Strategies for Learning EnglishEnglish language learners have different reasons for wanting to learn English. Some want to live or work in English-speaking countries. Some want to work as translators in their own country. Some want to have businesses that require them to speak with English-speaking people. No matter why you want to learn English, there are strategies that will make it easier for you.
- Think of why you are learning English. Write down all of your reasons. When you feel discouraged or you do not feel like studying, look at your reasons. Your list of reasons will help you stay motivated to learn. You will be more willing to study and practice English when you have a reason to do so. Visit a Learning English Blog for new ideas to help you stay motivated.
- Set goals. Do not set big goals that are hard to reach. They will cause you to become discouraged or feel like you cannot learn. If you set small goals that are easy to reach, you will stay on track while learning English. Reaching those goals will also help you feel good about what you have learned.
Examples of some of the goals you could set are:
o I will learn 10 new English words per day.
o I will read the English lyrics of one song every week.
o I will read one English news story every day.
- Study English every day. You do not need to study for hours at a time. Just 15 minutes each day is all it takes to improve your English skills. When you study for only 15 minutes, you do not push yourself too hard. Studying does not become boring or something you hate if you do not push too hard.
- Make it fun to study. Listen to songs in English. Watch a movie in English. Look at websites about famous people, movie stars or singers. While those activities are fun, they also let you listen to or read English. You are studying and improving your English skills with those activities.
- Study with friends. You can work on your English skills together. You may have study ideas that will help your friends, and they may have ideas that will help you. You can help each other with homework. You can practice vocabulary and grammar together. Studying with friends is also more fun.
- Build your vocabulary. Reading, writing and speaking English all require you to know words. When you build your vocabulary, you are better able to understand the English language. When you have a large vocabulary, other English speakers are better able to understand you.
- Reward yourself. When you reach one of your small goals, give yourself a reward. Your reward can be anything that you think is a treat, like a dinner at a nice restaurant, playing your favorite video game or a day out with friends. Giving yourself a treat for doing well makes you want to keep doing well.
Learning to speak English is much like learning to speak your own language. You do not learn the language in one day. Instead, you set goals for what you want to learn, and then you study every day. You also practice what you learn. Each day, your English skills will improve, just as your skills in your own language have improved with time.
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