Learning the English language can be difficult at times, but extremely rewarding. You must be committed to learning and create habits that help you on your learning journey. Everyone has their way of learning but following even a basic system and habit-forming structure can help.
The team at ATC recommend these 7 habits for highly effective English learning.
- Have a plan for recording vocabulary
Many people are far more likely to remember something when you write it down. If you hear a new word or phrase write it down on a notepad or save it on your phone.
Try out sticky-notes, a book, word cards, tables, and mind maps, to see which works for you.
You should keep track of the words’ various spellings, parts of speech, applications and pronunciation. Organising vocabulary by topic is another excellent idea because language lessons frequently have a specific theme (such as family, music, or shopping).
Don’t worry if you haven’t started, now is the right time. But don’t go crazy, plan on collecting 5 or 10 new words a week. Learn and understand these and then begin collecting more.
- Make it meaningful
Make sure you have a reason for why you are learning, or have a reason to remember specific subjects.
Are you focusing on making friends, improving career prospects, to show friends and family? Whatever the reason, minor or major, remember it when things get a little difficult. It will keep you motivated and help you learn.
Another great way to make it relevant is to associate English with your favourite hobby or past-time and focus on using English here. Whatever your hobbies are, try to engage them in English. Whether you enjoy art, travel, sports, fashion, or music, once you start discovering it in a new language you have an entirely new reason to continue studying.
You can find English websites, magazines and groups who are interested in your hobbies. Knowing why you are learning will always help you while you are learning.
- Watch movies and series with English subtitles
Watching movies and television shows in English is an excellent way to improve your proficiency. When you watch movies, you are exposed to a broad range of vocabulary and accents, and you can hear the kinds of real English words and expressions that are used in everyday conversations.
Have a look at a few of our movie recommendations. Find your favourite actor or genre and enjoy the experience. Use subtitles at the start, but as you become more confident, move away from subtitles.
Check our selection of films to watch – 7 Fun Movies to Learn English With.
Pro tip: As you watch the movies, write down new words, and practice using them in sentences. If a character asks a question, pause the film, and think about how you would answer the question, then press play. Did you guess right? Ask yourself how the character’s answer was different from yours and why.
- Subscribe to Podcasts, listen to the radio and watch YouTube channels that interest You
You should immerse yourself in English; watch and listen to as much English as you can, and it’s important to make sure they are ones that you’re interested in.
Make it a habit to watch YouTube videos in the English Language, and tune into English podcasts, radio programs and music. There are countless options to listen to English because it is a truly global language.
Tip: A great place to start is with the ‘BBC Sounds’ app. It is an excellent resource for podcasts, radio stations, and music.
- Talk to people
This habit can prove to be the most challenging but it’s a great way to build your confidence in speaking English. The great thing about speaking practice is that it can be done virtually anywhere. It’s okay if you can’t meet in person for physical conversations. Join a discussion forum online and start a conversation there.
There are plenty of language exchange opportunities in Dublin and Bray to practice English. Ask your teacher, join Facebook groups or check out the ATC notice board.
Learning truly comes from practice so it’s important to get real-world interactions when you can.
- Ask questions
Always feel free to ask questions. When you ask questions, you will build your knowledge of English.
If you don’t understand a word someone says, or you’re confused about a sentence, don’t be embarrassed to ask for some clarification.
Also, if you ask a question in class, a classmate is probably relieved you did because they were too nervous to. Speaking up will benefit not only you but others as well.
- Embrace your mistakes
Don’t obsess over your mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes when learning, it’s all about practice.
Risk-taking and making mistakes are necessary parts of learning a language. You must learn to feel at ease with making mistakes. The learning process can be chaotic, but you can form strong habits to help you.
Conclusion:
Find the method that works best for you on your language learning journey. It may change over time but use at least one or two of these habits throughout the week and we’re sure you will begin understanding a lot more and a lot faster than you expect.
If you want to practice in person, why not contact us about our courses?
You can find the options here – ATC English Courses in Ireland.