It is a known fact that English has become an essential aspect of life and it is an important key factor for your future. English may not be the most spoken language in the world, but it is estimated that the number of people in the world that use it to communicate on a regular basis is 1,500,000,000 people worldwide and another 1,000,000,000 are learning. It has become almost a necessity for people to speak English if they are to enter a global workforce.

English is the official language of international business, politics and science. It also accounts for over 80% of the internet in this new digital age. English is the language of technology, healthcare, aviation, engineering, robotics, power and energy. English Comunicates You With The World. To learn English in the modern world is essential.

Learning English will open your job prospects and increase your standard of living. Learning English will improve your life in the future as you will be surprised by how many people can speak English as their second language. Learning English can change your life.

Some learners may have difficulties speaking. If you follow simple step by step methods that suit you, you can learn effectively and you will have long lasting results. Here are some easy and simple steps which may help you :

  • Regular Practice– There is an English proverb that says practice makes perfect and I must say that I agree totally. The more we practise, the more confident we become and so we speak better. It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes, just go on speaking and use the new words or grammar points that you come across every day, like the ones you see on the posts here. Find a regular speaking partner, meet up for a coke or a coffee and correct your mistakes which you can jot down on a piece of paper or in your notebook.
  • Learn to Think in English– This is a very important step to start practising and I will be posting up more information about this in the coming days. It can really change the speed at which you think and your expression will become a lot more like that of a native speaker if you learn how to break away from your native language. Look around you and as soon as you start having thoughts in your mind, try associating English words and sentences with the images in your mind. Never translate from one language to another.
  • Use English Every Day as Part of Your Routine – If you wish to be really good at English the only way possible is to use it on a regular basis, like some kind of routine. It is not so important if your language seems full of mistakes at the start. We all need to start somewhere, just like young children who speak their mother tongue. Step by step,with regular daily practice, you will get better and better and perfect your language developing natural , long lasting fluency.
  • Listen with Attention– To be a good speaker you must be a good listener too, so listen to other people who speak well and learn from them. Listen to your friends and family members who speak well and copy them, listen to your favourite celebrities and use the words and expressions that they use. Everything can be a source of learning step by step. The more great expressions you hear, the more you can copy and repeat and make these expressions your own.
  • Listen to English songs– Listening to English songs is a fast and fun way of learning new words and expressions. I suggest looking for your favourite songs on You Tube with lyrics so you can follow the subtitles. Listen to the lyrics step by step, go back and repeat them and when you’re ready, listen to the whole song both with or without subtitles. You will be amazed how fast this method can work for you.
  • Watch English Films, Series and Documentaries– Just like listening to songs in English, you can watch whatever interests you and you will be able to pick up new words and expressions. When we do something with interest and passion, we remember things so much more. It doesn’t matter what you watch and even watching with subtitles at the beginning is a good thing until you gain enough confidence to watch without them.
  • Read Magazines or Newspapers– Find articles that interest you based on your centres of interest. Don’t force yourself to read things which you have no interest in. Again, it’s all about passion. If you like the topic, you will retain more words and expressions and the grammar will all fall into place step by step. The more you read, the more the grammar becomes second nature because you see it in use and not only in a grammar book.
  • Put Something Useful in Your Pocket – It is easy to walk around with a handful of flash cards or a mini dictionary. If you have a problem with a word that seems difficult or is new, then you can always refer to a dictionary. Using the translation app on your phone may give you a translation instantly, but it will not usually give you an explanation or synonyms in English to help you understand the meaning for a long time to come. Believe me, instant translations at the press of a button are fine if you need emergency rescue but they do not usually help you to memorise new words for a long time to come.
  • Read Books More– English literature in the form of books and novels is really a great way to go further in the language. Again, read what interests you depending on your centres of interest and page by page, take in the new words and the grammar naturally. Many adapted reader books can be found online so you can find the book you would like to read which is adapted to your level. What is wonderful is that adapted level books for foreign learners use the same new vocabulary and structures over and over again, so by the end of the book, so many more new things will have gone into your mind naturally.
  • Write in English-Write something every day- a sentence, a paragraph, a text message, an essay, anything. Even writing something in the comments box here every day can be useful. It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes- make them , note them down and learn from them. Make a list of your typical mistakes and try to focus on them. Most of my students make mistakes with articles THE or a/an, capital letters, missing am,is,are,be or plural S. Focus on your common mistakes and one by one, try to eliminate them. Reading and writing go hand in hand so the more you read, the more you can copy the structures and avoid written mistakes.  Most importantly, please do not think word for word in your language when you write. It always leads to failure

For more information about Learning English in Malta visit: https://www.unilangeducation.com/about-unilang