Resources to help you learn English and /Or Improve your Accent

Good communication is one of the most important skills to help new immigrants settle. It is key to getting a job and to forming new relationships.

Here are some resources to help you learn English

• http://www.usalearns.org/index/welcome.cfm?: This is a free site where anyone can set up a profile and learn English. 
• http://www.accentschool.com/: This free resource helps you improve your accent. Canadian immigrants can also go to http://www.extradollar.net/free-accent-reduction.html for language resources. 
• Your local library has many free books and DVDs that you can check out to help you learn or improve your spoken English
• The local community colleges also have ESL classes which are useful for learning the language and also for cultural integration. Classes are also available at your local libraries and online. Click here for an online ESL lab.
• Friends and family can also be a great resource as they share their experiences and lessons on communication. 

Our accents are a wonderful part of who we are as immigrants; they tie us to our past. I am not advocating changing them but learning how to tweak them to help others understand us and improve our overall communication. This is especially important for new immigrants because communication is the human connection we need to navigate our new waters. 

The Golden Rule Overturned!

Would it be blasphemy to turn “The Golden Rule” on its head? Remember, the rule that says “Do unto others as you would wish them do unto you”? I think society would be better served if we asked people to “Do unto others as they would like done unto them”.

People have different values, likes and dislikes. To ask people to treat each other like we would like to be treated, is missing the point. I believe the Golden Rule is about values like respect and kindness that we all share. But there the message dies, because it is difficult for us to identify what others consider to be respect and kindness. We think that there is only one version of respect – our version.

However, when you live among people of different cultures then it’s likely that your version of respect may be someone’s version of an insult. Take time to learn at least the basic differences in communication styles between your culture and others.

The Golden Rule is universal and its message is echoed in several religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Taoism, Zoroastrianism. Click here to read each quote from TeachingValues.com.