
If you are already studying English but you want to progress quicker, there’s a lot you can do:
- Watch films in English. And remember, never put the subtitles in your language. If you put the subtitles in your language, you’ll pay more attention to the subtitles than to the English audio. You should put both the audio and the subtitles in English.
- Read books in English. And here’s a tip… Never read children’s books. This is a common mistake. Children’s books are written for children who have English as their first language. They may have a simple plot, but their vocabulary is not simple. Did you know that the English language has a specific verb for the way animals walk? It is “waddle”. Imagine you are reading a child’s book and read “the duck waddled away”. You would probably reach for your dictionary and look up the word “waddle”. However, it is such a specific word that you’ll probably never need it. Instead, I recommend books that have been adapted for readers who have English as their second language. My favourite range of books are Penguin Readers (ELT Graded Reader). They come in different levels and even have a vocabulary list at the back. They are available on Amazon.uk
- Look for YouTube channels about your hobbies and follow them. Like that, learning English will be fun and meaningful.
- Put your telephone and computer into English. You’ll be surprised how many words you learn. I learnt “turn on” and “turn off” when I switched my laptop into Spanish.
- Download apps such as Tándem o Italki and practise English with people all over the world.
- And lastly, never use a translator. Translation technology simply isn’t advanced enough. You can look up individual words in a dictionary but don’t translate entire sentences. It is also important to choose an official dictionary. There are three: Cambridge, Oxford y Merriam Webster.
The good news is that English is literally everywhere. You’re not going to have any problems finding magazines or interesting blogs in English, for example.
There is no one simple way to learn English but it’s always advisable to:
- start with basic grammar.
- be brave and not worry about making mistakes.
- immerse yourself in the language.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
0 responses on "I Need To Improve My English Fast"