How to Learn English Fast
English is a unique language, one that is spoken by millions of people and used across the world as a common language for people of different backgrounds to understand each other. But, English also comes with many unique challenges, complex grammar featuring many exceptions, vocabulary that constantly borrows from other languages, and a wide variety of idioms that appear non-sensical to a non-native speaker.
Learning English fast is about setting up a daily practice and making the English language part of your daily routine. The sooner you turn English into a regular part of your life, the quicker your brain becomes naturalized and capable of grasping (and retaining) more complex terms. Any of these tools below can be naturally added to your day’s routine, either right when you get up before the day begins, or at the end of the day after work/school is over. Evening dedicating five minutes towards practicing English might seem insignificant, but these five minutes compound, making a lasting impact on your ability to speak, read, and comprehend in English.
Learn Grammar Rules
The first step is all about the fundamentals. Grammar rules will help establish how and why words are spoken. Start with the basics. This will include verb tenses, pronouns, and sentence structure. Along these lines, another great tip for learning English pronunciation and grammar is to practice tongue twisters and follow along with YouTube channels entirely dedicated to English 101.
Once you have a grasp on pronouns, tenses, and structure, you can then assess areas that need improvement, and where you find the most difficulty retaining English.
Read Everyday (and Out Loud!)
Once you have a little bit more of an understanding of English grammar, practicing reading is a fundamental skill to practice in learning English. This can be used in a variety of settings, and regardless of your English proficiency, there is a book out there for your reading level. Books offer you the opportunity to see English grammar being used properly, develop new vocabulary skills, and potentially see real-world applications of idioms or colloquial usage.
You can also develop your speaking skills as well by reading out loud. Taking your time and speaking slowly, savoring and pronouncing every syllable can help prepare your tongue for the way English sounds and should be pronounced. The most optimal would be to read out loud to a native English speaker, as they can help and guide you in how to pronounce a more difficult word or turn of phrase.
Practice Active Listening
Concentrating on the words and how they are pronounced as they come out of an English speaker’s mouth is another great way to help develop your English skills as soon as possible. This can be done in various ways:
- Watching English movies/television shows
- Listening to conversations in the street
- Practicing English with a tutor
- Listening to music
These are just a few of the many accessible ways someone can practice their active listening skills when learning English. During this process of active listening, you also have the opportunity to ask yourself questions about what you do or do not understand, and if certain accents are more difficult to understand than others, or if there are conversational topics where you find yourself understanding less vocabulary than others.
Use Index Cards and Build New Vocabulary
Building up a rich vocabulary will take a long period of time, but at the start of your English language learning journey, it is valuable to take account of new vocabulary words you are learning. This can be done by writing them down on one side of an index card and then writing their meaning on the backside of the card. You can then practice and memorize each word’s meaning and can have a visual understanding of how many new vocabulary words you have learned as your stack of index cards grows over time.
Also, if you want to develop your vocabulary skills in a certain topic (especially if it pertains to your future career or a hobby of yours), you can start practicing ten new vocabulary words with this index card method, and once you master these ten words, you can add ten more words to this stack, and so on.
Language Immersion
This is by far the most crucial point in learning a new language: immersion. Making sure you live and interact with English in a native English city is the best way to get on the path towards becoming fluent in the English language, as you will have no choice but to use (or at the very least, read) English in casual conversations. Everything from getting a cup of coffee to buying a train ticket might require you to have a tiny bit of English, and not only will it require you, it will force you to see where you need to improve your English language skills and where you are strongest.
Is it Possible to Learn English and Get a Degree?
In the United States, most colleges and universities require you to have a certain level of English comprehension in order to study in pursuit of higher education, with a few exceptions that utilize a bilingual education to help you achieve more with the skills you have available. Not only will these courses help you learn the language and academic skills of your interest, but you will also develop the necessary vocabulary associated with a potential future career. Saint Augustine College is one of these schools. Prioritizing “Start in Spanish, End in English” flexible courses that are accessible to a variety of native Spanish speakers who are attempting to have a stronger grasp of the English language, SAC’s mission is to make sure its students have the accessibility and ability to graduate on the path to a rewarding career. Are you ready to master English as a Spanish speaker and get your college degree at the same time? Contact us to learn more.
