Englishtips
http://englishtips.org/forum/index.php?topic=1374.msg7024#msg7024
you can use audio books or audio courses which you can find via SEARCH
or you check other places like BBC on the internet (or even on your local radio maybe) to listen to
English audio.
don't worry, you will not understand much at the beginning, but you will get used to the melody of the
language.
visit our ENGLISH LOUNGE with a huge number of lyrics and links to the audio files, added by users
(and also by you soon?)
copy, download, listen - and have fun while listening to the audio and watching the text for example!
don't be ashamed even to sing for yourself
another great method is watching films in English with English subtitles, so you can see, hear and read at
the same time
visit our VIDEO SECTION in this forum for that
also check LEARNING VIDEOS on the main page with interesting contributions
start with something easy: children books, magazines, audio books etc. (just read always the descriptions
for details)
don't waste time with boring texts, read something you like, there is enough available for everybody here
try to understand the whole text of a chapter rather than looking up every single word in the dictionary
read it again a bit later and make a small word list after every text and create your own small dictionary
this way
ask yourself several questions while reading and make notes
remember things like: Who is it about? What happened? Why did it happen? Where did it take place?
When did it take place?
check out our section DAILY ENGLISH LESSON on the main page with new texts and audio every day!
start a diary for yourself, write short sentences on what you have done or seen.
the grammar is not that important in the beginning, free-writing is important too.
find and write to chat friends on Englishtips, check out free chat sites on the internet
you can even try to find a (paid) online tutor or simply ask a classmate to open an ICQ account and write
to him daily.
but you don't need a nonstop internet for improving your writing skills, you can use normal texts on paper
or on your computer
try to remember words you hear while watching subtitled films and write them down first
after the film has ended, watch it again and check if you have written all the words correctly
write your emails in English (maybe your friends can correct some mistakes in their reply)
learn grammar rules, be careful with words that sound similar or sound the same but have different
meaning
check our ENGLISH LOUNGE - there are plenty of games, exercises and grammar hints, also for
beginners!
you are also invited to participate there any time and whenever you are in the mood for it, we would like
to see your ideas!
install / switch on your grammar checker in your web browser (small and free add-ons for Mozilla/Firefox
for example)
talk to yourself and talk about everything you see, know, do
record your own voice on a tape recorder or on your pc
download an audio file, listen to it and read it out loud (or again, record it)
repeat what you hear in audio files - and compare your pronunciation with the original, repeat that
don't get frustrated if your pronunciation is not exactly the same, it will become better soon - remember:
learning takes time...
check our MEETING POINT in the forum and contact other users, you can use SKYPE for practicing
your speaking abilities
Some helpful thoughts for you:
take your time and don't get upset or angry if things are not working immediately
learning languages needs time, don't set yourself under pressure
practise regularly, better some minutes daily than once a week only
make your LESSON PLAN, a personal plan to organize your learning
Study with a system, find your rhythm and material you like
stick to fixed times: if you have decided to study daily 15 minutes after lunch, do it!
don't leave your private "lessons" out only because you are tired, lazy, in a bad mood or whatever
mix activities: a bit of reading, do some listening, write some things and repeat it.
repeat as often as you can: learn during the day, repeat some hours later and the next day again
switch off everything what could disturb you (phone, email, TV, radio - unless needed for learning of
course)
connect different activities: listen to a story and tell a friend about it the following day, watch a movie and
write about it later, etc
check our ENGLISH LOUNGE regularly and read useful answer in all section (grammar, exams,
methods, discussion etc).
don't be shy and feel free to participate and to write there too, many other users have exactly the same
problem!
