http://www.world-english.org/how_to_learn_english.htm
How To Learn English!
Here are some tips which may help you to master the English Language!
Speak without Fear
The biggest problem most people face in learning a new language is their own fear.They worry that they won’t say things correctly or that they will look stupid so they don’t talk at all.Don’t do this.The fastest way to learn anything is to do it – again and again until you get it right.Like anything, learning English requires practice.Don’t let a little fear stop you from getting what you want.
My comments: Ken (王慶剛) and Diego (邱元亨) are two students who always practiced speaking English with me whenever they came to my office. Ken liked to use in our conversation whatever he'd just learned. Diego talked with me about various subjects, such as fashion, cars, car racing, entrepreneurs, etc. Through practice, their oral English got better and better. After they went to college, Ken still practiced speaking English with some of his schoolmates he met on campus. Diego told me that in Freshman English class, he was one of the few who raised their hand and responded. Another student Cloe (戴文淇), who I found at our first encounter speaking English very fluently, had already started to practice speaking English by speaking to herself in English. While waiting for the bus, she would describe in English what she saw. On the bus, she would translate into Chinese what she overheard.
Use all of your Resources
Even if you study English at a language school it doesn’t mean you can’t learn outside of class.Using as many different sources, methods and tools as possible, will allow you to learn faster.There are many different ways you can improve your English, so don’t limit yourself to only one or two.The internet is a fantastic resource for virtually anything, but for the language learner it's perfect.
My comments: Students nowadays are lucky. They have easy access to so many learning resources. A good friend's husband finsihed a Yale literature course online!
Surround Yourself with English
The absolute best way to learn English is to surround yourself with it. Take notes in English, put English books around your room, listen to English language radio broadcasts, watch English news, movies and television.Speak English with your friends whenever you can. The more English material that you have around you, the faster you will learn and the more likely it is that you will begin “thinking in English.”
My comments: When you swim in the sea of English, you will surely get wet. I remember a success story I read in a book on Learning English 如何學好英文. In the story the protagonist mentioned that as soon as he got home from work, he always turned on the radio in each room, which had already been tuned to ICRT. Simply put, he created for himself an English environment.
Listen to Native Speakers as Much as Possible
There are some good English teachers that have had to learn English as a second language before they could teach it.However, there are several reasons why many of the best schools prefer to hire native English speakers. One of the reasons is that native speakers have a natural flow to their speech that students of English should try to imitate.The closer ESL / EFL students can get to this rhythm or flow, the more convincing and comfortable they will become.
My comments: To sound like a native speaker of English, we need a good example to imitate. However the idea of "Englishes" suggests there can be different varieties of Englishes, depending on where the learners are.
Watch English Films and Television
This is not only a fun way to learn but it is also very effective.By watching English films (especially those with English subtitles) you can expand your vocabulary and hear the flow of speech from the actors.If you listen to the news you can also hear different accents.
My comments: An NTU professor of the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department told me that he would have a pen and a notebook with him to take notes with whenever he watched English movies on TV. An NTNU professor of the English Department said he used to watch a movie twice and for the second time he would close his eyes and just listen.
Listen to English Music
Music can be a very effective method of learning English.In fact, it is often used as a way of improving comprehension.The best way to learn though, is to get the lyrics (words) to the songs you are listening to and try to read them as the artist sings. There are several good internet sites where one can find the words for most songs. This way you can practice your listening and reading at the same time.And if you like to sing, fine.
My comments: This is one of my favorite activities to do in class. A former student I taught at Jieshow Junior High School once wrote in email that he couldn't remember anything he had learned in junior high except the English songs I taught. As far as I am concerned, although I've forgotten 99.9% of the French I learned in university, I still remember the song "Ah! Vous dirai-je maman" learned then. The power of music!
Study As Often As Possible!
Only by studying things like grammar and vocabulary and doing exercises, can you really improve your knowledge of any language.
My comments: Grammar and vocabulary are the basics.
Do Exercises and Take Tests
Many people think that exercises and tests aren't much fun.However, by completing exercises and taking tests you can really improve your English. One of the best reasons for doing lots of exercises and tests is that they give you a benchmark to compare your future results with.Often, it is by comparing your score on a test you took yesterday with one you took a month or six months ago that you realize just how much you have learned.If you never test yourself, you will never know how much you are progressing. Start now by doing some of the many exercises and tests on this site, and return in a few days to see what you've learned. Keep doing this and you really will make some progress with English.
My comments: Through exercises and tests, we know how much we've learned and which parts we need to spend more time on.
Record Yourself
Nobody likes to hear their own voice on tape but like tests, it is good to compare your tapes from time to time.You may be so impressed with the progress you are making that you may not mind the sound of your voice as much.
My comments: Haha! Aren't you happy when you hear yourself speak English?
Listen to English
By this, we mean, speak on the phone orlisten to radio broadcasts, audiobooks or CDs in English. This is different than watching the television or films because you can’t see the person that is speaking to you.Many learners of English say that speaking on the phone is one of the most difficult things that they do and the only way to improve is to practice.
Finally
Have fun!
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