Success International English Skills for Cambridge IGCSE
KEY ADVICE 1
Use a special combination of visual recall (look, say, cover, write, check method), speech sounds, spelling patterns and spelling rules to learn new spellings.
2
When you learn a language, it helps to have a good memory. Improve your memory by:
on paper anyway. If you have nothing written, you have nothing to change. Show your written work to a friend. Listen to advice about improvements you could make. 5
Be prepared to work in groups and to be an active participant, but take responsibility for working alone at times too.
6
Practising your English outside class will help your progress. Here are some ways to do this.
highlighting key ideas studying new vocabulary regularly and memorising it reading through your class notes frequently
Get an English-speaking penfriend.
drawing pictures to illustrate words or concepts
Watch or listen to English programmes, films, videos, pop songs, YouTube, etc.
linking new words to words you already know
Make an arrangement with a friend who also wants to learn English, and practise speaking together once or twice a week.
using new words and phrases in your speech and writing learning something by heart because it means something special to you (e.g. a poem or pop song). 3 20
4
Find time each week to organise your course notes, to make it easy to find work from previous lessons. A lot of the work you’ll be doing is sequential. This means you’ll often have to look back at notes you made earlier. Draft your written work two or three times. If you can’t think of what to write, get something down
Read widely in English: books, magazines, newspapers, etc.
Exam techniques 7
When you describe a person, remember that a physical description is not usually enough to fully answer the question. You may also have to describe character and give reasons, examples and evidence to support your views.
UNIT FOCUS In this unit you have produced short answers to questions on detailed reading texts. You have listened to a discussion and answered multiple-choice questions. You have learned skills and language structures for describing a person’s appearance and qualities.