Deciding to learn English is a decision you will not regret! English is the global language of the century and learning English will prepare you for a future with great possibilities. Knowing the importance of learning English, many people try to use shortcuts to learn the language. For example, it is tempting to learn English with online programs only. But, as you will see, to become an effective English speaker in a short amount of time, you must do more than stare at a computer screen.
If you want to learn English quickly, the best thing you can do is find fun ways to learn the language. Fortunately, many of the tips and tricks for learning English faster are enjoyable. Let’s take a look.
1. Listen to English Constantly
Begin your English language journey by listening to English constantly. Anytime you have the option to listen to something in English, choose to do so. For instance, listen to the radio in English and watch tv in English. Find English music you enjoy and listen to it regularly. Search for podcasts and YouTube videos in English.
It sounds simple, but there is science to support the power of listening to a foreign language. Scientific American claims, “Hearing a foreign language in the background can help you learn it faster, even if you are not paying attention.” Simply learning the patterns of the sounds from listening to English goes a long way to mastering the language.
2. Take an English Course
Don’t try to sidestep taking an English course thinking you do not need it or you don’t have the time. This is far from the truth. For example, choosing to take English courses in DC will end up being a major return on investment as you will learn how to speak English correctly and fluently. An accredited English class in DC is designed to help students become proficient and pick up the language in less time. This is because language schools in DC, such as inlingua, use proven methods that are the best and fastest ways to learn English, such as a heavy emphasis on speaking English and working with language trainers.
3. Immerse Yourself in the Language
True fluency requires immersion; therefore, you must leave the computer and head into the English-speaking world. The best place to immerse yourself in English? Washington DC. Students who choose to study English in Washington DC are in a leading global city filled with diversity and opportunity. The US Capital offers students a front-row seat to American politics and culture making it easy to immerse yourself in English. Here, you will be surrounded by people speaking English, and you will be encouraged to speak it as well.
4. Practice with a Friend
You can’t just listen without practicing. You need to practice daily. To make it more appealing, practice speaking and writing English with a friend. For instance, while you are at a Washington language school, you can practice speaking English with classmates. You can also use Skype and video apps to practice speaking English with friends in other locations. Additionally, with the popularity of text messaging and emails, you can practice writing by messaging your friends in English.
5. Read Everything in English
Try to read regularly in English until you can read everything in English. This means starting small. You may want to begin by reading children’s books or comic books, but you should move on to reading newspapers and web pages in English. Along these same lines, you should strive to read menus and signage in English. Rather than sticking to flashcards, try labeling items in your home in English, so that you may read and visualize these items daily.
6. Embrace Your Hobbies in English
Again, you should try to have fun when language learning. The more you enjoy learning the language, the faster you will become fluent in English. For this reason, strive to embrace your hobbies in English. If you love movies and television, spend time watching them in English. Turn on the captions so you may listen and read in English. If you enjoy playing video games that allow you to speak to other players, play games in English and speak to other players in English. If you are a sports fan, watch games in English and consider joining an English-speaking sports recreational team.
7. Set Attainable Goals
If you want to learn English quickly, then you need to set clear goals. Goals give you something to work towards. Start with small goals, and as you meet these goals, celebrate your achievements. Then, make new goals. For example, one goal may be to have a conversation in English with a stranger. This is a great goal that is something you can work on, and once you do, you will feel proud of yourself and recognize how far you’ve come in such little time.
8. Focus on Speaking – Not on Grammar
If you truly want to learn English quickly, then you need to focus on speaking rather than grammar. Grammar and vocabulary drills are ineffective (especially if you do not use them along with speaking practice). Most students are learning English so that they can communicate effectively; therefore, it is critical to spend more time speaking English that in the textbook. For example, inlingua students keep their textbooks closed during lessons, so they may focus more on speaking the language than looking up vocabulary words or grammar. While you do need to understand English grammar rules, you should not let it keep you from speaking English.
One Last Thing…
We live in a society where we are constantly trying to speed things up, but language learning is a process. It will not happen overnight, and it will take work. You must be prepared to dedicate time and energy to learning English. It is an investment in your future, so don’t take shortcuts.
