As an English teacher, I have had the question asked many times. So how and what can you do to improve your English listening, reading and speaking skills over time and without any problems or time, it does not take much
These are some tips and my recommendations to improve your English over time.
So………
Listen to English every day. Listen to English radio. Watch English TV. …at least 5 to 10 minutes per day and repeat the words out loud. YouTube, gaming videos and blogs for example and music.
Watch movies that you have already watched in your native language, but this time in English or with English subtitles or captions
Makeup conversations. Practice dialogues with other team members or in projects or with friends and family.
Read English and read the news for only 5 minutes per day !! on computers or gaming, technology and football, any hobbies you like! Reading is quite important to develop your vocabulary and learn new words something for 5 minutes is all you need.
It is also important as reading helps with the development of how we use English grammar in daily activities, in news and at work, you see the way grammar and words are ordered or sequenced in real-time, this helps with overall grammar knowledge subconsciously.
Listen to podcasts every day for 10 minutes on something you like …hobbies or interests !! Read and read about topics you like in English too.
Change your computer settings and phone settings to English. Change any device you use every day, TV and tablet!
Speak and speak in conversation in lessons, this will help you practice. or find a speaking partner online if you can, there are many sites like this today. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, you will learn from those mistakes, we all do !!
This helps with Form=grammar patterns of conversation.
AND
Function=How we use this grammar structure in real conversations
For example =functions are how we use the language, forms, on the other hand, are the language structure and vocabulary and chunks of phrases and expressions that help provide meaning to the function.
Another example is this =For example, “I am happy ” is a function of expressing feeling and, “It’s slow ” is the function of observation. It’s important to learn why we say things just not how to say them this gives meaning and context. I don’t mean grammar, I mean grammar in a context that applies to you, we usually call this spoken grammar or grammar in context, just give that a thought when you are learning grammar or in any speaking situation.
An example from above is to look at situations you may find yourself in and then apply that to your English language learning. For example =What are the words for happy feelings, what would I need to say? How do I express the form of BEING HAPPY !=I could say contented, cheerful, cheery, merry joyful, jovial and delighted.
How do I say the function of being COLD, what are the words for observation =chilly
cool or freezing.
So here now we have the form We can use the word FEEL since in English this is a frequent word that goes with HAPPY and SLOW =I am happy or I feel cold OR It’s slow or It feels slow, now you have a grammatical sentence that makes sense (natural speech ) which has context describing a feeling or observation.
Ask yourself what meaning you would like to convey and then look at the words and phrases needed to say or communicate that message in its proper English grammatical structure!
Read about grammar for only 5 mins. once a week. Pick a topic about grammar and read it. You don’t need to remember grammar you need to practice it in conversation..but it will help you understand WHY ..the conversation practice will help you with HOW.
Moreover, try to learn phrases used every day and expressions. For this reason, I highly advise that you look at Phrasal Verbs, Collocations and Idioms and how they are used in context in everyday conversations. These grammatical categories of English are quite common in all conversations, listening and reading included!
Then ask questions in class ..you don’t need to remember you need to practice to remember.
Lastly, write down words that you do not know on paper and in the English lessons you can ask questions to your English Teacher /Tutor.
Write down words you don’t know and then look them up online. This helps you understand gaps in English that you don’t know, basically words that you learn will help you with more vocabulary.
Cheers,
Linley
Linley Bignoux-English Teacher/ Photographer+Underwater Photographer 