Even in countries where English is not the main language, it is important to learn it for several reasons.
First, many English speakers travel to other countries and may not speak the local language, so they need to communicate with people who do speak English. Second, many people want to learn English because they hope to visit or even live in an English-speaking country someday.
However, learning to speak English in a non-English-speaking country can be quite difficult. While those who learn English in English-speaking countries have many resources at their disposal, such as ordinary people, television, radio, discussion groups, and libraries full of books written in English, residents of countries with another language don’t have that luxury. That’s why it’s important to explore other options.
Here are the 10 best ways for someone who wants to speak English to learn it in their own country:
1. The internet is your best friend
It is full of resources, reading materials, videos, sound recordings and much more that can help you learn the meaning of the words you read and speak.
2. Videos
Check your local video store and see if they have any movies in English. There might be some. Don’t worry about the title. You’re watching it so you can pause and replay it to focus on your English speaking skills.
You can also use internet streaming services like Netflix or YouTube, searching for videos in English with English subtitles.
3. Record yourself when you speak English
Once you’ve finished recording, play it back and listen to how it sounds. If it’s not clear, you can simply try again. This is a great way to see how others hear you.
4. Read books in English
Go to your favorite library and choose books written in English. Try reading them. Just keep an eye on the level of difficulty and even practice writing down some of the sentences you find in the books.
5. Find music in English and listen to it.
Decipher the words and even try to sing. This can be a lot of fun. If you want, you can record yourself doing this and really enjoy yourself.
6. Try to surround yourself with as many English-language materials as possible.
Not just books, movies, and CDs, but magazines and any product you can find in a store that has English text. Some major brands serve many countries and have multiple languages printed on their packaging.
7. Practice with a friend
This friend may not know English, but they’ll be impressed with your skills. You could even try teaching them what you’ve learned, because you’ll be less likely to forget it if you repeat the information to someone else.
8. The dictionary, always at hand
If you hear a word and don’t know its meaning, write it down and look it up, either in your dictionary, encyclopedia, or online. In your research, you’ll discover many more English words to ponder.
9. Keep a diary in English
The things you write can be as simple as what day it is and what the weather is like outside. The important thing is to practice writing and thinking in English.
10. Take an English course
The most important thing for learning English is to consider an online ESL course. These online courses help you learn at your own pace and provide you with materials that will have you speaking English in no time.
All the other steps can be used to complement your courses and help you master the language. As you can see, there are many things you can do, but ESL courses will certainly prove to be the gateway that takes you where you need to be.
EBC's Courses Index
Choose the EBC course that best meets your requirements
Exam Prepartion Courses
English classes with a teacher
Online English Courses
Teacher Training Courses
