Speak a little English every day and focus on your pronunciation. Consider attending an English class or discussion group. Listen to English on the radioor TV, and be sure to read and write as well. Train yourself to think in English and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
1. Read everything you can get your
hands on
Classic
literature, paperbacks, newspapers, websites, emails, your social media feed,
cereal boxes: if it’s in English, read it. Why? Well, this content will be full
of juicy new vocabulary, as well as a fair amount you already know. This helps
you improve quickly, as re-exposure to learned vocabulary gives you new
examples in context, therefore reinforcing those words in your mind. On the
other hand, learning new words and expressions is essential to building your
vocabulary arsenal, particularly in a language like English with so many words!
However, don’t just read and move on – next, you’ve got to…
2. Actively take note of new
vocabulary
This
tip is a classic one for good reason: it works! When learning, we often enjoy a
new word of phrase so much that forgetting it seems impossible. But trust us,
not everything sticks the first time. To fight this, get into the habit of
carrying around a funky notebook or using a tool like Evernote. Whenever you
hear or read a new word or expression, write it down in context: that is, in a
sentence and with its meaning noted. This saves you time as you won’t
return to that word and ask yourself: “What did that word/expression mean
again?”
3. Talk with real live humans
What
is a language for if not to communicate? Sure, we humans have become experts at
communicating without opening our mouths – thanks Whatsapp! – but when push
comes to shove, it’s true that speaking a language helps it stick in your head
far better than only reading or writing it. Just think of how many times you’ve
heard people say that they “understand, but can’t speak English.” A lot of
would-be English speakers have turned talking into a huge insurmountable
barrier that only serves to psyche them out. Don’t be like that. Seek out
native speakers for an informal language exchange, enroll in a course, or take
classes online.
4. Subscribe to podcasts or Youtube
channels (in English)
Like
humor? Politics? Blogging? Cooking? With topics covering every interest
imaginable, there’s an English-speaking podcast or Youtube channel out there
for you. Subscribe to a few and listen while driving or watch during the
commute to school or work. At first, you might find the native accents
difficult, but stick with it and you’ll soon start to understand what you hear
(as well as learning lots of new vocab from a native speaker!)
5. Go abroad
If
there’s a better way to learn English than being immersed in it while living
and studying in an English-speaking country, we’d love to know! It’s no secret
that English is the most widely-spoken language in the world, and with a long
list of countries to choose between, you can select your ideal learning
environment based on hemisphere, weather, or favorite city. Think Australia,
New Zealand, the UK,
the US,
Canada,
and South Africa
to name a few!
6. Use your friends
Have
friends who post online in English? Don’t gloss over them in your newsfeed:
scan the items they share and commit to exploring one or two each day. They
might be news or magazine articles, videos, talks, blog posts, songs, or
anything else: if it’s in English and the topic interests you, it’s going to be
helpful!
7. Ask a lot of questions
Curiosity
may have killed the cat, but it also propelled the language learner to fluency!
As you learn English, you’ll soon collect a mountain of questions. Don’t sit on
your doubts – be curious and resolve them! If you’re enrolled in a course, ask
your teacher (it’s what they’re there for, after all). But if you’re learning
alone, don’t worry: find answers in blogs or language websites, ask other
learners, or read through forums. You’ll be happy you did!
8. Take a lead from the stars
Mix
up your learning by picking a native English-speaking actor or singer you like.
Now, head online, find a bunch of interviews they’ve given – and watch them!
Watch once for gist, then again, taking time to note down interesting
expressions and words you hear. The slang, stories, humor, and anecdotes that
come out of these interview are sure to give you plenty to work with!
9. Start with what you really need
Your
English studies are likely to go far more quickly if you constantly remind
yourself of your motives for learning. Are you going on a study exchange? Then,
focus on vocabulary related to your studies. Have an overseas conference? Brush
up on conversation starters to use with the other participants. Going on a gap
year? Looks like travel and tourism vocabulary will be your guide. If you
simply launch into learning English hoping to magically learn anything and
everything at once, you’re likely to end up confused and burned out. Which
brings us to…
10. Don’t kick yourself while you’re
down
When
you start to feel like you’re not making ground – which happens to all learners
at some point – don’t say, “I don’t speak English,” or “I’ll never get this.”
In fact, ban those phrases from your vocabulary! They only blur your
understanding of the progress you’re making and convince you that your dreams
of speaking English well are impossible. Instead, say “I’m learning English and
making improvements everyday,” “It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it,” “I’m
so much better that I was six months ago,” and other phrases to remind yourself
of the big picture.
References
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