How can I improve my English? If you are asking yourself this question, you have something in common with millions of people. I think this question might be one of the most asked questions in the entire history of education. There are so many people out there who know how important English is in their future and the future of the world, and they are ready to learn or improve their spoken English.
I have read this question on so many forums and so many discussion boards and I realized that I have asked myself this same question, but with the intent of learning other languages. But I think there is a simple answer to this most asked question. All you need to do is turn it around on yourself and your own language. If you do that, you will gain insight into how to improve your English like no one else has. So when you turn this question around, this is what it should sound like: “How would I tell someone to improve their Lithuanian?” or “How would I tell someone to Improve their Tagalog?”
Think about it for a second. How would you tell someone to improve their abilities at speaking your native language? You should have a clue now. What would you tell them? Listen to the language would probably be one. Maybe practice reading might be another. But I can imagine that you can think of plenty of ways for them to learn your language. That is what I am telling you now. So how can you improve your English? By thinking about how someone can improve in your native language.
These are the ways I would tell someone. First off I try to think about how I learned my language. Well, I was a baby when I started learning. Back then I know I couldn’t SPEAK English, so what was my first experience with it? It is quite obvious that the only thing I could do was listen to English. So that’s what I did for a long time. Just listening to English. So what did I do after that?
Well I believe I started to talk. But only being able to make sounds for the first time in my life, I said only a few words. Knowing that everyone is now out of that stage, I can assume that you know a few more words than I did when I was learning English. Nonetheless, you have to start off somewhere. So after I had listened to spoken English conversations for a time, and starting to speak English, how did I know what was wrong and what was right?
I LEARNED the English language from people who helped correct me when I used incorrect grammar. until I eventually knew the language well enough to get along on my own.
So this is how you can improve your English in a very effective way.
Number ONE is LISTEN. This is the MOST effective way to learn English. I guarantee it. Listen to native speakers as much as you are able to.
Number TWO is SPEAK. While you are listening to English, try to imitate what you are hearing as closely as you can. Imitating it will also help you to reduce your accent.
Number THREE is LEARN. Learn the language by studying grammar when you can. I have never felt the need for extensive training like college level classes to learn grammar. I never learned all the intricacies of English and I bet you never learned them all of your language either. BUT, ask your native speaking English friends correct you when you are pronouncing something wrong, or if you make a mistake in your grammar.
So here is what I am getting at. If you want to improve your spoken English, look back at how you learned your language when you were a child. It may have been different than my experience. You may have learned a lot of your language in elementary or primary school as some middle east languages need extra attention in pronunciation of sounds. But follow these steps and follow your own instruction and there will be no stopping you on your pursuit to learn English.
“Traditional language education doesn’t work.
But why? One major reason is that … learning a language is a subconscious process.”
It explains why there are millions of questions: how to learn English fast.
There are a few non-traditional methods that I suggest to check – if they appeal to you:
1. http://www.twitter.com/worldenglishclb
2. http://www.myspace.com/world-english-club
3. http://www.worldenglishclub.com/articles
Sincerely,
Arkady Zilberman
I just enjoy akk your tips and links help me,please! kassia
hi this Asim,am 28 yrs old and belongs to Pakistan,our Mother language is Urdu,so we always talk in urdu,i dont use english with my friends,family.in other words am totally zero,i cant speak basic english,so plz guide me how can i learn englsih language
ple be kind enugh to because atlese i don’t know to easy thigs in english
I hope you’ll find my contribution to your website helpful and useful. I look forward to your reply.
HOW TO PRACTICE ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION AND SPEAKING SKILLS.
In order to have good skills in listening comprehension in English and to speak it fluently, a learner should practise listening to audio and video aids in English (dialogues, thematic texts and narrative stories). It is preferable to have English transcripts of audio and video material. I suggest that learners practice listening comprehension with subsequent speaking in the following sequence:
1. Learners should listen to each sentence several times. At the same time they should see each sentence in the transcript.
2. Learners need to make sure they understand everything clearly in each sentence in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar.
3. Without looking into the transcript, learners should try to repeat each sentence (say it aloud) exactly as they heard it. Without being able to repeat a sentence, a learner cannot understand it.
4. Then it is essential that learners listen to that particular conversation or text (story) in short paragraphs or chunks, say each paragraph aloud, and compare to the transcript.
5. Finally it is necessary that learners listen to the whole conversation or story without interruption several times, and try to tell the content of the whole conversation or text (story) they heard. They can write key words and phrases, or main ideas as a plan, or questions on that particular dialogue or text to make easier for them to convey their content in English. It is important for learners to compare what they said to the transcript.
I am a former ESL teacher. I’d like to know your opinion about these suggestions. Maybe you could publish this comment if you find it important.
METHODS FOR MASTERING ENGLISH CONVERSATION AND VOCABULARY.
I have developed my own unique suggestions on mastering English conversation and vocabulary. They are based on my experience and knowledge, and my tips and advice may be valuable for all students of English. I hope that they will become a short but indispensable guide for many learners of English. I am a former English as a foreign language teacher. I have thoroughly read on the issue of effective methods and aids for learning English. Those aids include audios, videos, websites, study books, etc. I want to share with you that information for English language learners.
