English for beginners: How To Learn English
It is no secret that learning to speak English is no easy task. Owing to a lack of conformation in grammatical structures, punctuation fluctuation, and spelling inconsistencies, beginners to the language can often struggle to get to grips with the basics. Though it does become more intuitive the more you commit, addressing those preliminary roadblocks is essential to support progress.
This guide is for people just starting out and details some fun and easy ways to throw yourself into learning the language.
How to Learn to Speak in English
It is common knowledge that immersion is a guaranteed method of learning any language. Moving to and living in the destination country is not always an option, but there are other things to try. These ideas are all suitable ways for how to learn to speak in English.
Watch TV
You heard correctly! Watching English-speaking television programs or films enables the learner to hear a constant stream of conversation and dialogue. Intonation is a key part of any language learning, alongside pronunciation, and vocabulary acquisition. Try taking learning further by turning on the subtitles and reading along as you listen. This is a good way of practising saying English words in real-time while copying native or fluent pronunciation.
Listen to Radio
Unlike the television, radio is less distracting. It can be switched on in the background and play a station as you go about daily activities. Similar to radio are podcasts, and as you know these come in all manner of topics to explore. Radio enables subconscious absorption of language.
Go to England
If you can afford a holiday, when you’re learning the language is the perfect time to go. Seeing the language written down everywhere, hearing people speak all around you, and having to navigate social situations in English are all excellent methods of language acquisition. Plus, practising your speech with natives never hurts!
Make a Notebook
Start with groups of words, for example, animals. Write down the word, and even try to make a little doodle, and repeat it a few times. Refer back to your animals' page as and when you want a refresher. This can be repeated in any category or any format.
Try English for Beginners
English lessons for beginners yield better learning outcomes. It provides an opportunity to converse, which is an integral part of language learning. Alongside this, there are more formal learning procedures that can be beneficial such as learning for exam content. Having the guidance of a seasoned professional pushes learners forward and it is always beneficial to have someone there to correct, nurture, and support the whole experience.
This method can scaffold all the other things you do to acquire English speaking skills. It offers a structured schedule with a clear focus, which in turn enables a better ability to hone in on specific areas of speech. Lastly, you can track your progress more easily in this setting, which is a guaranteed way to highlight areas of weakness and adjust accordingly.
Learn How to Speak English with a Journal
There is value in reading English literature, especially children’s stories in the early days, but there is also value in writing your own thoughts down in English too. A journal is a useful tool for recording problems, brainstorming solutions, creating groups of words to go back to, and for practising a better flow with your written skills.
Learn English for Beginners with a Pen Pal
There are plenty of ways to research English speakers wanting to learn another language. These dedicated platforms allow for an exchange of skills and mutually beneficial communication. Find a pen pal to chat with and you will see immediate results in your language improvement. If you find social interaction awkward or hard to access, try the following tips.
- Agree on a weekly topic of discussion. For example, hobbies or the weather in each respective country.
- Ask a set number of questions per interaction. Questions are useful tools for initiating a wider discussion.
- You don’t have to overshare; it can be a purely transactional process for educational purposes.
English Lessons for Beginners Using a Phrase Book and a Dictionary
A phrase book and dictionary are essential tools for any language learner. These are points of reference for colloquialisms and general etymology. Lots of online dictionaries exist and provide extensive definitions and even synonyms too.
How to Learn in English Using Labels
Our final point is a visual learning tool. Create labels for everything in your environment, physical pieces of paper or sticky notes that attach to objects around the home. This is a reminder every time you use that object of the word in English and gets the brain used to the connotation references.
Learning English, just like any language, is a lot of fun if you find creative ways that work for your personal style of learning.
Join our beginner course, which is due to start on Monday 2nd September. To book your place contact ABC School now at info@abcschool.co.uk