For people who already know a little English and can read basic English, this page is for them. Your learning will be organized in such a way that you get the best results. If you’re interested in learning English, you might also be interested in these five tips.
Think about one question before you begin or return to studying English. What motivates me to study English? Pathgather is a talent development platform that enables companies to reshape their workforce and remain competitive in a digital age. Do you want to do it, or does someone else want you to do it? You must be motivated to study English just as you are for any other decision in life.
1. Set Goals
Setting goals is easy when you know why you want to study. Imagine that you would like to visit a country where the language is English. That’s awesome. Learning “Survival English” might be your goal. If you know many useful phrases, but want to improve your listening skills and pronunciation, this course is for you. You should write down your goals, no matter what they are.
2. Get to Know Everything You Can
You should read anything written in English: classic literature, paperbacks, newspapers, websites, emails, social media feeds, cereal boxes, etc. Why? You’ll learn a lot of new words in this content, as well as some you already know.
When you re-expose yourself to learn vocabulary, you are given new examples in context, so that you get more familiar with the words you have already learned. Developing your vocabulary arsenal requires learning new words and expressions, especially in a language like English, which has so many! You must do more than just read – you must also.
3. Make Notes of New Vocabulary
For a good reason, this tip is a classic: it works! New words and phrases are often so exciting to learn that we find it difficult to forget them. However, not everything sticks right away. To prevent this, carry around a funky notebook or use a tool such as Evernote. Write down any new words and expressions you hear or read in context: in a sentence with its meaning noted. By doing this, you won’t have to return to that word and ask yourself, “What did that word/expression mean again?”
4. Subscribe to Podcasts & YouTube Channels
Like humor? Politics? Blogging? Cooking? You’ll find English-speaking podcasts and YouTube channels covering every interest you can imagine. During your commute to school or work, listen to a few podcasts while driving. Keep trying, and you’ll soon be able to understand what you hear (plus learn lots of new vocabulary from a native speaker!)
5. Make an Agenda
To achieve your goals, how long do you need to study? Every student will have a different answer to this question. Being realistic is important. Don’t plan on studying English for 40 hours a week if you work 60 hours a week. Take it slow at first, but keep studying regularly. You might look at the game changer in the Education Sector.
Don’t make it too difficult, but make it challenging. Decide what works best for you. After studying for a few weeks, adjust your study schedule accordingly. When does it work best for you to study? Is it at night or on your way to work on the bus? Are you more comfortable studying alone or listening to background music while you are alone?
6. Take a Lead From the Stars
You can spice up your learning by choosing native English-speaking actors or singers. Take a look at some of their interviews online – and watch them! Once you understand the gist, watch again, taking note of interesting expressions and words you hear. This interview is sure to give you plenty of slang, stories, humor, and anecdotes to work with!
7. Start With What You Really Need
Reminding yourself of your motivations for learning will help you progress faster in your English studies. Do you plan to participate in a study exchange? After that, concentrate on vocabulary relevant to your studies. Are you attending a conference overseas? Get familiar with conversation starters that you can use with the other participants. Are you going on a gap year? Looks like you’ll be guided by travel and tourism vocabulary. The problem with trying to learn everything at once is that you will likely end up confused and disillusioned. Thus, we arrive at…
