English is a very interesting language to learn, whether it's for business, travel or personal reasons. Learning a language requires hard work, commitment and the ability to admit your mistakes, and to learn English correctly, you need all of these. Read on to find out more about learning this language.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Improve Your Spoken English
Step 1. Sign up for an English course or join a language exchange group
Another great way to have additional learning opportunities throughout the week is to take a class or join a group.
- Enrolling in an English course is a great way to focus on the more formal aspects of using the language. The lessons teach the grammatically correct way of speaking, which includes proper sentence structures and conjugation of verbs. Generally, they offer a very structured approach to language learning.
- Joining a language exchange group is a more informal and relaxed way to learn the language. In this context, the emphasis is more on communication and relationship building than on the grammatically correct use of the language. Speaking English in this area can help you become more comfortable when expressing yourself in front of other people.
- Both of these language learning contexts have pros and cons, so try them both if you can.
Step 2. Speak some English every day
The absolute best way to learn any new language is to simply speak it. It doesn't matter if you only know five words in English or are already fluent; speaking the language with another person is the fastest and most effective way to improve.
- Don't put off until you "feel most comfortable" speaking English - you probably won't reach a good level right away, so push yourself to move beyond your comfort zone and start speaking the language right away. The rapid improvement of your language skills will surprise you.
- Look for a native speaker willing to carve out an hour to speak to you in English and do a linguistic tandem. He will speak to you in his language for 30 minutes and you will speak to him in yours for another 30.
- If you live in an English-speaking country, you can practice by starting with simple conversations with the people you meet, whether it's greeting a shop owner or asking a stranger for directions.
Step 3. Work on your pronunciation
Despite having an acceptable understanding of the English language, good grammar skills and a rich vocabulary, native English speakers may have more of a difficulty understanding you if you don't make an effort to improve your pronunciation.
- That's right, clear pronunciation is essential if you really want to improve your language level. Listen carefully to how native speakers pronounce certain words and sounds and do your best to imitate them.
- Pay particular attention to any sounds you are unfamiliar with or that do not exist in Italian. For example, some people find it difficult to pronounce the sound r, because it is different in Italian, while others have problems with certain consonant clusters, such as th for example.
- Remember that the pronunciation of certain English words varies greatly depending on the geographic origin of a native speaker. For example, American English is very different from British English. If you intend to travel or live in an English-speaking country, this must be taken into consideration to learn how to pronounce certain terms.
Step 4. Enrich your vocabulary and use idioms
Speaking the language becomes easier if the vocabulary is large and you know English expressions.
- Again, taking the time to practice language with native English speakers helps you to grasp common words and phrases naturally. However, reading, watching television in a foreign language and listening to the news is also useful.
- Once you've learned a new word or phrase, you should make the effort to use it in a sentence - it's the best way to fix it in memory.
- Another easy way to assimilate new words is to create labels for everyday household items; stick them around the house or apartment. Then, every time you use the kettle or look in the mirror, read the names of the objects in English.
- You should also start dedicating a notebook to idioms often used by native English speakers. Here are some examples: It's raining cats and dogs (it's raining a lot), To be on cloud nine (being in seventh heaven) or This thing is a piece of cake (when you talk about something very easy). Enriching your conversations with these types of expressions will significantly raise your language level.
Step 5. Bring a dictionary with you
Always having an English dictionary available (whether it's a paper volume or an app on your mobile) can be very useful.
- Having a dictionary means never getting bogged down by a word. It can save you a lot of embarrassment when you have a conversation with a native English speaker and you can't think of a word in the middle of a sentence. All you have to do is take a second to search for it!
- In addition to saving you embarrassing moments, searching for a word you need and then immediately using it in a sentence actually helps you to fix the new word in your memory.
- Also, it's helpful to have a dictionary to consult throughout the day, at times when you don't have much to do, such as sitting on a train, waiting to cross the street, or sipping a cup of coffee. You could learn 20-30 extra English words per day using this technique!
- As a beginner, you should start with an English dictionary that gives you the translation or definition into Italian. However, once your language skills have improved, you should move on to using a monolingual, which offers language definitions for English words.
- If you plan to go to a store and don't need to carry a paper dictionary with you, you can always use an app on your smartphone or mobile device to translate.
Part 2 of 3: Improving Writing, Reading and Listening Skills
Step 1. Listen to radio or podcasts in English
One of the most effective ways to improve listening comprehension of the language is to download podcasts or radio applications in English to your mobile phone or MP3 player.
- You should then make a commitment to listen to podcasts or radio shows for at least 30 minutes a day. Do this at the gym, on your way to work or sitting in front of the computer.
- Actually make the effort to understand what is being said, not to hear without really listening. While finding the way to speak too quickly, try to catch key words and phrases to get a general idea of the meaning of the conversation.
- If you can, write down any words or phrases you don't understand and look for the translation later. Next, listen to the podcast or show again to hear the new words or phrases in context.
Step 2. Watch movies and TV shows in English
Another fun way to improve your language comprehension is to watch films and TV shows in English.
- Try to choose movies or TV shows that you like; in this way, the exercise will be less obnoxious. If possible, prefer movies or shows that you are already familiar with, such as children's cartoons or blockbusters. Knowing the history roughly, you will find that the language will be much easier to understand.
- However, you should avoid watching movies or TV shows with Italian subtitles. This would only distract you and make you less inclined to focus on understanding English, and that's basically the purpose of the exercise.
Step 3. Read a book, newspaper or magazine in English
Reading is an essential part of learning a new language, so don't forget to practice.