Of course, everyday talking in English to native English speakers on a variety of topics helps best in order to be able to speak English fluently. But relatively few learners of English have such long-term opportunity. To eventually be able to speak English fluently, first of all learners of English must have materials with important content on all everyday topics (audios, videos, printed texts/study books, etc.) for beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of study. The materials must include dialogues, monologues (thematic texts), questions – answers with important content, thematic lists of difficult word meanings and phrases (expressions) with usage sentences, and comprehensive vocabulary on all everyday topics. I believe that learners can master English conversation and vocabulary with the following methods:
1. Learners of English must listen to each sentence in conversations (thematic dialogues) in audio materials several times and see their transcripts at the same time, and understand everything in those sentences clearly.
2. It is necessary that learners of English read (pronounce) each sentence aloud and compare their pronunciation to the announcer’s pronunciation.
3. Speaking activity with self-control. It is essential for learners to check if they can orally convey the content of those dialogues closely to the original dialogues as much as possible. That means they must try to be an actor for both speakers in the dialogues. The most important thing for them is to speak English, and to check in the transcript of conversations (dialogues) whether they have made any mistakes in speaking.
Learners can also make their own written questions on the dialogues that require long answers contained in the dialogues to facilitate (make easier) imitation of the dialogues. Alternatively, learners can write key words and phrases, or main ideas as a plan to make easier for them to imitate those dialogues.
4. It is important that learners prepare potential questions and answers with important content on all everyday topics, and practise speaking. To show different ways of expressing a particular thought they can make several potential questions and answers on one point in this speaking activity. There are two websites that contain a lot of ready-made questions in English on a wide variety of topics.
5. Learners of English must have lists of difficult word meanings and of phrases (expressions) on every topic with usage sentences. They must read those ready-made vocabulary usage sentences many times if needed. Longman Language Activator Dictionary (unique English Idea Production Dictionary) covers this issue thoroughly. It is essential that learners also make their own sentences with that vocabulary, taking into consideration real life situations.
6. Students of English can learn a lot of vocabulary on every topic from thematic English dictionaries. Good thematic English dictionaries provide clear word usage explanations and also a few usage sentences for each word meaning, which is especially important. It is essential that students of English also make their own sentences with difficult vocabulary. They should think about the real life situations where and when that vocabulary can be used.
7. Learners can also master new English vocabulary by reading thematic texts (materials), first of all on everyday topics with important content, for example: Practical Tips and Advice to Make Everyday Life Easier and Better (practical solutions for everyday problems). Such self-help books on settling everyday matters are available at book stores.
Learners must write down unknown vocabulary in whole sentences. It is essential that they practise telling the content of the texts that they have read. As people say, practice makes perfect.
8. Constant review of material ensures solid knowledge and success in learning.
9. It is very important that learners also make use of other important aids on a variety of topics to improve their English conversation and vocabulary skills: audios, videos (English learning videos, travel videos, etc.), Internet resources, English learning magazines, newspapers, newsletters, radio programmes (especially the BBC English learning programmes/materials), TV programmes (educational programmes, documentary films, movies, news), books and e-books on a variety of subjects, online communication with native English speakers (chat, email, Skype).
Good libraries have a wide selection of English learning aids.
I request that you publish this article on your website as my contribution if you find it important (with my name). We could also discuss the issue of effective methods and aids for learning English. Information exchange could be mutually beneficial to us. I am open to your suggestions to improve my Methods for Mastering English Conversation and Vocabulary.
All the best.
Sincerely,
Mike Shelby
What a great contribution Mike. Thank you so much. You made some excellent points, as well as restating old points in a new way. I’m sure our readers will enjoy these articles. I appreciate this contribution and will definitely make sure everyone knows these writings are all yours. I can also add a link if you have a site that you think may be beneficial as well. Thanks again
- Ryan
hi I am Ehtsham,am 30 yrs old and belongs to Pakistan,My Mother language is Urdu,so I always talk in urdu,i use some english word with my friends,family.in other words am totally zero,i cant speak basic english,so plz guide me how can i learn englsih language
sir,
i want to do fashion designing course so that i really need to improve spoken english. give me some suggestion.
i want to do job in banking sector in that job they want fluent english how can i speak fluently…..plz tell me i m in tension…. bcz only english makes mahh lyf easy n simple dat i want…..
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I WANT TO IMPROVE MY ENG HOW CAN I DO THIS
how can improve my english. so please give me tips
give mr=e tips sothat i can improve my english as early as possible.
what should be done to improve my english please send me suggetions
Its hard to give you any specific advice right now, but as I replied to another’s comment, make a video of you speaking and post it on youtube.com. You can make a video response to our videos, and then I can rate your English and give you personalized tips and suggestions for you to improve. See our Evaluate your English page… http://www.worldenglishclub.com/evaluate-my-english
plz tell me how can i improve develop my english in both speaking and writing.
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