story for you.
I'm doing a podcast on linking words.
And the linking words we're going to look at are B1 level linking words.
I've tried to include all those linking words which are in the B1 glossary.
In fact, of all the levels at B1, there are more linking words in that glossary than in any other level.
So what I'm going to do is to read a text to you.
And in the text, I'm going to use a number of linking words, the B1 linking words.
You will recognize them because I'm going to say them clearly.
I'm going to emphasize the word as I read the text.
OK, so, for example.
The first line is many people want to learn a new language, yet they often wonder what method works best.
So yet is the linking word.
So let's get on with it.
Here we go.
Hello and welcome to Practicing English.
My name is Mike Bilbre and these are podcasts for students of English at B1 or B2 levels.
For transcripts, please go to practicingenglish.com.
Would you like to see my books for learning B1 and B2 level English?
Then go to the show notes at your podcast app And just below today's lesson you'll see a link to Amazon.
And there you'll be able to read about my new B1 book and my B2 book.
Check it out today.
Right.
So the text I'm going to read is called The Best Way to Learn a New Language.
So listen for the advice as well.
Let's concentrate on the subject of those linking words.
And, as I said, I'm going to read the text and you listen carefully and you'll hear the words which are linking words when I emphasize them like that.
Okay, here we go.
Many people want to learn a new language.
Yet, they often wonder what method works best.
One helpful idea is to treat the language as you would a musical instrument, practicing regularly.
Learning can also happen as you travel or do other activities.
As practice is important because it keeps the language fresh in your mind.
In addition, using a mix of reading, listening and speaking gives you a balanced approach.
In addition to language, these activities help you hear natural expressions, although they can sometimes feel difficult, though you may not understand every word at first.
Despite these challenges, progress is possible in spite of busy schedules or limited resources.
Try speaking with native speakers.
You can do this in person or online.
Right.
That was the text.
I hope you heard me emphasizing those linking words in there.
Now what I would like to do is to read through that text again and just give you alternatives to those linking words.
Many of the linking words have a synonym.
That is a word which means the same or very close to, So it's not difficult perhaps for me just to read through again and tell you the meaning by other linkers which are synonymous, which have the same meaning.
So we'll do that, first of all.
And then I'm going to give you a test as well.
Wow.
As this text has quite a lot of words in it, you can go to your podcast app or to practicingenglishcom and you'll be able to find the full text there, with the linking words, so you can read it at the same time.
Let's go through the text then and check on the meaning of those linkers.
Many people want to learn a new language, yet they often wonder what method works best.
Yet here means but. but they often wonder what method works best.
It just means but, really.
One helpful idea is to treat the language as you would a musical instrument.
Now, we've got three as linkers in this text.
This first one means in the same way.
One helpful idea is to treat the language in the same way you would a musical instrument.
Practicing regularly, learning can also happen as you travel or do other activities.
So the as here means while, while you travel, at the same time.
Then the sentence goes on as a comma and then it says as practice is important, and this as just means because, because practice is important.
So to recap, then we have an as, which means in the same way, as which means while, and as which means because.
And if I read on, I've got as practice is important because it keeps the language fresh in your mind.
In addition.
In addition here means also, but we can't start a sentence with also.
It doesn't sound quite right.
Usually we put also in the middle of a sentence or at the end.
So at the beginning of a sentence, we can use in addition.
In addition, comma, Using a mix of reading, listening and speaking gives you a balanced approach.
And then I have... In addition to lessons in a classroom or online.
In addition to.
So this means as well as.
So the two variations are... In addition, comma, which means also.
Or... in addition to lessons in a classroom, which means as well as lessons in a classroom.
Try watching films or listening to music in the target language.
These activities help you hear natural expressions, although they can sometimes feel difficult.
The word although Well, the meaning of it here could be however, or even but, but they can sometimes feel difficult.
Now we have two very similar words in English with a similar meaning, although and though.
So that's although with AL at the front and then though with no AL.
Meaning is the same, except that we can't put although at the end of a sentence.
At the end of a sentence.
So I can't say, they can sometimes feel difficult, although.
I can't do that.
But I can put though at the end of a sentence.
They can feel difficult, though.
Other than that, the meaning is the same.
Let's go on.
Despite these challenges, progress is possible in spite of busy schedules or limited resources.
So we have these two words, or an expression and a word, despite and in spite of, which have the same meaning.
And they're used in the same way.
After despite or in spite of, we have a noun or a noun clause.
So despite these challenges.
In spite of busy schedules.
So busy schedules is a noun phrase.
Now listen carefully.
Despite and in spite of also mean although, but they're different because they have a different grammar.
After, despite we use a noun or noun phrase, but after, although we have to follow that with a subject and a verb.
So, let's have a look at the phrase I just gave you. despite these challenges.
If I want to use although I would say although there are these challenges, there is the subject are is the verb.
Although there are these challenges.
So despite and although have a similar meaning, but the grammar is different.
What I'm going to do now.
Then I'm going to read that short text again and I will use an alternative linker.
So what you could do is, when I stop and give a space, well then you could put in the linker which was originally in the text.
So, for example, many people want to learn a new language, but they often wonder What method works best.
Yet.
So instead of but, yet is the word that was in the text, the linker that was in the text.
Okay?
So let's see how you do with that then.
Here we go.
Many people want to learn a new language, but they often wonder what method works best.
Yet, one helpful idea is to treat the language in the same way you would a musical instrument.
As Learning can also happen while you travel or do other activities.
As Because practice is more important.
As Using a mix of reading, listening and speaking gives you a balanced approach.
As well as lessons in a classroom or online, In addition to.
Try watching films or listening to music in the target language.
These activities help you hear natural expressions, though they can sometimes feel difficult.
Although.
Although you may not understand every word at first.
Though, in spite of these challenges despite, progress is possible, despite busy schedules or limited resources, in spite of So, I hope that was useful for you.
Be back tomorrow with a B2 recording on linking words as well.
Until next time, goodbye for now.
