Anyone that has tried to learn a new language will know just how hard it can sometimes be while going through this process and still trying to live your normal daily life. Learning English is no different in this respect but is a challenge that is not only becoming more popular but actually one that millions of people are finding necessary to allow them to achieve their own personal goals.
One of the main reasons that people choose to learn English is to broaden their career prospects but there are other benefits to this endeavor that are sometimes overlooked. The vast majority of the world’s most popular films and musical compilations are written, spoken and sung in the English language. The opportunity to fully understand the lyrics of popular songs and enjoy movies (without having to rely on subtitles) in the way that the director intended is a real bonus to leaning this fascinating and extremely versatile language.
Then we have the travel benefits, the English language is not only the global language of business but it is also rapidly becoming accepted as the global language for tourism; business owners that are able to effectively speak English will find it far easier to communicate with their guests, customers or clients and individuals that speak the language will inevitably find traveling to other countries much easier and far more fulfilling.
One of the very best ways to learn any language is to actually live in a country where the language is spoken for the duration of your studies; this has many benefits but it is not the only way. There are many excellent English Language Schools to be found all across the globe and this combined with online courses and tutoring makes learning any language something you can achieve without having to disrupt your normal everyday life.
Many people find that the hardest thing about learning a new language is time, especially if they are working or looking after children on a daily basis; fitting your studies around either of these tasks can be very difficult indeed. In this article we have provided you with some useful hints and tips to make your English language learning as easy and as enjoyable as possible while continuing to successfully deal with your other everyday responsibilities.
Once you have decided how you will go about learning English, whether it be daytime or evening classes studying abroad or at home in an English Language School, online or any other way that you have chosen you will firstly have to plan your studies to allow you to maximise your learning while living and working etc.
Statistics prove that studying for 15 to 20 minutes every evening outside of lesson / course time will greatly benefit your language learning efforts, anymore and you risk becoming bored, frustrated and actually forgetting most of the new things that you have learned. A very good personal studying system to set up is to study for 15 to 20 minutes every day or evening during the week – Monday to Friday and then revise your work for a few hours on Saturday leaving Sunday free to socialize or for any other things that you want or need to do.
It is also widely recognised that learning languages with others is extremely beneficial and fun; it is a very good idea to form as many new friendships with other people who are learning English as you can and study, socialize and practice with them as much as you can. When learning any new language in an unfamiliar country where the language that you are learning is commonly spoken do not be afraid to get yourself out into the community and meet new people. You will have to do this anyway in order to survive and by being proactive in your socializing you will inevitably meet new native English speaking friends who will be able to help you with your language learning and give you good local advice on the best places to visit for any of the things that you want or need to do. It is a common misconception that “foreign” people do not welcome strangers, once you give this initially alien socializing and interaction a try you will be amazed at how eager the locals are to help and correct you in the use of the English language. It is also worth saying that in the early days of your language learning you will be amazed at how far you can get with sign language (pointing etc.,) facial expressions and gestures – this form of communication can lead to some very humorous outcomes and we all know that laughter is one of the very best ways of making friends.
Utilise the internet, films and books to practice listening to and reading the language. Re-reading your favourite books and re-watching your favourite films in English is a very good way to practice in your spare time. You will already be familiar with the content / story line and this will make it much easier for you to understand the content while you practice.
You would think that writing the English language becomes easier as your reading skills improve but this is not always the case without practice. I have personally met many highly intelligent people who can read the English language almost perfectly but struggle when it comes to writing simply because of the fact that they only ever need to read the language and very rarely need to write. Practice reading and then writing ten new words every day, correct any errors and move on to the next. This will allow you to focus on your common mistakes and correct them before they become a habit – it is far easier to make sure that you have it right before moving on than to correct a mistake that has become a long term habit / almost automatic.
Last but most definitely not least comes the tutor and your expectations of them with regards to the help and advice you should receive while learning the language. If you are enrolled in any reputable English language course whether online or in a school / college your tutors will be more than happy for you to ask questions regarding any aspect of your language learning so do not be afraid to ask. Many people think that they are being a nuisance if they ask too many questions and fail to understand that the tutor will only see this as a positive sign that their student is interested and wants to learn.
It must be said that before you enrol in any English Language School, College or course you must first check to see if they are fully accredited within their country and supply recognised certificates / qualifications after the students’ successful completion of the course.
Paul Knight – I work with St Giles English Language School to provide helpful, informative content for the benefit of others.
St Giles is a fully accredited language school offering a wide choice of English language courses in the UK, USA and Canada to perfectly meet your personal needs, whatever your age, level or interests.
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