Strategies for learning English

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Core Vocabulary (word lists)

Self-study Strategies for Learning English

Stay in touch with English. Keep connected.

Divide up your time between the following strategies.

1. Listen to anything.

If you can’t go to the USA, bring the USA to you.
Use Subtitles, sometimes.
NO subtitles, sometimes.
Sometimes: Listen, don’t think. Focus only on the “sound” of English.

2. Read/Listen/Watch children’s books or shows

There is no such thing as children English.
We use the same English when we are adults.
This will help fill in the gaps in your English.
Suggestion: Start with “Curious George.”

3. Read aloud. Speak aloud

Just read anything aloud. Record yourself.
Read a short story or article and say it in your own words WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE TEXT.
Use Video or audio and mimic the people who are talking.

4. Learn vocabulary in context.

Do not use Chinese.
Study the example sentence from the dictionary.
In your vocabulary notebook or on flashcards, make example sentences that give an obvious hint of the meaning of the word.

Example new words – violent, diabolical, generous

WRONG:

Mark is a violent man.

Mark is a diabolical man.

Mark is a generous man.

RIGHT:

The violent man often beats his wife and children. The

The diabolical man likes to put cats in fires and watch them burn. The

The generous man likes to give food and money to the poor.

5. Spaced Repetition -- keeping what you learn

Research shows that a word must be repeated 7 to 12 times, spaced out over time, before it stays in the brain.

Here are some strategies for spaced repetition:

Flash Cards
Review, Review, Review. Keep and review books/articles and videos that you've used before.
Read Extensively: Read as much as possible. Don’t use the dictionary for every word you don’t know, just some few words. The rest, just guess. The most common words will repeat themselves. Read Leveled Readers: Such as Oxford Bookworms, Oxford Progressive

6. Read Read Read

Read graded readers such as: Oxford Bookworms, Oxford Progressive Readers, or Penguin Readers.
Start at a level you are comfortable with.
Read Topics of Interest. People often forget how powerful it is to simply read about things they are interested in. Important words will repeat themselves.

7. Rewrite an article

or short story or a small paragraph using "simpler" English.

Memorize and recite the story aloud or with a learning partner.

There's ALWAYS a simpler or easier way to say something in English.

8. Start an English learning club

Get a learning partner or create/join a small group of three or four people who are interested in learning English.

You can all study the same article/story, or each person can do a different article/story.

Recite the aritcle to the group, and then answer any questions from the group about the story's meaning or vocabulary.