Computerized Classroom-Lab
CCSF English Department

Sometimes you may be very interested in a subject but not have the strategies to take notes and dive further into the materials. Sometimes you may not like a subject but have to study it anyway. Who knows? Maybe with improved studying and note-taking you'll actually like the subject. The following study skills resources may help you improve your learning strategies.

Even though you may know how to pronounce a word, you may not be sure of its spelling definition, synonyms, antonyms, and contexts. The following links to online reference tools, such as dictionaries, thesauri, and encyclopedias, may prove useful and convenient if your books aren't handy and you are already online. Do not guess what a word means. Look it up!

The following resources are especially good for students trying to improve their pronunciation skills and clarify their consonant and vowel distinctions. Because the examples and exercises require audio, you will need to use headphones in order to listen actively to the lessons.

Why is it so important to improve your vocabulary? In general, improved vocabulary leads to improved reading. When you know what words mean, you can look closely at and think critically about what you are reading as well as writing. Plus, you are likely to find great joy in the written and
spoken word if you have the tools to play with meaning, while also improving your social and academic confidence, not to mention crossword puzzle scores. The following sites are playful and informative and may help you to improve your vocabulary accuracy, consistency, and range.

A beautifully written book, itself, can be a powerful guide for someone looking to become a stronger reader. Sometimes, however, more guidance through the reading process is needed in order to enjoy a book. The following resources are guides designed to strengthen reading skills: comprehension, fluency, rate, context, and critical thinking.

Along with developing a stronger understanding of what happens when you read, you may learn a great deal more about reading by working through various exercises. The following sites contain exercises, as well as videos, that may help you think about vocabulary, organization, details,
context, audience, thesis, and tone. Enjoy the online interaction these online exercises bring, and in turn interact more with the books you are, hopefully, enjoying.

The following Web resources should help reinforce the skills and strategies explored above.