- Find a book or newspaper that you really care about, whether it's a famous English novel, the New York Times or a fashion magazine, and start working hard to understand it. If you find the content boring, you will be less inclined to persevere to learn.
- Again, make an active effort to fully understand what you are reading, not just flip through the pages. Highlight any words or phrases you don't understand, then look them up in the dictionary.
- If you are alone, you might as well try reading aloud. This allows you to improve listening comprehension while also working on pronunciation.
Step 4. Write a diary in English
In addition to reading and listening comprehension, you should also put effort into working on your language writing skills.
- This may be one of the most difficult aspects of language learning, but it is still important. Writing in English will also help you work on sentence structure, grammar and spelling.
- Try keeping an English diary in which you write a few sentences a day. It doesn't have to be deeply personal; you could talk about the weather, what you ate for dinner, or plans for a certain day.
- If you feel comfortable doing this, ask a native speaker to take a look at what you wrote and correct any mistakes. This helps you avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over.
Step 5. Look for a pen pal who speaks English
Once your written language skills have improved, you may want to consider finding a pen pal who knows the language.
- Having an English-speaking pen pal combines the language exercise of writing with the excitement of receiving a letter or email.
- Your pen pal could be someone who is studying English like you or a native speaker who wants to practice their skills by writing in a foreign language, in your case Italian.
- Having a pen pal from an English-speaking country (for example from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa) also allows you to learn more about the culture and lifestyle that characterizes that part of the world. in particular.
Part 3 of 3: Committing to Learning a New Language
Step 1. Keep motivation high
When learning any new language, it is important to always be motivated and never give up until you reach your goal, which is to become fluent.
- Constantly stick to your language learning goal by reminding yourself that you absolutely want to achieve a good result. Think of all the fantastic experiences and opportunities you will have once you have mastered the English language.
- You will be able to converse with English-speaking people from any corner of the globe and cultivate new and interesting relationships. In addition, you will have the opportunity to discover the culture of the countries where English is spoken (you would not have had the opportunity otherwise) and maybe move up in the workplace thanks to your new language skills.
Step 2. Practice every day
If you want to gain good fluency quickly, you need to make a commitment to practice daily.
- Learning a new language is also a matter of repetition, so if you wait too long between study sessions, you will forget everything you learned previously and will have to start over, wasting precious time.
- In any case, you shouldn't study so hard that you get tired of English. Try to always have a certain interest by dedicating yourself to a different task every day: one day you read, the next you practice listening comprehension, then you practice writing, study grammar, etc.
- In any case, never miss the opportunity to practice spoken English, as this is the most important exercise you can do to gain fluency.
Step 3. Practice thinking in English
If you have good skills, you can take the leap and become even more fluent. To make this transition, you need to train your brain to think directly in English.
- Constantly translating from Italian to English and then re-translating again in your head consumes time and energy. Each language has its own nuances and peculiarities, so it is impossible to accurately translate under certain circumstances.
- As a result, your written and oral English would be much more natural and fluent if you could just train your brain to think in the language. Imagine turning on a switch: when it comes time to communicate in English, you have to "turn on" this language in your brain and "turn off" Italian!
Step 4. Make friends with native English speakers
To assess your fluency with a second language, you have to test yourself in a room full of native speakers to see if you are able to follow the conversation and make a contribution.
- The most effective way to achieve this level of fluency is to make friends with native English speakers and hang out with them in a social setting, such as in a bar.
- This way, you will be forced to speak English to be able to interact with other people, but you won't feel like you are working or studying because you will have so much fun.
Step 5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes
As you learn a new language, the biggest obstacle that can block you is the fear of making a mistake.
- This fear is of no use - it is a simple hindrance that prevents you from achieving the goal you set for yourself and becoming fluent.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes and overcome shyness. Of course, you can't speak a new language perfectly right away. Try to express yourself despite the difficulties.
- Remember that everyone makes mistakes when trying to learn a new language. It is a rite of passage. You will almost certainly have your fair share of weird or awkward moments, and accidentally say something rude or wrong, but that's all part of the game.
- Also remember that you don't aim for perfection when learning to speak English, your goal is to gradually observe progress. Making mistakes is definitely part of the learning process; they will help you get better, so accept them!
Advice
- Learn the phonetic alphabet (pronunciation symbols). This tool helps you to pronounce correctly, and it is necessary to speak in the correct tone. This will make it easier for you to make friends with native English speakers. Learning the pronunciation is not easy for foreigners.
- Dictation is an excellent method for improving listening and spelling skills. Ask a friend to read a few paragraphs from a book or newspaper. Write down what you think you heard. Compare what you wrote with the actual text.
- Learn about the cultures of English-speaking countries.
- Look for a native speaker who, in addition to speaking English, is able to teach it. Learn grammar rules and enrich vocabulary using visual, auditory and oral methods. Change your learning strategies so you don't get bored.
- Learn all tenses and verbal manners in English. A short internet search is enough to find them immediately. It is also important to learn the right agreement between subject and verb. If you mismatch verbs, your language skills will seem careless, because native speakers generally do it well. By marrying properly, however, you will impress native English speakers.
- If you are planning to study English abroad, look for learning programs in the area that interests you. Relocating for some time to improve your language skills is useful for enriching your curriculum and finding native speaker friends. Americans like people who have a proactive attitude. In Britain, however, it is preferable to work hard and modestly.
- Take an English course for foreigners at a language center in your city, such as the CLA.
