escaped one, he knew he should be cautious. But the aroma is so attractive. He can’t resist it. He is moving forward, with fear, hunger and a worn out body. By the time to knock the door, he fell down, without consciousness.

“Thank god, you finally came around! Honey, come and bring the soup. Hurry up!” An old lady’s face showed up. His heart suddenly beat once. If I came back to my hometown, mum should be this age already. “Time for yummy soup~!” a happy voice came out. His brain followed his stomach. Mum, yeah, mum. It’s mum’s soup, it’s mum’s smell.

Tears are falling down. Why? He asked himself. He thought he had forgotten all in that remote village, he thought he loves money. That’s why he followed Qiang, a guy in his hometown who is believed had a lot of money. But after he came to the big city, he just knew that Qiang, is a theft. He wanted to refuse at the first time, but when seeing money could be get that easy, he accepted. Every time he picked money which doesn’t belong to him, he though he was happy. Even if he was arrested into the prison, he thought he would never regretted. But why, his heart hurts when tasting the chicken soup, his tears came out when watching the old couple taking care of him? He is confused. They might out of their mind, he thought. If not, why they’re so kind to a stranger, even a dangerous one? “Have a good rest, kid. There is a long way to go. ” a gentle voice came from the old lady.

He suddenly realized, way, yes, I have a long way to go. I’m still young, I’m still healthy, my life is in my hand, my history should be written by myself! He made up his mind firmly: I don’t want to be running after any more, tomorrow, I’ll go to the police, giving myself up. For the first time in his life, he felt peaceful.

The sky is still gloomy outside, but the twilight will come, in a very short time.

Why I Like To Learn English

“This fertile and sheltered tract of country, in which the fields are never brown embraces the prominences of Hambledon Hill...”, ”Behind him the hills are open, the sun blazes down upon fields so large as to give an unenclosed character to the landscape, the lanes are white, the hedges low and plashed, the atmosphere colourless…”
While reading these sentences do you find yourself revelling in them---not only being attracted by the baeutiful scenery it describes, but also admiring the words the author uses? In fact, being able to read novels in their original language is a reason why I like to learn English. With the ability to read in English I have the chance to appreciate English literature. Though there are many professional translators translating large amounts of fictions, but there always be something in the fiction that cann’t be fully present in Chinese because not each word in English has a precise equivalent in Chinese. So if we can read them in English we may have direct contact with the author, knowing the profound thoughts, appreciating beautiful sentences and so on.
Learning English also provides me a chance to learn the culture of English speaking countries. While learning it is not just remembering words, accumullating vocabularies, it is learning its culture,too. It’s great fun to find that there are so many different festivals, distinct customs and etiquettes compared with our own. Knowing them not only increases my knowledge, broaden my horizons but also teaches me to respect others’ culture and preserve my own culture.
Furthermore, learning English well lays a firm foundation for my career. With the integrative global economy, English is widely used in works and even our everyday life. None but I master English well, can I communicate with foreign business men. It will also help rid me of linguistic barriers when I travel abroad. Though these two are not main reasons that make me like to learn English, but they do motivate me to learn English well.

Why I like to learn English

As a matter of fact, some solemn things begin with very simple motivations. So, when it comes to the reason why I liked to learn English from the very beginning, I would say because it was an important subject in secondary school, and you couldn’t get good result in final examinations if you failed in English. A high ranking in school could always satisfy my little vanity as a little boy.

However, with time going by, I found English more and more useful and interesting. As my understanding of English got deeper, I came to enjoy learning English instead of regarding it as something that I had to do. When I was imposed to the excellent American movies, when I started to listen to western music, when I was addicted to watching NBA matches, even when I was attracted by English computer games, I felt the need of learning English. Actually, since the day China was opened to the world, especially the day China joined the WTO, everyone in China has felt the urge to master English as a second language.

