To improve English in a short time, you need to find time to study on a regular basis and interact with the language more often.
Most adults experience difficulties because of this, as their free time is spent on family, work, social obligations. Missed lessons or learning activities slow down progress, which can negatively affect motivation. The choice of self-study in English will allow you to develop the necessary skills in ascending order, without creating unnecessary stress for the body.
3 Reasons to Homeschool
- Time. You can save 30-60 minutes on the way to and from the language school every day. This time will then be invested in self-study.
- Accessibility. All you need is your fingertips. It is possible to create your own resource base, based on online and paper sources. You can also hire a teacher for online lessons at any time.
- Convenience. Relax in your own home and use passive learning methods like listening to music or watching a TV series. Self-study has proven to be an excellent tool for quickly mastering fluent English.
Create a personal lesson plan
The main advantage of self-study is complete control over the study of English. You do not need to take care of the students sitting next to you. This freedom provides a chance to learn using materials and methods that are in the interest of quality training. Follow these guidelines to create the perfect learning environment at home:
- Put on comfortable clothes and settle into a cozy corner without worrying about possible setbacks. It can be a table near the window, an easy chair or a sofa.
- Create a study schedule to track progress and set aside time for regular study each week. It is important to think about achievable, clear goals and realistic deadlines.
- Start by reviewing the learning materials already available. Identify which ones might be useful and put them in a separate “English Corner”.
Now think about what you are missing in the new library. It is useful to have in the collection such digital and paper materials:
- A good grammar reference.
- The Basic English Textbook
- A selection of reading materials (books, magazines, newspaper articles, etc.)
- Russian-English dictionary and dictionary from English to English.
- Reference books for phrasal verbs, idioms, and advanced grammar.
- Online resources: music, videos, series, podcasts, social media groups.
Learn real English through movies and videos
How many hours a week do you spend in front of a screen of gadgets at home? Could part of the time spent be used to watch films, programs, video clips in English? This is a great way to increase your contact with the language, as well as help you better understand British and American cultures. Use these tips to improve your English with movies and video resources:
- Watch movies with original audio and English subtitles. You should start with well-known films that you have watched many times. A well-known plot will allow you to concentrate 100% on understanding the language.
- Watch English news broadcasts. This will be difficult at first, because the hosts talk quite quickly. However, daily practice for 10-15 minutes will increase your public speaking vocabulary and improve your listening skills.
- Leave the TV with an English channel always on. TV programs will help you understand British and American English as it is used in today’s world. Watch programs on a variety of topics and pay attention to accents and slang. Soap operas and series are especially helpful in understanding communication between native speakers.
- Find interesting channels and vlogs on Youtube. Short videos are easier to watch than long TV shows and movies. So this format is best for beginners.
Read more often
A personal library of English-language literature at home is a huge advantage. However, one should be selective in choosing materials to include in the collection. Boring texts, literature, and magazines can hurt your motivation to study. Remember, this is your library and only you can choose its collection.
- Grammar references. To learn English correctly, you need to spend time on the grammar rules of the language. Choose well-known directories with good recommendations.
- English textbooks. The use of textbooks will allow you to structure self-study.
- Become a bookworm. Many learners ignore the importance of reading. This is a serious mistake, because reading simple stories and novels in English really improves understanding of the meaning of words, grammar, culture. Try to find quality literature for the library. If you can’t get printed books, try downloading them online.
- Read more online. Do it from your phone, tablet, computer. Decide which type of English texts is more suitable and choose interesting topics. These can be websites of fashion magazines, news agencies, entertainment resources.
Improve your listening skills with audio materials
Fluency in foreign speech often comes through the ability to listen. The development of listening skills helps to understand foreign speech, expand vocabulary and learn grammatical structures. Often you learn more just by listening than by talking. Here are some tips:
- Listen to your favorite songs. Read texts, translate them and learn new words and slang expressions. Sing like karaoke and improve your pronunciation.
- Radio broadcasts. Listening to the radio may seem old-fashioned, but it’s a useful way to practice your English. The genre you’ll need is called “talk radio”. Explore the websites of radio stations and find topics that interest you.
- Upload some podcasts. Podcasts offer a similar experience as talking on the radio, but are sometimes created specifically for language learners. It’s a good idea to create your own audio library on your favorite topics. You can listen to one recording for your preferred period of time to better understand speech patterns and constructions.
