Improving your English is essential today since this international language is spoken literally everywhere in the world. Not only can English help you get a job interview and fast-forward your career, but it can also help you apply to universities abroad, understand and communicate with foreigners, and enrich your life experiences. In today’s article, we will be discussing how to improve your English by using unexpected learning methods. If you’ve got some tips and tricks that you’d like to share, let us know!
Unexpected Tips for Improving Your English
Learn new vocabulary
You should already know that in order to develop your speaking abilities, you’ve got to learn new words every single day. Your best bet would be setting up a schedule and following it to the point.
Don’t skip days of practice only because you don’t feel like it. Stay on top of your work and be focused on your goals. Here are some tips for you:
- Watch movies in English with English subtitles. Try to avoid playing your native language’s subtitles.
- Download an app to learn faster such as FluentU or Duolingo.
- Listen to music videos and try to learn the lyrics after deciphering them.
Improve your pronunciation
Use dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster to learn how to pronounce words properly, look a word up whenever you don’t know how it’s pronounced or spelled. Get colloquial by watching movies without any subtitles and remembering phrases used by actors. Write down the words you cannot pronounce and ask for essay help UK with the words you are struggling with. There are many professional writers willing to help you.
Learn to speak with confidence
Learning to speak proper English can be challenging but it’s definitely not impossible. You could try immersing yourself in the English language by listening to English language news as much as possible. Think about it, not only will you actively listen to the language you’re apprehending but you’re also learning new information about the respective country, be it the United States, England, Australia, or New Zealand.
Shadow someone else’s speech
Imagine you’re an actor trying to learn a new script. Stay in front of the TV and, as soon as your favorite character says the word you’re trying to learn, mimic it. Listen to how they speak it and try to imitate the exact sounds. You should:
- Pick your favorite movie or YouTube video.
- Choose two or three words that you’re trying to perfect.
- Listen to the actors speaking the word as many times as possible. It’s okay, you don’t have to get it from the start. It might take time to listen and comprehend their speech.
- Imitate the character step by step by step by copying the pattern that you’re hearing. Only stop when you feel that you can say these words without hearing them beforehand.
Talk to yourself in the mirror
You could start by saying “Hi, how are you?” and continue the English monologue in the mirror. Yes, if someone hears you, they might think something’s off, but you should not care. In the end, you’re learning a new language and you’re acing it. You could also download an actual movie script, learn a monologue, and then recite it to yourself (or your friends!). You could also read a page of your favorite book. The idea is to hear yourself speaking English out loud and correct yourself if you’re making any mistakes.
Start thinking in English
Once you get used to speaking and hearing English more frequently, you’ll start thinking in English. If you don’t right now, that’s okay – just make sure that you’re practising every day. If a thought comes up, try to translate it. This will keep you mindful of English, even if your first thought is in your native language. It is another good way to practice. If you don’t know the English translation of the word, look it up. This is another witty way to learn new vocabulary.
Travel
One of the best ways to practice English is traveling. Book a plane ticket to England, or any other English-speaking country of your choice. Not only will you get to visit the surroundings and get a gist of the country’s culture, but you’ll also have to interact with English-speaking people. The best thing is, when you’re in another country, you’ve got no choice but to find your English words. This will get you out of your comfort zone and help you learn English faster.
Retell stories you’ve heard
Travelling is amazing for many reasons but one of them is the stories you hear. Listen to them carefully and tell them to your friends – in English! – once you get home. This is a good way to practice your English and show others what you’ve learned. They might start learning English too!
Find a practice buddy
There are many ways in which you can practice and one of them is online. If you don’t have the budget to travel, this option might work as well. Find an online practice buddy that you can study with. You’ll be able to speak English as much as you need to and (maybe) make a new friend. Having a practice buddy keeps you accountable, too!
Chat with Siri
When you’re bored and not in the mood for your practice apps, have a conversation with Siri. Ask her about the weather, ask her about yourself, imagine that you’re having a conversation with another human. It will be fun!
Wrapping Up
Learning English is a lot of fun so don’t forget to have fun while you learn! Don’t make it seem like a burden, make it interesting and exciting. Travel if you can afford it and let the world speak to you!
Please be advised that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this blog are solely that of the author or his/her sources and do not necessarily reflect those of English Forward. This includes, but is not limited to, third-party content contained on or accessible through the English Forward websites and web pages or sites displayed as search results or contained within a directory of links on the English Forward network.
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