Wednesday, June 10, 2009

How To Learn English!

For thoese that are wondering how you can improve your English. Here are 10 tips which may help you to master the English Language!

1. Speak without Fear
The biggest problem most people face in learning a new language is their own fear. They worry that they won’t say things correctly or that they will look stupid so they don’t talk at all. Don’t do this. The fastest way to learn anything is to do it – again and again until you get it right. Like anything, learning English requires practice. Don’t let a little fear stop you from getting what you want.

2. Use all of your Resources
Even if you study English at a language school it doesn’t mean you can’t learn outside of class. Using as many different sources, methods and tools as possible, will allow you to learn faster. There are many different ways you can improve your English, so don’t limit yourself to only one or two. The internet is a fantastic resource for virtually anything, but for the language learner it's perfect.

3. Surround Yourself with English
The absolute best way to learn English is to surround yourself with it. Take notes in English, put English books around your room, listen to English language radio broadcasts, watch English news, movies and television. Speak English with your friends whenever you can. The more English material that you have around you, the faster you will learn and the more likely it is that you will begin “thinking in English.”

4. Listen to Native Speakers as Much as Possible
There are some good English teachers that have had to learn English as a second language before they could teach it. However, there are several reasons why many of the best schools prefer to hire native English speakers. One of the reasons is that native speakers have a natural flow to their speech that students of English should try to imitate. The closer ESL / EFL students can get to this rhythm or flow, the more convincing and comfortable they will become. If it's possible, I encourage you to get a pen pal and even a mentor that helps you and give you advise in English. It's also good to make friends and speak English to them. Remember the more you make it a natural process of speaking and listening the more you will learn.

5. Watch English Films and Television
This is not only a fun way to learn but it is also very effective. By watching English films (especially those with English subtitles) you can expand your vocabulary and hear the flow of speech from the actors. If you listen to the news you can also hear different accents. I especially encourage you to repeatedly see one film, then watch different films that you aren't able to understand. If you watch one film repeatedly it's easier to grasp the meaning and catch the listening part.
6. Listen to English Music
Music can be a very effective method of learning English. In fact, it is often used as a way of improving comprehension. The best way to learn though, is to get the lyrics (words) to the songs you are listening to and try to read them as the artist sings. There are several good internet sites where one can find the words for most songs. This way you can practice your listening and reading at the same time. And if you like to sing, fine. I also love this method, I learned English in my teenage years by listening and memorizing and singing along pop songs. I just felt so good and happy and at the same time I was learning.

7. Study As Often As Possible!
Only by studying things like grammar and vocabulary and doing exercises, can you really improve your knowledge of any language. Try to study alittle every day instead of procrastinating over the weekend or for several hours. Do it has a daily activity.

8. Do Exercises and Take Tests
Many people think that exercises and tests aren't much fun. However, by completing exercises and taking tests you can really improve your English. One of the best reasons for doing lots of exercises and tests is that they give you a benchmark to compare your future results with. Often, it is by comparing your score on a test you took yesterday with one you took a month or six months ago that you realize just how much you have learned. If you never test yourself, you will never know how much you are progressing. Start now by doing some of the many exercises and tests on this site, and return in a few days to see what you've learned. Keep doing this and you really will make some progress with English. This is a good way to evaluate your English level, try to take TOEFL or TOEIC tests. It's good to measure where you are at in order to determine where you are going.

9. Record Yourself
Nobody likes to hear their own voice on tape but like tests, it is good to compare your tapes from time to time. You may be so impressed with the progress you are making that you may not mind the sound of your voice as much. I did this alot when I was learning and improving my English. I would read segments of myself and record it and play it back and listen to how I said or pronounced words. This is a definite help to improve your speaking skills.


10. Listen to English
By this, we mean, speak on the phone or listen to radio broadcasts, audiobooks or CDs in English. This is different than watching the television or films because you can’t see the person that is speaking to you. Many learners of English say that speaking on the phone is one of the most difficult things that they do and the only way to improve is to practice. The best way is to listen to English or have a MP3 player or English radio and listen to it as much as you can. Although it's tedious and doesn't seem to work, one day you will be able to hear and understand what people are saying in English.

Finally

Have fun! Keep in mind that learning English is also alot of fun. Consider it learning a new culture but in language and you'll enjoy every moment of it!





1 comment:

  1. Great practical tips! I shall share these with my students.

    ReplyDelete