- Discover the world of audiobooks. If you find it difficult to read ordinary books in English, then audiobooks are a good option. A good solution would be to read and listen to a book at the same time.
Constantly innovate
Language must be present in life every day.
- Put paper stickers around the house. Most perceive visual information better. Buy a pack of multi-colored stickers and paste over interior items with English names written on pieces of paper. At an advanced level, memorize complex grammatical constructions and speech turns in this way.
- Use mobile apps. The best apps are focused on increasing vocabulary. Some have a pronunciation enhancement feature.
- Test yourself. A major hurdle during homeschooling is the uncertainty of outcomes. New words are quickly forgotten without regular use. It is impossible to properly evaluate your own progress without constantly testing your own skills. Try to reinforce new topics by passing tests and completing assignments. Come up with small rewards after successfully completing the challenge.
- Teaching friend. Get a friend to learn English together to add an element of competition. This will spur self-esteem, as well as diversify the process of learning a foreign language.
Improve your spoken English at home
A new difficulty of self-study lies in the limited ability to speak English. You cannot improve your speaking skills without interacting with people.
- Try Skype lessons with an English-speaking partner. It’s like working with a personal trainer who will help you progress correctly, correct your mistakes and motivate you to new achievements. The Internet can provide a wide range of opportunities at affordable prices.
- Get a tutor. For lovers of the traditional approach, a hired teacher is suitable. When possible, it is a good idea to hire a native speaker rather than a simple school teacher. The price will increase, but so will the confidence in the end result of the whole enterprise.
- Connect with native speakers on social media. Start by looking for language learning groups, do a detailed analysis and check out their offerings before joining. You should engage in conversational practices in the form of an open dialogue. Users can arrange meetings through online resources. Keep in mind that most will be simple learners, like you, but this way of learning is completely free, and the return on regular communication will please you.
- Find like-minded people. You can get acquainted with native speakers on the basis of joint hobbies. If you like online computer games, then get a headset with a microphone so that you can practice spoken language with an English-speaking interlocutor. Try to play more games that emphasize team missions, they require more discussion of tactics between players.
- Invite tourists. If there is a spare room in the house, consider renting it out to a foreign tourist who speaks English. Exchange events are often organized between schools and universities. You can apply as a host family.
- Talk to the reflection. In the absence of assistants, practice speaking on your own. Speak English tongue twisters, read aloud, sing your favorite songs to your reflection in the mirror. This will help overcome insecurities and alleviate beginners’ discomfort due to fear of their own pronunciation.
Improve your writing skills
Along with reading, speaking, listening, spelling skills should not be forgotten. This skill will come in handy in the future. In today’s world, many communication processes in English take place through the writing of official letters, emails, reports, text messages, etc. A few recommendations:
- Get a pen pal. The advice sounds like advice from the nineties, but thousands of people around the world use specialized sites to find a pen pal. Create an account and record and find a person according to your preferred age group, interests, outlook on life. Send out an invitation email and wait for a response from your new friend.
- Keep a personal diary in English. If your communication skills are not so developed, it is not necessary to share thoughts with outsiders. The daily practice of recording interesting and memorable events can seriously improve skills.
- Join online forums. This format of communication has almost been supplanted by social networks, but some forums are still very attractive. You can practice writing for free, you will receive corrections of the mistakes made by members of the forum who speak English. The most important thing is to choose a suitable resource where you will not be bored to communicate with local users. Thematic forums are best suited, there will always be people who want to help a person with similar interests.
Stay motivated
Lack of motivation can be a serious problem on the way to mastering English language skills. That’s why it’s important to stick to a clear plan, involve others (tutor, friends, family) in your learning, and measure your own progress. You can keep your motivation levels high by:
- Plan to take an exam and earn a language proficiency certificate. This recommendation is not for everyone, but the idea behind the simple exam is a very clear goal. Some students choose this test because they want to achieve a visible result. This helps to focus on classes and schedule.
- Plan a holiday in England. Get yourself motivated with your upcoming trip to the UK. Even if the vacation will be short, it is still worth seriously preparing. Plan an itinerary, read about cities and sights, learn about cultural events.
- Reward your own progress. After reaching a goal or overcoming a difficult topic, always please yourself with a well-deserved reward. This approach will make you feel that you are making real progress and are not standing in one place.
