Friday, January 21, 2011

Activities for Learning English

To learn English fast, it is necessary to immerse yourself in a culture

associated with the language. After devoting time to English-only

activities, such as reading English books, attending English classes

and watching English movies, it will soon become possible to think

and dream in English, two signs of achieving your goal.


Instructions

  1. 1 Consider living with an English-speaking family or English-speaking roommates for a short time. Being forced to communicate in English will accelerate your English comprehension and speaking skills.
  2. 2 Join a language exchange community, such as the University of Washington Language Exchange Program (see Resources). Search for native English speakers who want to learn your language. In exchange, they can teach you English.
  3. 3 Use language CDs. Popular language CDs include Rosetta Stone English by Rosetta Stone and Learn to Speak English by Individual Software Inc. (see Resources).
  4. 4 Look for reading material in English. You can accelerate your progress by reading material on subjects you enjoy. For instance, comic book fans can learn more English words by matching the characters actions and expressions to the words they say.
  5. 5 Practice speaking English by reading aloud text written in English. The more you practice, the more fluent you will become.
  6. 6 Take a language class. You can find classes on English as a second language at community colleges and local universities.
  7. 7 Listen to English music and sing along. Most musicians include the lyrics to their songs in the cover of the CD cases.
  8. 8 Enjoy other forms of entertainment in English. Watch English movies, news and television shows in English.
  9. 9 Test your knowledge. Take exercises and tests on English to see how much you have learned.
  10. 10 Record yourself as you practice and compare your tapes as you progress through your learning. This is one way to learn how much you have improved.

Quickest Way To Learn English

The quickest way to learn a language is by placing yourself in situations in which you are forced to speak it in order to carry out even the most simple tasks, such as buying groceries, asking for directions or answering the telephone. Regardless of how many courses you take, you will never be able to improve your language skills if you don't apply them. Total immersion means forcing yourself to utilize your skills in the real world and learning by interacting with native speakers.

If you live where most people don't speak English, find people who do. Make friends with native speakers and try to attend clubs or social events at which English is spoken. If you live in an English-speaking country, but most people in your neighborhood communicate in another language, spend as much time as you can outside of your local community.

Immigrants typically spend most of their time with people whose background is similar to theirs, especially if they have recently relocated. While this can be useful for establishing social ties in an unfamiliar place, it is a lousy way to learn a new language. If you are trying to learn English, make friends who are native speakers and expose yourself to situations that require that you communicate in English.

Try to introduce yourself to English speakers and ask them if you can practice with them, frequent a supermarket or a store where the clerk speaks only English, make English-speaking friends online and use internet services like Skype or MSN to speak or chat with them. Chances are native speakers will help you improve your language skills by correcting you when you make a mistake.

One easy way to improve your English and increase your vocabulary is by listening to radio stations and watching television channels that broadcast in English. Films and music are also powerful tools, but they may be difficult to understand because they often contain language fraught with grammatical errors, regionalisms and colloquialisms. These can be confusing for someone who is trying to learn a language. Listening to the news on the radio or watching it on television and looking up words that you don't understand in the dictionary can be much more effective.

Don't forget to read English-language newspapers and magazines. Take advantage of the wide variety of learning tools available on the web, such as the BBC's free online courses. Other helpful tools include reading ESL books, looking at free brochures and pamphlets, and watching films in English. Make sure to look up words you do not understand or ask an English-speaking friend to explain them to you.


Why Learn English Language?

Many people around the world find that at least a working knowledge of the English language is crucial for communicating with a variety of social and economic contacts. Because English is so widely used, a variety of resources are available to help you as you learn Basic English phrases.

Few people can naturally pick up a second or third language. Usually, English learners have to spend lots of time studying and practicing before they achieve fluency, but most find mastering English a very rewarding experience. Though English often is considered to be one of the hardest languages in the world to learn, a few key strategies can help you learn English well.

English is quickly becoming a global language with speakers in almost every country. Learning English is a valuable life skill for children in school, and can be a lucrative business move for professionals wishing to enter foreign markets. With language learning software becoming widely available and the quality of programs improving every year, it is possible for students of English to learn from their own home, on their own schedule.

English is a commercially and culturally important international language of communication. According to Ethnologue, English is spoken by more than 328 million people in countries around the world. No matter what your reasons for learning English are, there are many resources to help you on your way.

Learning a second language can be a daunting task, particularly if one is limited by time constraints. If you are reading this article now, you obviously already have a basic working knowledge of the English language. Nevertheless, you may know someone who is struggling because they need to speak English in order to get a job, communicate with loved ones or because they have recently moved to a new country.