Learning English can be difficult at times. Practicing English with everything we need to learn, including grammar, vocabulary, listening and reading, is a time-consuming activity. But you don't have to go to school to write, speak, read, read, and listen in English only. As with most languages, not only can you learn English in an official educational environment, but you can also learn English in everyday life.
Applying English in everyday life can be tricky at first. While learning English in class tends to be more theoretical and passive, applying it to everyday life requires more active and more experience. It takes time to get used to it, but with enthusiasm, dedication and practice you can speak English fluently in a huge amount of time!
Want to improve your English every day? Check out 5 simple tips below!
Who doesn't use Instagram these days? With the rise of high tech smartphones, many people are using Instagram every day for online content and entertainment. Instagram is often used to share memories through photos, upload some updates about life to Instagram stories, or simply test funny filters. But do you know that you can learn English through Instagram?
Just comment on other people's posts on Instagram. This app is filled with lots of content covering various lifestyle topics, giving you indirectly much to talk to people. What is a better way than interacting with other Instagram users in the comments section?
A common problem faced by language learners is that they understand the meaning of foreign language sentences but do not know how to answer them. Commenting on Instagram posts will help you organize your thoughts in your head and make them complete sentences.
Another reason Instagram can be a useful tool for improving your English is because many users come from all over the world. Unlike American-based forums where English is the main language on Instagram, most users are people who speak English as a second language. They are learning to speak English like you!
Sounds silly at first, but after a few tries you'll be amazed at the results.
Tip # 02: Use Google Calendar
Because you live in a fast-paced society, Google Calendar is an essential tool. Unlike traditional physical planners that need to be taken from anywhere, you can access Gmail from your smartphone anytime, anywhere. Others can invite you to their plans, and then they will automatically sync with your phone. Never worry about forgetting your plans again!
But do you know that you can use Google Calendar to improve your writing skills? We have errands that require you to run errands almost every day. You need to write down all these things, from birthdays to gatherings to Friday night social events.
With Google Calendar, users can plan things ahead of time and create an endless list of errands in English. You do not know it, but by planning your life in English, you are indirectly implementing English in your daily life. I'm basically using the writing skills I've learned about these trivial tasks.
Everything from English to planning, decisions, people to sync plans to Google Calendar, and a time counter to remind them of their plans. If you haven't used Google Calendar yet, all you need is your Gmail account and the Google Calendar app. Now everything is ready!
I can't wait to see what my plan is in Google Calendar!
Tip # 03: talk with yourself
Learning English without learning how to speak it is incomplete. In doing so, we usually interact with people around us. By talking with others, we have the opportunity to quickly understand their answers and learn how to instinctively shape our answers. But do you know that you can also train your English speaking skills by talking to yourself?
Speaking to yourself sounds crazy, but in reality, it is a very common thing that many language learners do to practice speaking skills. Talking with someone can be helpful, but talking to yourself can help you better understand the progress of your English speaking skills without having to reply quickly to the conversation.
Simply sit in front of your bed or mirror, record all the events of the day and talk about what you have done in the last 24 hours. For example: “I woke up today at 6 am and had breakfast at McDonalds and worked straight away. I finished my work at 3 pm so I went to my favorite coffee shop and had an iced latte. After work I went home and watched a great Netflix show. ”
This will take 3-5 minutes. Another hack you can use is to record yourself when speaking. When you have finished talking with yourself, you can listen to the recording and see what you can improve in terms of your ability to speak English.
Are you ready to talk to yourself now?
Tip # 04: read song lyrics
Who doesn't like to listen to music? Most songs on billboard charts, such as pop, R & B, rock and hip hop, are mostly in English. Some songs have simple, eye-catching, repeatable lyrics that come to mind for a long time. However, other songs have very long lyrical paragraphs, which can sometimes be very difficult to listen to.
If you have time and have something to read, read the lyrics of your favorite songs. These tips will help you hone your listening skills. If you can't catch the lyrics for the first time, do not be disappointed. Believe it or not, even people who speak English as their first language are not easy to catch up with the lyrics. Keep listening to your favorite songs while reading the lyrics.
Another reason this tip helps is because it is another innovative tool that enriches your vocabulary. Song lyrics are usually full of colorful words and metaphors. If you don't understand something, you can underline the word and check it later in the dictionary.
Also, most English-based songs have a lot of pop culture references, which can seem very foreign to many people. You can visit websites such as www.genius.com to truly understand the meaning of the song. In addition to learning the lyrics, you can also learn the story behind the lyrics.
Time to shake your favorite song!
Tip # 05: Grocery Shopping List
Everyone goes to the market or grocery store occasionally for shopping every month. Sometimes it might be a quick purchase for dinner to cook this evening. Whatever the reason, you always need a grocery shopping list. Build a grocery shopping list so you don't have to keep track of your purchases and forget one or two items you need to buy.
But do you know that writing a grocery shopping list also helps English? We know clearly about what we buy, but sometimes we might get lost in translation. For example, not everyone understands what "ground beef" is. Those who are currently learning English can think of “ground beef” as a kind of beef that grows on the ground.
Creating a grocery shopping list will help you get used to the everyday things you see around you. Usually we learn these things from English textbooks like vegetable types in English or poultry in English. But in general, you need to forget what you remember and relearn.
This will not only help you get used to the surroundings in English, but also help you learn about certain cultural differences you may not have realized so far. Different cultures have specific English names. Make a grocery list in English and everything will be clear.
Time to go shopping. Do not forget your grocery list!
Let's practice
It may not be easy at first, but it's ok. At first everything was always a bit rusty. But you can speak English fluently through patience and practice. It's not about results, it's about progress. Happy practice for everyone!