| These are a few tips that teach you to become | | | | The internet is a fantastic invention, which has |
| a successful English language learner. Some of it | | | | changed the way we live our lives. While it is |
| sounds quirky but it does really work. So it's | | | | fantastic to be able to read the People's daily or |
| worth a shot! | | | | chat with friends online, it is a waste if we don't |
| 1.1 Set Goals | | | | use the medium to learn English. Many English |
| It's often much easier to motivate yourself to | | | | schools offer a full suite of blended online learning |
| work if you have something to aim for. Goals can | | | | applications - but, in addition to that, there's plenty |
| be short or long term. A short term goal in | | | | you can do on your own. |
| learning English might be to learn enough to be | | | | 1.11 Read English Newspapers |
| able to book a hotel room. A longer term aim | | | | There are numerous newspapers which provide a |
| could be to attend a University in a foreign | | | | rich source of interesting and varied reading |
| country, or get a 6.5 on the IELTS exam. | | | | materials. This is a really good way to improve |
| 1.2 Be Prepared to Work Hard | | | | your reading. |
| Learning a language is generally not easy. Most | | | | 1.12 Listen to Radio |
| people have other things to do in their lives apart | | | | Virtually every radio station in the world is up for |
| from learning English. You need to realize this and | | | | grabs with the Internet. Don't just be content |
| be patient with regard to your progress. But you | | | | with the VOA or BBC world service. There are |
| won't achieve much if you don't put in the effort. | | | | many other interesting alternatives. Try listening |
| Your progress depends a lot on you. | | | | to radio from around the English speaking world. |
| 1.3 Make Time | | | | 1.13 Chat |
| Many of us lead busy lives and find it hard to fit | | | | You can use MSN, Yahoo! and other chat |
| new things into an already established routine. | | | | programs to chat in English. Try finding some of |
| Learning English can be requires discipline. You | | | | your English speaking friends. If you have Skype, |
| need to set aside time for your learning and be | | | | encourage your friends to get it too and call them |
| prepared to study during that time. Putting things | | | | for free using your computer. |
| off because you're too tired is ok every now and | | | | 1.14 Don't be Self-conscious |
| then, but it shouldn't become a habit. Make English | | | | There are a few old-fashioned methods which |
| an indispensable part of your schedule. | | | | might sound quirky but can work: |
| 1.4 Ask Questions | | | | Improve your pronunciation: Use a mirror to |
| YOU ARE NOT SPONGES! You can't expect | | | | practice making difficult English sounds; record |
| yourself to absorb everything and not have any | | | | yourself speaking English and listen afterward, |
| questions to ask. Don't be afraid to ask questions | | | | paying attention to stress, intonation and problem |
| to your teachers and/or friends. | | | | phonemes. |
| 1.5 Do Some Extra-curricular Work | | | | Think in English: Have an imaginary conversation in |
| Having a teacher to instruct and guide you is vital. | | | | English. Think through what you're going to say. |
| However, you can also study independently in | | | | Speak to your friends in English: Encourage |
| fact; this will be more likely to make you a | | | | yourself to practice by speaking with each other. |
| successful language learner. Don't wait until it's | | | | This doesn't have to be confined to the |
| time for class to pull out your English books. | | | | classroom. Try speaking to your classmates or |
| 1.6 Watch English Movies | | | | friends in English. Don't worry about picking up bad |
| This is a great way to pick up colloquial English and | | | | pronunciation habits-speaking more regularly will |
| practise listening. You don't need to be able to | | | | give you a much greater level of confidence and |
| understand every word to understand what is | | | | you will definitely improve faster. |
| happening in a movie. Turn on the English Subtitles | | | | 1.15 For Parents |
| to help with understanding - this is a great way to | | | | Kid's whose parents take an active interest in |
| practice reading also. Choose movies that you are | | | | their child's education will probably be much more |
| more likely to be able to follow. Movies with short | | | | likely to become successful language learners. Let |
| dialogue, separated by long sequences of no | | | | them know you care by communicating with |
| dialogue are ideal, as they allow time to absorb | | | | them regularly about what they are learning: |
| the language. Romantic movies tend to fall into | | | | • Check their homework and help them |
| this category. | | | | with it as much as you can. |
| 1.7 Listen to English Music | | | | • If they join an English course, make |
| Music can be a fun way to learn English. The next | | | | sure they are actually using those tapes that you |
| time you're at a karaoke bar or maybe at home | | | | paid for at the start of the course. Too many |
| singing in front of your TV, try singing an English | | | | kids never even take off the cellophane wrapping |
| song. This is a great way to practice putting | | | | on their cassettes. Your child can learn a lot from |
| some emotion into your English and will really | | | | reviewing material from each unit on the tapes. |
| improve the way other people perceive your | | | | • If you can speak even a little English, |
| meaning when you're speaking English to them. | | | | don't be afraid to use it with your child. Don't be |
| 1.8 Reading | | | | afraid that your child will learn bad pronunciation - |
| Reading is a fantastic way to learn new | | | | that's one of the reasons you want your child to |
| vocabulary. Try reading short stories rather than | | | | learn English! But the more exposure they have to |
| long novels. These are often broken down into | | | | the language, the better they will become at |
| short chapters which can be read and then | | | | English. |
| analyzed for language. Don't feel that you have to | | | | • Encourage your child to read as much |
| understand every word. Try to get the general | | | | as possible in English. It's important to choose |
| meaning. Underline unknown words and try to | | | | material appropriate to your child. However, there |
| guess their meaning from context. You can use | | | | is a wide range of material available at local |
| your dictionary later to look them up and check if | | | | bookstores which will be suitable for your child. |
| you were right. Use graded readers. These tend | | | | • Let them watch cartoons and movies |
| to have questions designed to test | | | | in English. Children love cartoons, and seeing them |
| comprehension of what you have just read. | | | | in English will only increase their desire to learn. |
| 1.9 Go to English Corners | | | | One of the best ways you can help with your |
| Public places such as bookstores often tend to | | | | child's education is to take part yourself. Why not |
| have free English corners. Don't be shy. Go along | | | | sign up for an English course yourself. Come to |
| and take part. Ask questions. Meet people just like | | | | any English school with your child and learn English |
| you who are interested in learning English. | | | | together. |
| 1.10 Use the Internet | | | | |