Most of us will like to improve our spoken and written English. We would love to sound and write better. For some people, improving their English can be quickly done by sitting within the four walls with books. For others, proper exposure and involvement with different activities can help improve their English. To learn how to improve your English, refer to the guides and tips provided below.
1. Watching Movies and Television programs
Television programs like news are a great way to improve pronunciation and discussion skills. Most journalists and newsreaders write and speak Standard English and express themselves well. Also, watching movies is an excellent way to improve your English. Because films are not created as a learning tool, the language is exactly how you hear it in real life – it is spoken quickly, with native accents and pronunciation, and uses many idioms and colloquial expressions. As a result, you will hear English being used in a very natural way. Some parts may be spoken too fast for you to understand, but it will be a perfect way to get used to hearing native speakers talk to each other.
It is not a good idea to use this as your only method of learning English; it is much more advisable to study at an English school. But watching movies is an excellent way to improve pronunciation, word use, and vocabulary. It is advised to use subtitles so you can read along while listening.
2. Read as much as you can
Reading any book can improve your vocabulary to an impressive extent. Reading in English will help you to learn new languages and expressions; it will also help you to remember vocabulary and grammatical structures that you have already learned. If you read more, you will naturally become good at writing skills. Since your vocabulary and pronunciation improve by reading regularly, it eventually makes you a better writer. The more you read, the better your writing skills will become. You would tend to focus on various aspects of writing that would allow you to write more effectively than others.
3. Listen to Podcasts
Improving your speaking skills is the most challenging aspect of learning English. Allowing listeners to learn new words is one way that podcasts improve listeners’ ability to speak. Learning vocabulary in lists is boring, ineffective, and outdated. Instead, you have a better chance to remember the language you’ve learned in context. Podcasts provide that context. It is easier for you to learn new words when you’re learning about something you’re interested in and learned in context. It can also help you improve your pronunciation and grammar. When we listen to native speakers pronounce words, we get better at pronunciation ourselves. Unlike watching television and movies, where we can get distracted by the pictures on the screen, you mostly only listen to podcasts, which can help you concentrate on the words.
4. Practice Speaking
Speak as often as possible to as many people as you possibly can! Do not be shy to make mistakes! The more you practice, the more confident you will become in your pronunciation and vocabulary. You can record yourself and then listen back to see how your English sounds to other people. As you speak, make a conscious effort to communicate better and pronounce words correctly. Take time to talk with people who speak proper English; there is a tendency that it rubs off on you.
5. Always ask Questions
Feel free to ask questions if you are unsure how a word is spelled or pronounced or the context in which it is used. To improve rapidly, you should ask and resolve many questions. Don’t just read phrases. Ask why they are used in a particular way, whether other constructions are possible, and don’t trust everything you read online. Accept your mistakes, and feel free to make more mistakes. The fact that you’re making mistakes shows that you are making progress.
Summary
You can improve your English in other ways than sitting in a school’s four walls or attending classes online. Languages are learned through practice informally. However, this does not undermine the importance of attending school. On the contrary, a combination of formal and informal learning will improve your English exponentially.
