- These days there are many options that allow you to learn English in a virtual setting. Hundreds of mobile applications, original and subtitled films, web applications for learning and improving grammar, spelling and listening – they are all at hand, or rather, in it. You can download dozens of applications, log in to a number of English learning websites but there is no warranty that your language skills will be remarkably enhanced, or that you will really learn anything.
- This article offers some English self-study tips that could make your learning more efficient. The article may be helpful to beginners or those who have made a decision to return to their studies after a long break.
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Why do we learn English?
- It’s essential to define the ultimate goal of any activity, to see what's best for you, and, most importantly, why you need or want it. If you understand why you learn English, your studies will be more efficient and stimulating.
- The most frequent goals are:
- Getting a promotion or changing jobs
- Upgrading English just to be on the safe side before going on holiday abroad
- Passing English exams with flying colors
- Moving abroad.
- If you don't have a goal yet, you’d better define one, so that you can answer an important question: “Why do I learn English?”
- Your goal should be measurable and certain and it may not be easy to define it. For instance, learning English for personal growth is the goal that should be specified. In order to make it more definite, it is important to realize what exactly should be developed. If you work in a multi-ethnic community, your competences should be improved. In this case, your real target is to find English-speaking colleagues from different countries to exchange good practices in order to get a job promotion. Right now it is possible to join LinkedIn for networking.
- If you often fly abroad on holiday, your proper goal should be defined as "having holiday communication free of interpreter and making acquaintances with at least three natives".
- The goal will point you in the right direction in learning English online and will keep you motivated.
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Learning system
- When your goal is set, you should draw up a plan and get around to implementing it. Some downloaded student books and mobile applications may not be enough to make a plan.
- Drawing up a plan is a task for methodologists since they are professional teachers properly qualified to create individual on-line tutorials. If you have no methodologists among your friends, you could try to select proper material on your own. You may not be able to create a learning system, but it is possible to make your online self-learning more efficient.
- 1. Assess your language skills
- It is more than easy to assess the language skills. You should try to assess all four skills: listening, reading, writing and oral skills (speaking).
- 2. Try to select proper study materials
- It is important for your study materials to meet your language skills and help you in your goal achievement.
- . Make a plan for certain lessons
- Try to select a particular lesson topic. For instance, if you are getting ready to travel, your lesson topic may be defined as “Meeting the Hotel Staff”. Try to choose the tasks of different types and difficulty. For example, fill in the sentence gaps first, then compose sentences by yourself, and listen to audio-materials.
Answer an important question: “Why do I learn English?”
- A tutorial can be drawn up by a skilled professional only. Nevertheless, one can try to work out a learning schedule and follow it.
- Choose days and hours dedicated to your online English learning. Try to keep to your schedule and to learn English on a regular basis, preferably daily. The process can be compared to sports: daily gradual study is better than an occasional exhausting study session.
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Practice. Efficient studying
- Each learning activity gets you closer to your goal. The key is not to learn just for the learning's sake. Apply your knowledge right after it has been acquired.
- Linguistic science states that it is necessary to write down, pronounce, hear and read a word or a phrase just to memorize it. So try to use all the facilities at your disposal to practice new words and phrases.
- Sit for your tests, fill in the missing words in sentence gaps, watch original and subtitled films in English, do whatever makes it easier for you to learn new things.
- The right approach to online education would help you to learn English online.
- 1. Define your learning English goal.
- 2. Select proper learning resources and work out a self-learning schedule.
- 3. Put the knowledge you’ve acquired into practice.