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