“Do you speak English?” “Yes, I do.”
All English learners will remember these sentences from elementary textbooks, which either marked the beginning of the amazing world of English language and culture or remained just typical sentences from a core program.
Today, proficiency in English has become a valuable asset that opens doors to enhanced career possibilities, professional progress, and knowledge sharing. There are three main purposes for learning English: learning it as the first or native language; learning it as a foreign language; and learning it as a second language. The last two are often confused, but there is a solid difference. Language learning for non-native speakers is not just about communication; it is a pathway to one’s growth. In this article, we’ll speak about mastering English as a second language (ESL) and explore helpful tips to make the most of our language-learning journey.
Tip #1 Identify Your Goals
First of all, let’s understand what our objective in learning English is. Is it for academic purposes, career advancement, travel, or personal development? People learn English as a second language (ESL) for communication in a country where English is the primary language. Certainly, there are communities where you can speak your native language, but relying on and using it as a survival tool in an English-speaking society is senseless. That is why ESL learners focus on vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. In addition, learning another language improves creativity and memory and promotes cultural awareness and empathy.
Tip #2 Build Your Vocabulary
Everything starts from vocabulary (well, actually from the alphabet but, let’s assume, you have already mastered those 26 letters). Learning new words must become an everyday habit. To build your vocabulary, you need to read in English as much as possible and keep a notebook (a digital or a real one) to write down every new word. Even if you can guess the meaning of an unknown word through the context, you’d better put it down, find synonyms and expressions, and form sentences. You might say this is boring and will discourage you from reading. However, you can write the words down and look them up later. Read not only science fiction but also get a stylistic understanding of native-speaker materials by looking through newspapers or magazines. By broadening your vocabulary, these sources will keep you up-to-date with current affairs. In addition to reading, expand your profession-related vocabulary. You will improve your competence as a specialist by checking the most common terms or expressions in your field of study. Flashcards, language apps for ESL learners, podcasts, and videos with subtitles are complex approaches to practicing new words regularly.
Tip #3 Master Grammar
Grammar skills are essential for effective communication. Plus, you will sound more natural when speaking English. The basic tip for understanding grammar rules is to remember that the word order in English is very important. Study this carefully because, with the wrong word order, your sentence may entirely change its meaning. English grammar is tough with its 12 tenses, irregular verbs, and sentence structure. However, the variety of ESL programs offered by advanced online course providers like, for example, Coursera or Udemy allows learners to master the basics of grammar from the comfort of their homes.
Tip #4 Listen Actively
Let me share another tip from my own experience. When I was taking private English classes with my incredible teacher at her place, I remember diving into an English-speaking environment. She was turning on all the possible gadgets (TV, radio, audio recorder, etc.) to make my ears get used to English speech. These passive listening activities make your brain work, facilitating the ability to form your sentences properly. Even if you don’t understand most of what is said, listening to foreign speech improves one’s pronunciation and sense of language. Train your ears by listening to English podcasts, and radio programs, or watching movies and TV shows in English. Focus on understanding accents, intonation, and idiomatic expressions commonly used in conversations. By the way, you should try an amazing tool by Saima that will adapt the speed of any video material to your listening pace. This time-saving video speed assistant helps non-native speakers focus and improve comprehension.
Tip #5 Practice Speaking
Back in my childhood, when I was totally engrossed in learning English, I faced a major problem at a certain stage. With my rich vocabulary and grammar skills, it seemed like nothing could disrupt my ability to communicate easily. However, the problem lay in my fear of making mistakes. The majority of ESL learners are shy about being mocked for making mistakes. Attending the advanced English courses appeared to be the best solution for me to get rid of my complexes. When you are part of a cohort-based learning course where every participant has more or less identical language skills and the only language allowed for interaction is English, you forget about shyness. You focus on communicating, doing your best to make others understand, and ultimately speaking however you can. So don't be shy - practice speaking English whenever you can. Engage in conversations with native speakers, participate in language clubs or online forums, and repeat phrases aloud to improve pronunciation and fluency. It’ll pay off!
Tip #6 Read Extensively
As I mentioned earlier, reading is one of the best ways to improve vocabulary and language skills. Reading is an important cultural skill, even in the age of the Internet. It involves a set of signals in one’s brain, changes one’s mind, and, according to some studies, even helps to prevent Alzheimer’s. For an ESL student, reading improves communication, exposes you to different writing styles, and helps you get a sense of the language’s structure. Read everything, ranging from simple texts to more complicated materials like newspapers, books, or articles, in the scope of your interests. The more you read, the better you express yourself. Reading aloud facilitates pronunciation and the feel of the language.
Tip #7 Find a Study Buddy
Learning a foreign language on one’s own or with a teacher is a common practice but what about trying to take a learning journey with a partner? In modern terminology, such a partner is called a study buddy - this is the one who can bring more joy and productivity to exploring the language learning secrets. A study buddy can be someone among your friends, a peer from a language exchange program, or someone seeking to navigate the learning process with a person having identical language skills and interests. It is so motivating to have a partner who will share knowledge, give feedback, take part in joint quizzes, and so on.
Tip #8 Use Online Resources
Multiple online resources tailored for ESL learners are available, together with relevant textbooks and paper materials available at educational institutions and libraries. Most of the information available online is updated regularly. Nowadays, students can take advantage of YouTube channels that come up with grammar lessons, vocabulary exercises, and various interactive activities to practice English skills at their own pace. Some online schools or individual educators have their pages on social networks representing short yet inclusive video lessons or tips on grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation. It is helpful to watch the so-called digital field trips around an English-speaking country to explore the culture and train language skills simultaneously. Pedagogists, psychologists, and scientists worldwide have maintained special tools and platforms ranging from websites to mobile apps. You can find information about the top 10 best language-learning apps and choose the one that suits you the best.
Tip #9 Get Feedback
Feedback is crucial in any learning activity. Due to feedback, you acknowledge one’s strengths and weaknesses, fill in education gaps, and, of course, get motivation to achieve more. Feedback can be immediate or come with a delay. It is an essential component of any collaborative learning process where learners get feedback from teachers, language partners, classmates, or online communities. The concept of giving feedback demonstrates one’s interest in and care for the success of peers or students, thus making the participants feel involved, and boosting their confidence in using English effectively.
Tip #10 Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes
No learning process takes place without mistakes, so don’t get frustrated - no one is perfect. You’d rather take making mistakes as an opportunity to grow and refine your language skills. Often, our mistakes and people's reactions to them can be discouraging, but good language learners always have the willpower to learn from their mistakes and keep practicing until they reach the top of their English level. If you need clarification, don’t be shy to ask specialists or native speakers; they will be happy to assist. Besides, it will be another good chance to practice your speaking skills.
Conclusion
Mastering English as a second language opens up a world of opportunities, from personal development to professional growth. Remember, if you feel that studying English is hard and overwhelming, the learning path will most likely be tedious. This will lead to a lack of motivation and, eventually, failure. Language learning and mastering it are challenging, but they can also be enjoyable. Try to find ways to fill your classes with entertainment, interactive activities, and games, everything that makes you happy will work. Listen to music and watch movies in English, think in English outside the classroom; practice real-life situations like shopping or ordering a meal, and read and communicate as much as possible. Investing in ESL programs is not just about language mastering; it's an investment in personal and professional development.