To learn English you don't have to enroll in a language course or live in an English-speaking country.
While any added value is welcome, you can learn the language on your own too, with the help of some resources and tips.
The English language is one of the languages with which we have more contact on a daily basis and this can be an advantage when studying English alone.
Even those who say they don't know any English, certainly know at least some words like smartphone, tablet, book, hot dog, podcast, etc.
The All Matter gives 7 tips for you to become a master of the art of learning English on your own.
1. Explore your electronic devices
With the advancement of technology and the daily use of electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, a good option is to change the language of the operating systems to English.
As you may have already internalized the Portuguese words used in each menu, button, etc., you will probably create an association between the commands and thus enrich your vocabulary.
At a certain point, your brain will already be trained to not even think about the vocabulary in Portuguese and with that you will already seek, for example, the option of add new contact when you want to add a new contact and so on.
Enrich your vocabulary:
- Top slang in American and British English
- Colors in English
- Greetings in English
2. Watch series and videos in English
Are you a fan of any television series or do you have that list of movies that are on your favorites list?
How about combining business with pleasure and making use of your preferences to improve your knowledge of the English language?
A great option in this case is to watch videos with English language and subtitles.
By listening to and reading English words simultaneously, you will develop multiple skills at the same time:
- Improve your listening.
- Understand the meanings of words within a context (which is much more useful than learning words in isolation).
- Learn the correct pronunciation of words.
- See spelling of certain words.
- Internalize grammatical structures.
3. listen to songs in english
If you've studied English and been frustrated with English exercises listening with boring, outdated or totally uninteresting audios, don't be discouraged!
By adopting the correct method, learning English can become extremely motivating and enjoyable.
Why not use your favorite songs in English to improve your listening, for example?
In foreign language studies, the listening is the listening skill.
O listening through songs helps you improve not only your understanding of what is said, but also your pronunciation.
You can, for example, play phrase by phrase and try to repeat what you hear. Then, when you are familiar with the words, you can sing along.
If it is true that “whoever sings his evils scares”, his studies will be booming!
4. do not translate word for word
One of the main problems observed in language learners is the habit that practically everyone has to try to translate all content into Portuguese, and worse: word for word.
It is very important to bear in mind that certain structures, tenses and even words do not coexist in both languages.
the noun longing, for example, does not exist in English. To express a similar idea, we use, for example, the verb I'm miss (miss).
Likewise, the tense Present Perfect it has no counterpart in the Portuguese language conjugation.
When we say, for example, I have already been to Ireland, our focus must be to understand the meaning of the sentence, without major concerns with correspondences with the Portuguese language.
Learn lightly and freely. Don't focus on the units, but on the whole.
Surely you won't regret it!
5. Read small texts daily
Don't they say that practice makes perfect? So don't wait any longer!
Start your study plan today and include small daily readings of English texts in it.
What do you gain from these readings? Simple:
- Enriches your vocabulary.
- Internalizes phrasal structures.
- Memorizes spellings in a healthy way.
Read as many times as necessary.
The important thing is that at some point you feel that you can understand the idea of the text and the message it conveys.
If necessary, return to the same text after a few weeks.
Your knowledge of the language will already be a little more advanced and with that, it is likely that your understanding of what is written will be more refined.
Remember: haste is the enemy of perfection!
6. practice the shadowing
O shadowing is a language learning method.
To use the shadowing, you need audio recorded by a native English speaker as well as transcribed recorded content.
This technique primarily consists of listening to the audio accompanying the written text at the same time.
At this stage, it is important to carefully observe not only the pronunciation of the words, but also the intonation used.
In the next phase, you must play the audio and read the text at the same time, speaking along with the original all the recorded content.
O shadowing helps you to develop your listening comprehension and also your pronunciation, both of which are of fundamental importance in communicating in English with other people.
7. don't be afraid of the conversation
Think you don't have enough vocabulary to talk or that your grammar skills aren't enough to inflect verbs correctly?
Do not think like that!
When it comes to conversation, the important thing is to get started.
Don't be afraid and don't be embarrassed by mistakes. They are part of any learning process.
If you know someone who also studies English or even someone who already speaks fluently or is native, take the opportunity to train.
The conversation doesn't have to be long and formal.
A simple dialogue about the weather, the day or the school will be of great use to help you loosen your tongue!
Now that you know the step-by-step instructions for learning English on your own, just roll up your sleeves and get down to business.
Good studies!
If you are studying for an exam, it is worth taking a look at the contents below.
- English language grammar
- English in Enem: how to study
- Songs to learn English
- The most used phrasal verbs in English
- The best podcasts for learning English
- tongue twister in english
