Q: If you are just beginning to learn English, it is best to begin by taking a class.  A qualified teacher can guide you through the basics of English and help you understand the way the language system works. If you cannot take a class, try to find an online language acquisition program. Find a dictionary or online app that offers translations of words from your native language to English and from English to your native language.  This can help you in the early stages of learning English as you master your vocabulary acquisition. Once you have a basic understanding of the way that English works, spend some time expanding your vocabulary. You may want to find English flashcards in your language.  If you feel that you have a mastery of everyday vocabulary words but wish to learn more, try finding some advanced vocabulary flashcards, such as those used by American students studying for the GRE, an exam required for entrance into graduate school. Reading in English and circling words that you’re unfamiliar with, then looking up the words and making an effort incorporate them into your vocabulary is a great way to increase your vocabulary. Many public libraries offer resources for English Language Learners.  They may even host free classes for community members who wish to improve their language fluency.  This is more common in areas with a large community of language learners.  The library also may have books or audio books that you can check out for free. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) can help you learn how to pronounce words that you see in writing but don’t know how to say.  The book should provide a guide to interpreting the IPA symbols, but you can also find videos online that tell you how to say each of the IPA letter sounds. Try to find a mix of more and less formal writing, so you can get a sense of both formal and conversational English.  If there is an English newspaper available in your area, pick one up every day and read through it.  This will give you a source for learning new words and common sentence structures on a daily basis. Also try reading novels in English. If you find that novels are challenging, try finding books meant for children or young adults, then build up to more complex works. Circle words that are unfamiliar, look them up, and write the definition in the margins of the paper or book.  Then try to use a few of the new words in English conversation. English news reports are a great way to begin exposing yourself to English because reporters frequently speak clearly without any significant accent. However, diversifying the types of English videos you watch can help you develop fluency in conversational English so that you do not sound overly formal or stiff in your speech.  Watch movies.  Movies that are directed towards children or teens may have less complex vocabulary and sentence structures and may be easier if you are just developing proficiency.  TV shows may be a good option as well because they are shorter than movies and can give you a sense of comic timing and humor, which can be part of fluency as well. Turn on subtitles for anything you watch if they are available.  Watching the words while you hear them can improve your pronunciation and vocabulary. YouTube and other video streaming sites have a nearly endless supply of videos in English.  If you wish to improve your work-related English fluency, be sure to watch videos in your specific field so that you can master the vocabulary and details unique to your professional needs. You need to practice speaking English to build fluency, so having a friend who is also learning English will give you both the opportunity to learn and practice together. Alternatively, you could try to find a native English speaker who wishes to learn your native language and work out an exchange deal (see below). Having access to a dictionary that offers clear definitions of unfamiliar words can help you understand words and figure out how to use them in the appropriate context. Most dictionaries will provide the word, a pronunciation guide, a definition, and the plural form of the word, which can usually be made by adding an –s, but can also take on unusual form such as –es, -en, or changing the vowel from –us to –a, depending upon the origin of the word.
A: Take a class. Get a translation dictionary. Expand your vocabulary. Check your local library for books or classes. Find an IPA dictionary. Read different types of English writing. Watch a diverse array of English programming. View videos online. Find an English learning buddy. Get a quality English Dictionary.

Q: The process will go a lot faster and smoother if you grab everything you need before you get started. Clear the table to get the process rolling. Have the following items handy:  Plastic bag ("dry cleaners" bag or 5-gallon trash bag) Paper clips (used for weight) Small pieces of paper or stickers (decorations) String Scissors Hair dryer It's best to use small pieces of paper or stickers--anything that's lightweight. Glitter is okay, too, though a bit messy. This part is great for kids. Each child can make their own hot air balloon and design it to uniquely represent them. It should resemble the bottom of a standard balloon. Once knotted well and tied, cut off any extra string. This may seem counter-intuitive (you need less weight to fly, right?), but it's good for balance and stability. Don't go overboard. 6 or so per balloon (again, evenly spaced) is a solid number. Blast the dryer on high and give it a minute to warm up and fill completely with air.  The bag will start to become buoyant. When it begins tugging, release the bag. The hot air inside the balloon is lighter, causing it to float. Give the balloon another blast as it begins to fall.
A: Get organized. Decorate the plastic bag. Tie a string around the top of the plastic bag. Add paper clips around the bottom of the bag. Hold the plastic bag over the hair dryer.

Q: Remove the old lens from your camera, either by pressing a lens release button or twisting the lens off. On 1 end of the 50 mm lens, you should see 2 marks. Align these with the corresponding marks on the camera and press the lens down. Turn the lens clockwise until you hear a click. Lenses may vary based on the manufacturer. For more instructions on how to attach a lens to your specific camera, read the manual that came with your camera. In most cameras, you will do this by turning the dial to “M” or by pressing the “Mode” button. Manual mode allows you to choose your own shutter and aperture settings. Once you are in manual mode, the screen of your camera should allow you to select both shutter and aperture settings. Refer to your camera's manual for more instructions. Shutter speed is the length of time that the shutter is open. It is measured in fractions of seconds. The general rule for shutter speed is to divide 1 by the focal length of the lens. This is the slowest shutter speed you should use.  Use a faster shutter speed, such as 1/125 or 1/250, to catch fast moving objects like cars or birds. If you want more blurred movement in your photograph, choose a slower speed, like 1/60. If you're in a dark or low-light area, choose a shutter speed of 1/250 or faster. Aperture affects the exposure (or brightness) and the focus of your photograph. A larger aperture will have more background blur and a brighter exposure. A smaller aperture will have less blur and a darker exposure.  Apertures are measured as "f stops." The smaller the number, the larger the aperture is. For objects that are far away in normal light conditions (such as landscapes, architectural photos, or group pictures), select an aperture of f4 or f5.6. If you’re working in low-light conditions or close up (such as portraits or still life), use a f1.4, f1.8, or f2.8 setting.
A:
Attach the lens to the camera. Turn your camera to manual mode. Change the shutter speed to 1/50 or faster. Adjust your aperture settings.