Ten Easy Tips to help you learn English
1. Buy a good dictionary
If you are just starting to learn English, you'll probably be more comfortable using a bilingual dictionary. It's really useful for comparing words to your own language. We'd recommend the If you are at an intermediate and advanced level, throw away that bilingual dictionary and get yourself a monolingual learners dictionary. The sooner you can learn words without reference to your own language the sooner you'll be able to think in English. There are many good ones around but we like Oxford Word power (low intermediate) Longman Active Study Dictionary (intermediate) and Longman dictionary of contemporary English (advanced). Many dictionaries come with CD ROMs which you can search, cross reference and see examples in context, in sentences and situations.
2. Make time for learning
Set aside a little time each day to practice, it doesn't have to be much, as little as ten minutes per day; we'd recommend thirty minutes, but it's important to do it every day. By doing this you refresh knowledge regularly and it will stay in your head better. You can do this during your coffee break or on the bus or metro on the way to work or school, it doesn't matter where, just do it!
3. Be interested
Studies show that people learn when they are interested. This doesn't mean that you have to love grammar, although, of course, we do! It means that you need to explore your interests using the English language. If you like movies, read movie reviews in English, and then watch the film in English! If you like football, try your team's website. The same goes for any interest you have. The web is full of great sites that will match up to your interests, so use it!
4. Don't be afraid to make mistakes
We all have to make mistakes in order to learn from them, if you aren't sure if what you want to say or write is correct, just try it - the chances are you're close to being correct even if you aren't exactly right, and you can always check with the person you are speaking or writing to. Nobody is judging you but yourself, so remember, getting it wrong is the first step to getting it right.
5. Try to think in English
Instead of thinking what you want to say in your language and then translating it, try to construct the sentence mentally in English. You'll make a lot fewer mistakes this way. When you talk to yourself in your head try doing it in English, give yourself an accent or a character to make the 'voice' more real. Try writing simple notes and to do lists in English, change the language on your mobile phone to English.
6. Practice all the skills
When we ask our learners what they want to learn around 90% say they want to speak better English. Well, the key to speaking better English is reading more English, listening to lots and lots of English and practicing writing in English. This makes you a rounded user of the language and your speaking will benefit hugely as a result. Also since many learners need exams for their career or studies it's useful to note that the most successful exam candidates read well and are good at grammar exercises.
7. Learn to love grammar
Ok, we know you think it's scary, it's boring, it's too complicated. If you believe that then it will be. Remember you learned all the grammar for your mother tongue when you were a really small child so it can't be that hard, can it? Keep an open mind, look around for exercise types that you like or understand better. There are thousands and thousands of web sites with varied, fun exercises out there. Here are a few we like. www.ego4u.com www.stufun.com : www.nonstopenglish.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/index.shtml
8. Find a practice partner.
Look around you, many people you know have a need for English in some way and they all need someone to practice with, just ask them, go for a coffee and have a conversation, swap exercises or compare notes with them, do English things with them, like visiting the cinema, sharing a book or novel and talking about it or sharing an interest.
9. Learn how to learn.
We all like to learn in different ways, some of us learn by doing, some by seeing or listening, some by reading. Most of us are a combination of all of these with a preference for one way or another. Visit www.vark-learn.com do their questionnaire and read their helpsheets. It will help you understand how you like to learn and give you advice and tips on how to take in information input and how to make the most of learning by organizing your output in ways your brain likes.
10. Get a good teacher.
If you see an offer to learn English in 25 hours or for a really small sum of money that seems too good to be true, then it almost certainly is. Using qualified professionals who understand language, learning, methodology and are trained to help you learn is the best way to make progress. Of course we know we're excellent at all these things and hope you'll choose us to help you achieve your goals, but if you can't afford the money or the time, you can still help yourself through all the tips shown above.
And remember, learning a language is not something you do once and then leave behind; a language helps you understand the world, appreciate different cultures; it gives insight into different perceptions of life and the world we live in. It's a skill that needs constant refreshing; if you don't use it, you will surely lose it! Good luck, and see you in class!
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