Improving
Your English
A lot of
people are always asking, "How do I improve my English?" There are
many possible answers, but here are just a few pieces of advice.
Be responsible for your own learning
Sure you
have teachers, reading materials, and websites to help you with your English,
but who is really responsible for making sure you learn English well? Nobody
but you. Make sure you are the one who is taking charge of your own learning.
There is a good article about the subject on the 5 Minute English
website. It's at www.5minuteenglish.com/articles. Check it
out.
Immerse yourself in English as much as possible
Immerse means to be surrounded by something. If you are immersed in English, it
is all around you. Of course this isn't always possible, but you can do some
things to surround yourself in English from time to time.
Listen to the radio in English. If there are no English radio
stations where you live, listen to one on
the internet.
Watch TV and movies in English. If you have English channels on
your TV, watch them. If they have subtitles (the words written in your
language) underneath the picture, see if they can be turned off. Some people
even tape paper across the bottom of the screen so they can't see the words.
Most DVD's are great because you can choose
the language you want to hear.
Speak English to your friends. Get a conversation buddy
(friend) and speak in English as much as possible. If it is a person whose
native language is the same as your own, you may feel silly speaking in English
at first. But don't worry. Continue
to do it and it will become more natural to you. Finding friends whose native
language is English is even better. Ask your friend to correct you when needed.
Study or travel
to an English-speaking country. Of course the best way to immerse yourself in the
English language is to live in an all English environment. You'll
find yourself surrounded with the language everywhere you turn. It can be a
more difficult and expensive choice, but you may find it to be a very valuable
and helpful experience.
Other ideas. Take an English class, join an English group, find
a tutor, read English magazines. Do whatever you can to immerse yourself in the
language.
Monitor yourself
This
means to pay attention to how you use English. Think (a little) about how you
are going to say something before it comes out of your mouth. But don't think
about all of the problems you have in English at the same time. Just choose
something your know you are having difficulty with and work on using it
correctly. For example, if you know that you have problems remembering to use a,
an, and the, spend a few days trying to put them into sentences
as you speak. Don't worry about anything else. Concentrate on that. When you
feel that you are improving, choose something else to work on. Just keep trying
and little by little, your English will get better everyday.
How To Improve
Your English
- Remember
that learning a language is a gradual process - it does not happen
overnight.
- Define
your learning objectives early: What do you want to learn and why?
- Make
learning a habit. Try to learn something every day. It is much better to
study (or read, or listen to English news, etc.) 10 minutes each day than
to study for 2 hours once a week.
- Remember
to make learning a habit! If you study each day for 10 minutes English
will be constantly in your head. If you study once a week, English will
not be as present in your mind.
- Choose
your materials well. You will need reading, grammar, writing, speaking and
listening materials
- Vary
your learning routine. It is best to do different things each day to help
keep the various relationships between each area
active. In other words, don't just study grammar.
- Find
friends to study and speak with. Learning English together can be very
encouraging.
- Choose
listening and reading materials that relate to what you are interested in.
Being interested in the subject will make learning more enjoyable - thus
more effective.
- Relate
grammar to practical usage. Grammar by itself does not help you USE the
language. You should practice what you are learning by employing it
actively.
- Move
your mouth! Understanding something doesn't mean the muscles of your mouth
can produce the sounds. Practice speaking what you are learning aloud. It
may seem strange, but it is very effective.
- Be
patient with yourself. Remember learning is a process - speaking a language
well takes time. It is not a computer that is either on or off!
- Communicate!
There is nothing like communicating in English and being successful.
Grammar exercises are good - having your friend on the other side of the
world understand your email is fantastic!
- Use
the Internet. The Internet is the most exciting, unlimited English
resource that anyone could imagine and it is right at your finger tips.
Tips:
- Remember
that English learning is a process
- Be
patient with yourself
- Practice,
practice, practice
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