How To Improve Your English

By Andrew

If you have had problems learning languages in the past, you’re not alone! There is no magic solution or special language learning gene that you are missing out on, but heed our advice about how to improve your English and we are sure you’ll be {the cat’s pyjamas}* in no time!

*{idiom alert!}

the cat’s pyjamas = the best / fantastic

How to Improve Your English Tip 1:

Be Curious

So curiosity killed the cat, they say… nonsense!

To learn a language you must be curious, it’s essential. When reading or watching something in English, don’t ignore new words, look them up and find out what they mean.

Furthermore, in everyday life ask yourself “what is this in English?” English is full of strange, exciting words like “kerfuffle” or “hullabaloo”. Don’t know what they mean? Well, make a start, be curious and look them up!

How to Improve Your English Tip 2:

Be Creative

Learning English is a commitment and between work and family life it can be hard to find the time. So get creative! Find new ways to incorporate English into your daily life.

Change the language on your phone, write notes for your family in English, speak to yourself, going shopping? Write the list in English! These are all little things, but they help to keep you in contact with English everyday and as the English say, “look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves” which is related to money, but you get the idea!

How to Improve Your English Tip 3:

Be Courageous

Be courageous! You’re a lion! Well, maybe you’re not a lion, but you are a human being and so are the English, so speak to them whenever possible! Don’t be shy, embarrassed or afraid, try to speak to people in English, it’s fun, it can be funny and it’s always much much more rewarding than standing around in silence. So throw off your inhibitions, unleash your inner lion, and roar! (in English)

How to Improve Your English Tip 4:

Be Consistent

It is often said that consistency is the key to success and in the case of learning a language it is oh so true. Language learning is not the most difficult thing in the world, but it does require time, commitment and consistency and that is most people’s problem. Just like the gym, if you go {once in a blue moon}*, don’t expect to wake up one day looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, small efforts made everyday will soon turn you into a linguistic addonis!

As Aristotle said, “we are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit”

*{idiom alert!}

once in a blue moon = hardly ever / very rarely

How to Improve Your English Tip 5:

Be Patient

Patience is not the act of waiting, but what you do while you are waiting, it is the companion of wisdom and it is essential to learning English!

Set yourself small, achievable short term goals. For example, this week I’m going to learn 10 new words, today I’m going to read and translate a short article, or I’m going to listen to English music everyday for a month. Don’t look at one enormous final goal, but lots of little, regular, achievable ones to boost your confidence and stave off language learning impatience!

Watch the iconic 1998 Guinness advert below and remember…

“Good things come to those who wait!”