English is one of the most popular languages around the globe. Many countries use English as their official language. Good skills in English can able you to study or work in such countries where it is widely spoken.
How to learn English
Like any other language, learning English can be improved with practice and over time. The following are ways to improve your English in speaking, writing, and reading.
1. Overcoming your fear of speaking English
Before commencing anything, it is essential to overcome your fears regarding it. Many people find it a daunting task to learn English.
However, English, like any other language, if given time and little effort, is no mountain to climb. In many developing countries, people often mistake good English skills with having proper knowledge.
While this is not true, but having a good command of English does prove to be advantageous in many ways. Therefore, the first step towards learning English is to overcome your fear.
2. Think in English
As weird as it may sound, but thinking in a particular language will improve your language skill. Many people think in their native languages, translate them, and then speak the same thing in English.
The process of this translation is somewhat tedious and gets confusing. Even people who know two or more languages, get confused when they translate from one language to another.
Thus, the answer lies in thinking in English. You can think about your day’s work, some memory you had, or your plan for the week in English in your mind.
You can refer to the dictionary or look up the internet for words you want to describe something. This way, you can think and speak directly in English.
3. Having a conversation in English
Practice is the key to learning a skill. Learning a new language is a skill, training and more practice will surely help you improve your English speaking. Talk to those around you in English and try to have a conversation in English. This will help you improve both your listening and speaking skills.
4. English phrases and words: Keep a notebook
Always keep a notebook with you to jot down phrases and words that are new to you. You may find new words while conversing, in restaurants, classrooms, or anywhere else.
After you get home, look up for its meaning and try to use them in another sentence. If you do not want to go around with the notebook, use your smartphone and save the words in your notes. Writing it down will help you remember them better. This is one of the ways to increase your vocabulary.
5. Look for the most suitable option for your learning English
People have varied ways of learning something. In the case of English, some may learn better by conversation practices, while some may improve more by reading. Finding your own style of learning English is essential.
You may be reading many books, but not being able to understand or decipher much from it, whereas your friend may be able to. Try different approaches to learn, and you will find a suitable method.
This will not only develop your skill but prevent you from losing time in an unproductive method. After you find this, try to mold your learning in this style. This strategy will help you to improve your English language faster and in a better way.
6. Read English language newspapers
There are many newspapers available in the market. Some newspaper uses difficult words for beginners, while some are easier. Look for a newspaper that meets your criteria. Develop the habit of reading English newspapers frequently.
Start with headlines and small pieces of news. Then move on to editorials and more prominent articles. Increase your reading pace slowly and steadily according to your comfort. This will definitely improve your language skill.
7. Surround yourself with English speakers
English is so widely spoken that you will always find one or two people who are good at it around yourself. Try to be with them or ask for their help in improving your English.
Try to have English conversation practice with them, and this will make you confident when it is actually time for you to converse in English. Learn day-to-day words to help you with your daily English conversation.
8. Do not be afraid to make mistakes
Mistakes are a part of any learning process. No one is perfect in anything. The thought and fear of making mistakes should not stop you from learning English. Making mistakes will help you know what is wrong and what is right.
Many people fear that they may say or write something wrong and hold back. Never hold back because you are scared of making mistakes. Whatever may be the outcome, you should try to practice without any fears.
9. Record and Listen to your own voice
You should know how you sound when you speak a particular language. Try to record something you speak about in English. When you replay it, listen carefully and find where you could have improved or made any mistake.
You can also know what your stronger aspects and weaker ones are. This way, you can listen to yourself and be your own judge. This is a great way to improve your English speaking.
10. Focus on fluency and not grammar English
When speaking in English, it is necessary to speak incorrect grammar, but your fluency should not be affected. To speak correct English, you may frame sentences in your mind, which delays your flow while talking.
These stops will portray a poor English speaking ability and even may hamper your own confidence. Sometimes it is okay to have a few grammatical errors provided your fluency does not slow down.
11. Short and correct English sentences than long and incorrect ones
Whether it is writing or speaking, make shorter sentences as they are likely to have fewer mistakes. The more lengthy sentences you frame, the higher the chances of them having more mistakes.
It is an unspoken thumb rule to write crisp shorter sentences and that long ones have more opportunities to be full of errors. Longer sentences also create confusion for the writer and even more for the reader.
12. Enroll yourself in an English speaking course offline
There are many English-speaking courses available in your city or area. Register yourself in their center. This allows you real-time English conversation practice.
