Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Part One: Expanding Knowledge
• Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Using Technology
• Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Extend Your Effort
• Tips
• Warnings

People around the world want to improve their English proficiency, and there can be many reasons for this: business, pleasure, or moving to an English speaking country. In the process of learning, you can often feel that there is no progress, but it is not difficult to overcome this. With a little bit of diligence, you will soon be practically speaking like a native speaker.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Part One: Expanding Knowledge

1. 1 Stick labels on items in the house. Take a pack of stickers and start gluing the items with labels with English names. Even if you already know something, do it anyway. Just thinking about these subjects "first" in English and then in your native language will speed up the learning process. In addition, it is not difficult at all, and you will feel progress very soon.
   • Try to make sure you don't hesitate to think about subjects in English. Sit on the bed and mentally go through all the labels in the house. If you can't remember something, get up and go take a look. Once you've reached that level, label the rest! Complicate the words: from "window" to "window pane", from "couch" to "cushion", from "shirt" "T-shirt") to "cotton blouse" ("cotton blouse"). There is always the next level in English.
2. 2 Write it down in a notebook. In everyday life, you probably come across incompletely understandable English words. Next time, take out your notebook or notebook and write it down. When you come home, check the incomprehensible word in the dictionary. Instead of swearing: "Damn, how was this word on the menu?", You just open the desired page and remember the new word.
   • If the notebook seems old-fashioned to you, use your smartphone. Start taking notes (or whatever app you want to use) for new English words. Go back to the recorded words from time to time and check yourself.
3. 3 Surround yourself with English speaking people. If any of your friends speak great English, spend more time with them! Invite them to dinner and devote yourself to English for a few hours. Find a tutor and work out individually. Take part in a language exchange program where you will teach your language and you will be taught English. Get involved as much as possible!
   • In essence, it all boils down to the fact that for a possible fuller language immersion, you should avoid using your native language as much as possible. Of course, when you come home, you want to relax on the couch and watch a movie in your native language, chat with friends on it, etc. Don't do it! If you really want to improve your English, make time for the language every evening, at least an hour. Watch TV in English, listen to radio in English, let everything be in English if possible.
4. 4 Read children's magazines and books. They are fun, usually with many small articles or simple storylines, and focus on different topics (science, literature, self-development). But more importantly, they are well illustrated. With the help of pictures, you will understand the meaning of many words without resorting to the help of a dictionary.You will be able to read faster and the process will be more enjoyable!
   • As for books, after the first acquaintance with the characters and getting used to the vocabulary used by the author, reading will go easier, you will move forward faster, memorizing new words and phrases. Try Nancy Drew, Animorphs, Sweet Valley Twins or other children's book series available in most libraries.
     • If your level is higher than this, read "all". You can choose something from old or new literature, choose something with a lot of dialogues, it will be easier to read.
5. 5 Determine how you learn. Each of us has our own learning style. Someone learns with their hands, someone with their eyes or ears, someone all together. Maybe your friend, once hearing the verses in English, can repeat them, but you, in order to understand what it is about, you need to see the lines on paper. By identifying how you learn, you can tailor your learning habits to suit your abilities.
   • Better yet, you can stop wasting time on methods that don't work for you. If the teacher speaks and speaks and you can't remember anything, you can start taking notes. If you're reading a book and don't remember anything, try reading it out loud. Any obstacles can be overcome somehow.
6. 6 Learn word roots, prefixes and suffixes. It won't hurt even native speakers! After all, there are so many words in English (about 750,000, according to some methods of counting - much more than in languages ​​with which it would make sense to compare), learning the roots of words, you can make significant progress. Seeing a word and knowing the root, you immediately recognize it and can do without a dictionary.
   • Let's say you come across the sentence "It was an acephalous society." What kind of society was it !? Think for a second. You know that the prefix "a-" means "without": amoral, asexual, asymmetrical... You know that "cephal" means "head": encephalitis, encephalogram... And you know the -ous suffix stands for an adjective: ambitious, delicious, glamorous. And you understand the meaning of this sentence. "It was a society without a head, without a leader." Who needs a dictionary? Certainly not for you.
7. 7 Read newspapers in English. Some newspapers use more complex language, others use simpler ones, so pick something that works. Remember, you can just start with the headlines, and move on to the articles themselves when you gain a little confidence. You can read at your own pace, choosing interesting articles. Well, at least read the comics!
   • If any of your friends are also studying, arrange a discussion. Have everyone bring up an article they like, then discuss everything - in English, of course. You can learn and talk about world events at the same time!
8. 8 Don't be afraid of mistakes. If you did not have teachers who repeated this to you endlessly, then you were probably taught by some kind of robots. Making mistakes is extremely important. If you do not use new, more complex structures and do not make mistakes, then you will not learn how to do it correctly and how not, and you will not be able to properly assimilate the material being studied. I don't want to make mistakes, but without it, nowhere.
   • This is why most people stop progressing and get stuck at the same level. People are afraid to talk to native speakers, afraid to expand the boundaries of the familiar, afraid to grow. Do you think the greats let their mistakes take their toll and stop? No!

Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Using Technology

1. 1 Watch DVD in English. TV and movies are good too, but it's better to have something to watch over and over again. You can really learn the material by constantly discovering something new, then your brain will relax and you can have fun. Ask your friends if they can lend you some English TV series!
   • Thanks to satellite television, British, American and Australian programs and films are available worldwide. Try recording! Try watching with subtitles first, it will help you gain confidence in your abilities, later watch without.The higher your level, the more enjoyable this "study" will be.
2. 2 Listen to the radio. The BBC World Service is a great source of English speaking and they even offer student programs. When doing housework, turn on the radio for the background. Even just hearing English all the time, you passively learn. You don't have to sit down at the table and stare at the radio with a serious look - just listen!
   • Does the radio sound old-fashioned to you? No, this explanation won't work - there's also internet radio, you know? You can find programs on almost any topic, you can listen to classics like NPR and "This American Life".
3. 3 Use the internet. Listen to online radio, watch TV videos, read articles and even play educational games. You can also communicate with people! In addition, there are many pages dedicated to teaching English as a foreign language. Living people, of course, are better, but the Internet can help you a lot.
   • Both the BBC and Wikipedia have versions specifically tailored for English as a second language learners. In addition, dozens of other sites offer work materials, articles, assignments, and stories for all language proficiency levels.
4. 4 Use "correcting" sites. If you're not in class and don't have a native speaker, improving your writing can seem very problematic. How do you know if you are writing correctly? Just! Use sites that correct you. They are often free. Start with sites like Italki and Lang-8. Again, no excuses!
   • It's easy to forget about your writing skills. But by developing your writing skills whenever possible, you can greatly accelerate your progress. Write emails in English, write yourself reminders in English, blog in English. Even if you can't fix mistakes, just make it a habit.
5. 5 Listen to one song a day. Not only is it fun, but you can "learn" new words and master their pronunciation. And new music! Pick one song every day and take it apart and learn it well. Choose a genre to your liking and not too fast songs - it's better not to touch hard rap at this stage! The choice can be made in favor of the Beatles, Elvis, or even musical theater.
   • This can replace listening to the radio. Play the songs you taught and sing along! Who knows, you might go to a karaoke bar next weekend.
6. 6 Buy a training disc. Rosetta Stone can cost a lot, but it's worth it. Some even offer access to a native speaker! There is also Pimsleur and Michel Thomas. They all advocate different ways of learning - which one is best for you?
   • Ask around, maybe someone you know already has these discs. Why pay twice? Something can be found on the internet for sure. Just get creative.

Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Extend Your Effort

1. 1 Practice speaking English every chance you get. Actually. Just take the slightest opportunity. It's easier if you live in an English-speaking country, but if not, you can talk to newcomers. Don't hesitate, don't worry about mistakes - just try it! Just by saying a phrase like "A cup of coffee to go, please," you can tune in to a real conversation!
   • Create opportunities yourself! If you think an English speaking tourist wants to take a photo, offer to help. If you go to a restaurant and they have an English menu, ask. It is these little things that help you to master the language.
2. 2 Listen to your internal clock. We all have our own learning styles, but we also have “optimal times” to learn. Perhaps the lessons in the morning are good, but mentally you are still brushing your teeth and there is no sense in the lesson. Pay attention to what time you are most receptive to new material - try to study during these hours.
   • Most people are particularly susceptible late in the morning and late in the evening, although this is not necessarily the case for everyone.If possible, schedule your English lessons during your most productive hours.
3. 3 Learn IPA. It stands for International Phonetic Alphabet. Yes, it may seem that it is difficult, but it will definitely come in handy for you. You can look up a word in "any" dictionary and know how to pronounce it. You will see the difference between British, American and Australian English. You can also look at "your pronunciation and determine which vowels you" actually "pronounce. It's exciting!
   • ɪts ˈlaɪk ə ˈsiːkrət koʊd! (It’s like a secret code!) Pass the notes to your friends! Remember, each accent is slightly different. If you are faced with a strange pronunciation, please note that this is general American, RP or something else.
     • ˈSɪriəsli, ˈɪts ˈɑːsəm.
4. 4 Write yourself down. You can probably imagine how it should sound, but how does it actually turn out? Probably a little different. Make a record! It will be possible to listen to it and draw attention to the advantages and disadvantages. At first, listening to your own voice is a little difficult (it can be embarrassing), but nothing will pass. And this is the best way to measure your progress!
   • Take time to study pronunciation patterns. English is a mixture of different languages, so there is no one simple and understandable rule, but there are patterns. In verbs of two syllables, the stress is on the second (project), and in adjectives - the first (happy). In general, the third syllable from the end is struck (although this is not always the case): photographer, continuous, national, et cetera. Does your speech reflect this?
5. 5 Diversify your lessons. If you are taking a language class, try adding another teaching method. Group? Try one-to-one lessons. Oral class? Try writing. Are you worried about pronunciation? Try special accent removal classes. By practicing different skills in different environments, you can learn faster.
   • If that's not an option, get creative. Start a study group or meet a friend for one-on-one lessons and dialogues. Find a pen pal or skype. In addition to lessons, there are other (often paid) ways to improve your English.
6. 6 Think outside the box. Sometimes you have to create opportunities yourself. Even if it seems silly and ridiculous at times, it's worth it. Here are some ideas:
   • Call the support team of a company - not to inquire about a product, but just to chat. Ask questions, find out everything about the product. It's free!
   • Have a dinner for tourists! You will offer national food, and in exchange you will have the opportunity to practice English. Many are looking for something new, and these searches often lead to the table.
   • Start a club. You will be surprised how many people are in "the same" situation. You can avoid the cost of courses simply by bringing people together and sharing resources. Meet at the same time and place every week and you will start to gain attention.

Tips

• Try to mentally speak English. Don't just translate from your native language, try to write the correct sentences. Well-learned phrases will come in handy.
• As you memorize new phrases, try the following method: look, say, close, write down, check.
• Try watching videos in English. This will help develop grammar and speaking skills.
• Learn English idioms. There are many strange phrases of unknown origin used in English, just learn what they mean.
• Get a good bilingual dictionary.

Warnings

• American and British English (not to mention Australian) differ greatly in both grammar and vocabulary, although native speakers understand each other quite well. Pay attention to what language you hear or read and try to learn something standard.
• Pronunciation varies greatly both within Britain and around the world.It doesn't matter with what accent you speak - don't get lost if you come across some incomprehensible pronunciation - practice is needed and native speakers also face this problem.