How to learn English

 

How to learn English

Wisdom Guo

 

Preface

In this document, I will introduce you that how I learn English, and recommend some good ways of learning English.

Target Reader

The one who should have something basic knowledge and understanding on English words, phrases and grammar, and who’re keen on English improvement

Note

This is not a perfect document, all the content in this document is just FYI.

Any suggestion is welcome.

Build your own inventory

You should build your own English words, sentences, and articles in document.

I really do this.

For English words, whenever I meet a new word, which I don’t know, I record it down in a document. Overtime, the quantity of the words will be increasing significantly, you will know more words, and you will realize that your English are getting better.

More importantly, you need to keep doing this along with the process of learning.

Please see the appendix #1 for the sample of my new words list.

Same as building the new words list, you can also build your own sentences documents. You can put any sentences you like in that document.

Or like what I am doing now, try to write a document in English and polish it to make it understandable/readable and better. And you should read some English articles whatever online or paper copy.

Come on, you can do this, just try this out, you will find it’s a good way to expand your English vocabulary.

Listening is important

Sometimes, you probably don’t know what to say when meeting a foreign guy. Most of the cases, you didn’t understand what he is talking about.  The key factor is: Listening.

You can improve the listening in the following way:

·         Keep listening online.

·         Watch some foreign movies

·         Listen to some foreign songs.

See the appendix #2: useful website to find the resource for Listening

Remember, there is no short cut for learning English, you must make great effort, and then you r English can be better.

No pains No gains.

Next, after you think you can understand what the speaker is talking about mainly, you can try to write down what the speaker says. This is so-called: dictation.

This is also a good way to improve your English. You can try this.

Review what you learn

Please learn this point by heart, keep this in your mind, you really need to review what you have learned periodically. Otherwise, you will forget them, maybe not all of them, but at least, some of them.

You can open what you have written in your own inventory, which I suggest you to build above, so as to review what you have grasped for now.

Practice makes perfect

Actually, only one word here: Practice

Don’t always say it orally, please do that in action, okay? If you don’t do it, and always complain, then no one helps you to improve, to grow, to be successful.

Be confident

You should believe yourself, you can do it!

When you have some questions or confusions, just ask it out. No one will contempt you if you pose a silly question. However, if you don’t know and then pretend that you know it, you are really getting yourself in embarrassment/troubles.

So don’t shy to ask question. You don’t know, then ask.

Appendix #1 Sample of New words

v  crack down 镇压

o   The riot police started to crack down on them.
防暴警察开始对他们采取镇压行动。

v    by courtesy of  容许，资助

o   He used the computer by courtesy of his teacher.
他的老师允许他用计算机。

o   This programme comes by courtesy of (ie is sponsored or paid for by) a local company.
本节目由本地的一家公司提供（赞助或出资）.

 

v  头皮

o   Her voice makes my scalp creepy.
她的声音令我头皮发麻。

 

Appendix #2: Useful resources

 

Websites:

·         http://www.businessenglishpod.com/

·         http://www.bbc.co.uk

·         http://www.putclub.net/

·         http://www.hjenglish.com/

·         http://www.voanews.com

·         http://www.npr.org/

·         http://www.ted.com/

Movies:

·         Kyle Xy

·         Desperate housewives

·         Friends

·         The pursuit of happiness

·         Prison Break

·         Lost

·         Heroes