How Non-Native Students Could Improve Their English

According to linguists, it is not so difficult to learn a second language. There are rules to help you in this process. Nowadays, it is very important to speak English. Studies show that there is a group of countries with a very high level of proficiency in this language. These countries are Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Estonia, Denmark, Austria, and Finland. Also, in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia are high levels of foreign language skills. The leader of the rating is Sweden. English is the worst spoken in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. In total, the English proficiency index covers 60 countries. So, how do countries with a higher level of English proficiency manage to maintain such a level? They must know something we don’t.
 

How I Can Improve My English?

When it comes to learning a foreign language, the two most important things are persistence and self-management. It is equally important to see the final goal and move toward it all the time, and to be able to know how to do that productively. It seems like visualizing the final goal is an easy task, it sometimes can be far from the truth, without even mentioning pursuing that goal and increasing the efficiency of your time.

Of course, the end aim for the master of English is to speak without an accent and write without apparent flaws that only a non-native speaker can commit. So, the perfection you should strive for is the Proficiency level of English or C2. At level C2, you know the language just as well as the native speaker does. To prove that you have this level of English, you must pass the CPE test to earn a corresponding certificate. But how can we get C2? You must study to polish your English to the top. Let’s find out what exactly is required to learn to do just that.

Steps to Improve Your English

  • Learn the right words correctly. Learning a new language means learning a lot of new words. In English, 65% of written material includes only 300 words - the most frequently used words. Learning words with flashcards is convenient: on one side is a written question, on the other - the answer. To go even deeper, find the best essay writing service and learn the most used words from their samples in a context. Learning from great practical examples is one of the best ways to learn the language, so there’s no point in missing such an opportunity.

  • Learn related words. Related words are true friends of words from your native language as they have the same meaning. For example, in Romance languages, ​​there are words related to English: action, nation, precipitation, solution, frustration, tradition, and others. So, you can improve your language by learning familiar words with completely incomprehensible ones. Again, you can make use of another helping resource WritingUniverse to see how those words work in a context. Languages and their vocabulary do not exist in a vacuum and always require practical learning as well.

  • Learn remotely in a natural environment. It’s a good idea to communicate with native speakers. At first, it will take time to start talking with others. But after only a few conversations you’ll see the progress. Find a native speaker for conversations if it is possible. Use all available methods, like Zoom, Skype, social networks, or even local speaking clubs.

  • Mnemonics. A word that is often repeated may be carved in your memory. For words and rules that are difficult to remember, for instance, you can use mnemonics. Mnemonics is the art of remembering and implies you to find the most efficient practical way to remember something. For example, make a short funny story that will be associated with new words or learn rules using knuckle mnemonics.

  • From conversational to mastery. Another extremely important thing is to not stop learning. Speak English for at least an hour a day and choose different topics. If you do so, it will be easier to learn and memorize new words in context. Going from B1 to C2 in a short time is quite difficult, but this is your progress that you will be proud of later on.

The Aim

If your goal is to learn several languages, it's best to start with English. Lots of different experts in linguistics agree that it’s one of the easiest languages. On top of that, it’s one of the most used languages in the world. So, it’s perfect for a start. At least until you can speak this language confidently. Even if you learn the language all your life, you still need constant practice. And in this context, the more, the better. The good news is that if you learn to speak a foreign language fluently, this language will stay with you forever.

BIO:

Michael Carr is a fantastic author for learners and true connoisseurs of articles about languages and learning. Finding it easy to explain how, what, and when, he helps lots of people to find their way in this interesting but quite difficult process. Michael’s ultimate goal is to help others learn with pleasure and to make them believe in themselves.

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