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