How English Language is Learnt?
It is widely accepted that English has been an international language. English is also regarded as an inevitable mean of communication in our real world. We study English to exchange information, training methods, culture, modern science and technology, etc. English listening, speaking, reading, writing are paid more attention and becomes a core in language teaching and learning.
Tips for Learning Listening Skill
You have been studying English for a long time and have a good knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary. You can read and write in English but you have trouble understanding what people or video clip are saying. Below are some tips to help you improve your listening skill and get used to the natural spoken English.
- Listen to the whole audio once without looking at the words.
- Listen again, but pause the audio every 5 seconds. Taking note and add any new words you heard.
- Read through your notes completely again. Use your knowledge of grammar to try to complete the sentences.
- Listen to the audio again, but this time stop after 10 seconds. Again, write down the main words you hear and compare to the note in step 3.
- Listen to the audio completely one last time while reading your notes then compare your notes to the actual words.
- Listen and check your pronunciation of words you know but didn't hear or understand when you were listening.
- Listen one final time to the clip. It should be easier now to understand what the speaker is saying.
- After about a week, come back and listen to the clip again to refresh your memory.
Note: Your listening skills will not improve overnight. If you practice consistently 3-4 times a week, soon you will start to see an improvement in your listening skills.
Tips for Learning Speaking Skill
How do you train yourself speaking skill? Practising will get you closer to sounding like a native English speaker and equip you with a global accent of English.
- Observe the mouth movements of those who speak English well and try to imitate them. Repeat what they are saying until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English.
- Listen to English music. Do not use the music of your native language when you speak English.
- Use the English-English dictionary. Try and familiarise yourself with the phonetic symbols and the correct pronunciation of words in the dictionary.
- Make a list of frequently used words that you find difficult to pronounce and ask someone who speaks the language well to pronounce them for you and practice saying them.
- Record yourself reading some sections of the book. Compare the sound of your English with that of the person reading the book on the tape.
- Pronounce the ending of each word. Pay special attention to /s/ and /ed/ endings.
- Read aloud in English for 15-20 minutes every day. Research has shown it takes about three months of daily practice to develop strong mouth muscles for speaking a new language.
- Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes. This is a very important exercise because doing it will help you become conscious of the mistakes you are making.
- Be patient. You can change the way you speak but it won't happen overnight. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to put some effort into it.
Quick tips: Watch and imitate the accent of the English news on TV channels like Star World, CNN, BBC and English movies on Star Movies and HBO can help you improve your speaking skill.
Tips for Learning Reading Skill
In the modern age of information, reading truly is a fundamental survival skill. Here are ten tips that anyone can use to improve their reading skills:
- Some people read fast and remember everything. Others read slowly and take a couple of times to get all the information. It doesn't matter, really, so long as when you read, you get the information you're seeking.
- Know the reason why you're reading. Decide why you're reading before you start and you'll greatly improve your comprehension and your enjoyment.
- You don't need to read all the reading text. Be choosy: select the chapters and articles that are important.
- Scan before you read. These will help you determine if you have a real interest in this reading, and what information you're likely to get from it.
- Prioritize your reading. You can't read everything all at once (and wouldn't want to). If it's important, read it now. If it's not, let it wait.
- Optimize your reading environment. You'll read faster and comprehend more if you read in an environment that's comfortable for you.
- Once you start, don't stop! Read each item straight through. If you finish and have questions, go back and re-read the pertinent sections.
- Focus. Remember, you're reading with a purpose, so focus on that purpose and the material.
- Practice! The more you read, the better reader you'll become!
Tips for Learning Writing Skill
Strong writing skills in English come from practice and determination. Anyone can be a good writer if they are determined enough. Below are 8 Tips to Improve Your English Writing Skills:
- Keep All of your Writing in One Place. By doing so, you will be able to see how much you are improving and keep it organized.
- Practice Writing in English Daily. Writing every day in English will soon become natural and something you look forward to.
- Pick a Topic and WRITE! You can write about anything, what you do, things you hear or see.
- Write More than One Draft. Sometimes, your best writing becomes better after you take a break and work on a second or third draft.
- Use Online Resources to Correct your Grammar. You don't need to know everything about English grammar. Use online resources to help you answer a grammar question when it comes up.
- Think Outside the Box (or Lines). Don't write about the same thing every day or you will get bored. Try writing the same story from different perspectives.
- Have a Friend Edit Your Writing that generate more ideas to better your writing.
- Find the Best Place for You to Write. You should try writing in different places or at different times of the day.
To sum up, with those above-mentioned tips about four different English skills, I hope that those will help all of you improve your English language skills.