As we all know, English is the most popular language in the world. Apparently, the Internet is developing fast, but with most of its information written in English. If a modern person can’t live without accessing to the Internet, how can we survive without knowing anything about English? English is a tool that can be pretty useful when people from different countries want to communicate with each other. It bridges the five continents all together. What’s more, to learn a language is to be introduced to a culture. Through studying English, we can understand what westerners are thinking about and why they think so. We will also gain the ability to think in two different angles, which is very difficult for those who can speak Chinese only.

Now, I’d like to say I like to learn English because since English is so important in modern society, why should I deprive myself of the right to study and master it, and then, get help in future career and social life?

Why I like to learn English

Why I like to learn English
“Why I like to learn English?”I have thought over the question. As time goes on, I have quit a clear answer. First, I would like to be wide-learned. A language is, just as facts and theory, a kind of knowledge. Moreover, it reflects how human think more deeply. From a language we can learn how human’s life upgrades step by step, we can also learn it in a history book, but more details would lie in languages. Change in thinking styles can also be involved. So, learning languages is a way to analyzing, and to predicting where it will go. Secondly, I want to form a various thinking style, for which there is no other solution but contacting as much thinking styles as possible, the best of which, a widest used language. At last, I like to have fun. Many novels and movies use English, translations are not bad, but I think some meanings have lost. Only by understanding it can I get the original idea and be joyous.

A Wonderful English Movie I Have Watched

I was once asked by a multitude of people what my favorite movie was in the 21st century, and my reply was quite simple:"None". Why I said this was because that I did not appreciate the trend of today's movie making, which, as a matter of fact, prefers to pursue the magnificence of images rather than think more of the story itself.

However, in 2002, when the movie called The Lord of the Rings, which was adapted from the famous novel writen by J.R.R Tolkien, first appeared on the screen, I was deep impressed by it.
It is said that the triology of The Lord of the Rings is the perfect amalgamation of splendid images and impressive story. The story tells us the arduous experience of a group of people that fight against the Dark Lord Sauron , who had in an earlier age created the One Ring that rules the other Rings of Power, as the ultimate weapon in his campaign to conquer and rule all of Middle-earth.

The fighters for peace show us their remarkable audacity and incredible perseverance on the way to the Mount Doom, where the Ring was fabricated and could only be destroyed. This experience tells many people not give up readily when they are frustrated by a lot of unexpected and inevitable problems.

Moreover, in my point of view, unlike other movies which end up with the very climax, The Lord of the Rings has an unique ending. After the king reascended his throne, the heroes came back to their home to start a new life that is peaceful and tranquil. Once I doubted that if this scene could be removed, because it seemed a little bit superfluous. However, now I regard this as one of the best scene in this film. To all of us, no mattter how intelligent or how strong you are, it is impossible to live a continuously challenging life, and sooner or later your life will become ordinary.

As I finished watching this fantasitc movie, I thought I had matured somehow. Then I came to realize that a good movie could really give people a great deal, when they watched it by heart.

The Beginning Of The English Course

Till today, the intensice English course has already going for 2 weeks. How time flys! Before the course, some senniors said the English course was disappointing comparing to what you expected. But actually, I found it is not true at all.

Class

Learning a language is itself a boring thing, but the English class here is not boring at all. Compare to the class we had in China, the class here is more intriguing. The supplimentary material we have is comprehensive and intensive . We conducted a lot of activities in class at the aim of improving our oral English skill. We can ask questions whenever we want and teachers will answer as soon as possible. We can not have a better class in this world.

Facilities

Every classroom is like an individual English learning center. Projecter is used for pictures showing , at the same time screen can be multi-functioned . Computer is provided on the base of better communication with the world outside through world wide wed. Furthermore, We have a precious storeroom for English learning which is called SELF. In SELF can we use tape recorders to check our pronunciation. Also we can have access to internet using computers. So lucky that we can find some English movies and also music discs. Most importantly, a large number of English books is down there waiting for us to unveil their cover, then dive into the ocean of English. At last viewing magazines there while referring dictionary for new words is a good way to enlarge your vocabulary.

