How to Improve Your English

Tips to improve English

Both spoken and written English are integral skills for complete command over the language. Here we give you some important and sure-shot tips that will help you improve both your spoken and written English.

Watch movies with English subtitles:

Not just English movies, but any language – even your mother tongue! In my personal experience, while watching a movie with subtitles on, we occasionally – if not always – keep checking the subtitles – even though we hear and understand what is being said. And if you do this consciously, you can definitely learn the language faster because you know the words and the meanings too! Watching English movies with English subtitles will help you understand the accent and tone of speech and also help improve vocabulary and grammar.

Read, read, read:

This is very common advice that everyone will give you. And it is apt too. Not just English textbooks, but any fiction, sci-fi, novels, non-fiction, newspaper, magazines etc. Online or offline, you can grab the opportunity to read. Even posters, pamphlets, handouts, brochures etc. that are available in shops, clinics and other public places are good opportunities to keep practicing.

Learn new words everyday:

This greatly improves vocabulary. Find out and underline new words while reading a book or newspaper and note the meaning of those words along with the sentences in a notebook. Try to use the words in similar types of sentences.

Ask questions, converse in English:

While communicating with peers, friends and even customer care executives, try to explain your problem in English. If you are stuck, use Google Translate as the last resort, so that you remember the right words next time.

Make your own mini dictionary of new words and sentences:

Note the new sentences, phrasal verbs, idioms, etc. that you encounter while reading and make your own dictionary of words.

Create simple poems using rhyming words:

Try to make simple poems using rhyming words, for example, taught-bought, kind-mind, etc. Search for more rhyming words using the web or thesaurus to create more meaningful poems.

Translate texts from another language and get it checked by an expert:

It can be anything – even text from elementary school books. If it is in a known language other than English, translate the same in your own words. This will greatly help in improving grammar.

Watch English news:

Try to follow English news. Initially, focus on the lip movements of the person reading the news. Eventually, you will start understanding their words as you get accustomed to their accent.

Diary:

Make a diary entry everyday – it can be personal or you can share your general thoughts in it for everyone to see. This way, you can improve every day. As you try to gather your thoughts, you will be able to express yourself using better words and get a good command over the language.

Don’t stress over it:

This is very important. Make sure you make your learning journey enjoyable! Get help wherever you are stuck. Don’t hesitate  to ask for help and most importantly, never think that someone will make fun of you! Your learning journey is unique and you have to carve it without worrying about what someone else thinks or says. Don't let anyone come between you and your goals!

There are many other things you can do if you are learning as a group, such as dictation, exchanging newly learnt words, solving simple word puzzles, writing essays, arranging extempore and speeches, reading story books and doing book reviews together and so on.

Hope you find these tips useful – let us know which one you are going to follow first!