Today in class we were talking about topics that students would like to study, and one student asked:
“How can we improve our English?”
What a great question this is! There are many ways you can improve your English skills, but here are 5 tips on how to improve your skills and have the best learning experience possible…
1. Do things you enjoy
The BEST way to learn a language is by doing activities you enjoy. If you feel happy when you're learning, you're more likely to remember what you've learnt. Here are some ideas and links to websites to get you started.
Do you enjoy Yoga? Why not try Yoga with Adrienne and practice doing Yoga in English.
Do you enjoy cooking? Visit BBC Good Food where they have lots of videos showing how to make some delicious and healthy food!
Do you enjoy watching TV and films? Check out Netflix and watch some films in English. What new words have you learnt from each TV show or film you watch?
Do you enjoy reading? If you like keeping up-to-date you can read articles on BBC News. Or if you prefer stories, the British Council have a page just for stories in English.
Do you enjoy listening to music? If you visit YouTube, you can find videos for English songs with lyrics too. Simply search the song and watch the videos while singing and dancing along at the same time.
2. Have conversations in English
Speaking English as much as possible will improve your ability as well as your confidence. Use English in your everyday life, when you are shopping, ordering food, taking public transport and interacting with friends and family members who speak English too. If you find it hard to speak to people in English, you can even talk to yourself in the mirror, or record yourself speaking on your phone. I do this in Spanish all the time, and it has helped me feel more confident!
3. Practice the skills that you find the most difficult
Sometimes it’s easy to avoid the things that we find difficult. But, if we do some extra practice, it can really help us out! For example, if you find listening more difficult than other skills, you should do some extra practice on that. BBC 6 minute English and ESOL Nexus are both great for quick and easy practice
4. Keep an English diary or vocabulary book
Keeping a journal is not only good for your mind and well-being, but it is also a great way to practice your writing skills. Here are some ideas of things you can write about.
your daily routine
your friends and family
something that happened at work or college
something funny your children did that day
how you feel
something you ate
someone you spoke to
what you are grateful for that day
If writing a journal or diary isn’t for you, you could start a vocabulary notebook. Write down any new words you hear or see throughout the day. Read them at the end of the day, and use a dictionary to help you discover what these new words or phrases mean!
5. Ask questions
Be curious and ask questions as much as possible. If you don’t understand a word or phrase, most people will be happy to help. Ask your teachers, friends and family. If we didn't ask questions, we wouldn’t know anything! This is key to improving your English.
To sum up, learning doesn’t have to stop in the classroom.
Learning never stops.
Doing things you enjoy, having conversations, practicing English skills, keeping a diary and asking lots of questions will help you on your journey to become a fluent English user. And remember to never stop having fun while you’re doing it!
Do you have any questions? Ask them in the comments below.