Your speaking coach will help you know your strengths and weaknesses and help you to improve. Spoken English classes are very much in trend and should not cost you much.
13. Online English Speaking Courses
Like all other facilities online, there are numerous online English-speaking courses. They an edge over offline classes in the sense they can be taken from the comfort of your home.
The timings can also be adjusted at your own convenience. Also, you can take the spoken English classes from native speakers.
14. Reading English books and magazines
Reading books are a great way to improve your English. For beginners, you can start with easy and children’s books. Books not only help you improve your reading and writing ability, but also improve your vocabulary. This vocabulary will come to use while you converse.
15. Using Social media
Social media is an influential part of our lives. You can keep learning even when you are on social media. Open groups or join any, which is dedicated to English improvement.
You will learn new words and phrases, even on social media. Look up their meaning and try to use them later in your conversation or writing. Social media can be a good source to help you improve your English-speaking skill.
16. Make goals to improve your English
Try to set goals for yourself. English is a language and cannot be learned overnight. It requires time and slow improvement. Set goals like finishing particular books or watching series that help you develop your language skill. In the case of courses, set benchmarks, you need to reach before a specified period.
17. Make a chart or poster
Any new words you learn or find, it would be a helpful idea to write them down on a chart and stick them on the wall of your room. Your notebook, too, will have those words, but notebooks need to be opened. Having words and phrases in front of you all the time will help you remember them better.
18. Take tests
There are numerous tests available online, or any test is taken in your offline coaching institute will tell you where you stand. The results do not make you feel worse, but to understand what are your strengths and areas where you require work. These tests help you analyze how much you have improved and what needs more improvement.
19. Find an English Tutor
Find yourself a tutor. It may be a friend, a family member, or even a tutor from your English-speaking class. You can also get a tutor to help you with PostStudyQuery, where a tutor can be chosen at your convenience within your budget to help you with your English language skills.
Tutors available help you online, or you can even find one to come home through PostStudyQuery. Having someone to assess your performance and help you improve your English speaking will increase your learning ability twin fold.
Do not be afraid of criticism as they are only helping you improve your English. Their encouragement will also help you learn better. They will guide you on how to speak English fluently.
20. Listen and repeat
Whenever you listen to a new phrase or want to practice some phrase you hear on the television or some videos, pause and try to repeat the same.
You can do this a couple of times until you think it is right. This will help you to pronounce the words correctly. You will also remember the phrases better and correctly.
21. Listen to English songs
Listening and singing a song of a particular language helps you learn the language faster. Listening to the songs in English will familiarize you with many words. This may help you learn new words.
22. Uses resources to the fullest
The books, songs, movies, a friend who speaks in English are all your resources to help you learn English. Anything that helps you learn the language is your resource. Use the available resources to the fullest to improve your English.
23. Trust your gut feeling
When speaking in English, do not be self-conscious. Go with your intuitions sometimes when you are in doubt. Often, the first word you think is the correct one. Moreover, even if it is the wrong word, you will know which words are not to be used in the future.
24. The way you write and pronounce are not always the same
Many words in English are not written and pronounced the same way. Familiarize yourself with words, and you will not be pronouncing or writing them incorrectly. Regular practice will improve such confusion.
25. Recite in English
Recite prose and poetry in your room. This will help you improve your English and help you pronounce difficult words. If the words are ambiguous, stop, look for the pronunciation, and begin again. This will help you develop your English.
26. Do not worry about the accent
The English language is spoken differently in many parts of the world. It is okay if you do not sound like a native speaker. As long as you speak correctly with fluency, you are doing great. It is not necessary to even develop a particular accent as long as you can converse decently.
27. Learn English phrases and not only words
Instead of just learning words, learn phrases. Learning phrases will reduce the chances of grammatical errors. This will be much helpful during conversations.
28. Learn common English proverbs and sayings
Learn some common proverbs and sayings; understand their uses, in which situations, which ones can be put used.
29. Learn English words for particular situations
Learn words for specific situations. For example, words you would use at a restaurant like fine dining, sparkling water, chef’s special, and many more.
30. The practice has no alternative
Practice until you can. Every day practice a little bit, do not take long gaps in days while you practice. Even if you practice daily just for 15-30 mins will significantly help your improvement rather than practicing hours one day and none the other.
Learning English becomes easy if you follow tips and guidelines diligently. With proper routine and scheme of practice, you can speak fluent English. English speaking, like many other skills, develops gradually and with practice. It is up to you to take the initiative in taking the first step.