The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown means we are living through some very strange times. Many of us have much more free time available during the day due to reduced working hours or simply by having to spend more time at home.
Why not use some of this extra free time to improve your English? Take a look at some suggestions below.
1) Watch television.
Effective listening ensures understanding and it helps to improve your accuracy when speaking. Active listening (paying close attention to not only what is said but also how it is said) is an important skill to learn.
Watching television is a great way to improve active listening.
Watch your favourite film / comedy series / DVD / Netflix series in English. If necessary, watch it with subtitles. Focus on what is being said. Think about intonation, sentence patterns and the vocabulary being used. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand everything – just watch it again!
2) Read books and articles.
It doesn’t really matter what you read, but by reading something in English regularly you will improve your vocabulary and have a better feel for natural English.
If you are a beginner, try reading children’s books or comics. The pictures will help with understanding.
Read magazines, websites, blogs, Wikipedia entries or articles as often as you can. Don’t worry if you can’t understand everything. Just get into the habit of reading in English regularly.
3) Keep a record of new words.
As you watch television or listen to the radio or read in English you’ll come across a lot of new words and phrases. Write them down. By having a list of new vocabulary, you’ll have a visual reference to look back on at a later date.
Try to use the new words in sentences of your own.
Have fun learning English!
Louise