7 Tips on How to Learn English

Learning a language is like learning a sport or how to play an instrument.  You can’t watch a basketball player spin the ball on his finger and expect to be able to do the same thing.  In the same way, you can’t learn a language by sitting in a room and listening to other people speaking English, or by listening to someone explain English grammar in your own language.  The only way you can improve your English reading, writing, speaking, or listening, is to practice.

1. Form goals

Because it is almost impossible to learn a language passively, you need to find something to motive yourself to be an active learner.  What do you want to do with your new language?  Don’t say, “I want to just speak better.” Say “I want to have a conversation with a native speaker about my country” or “I want to watch Pride and Prejudice without subtitles” or “I want to get a passing grade on the TOEFL or FCE.”  Having a concrete goal makes it easier to motivate yourself.

2. Read books you enjoy

• When practicing English is fun it will be easier for you to improve.  If you make your practice too difficult, you might lose motivation and stop.
• Read books that you have already enjoyed in your own language.
• When you find a new word or phrase, don’t look it up or write it down.  You can underline new words or phrases to come back to later, but the most important thing is just to read.  Move forward through the book.  If there are so many unfamiliar words that you can’t understand the story, choose an easier book.  That way you can continue to enjoy reading in English.

3. Listen and read

• Try listening and reading at the same time.  There are many “audio-books” available online, either for free on LibriVox or for money on Audible.
• Watch English-language movies with English subtitles.  Ted lectures are good sources of interesting subtitled movies.
• The most useful movies (like the most useful books) are ones you already know, maybe movies you have watched before.  That way, you already know the story and you have some expectations about the words you will hear.
• Listen to songs, which are easy to memorize and often contain useful phrases and vocabulary you can use in conversation.  Grooveshark is a good way to listen to music free online.
• As you listen, focus on what words are pronounced clearly and which words are swallowed.  Soon, you will be able to pick out which words are important.

4. Practice conversation skills

Speaking is the most difficult skill for most people to practice, because it is hard to find opportunities to speak, and many people are shy. But you have to practice speaking if you want to get good at it.

• Role-playing is a good way to prepare for basic conversations.
• Reading out-loud or repeating after movies or songs will also help you get used to speaking English.
• If you are nervous about speaking, write down what you want to say first.
• If you forget a word, don’t panic.  Try to explain what you want to say in simpler words.  For example, if you can’t remember the word “car” say “the machine I use to go to different places.”
• Learn the skills necessary to have a conversation. Learn basic conversational formulas like “that’s very interesting” “let me think” and “well, actually.”  These phrases will allow you to have normal conversations, and you will sound very fluent, even if your vocabulary isn’t very large.
• Practice conversation!  Find some English-speaking friends!

5. Practice vocabulary over and over

The first time you see a new word, you will not remember it.  You have to encounter that word again in writing, reading, listening, and speaking, before it will stay in your mind.

• Write down new words on cards, with their translation on the reverse side.  Use these flash cards to test yourself when you are on the bus or waiting in line.
• Use memory tricks (or “mnemonics”) to help yourself remember. For example, if you want to remember the meaning of the word “mnemonic” you can think of a memory in an electronic brain.  “Mem+onic”  A mnemonic will make your memory electronic.
• Make up an example sentence that is easy to remember.
• Draw a picture, say the word out loud, or write the word many times on a piece of paper.  Using several of your senses while thinking of a word will make a stronger connection in your brain.
• Concentrate on phrases, not single words. For example: “It is very useful” is a phrase you might hear again.  If you memorize this phrase, you will be able to use the word “useful” without making mistakes as well as the phrase “it is…”

6. Use your teacher

Remember that your teacher is a resource, and use your teacher to improve your language.

• Prepare questions to ask your teacher.
• If your teacher says something you don’t understand, tell them, and make them explain again!
• Be conscious of the skill you are supposed to be practicing and use it.  For example, if the teacher asks you, “do you like ice cream,” it is easier to say “yes,” but it is better practice to say, “yes, like ice cream.”
• If your teacher corrects you, make sure you repeat the corrected sentence.
• Let your teacher PUSH you.

7. Keep English a part of your day to day life

Put yourself in situations where you have to practice English.

• Find native speakers you can talk to.  Or even non-native speakers who don’t speak your language.
• Even when you are alone, try describing the things you see around you in English.
• Try translating what you hear into English.
• Find something you love about the English language, something fun that you can’t do in your native language.
• Surround yourself with books, movies, and music in English.

Remember the most important factor in learning a new language is your personal motivation and enthusiasm.