Teachers

The long tiring process of improving English language skill is an exhausting job. But our teachers, in my opinion, they should be rewarded for what they did to make classes interesting as well as intriguing. They always concern about how we have been in a new environment, just like our own parents. They tell funny jokes when the content of the books are dull. They inspire us with their glamour through an unperceivable ways. Owing to all the teachers’ effort, as a matter of fact, learning become our own essential impulse for everyday. We prefer to talk to teachers like being with an old friend during breaks. However ,we treat our teachers as our parents in Singapore for every little aspect they look after for us.

I am really looking forward to my coming 5 months English course here. I wish us all a grreat period of time together!

Getting Interested In Learning English

Even though we are learning English now, I want to share with you something about my own experience in learning Chinese. When I was young, I was extremely fascinated by children’s fairy tales, especially those written by Andersen and Grimm Brothers. Thus I learned many Chinese characters. At the same time, I read a lot of tales which helped me a lot in understanding sentences and shaped my personality. I am sure most of you have read some such as the Little Mermaid, the Ugly Duck, the Fisherman and His Wife and so on.
As I grew up, I became interested in the advertisements surrounding me. You know we are always surrounded by relentless commercial culture. Actually I was not attracted by their contents but the characters they contained. When I read them out upon others, I was really proud. Then I became more excited about it. So it was a virtuous cycle. In this way I became more fluent and knowledgeable in Chinese. After I attended school, I naturally got into Chinese literature and improved my Chinese level day by day. The process is smooth and favourable and I also enjoyed myself.
The learning process may be the same as to English. What we should do is getting interested in English and always being motivated. Therefore, when you are reading, read for yourself; when you are listening, listen for yourself; perhaps most important, when you are writing, write for yourself. Furthermore, we should associate ourselves with English all the time. English is a tool and it’s just like a knife. If you don’t use it, it will become blunt. If you are not very excellent in English just like me, I have some advice for you. We can start from simple reading and find what we are interested in. Then we can proceed step by step, just like what I have done when I was young. Frankly speaking, I am still reading children’s fairy tales now, but the difference is that I read English ones, which I copied from webpages. May be it’s ridiculous and childish but efficient. When I read them, I can feel that English words streamed into my brain very smoothly. I know it’s a good indication. So I will carry on, regardless of what others said.
All above is what I want to share with you. Thank you for reading.

An Approach To Build Vocabulary: From Roots To Branches

Dating back to the early days of the English language, most English words had sources from Greek and Latin as well as the family of Germanic languages. Looking back to the origins of words can be a good way to expand vocabulary. I found a great pocket-sized book named Merriam-Webster's Vocabulary Builder, which employs the approach of expanding vocabulary from Latin and Greek roots.



This book is well organized. In this book, each of the 200 roots is followed by four words based on the root. Each group of eight words (two roots) is followed by two quizzes. So it is not necessary to start from the very beginning and scour every page to the end which is likely to put much pressure on learners.



To make everybody aware how this book works exactly, I'll just show you an example. The first root it talks about is BELL. BELL comes from the Latin word meaning "war". Bellona was the little-known Roman goddess of war; her husband, Mars, was the god of war. After the brief introduction of the root BELL, four derivatives are provided. Antebellum, bellicose, belligerence and rebellion are all considered to have something to do with the root BELL. After two roots( ie eight derivatives), a quiz is there to help test as well as reinforce your memory. Having read the whole unit, you'll be rewarded a special group of words directly borrowed from Greek or Latin which are related to either mythology or history.

I keep it a habit to read the book whenever I have several minutes. I never waste a whole block trying to memorize any root in the book. In fact, the way I do it is to get familiar with those roots and recall them whenever I run into them. Anyway, the most important part is just to have fun.