As a student, you’re probably always looking out for new and interesting ways to inspire your learning. Once you’re equipped with a handful of options, you can tailor your learning approach to help your progress and aim for outstanding results.
Here, we provide 6 unique ways to learn English – more inspiration that target the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. These ideas should help to relieve any boredom, spike motivation and stimulate progress…
1. Using an iPod to learn English
Do you bring your iPods or mobile phones into our Hello!! ENGLISH SCHOOL lessons? Don’t resent for this – turn it to your advantage! You could use your devices in the classroom or at home to record yourself speaking English, which you can then review. Plus, when you hear your own speech it can help you identify where they could make improvements.
Of course, the capability of an iPod also means that other useful materials, such as audiobooks or an English-speaking movie or series can be downloaded and listened to. A blended learning approach of combining Hello!!ENGLISH SCHOOL lessons with home study can be successful as it means YOU can fit your learning to your lifestyle.
2. The art of English conversation
Why not set aside a specific time each week for a conversation exchange with our Language Assistants from US? It can be on whichever day and time suit you. The key is to give you the majority of control – or at least as much as possible – on the topic of conversation.
3. Using social media… for good
And there are plenty of options for today’s online socialiser, including Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn and Tumblr. There’s no doubt that social media is a global phenomena that touches all countries and languages – so use it to learn English.
Use social media to bring the real world into your learning. The language used on sites like Twitter and Facebook can also be used as examples of Slang words or acronyms. Introducing “GTG” (“got to go”) and “BTW” (“by the way”) is an amusing way to create a relaxed atmosphere and encourage your input in interactions with English-speaking friends and family.
4. Encouraging performance
Group work and role-play have long been used as tactics to learn English, but how about stepping it up a level? This suggestion may be for the braver Hello ENGLISH SCHOOL out there, and it could really engage you.
5. Learning English in virtual worlds
Language learners of all ages are immersing themselves in virtual worlds to learn English.At Hello!!ENGLISH SCHOOL we encourage our students to create an avatar that travels through a virtual world such as Smile and Learn, and they can interact with others and objects. Much of the communication is text-based, although it is also possible to speak with other Avatars.
6. Get to know a celebrity
The tactic of using biographies is particularly useful when learning about the use of verbs when speaking English. Find out which celebrities or sports stars you admire, then use a short biography or write one yourself summarising their life or main achievements. Read the bio with and make sure they understand the differences between past and present: “He starred in his first hit film in 1985, but now he prefers theatre acting as a career.”
