A quick look at the PISA rankings would tell you that English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. But a deeper look will show you that learning English is not as difficult as it seems. Here are three reasons why you should believe in your ability to learn English and start speaking the language today.
A lot of people want to learn English and think it’s easy. But is it really? We all know the value of learning a new language, especially if you’re planning on travelling to another country in the near future. If you are looking for an efficient way to learn English, but don’t know where to start, this article will help you.
There are hundreds of languages in the world, but English is still spoken by more than a billion people. It’s easy to see why so many people choose to learn English as a second language. In fact, there are actually more English speakers than Spanish speakers and twice as many as German speakers.
While all the major languages are easy to learn, they can be challenging to master. Most languages have their own unique characteristics that make them seem hard to learn at first. But with a little practice, many people find themselves speaking the language with ease. Here’s a list of some languages that are easier than English to learn. See also, is English hard to learn.
How can I study more effectively for tests and exams?
It is important that you take your exams seriously. We all want to score top marks, but it’s easy for errors to creep into our vocabulary and grammar when we tend not to put a lot of thought on how the exam will pan out beforehand.
The best way forward is by studying every day. Plan what kind of resources (books or audio etc.) you are going use so that they can be easily accessed and thus less time spent procrastinating. Put a note up the wall reminding yourself of everything you have to study that day so it is accessible throughout the day.
Which is better: self-study or a tutor?
Yes, we all underline the importance of self-study. But it is often better to go with a tutor if you simply can’t cope by yourself. Having a mentor will help and guide you through any difficulties when studying on your own which may lead to discouragement or giving up altogether in despair!
So, if you’re missing any of the above or feel like taking English learning for a test ride…
A great place to start is with our Free Online Test and Assessment Packages – perfect for those starting out when there’s little else they can do! You can study English with us.
Which is better: grammar and vocab lists or memorizing random words from a dictionary?
It is all up to you, but it’s important that the words you learn stick with you. I recommend learning a small subset of grammar and vocab, for example using our collection of Grammar Links on this site, or links from other sites (such as WordsToKnow) which we offer here. Setting aside some time each day to memorize new words will only make them stick better in your mind, so keep at it!
A book which has been my best piece of advice is never to read the same book twice. I think reading good books in English may make you a better speaker, and therefore will help your studies as well – but not if it’s something so tedious that you find yourself fact-checking everything with Google Translate again or having flashbacks to passages two weeks prior! You want one word per page at most (more than this means boredom too often) so use our glossary to help you find a good book that suits your reading level.
What’s the best ways to learn English?
1. Go to classes.
This is the fastest way to learn if you want a flash-bulb memory! Convince yourself that a language class will make you better at your target language than ignoring it or just learning on your own.
2. Visit an English-speaking country.
Go on your own or with a local friend (or even better, study abroad – see links below). See countries that speak English.
3. Read your target language material by yourself.
Read only one book at a time and read it back-to-back; really push to get through the entire thing in that extended period of time unless there are sections you’re unable to finish this way, such as when reading technical materials which need frequent referencing for background information.
4. Practice!
Use Duolingo to work on your skills whenever you feel the urge!
5. Listen and repeat what you’ve learned.
This is doable with real conversation, or even just by making yourself a recording in total silence (so no TV or music going) which can easily be listened to again at different times – listen regularly for new words, but also push yourself through larger chunks of language like articles, prepositions and weather/time expressions. There is no ‘best’ way to learn English… the best one for you will depend on your personal learning style and it’s what works best! See also, listening to English is a skill.
6. Don’t take the easy path.
Don’t take the easy path when it comes to learning a language. The hard work is never as daunting than it looks.
7. Interact with native speakers!
Once you’ve got the feel of a language, drop into your local Starbucks or wherever they speak English and start chatting with them; remember even those who don’t look like they’re used to talking much are having conversations all the time… You might get unnerved by their accent but try not to let that slow down any progress you make in learning, the first step for you is to really take in what they’re saying.
All in all, it’s not too hard to learn a language. Learning English is easier than learning most other languages, so the best thing you can do is try your best and make it happen!