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What Are the Best Tips for Studying English?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

The English language can be a difficult one to learn, but a few simple steps can help make the process of studying English much easier. A student should focus on developing vocabulary by attempting to learn several new words every few days. This will help him or her develop better communication skills in the long run. Studying English should be a constant process and be worked on every day. Immersing oneself in the English language can help, too, and by listening to songs sung in English, television programs that speak English, and so on can help a student studying English recognize common words and phrases.

Sentence structure is one of the more difficult concepts for English language learners to grasp. To get better at sentence structure when studying English, a student should first ensure that he or she has developed a strong vocabulary. From there, it is necessary to learn basic grammar rules, such as subject-verb construction. Start by combining basic subjects and verbs, like the following:

--The dog ran.
--Trees grow.
--I walk.

Vocabulary cards can be used for learning English.
Vocabulary cards can be used for learning English.

It helps to know the basic parts of speech when constructing such basic sentences: nouns are names of people, places, things, and ideas; verbs are words that describe action. Knowing these two parts of speech will go a long way toward helping a non-native speaker understand sentence structure when studying English.

More advanced students who are studying English may want to consider an immersion course, in which the student is basically forced to speak, write, and read the language because the class is taught exclusively in English. The student must work exceptionally hard to understand the coursework, though they will also have support in the form of instructors, tutors, and writing centers. An immersion course will also encourage the student to speak English every day, which is essential for proper language development. It will also help the student to develop friendships with other English language learners, as well as native speakers; this will encourage the student to develop conversation skills and practice them regularly.

Practicing verbal English with a native English speaker can help an individual learn English.
Practicing verbal English with a native English speaker can help an individual learn English.

One of the most important tips for studying English is to focus on topics that interest the student. He or she will be more likely to become engaged in the language if the subject matter is interesting to the student. The student should read books, watch movies, listen to songs, and speak to people whom he or she finds interesting or otherwise engaging. This will help the student stay interested in the language and become more enthusiastic about developing English language skills.

Hiring a private Language Arts tutor is another way to receive customized instruction on English topics that suit your interests.

Discussion Comments

Tufenkian925

Learning English online using an online tutor or a friend via skype can also be helpful. I have found livemocha to be a helpful companion for digging into any language and for chatting with friends who speak foreign languages. The best sort of learning is face to face.

JavaGhoul

Learning basic phrases and then progressing to verb forms and irregular forms is probably the best way. As you begin to learn English, it is helpful to go forth with confidence and recognize that there is a lot to learn and consistency is the key. Even for those who would consider themselves "fluent" in English, there are still many proper forms and high vocabulary words which can gain you immediate respect.

BigBloom

Understanding the significant impact that French has had on the English language is also important. Many English words are directly from French and were brought here by the Normans during the invasion of William the Conqueror. This drastically shifted a formerly standard Germanic language into a morphed trade language which has embraced cognates from a great variety of source languages.

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    • Vocabulary cards can be used for learning English.
      By: Gembo
      Vocabulary cards can be used for learning English.
    • Practicing verbal English with a native English speaker can help an individual learn English.
      By: Odua Images
      Practicing verbal English with a native English speaker can help an individual learn English.
    • People who are learning English as a second language (ESL) often enroll in immersion courses.
      By: isuaneye
      People who are learning English as a second language (ESL) often enroll in immersion courses.