Home Blog Categories English learning tips 9 mistakes students make when they want to improve their English

9 mistakes students make when they want to improve their English

Contents

Most people who want to learn English have wondered how to improve their English skills at one point or another. However, whether you are new to learning the language or have been studying it for a few years, taking it to the next level often seems appallingly tricky.

Regarding the modern learning theories, when students achieve a phase when their perception of learning fuses stagnates, we say they have reached a plateau. This is a prevalent feature in all of us and is related to the learning curve. To avoid these sensations that you are not improving, you must continue to learn and be patient with yourself.

Specifically, mastering the ins and outs of English does take a lot of work, and frankly, most students don't know where to start.

If you feel a little overwhelmed in your efforts to improve your English, discover the crucial mistakes to avoid as you learn to master the language. By having a good understanding of English, you could be expressing yourself like a native English speaker in no time.

1. You force yourself to work fun tutorial

First and foremost, stop learning English as an obligation. Remember, this is meant to be a pleasant walk, not a nightmare. You can quickly turn your learning into a stimulating and entertaining challenge. Sounds more interesting than wasting long hours on complicated grammatical concepts and verbal conjugations, doesn't it?

Find what excites you and make English part of your everyday life. Stop stressing by wanting to speak fluent English, instead try to improve your speaking fluency. The sooner you stop pressuring yourself, the faster you will learn the language.

2. Textbooks are your main learning tools

You are ready to learn English more enjoyably. So, it's time for you to throw your old English textbooks in the trash. Of course, books and grammar lessons are helpful, but if your goal is to improve your speaking skills in English quickly, nothing is better than to immerse yourself in the real English-speaking world.

Many students find that the English they learn in class have little in common with native speakers. Moreover, the way of expressing oneself is very different from one native speaker to another. In addition, the use of English slang words and specific accents make the task even more delicate.

Why not learn English the right way from the start, using books, music, and magazines that native speakers love? So, if you spend enough time on these different media, you will learn the English language rules on your own. Then, over time, you will begin to familiarize yourself with specific speaking methods, and you will feel more comfortable expressing yourself.

Please don't throw away all your textbooks, but don't make them the priority of your studies. You would be surprised how well you manage to learn on your own.

3. You never speak English out loud

Many students wonder how to improve their speaking skills in English when they ultimately never speak English aloud. Of course, there are many ways to learn English, reading newspapers, watching Hollywood movies. But remember one thing, you have to speak if you want to become an English speaker.

If you spend your time listening to others express themselves, you will never progress outside your comfort zone. Get out of this rut ​​by making an effort to speak English regularly.

Make friends with who you can chat online or search for native speakers in your city. You can even try having English conversations with yourself. Sure, it might seem a little silly to you at first, but sometimes you have to know how to empower yourself to be successful.

4. Fear is holding you back

Many students want to progress in their studies, but they do not want others to judge their speaking level. The only way to get out of this situation is to face it. Practice speaking English and don't worry about what others think of you.

Better yet, ask the other person to correct you when you make mistakes. You might find it a bit overwhelming at first, but you'll progress quickly. Indeed, by chatting with a native speaker, the latter will better explain to you where and why you are blocked.

5. You don't develop your vocabulary

An Englishman knows about 20,000 vocabulary words on average, so you don't have to memorize the entire dictionary. However, if you don't build your vocabulary regularly, your words will seem somewhat dull and unnatural.

Learning new vocabulary words is probably the easiest way to improve speaking skills in English. Besides, it's straightforward. All you have to do is browse a book or watch a few music videos online - you're bound to discover words you didn't know before.

Of course, you will have to make an effort to remember the words encountered. So what are you waiting for if you aren't already using our English Phonetics platform tools to learn new words through listening and writing exercises?

6. Immersion is not part of your daily life

Learning a foreign language can be a delicate exercise. Are you concerned by these recurring problems that students face?

Millions of language students have understood the importance of personal immersion. Because of this, if you are faced with an environment where people speak another language, your brain will work faster to decipher what is going on around you.

Many students choose an English-speaking country to immerse themselves in learning the language thoroughly. If you have the opportunity to do so, it's fantastic! However, immersing yourself in a foreign country is not the only way to improve your English skills and make progress.

Indeed, no matter where you live, you can regularly listen to English for your language learning. For example, listen to the radio or the news in English while preparing dinner. Listen to a podcast on your commute to school or work.

You don't have to devote 100% of your brain to deciphering complicated sentences. Instead, you need to focus on extracting the things you understand and leaving the rest behind.

This technique is beneficial if the native speakers' speed seems too fast for your level of comprehension. Of course, immersion also helps you deepen your understanding of the language as you become more familiar with the different accents and ways of expressing yourself.

7. You try to move too fast

There is no shame in being a beginner in English. After all, you have to start somewhere.

Unfortunately, many language students find themselves struggling when they have not yet mastered the basics of English. Of course, you probably want to become a genius of English literature someday, but right now, there is no point in trying to do it by studying one of Shakespeare's greatest works.

This would only frustrate you and make you feel like you can never become bilingual. Instead, you need to hone your English skills by tackling practical challenges.

Be honest with yourself about your current speaking level and focus on ways to improve, step by step. First, make your learning English conversation a success. Then, focus on improving your vocabulary and exploring new English turns of phrase.

8. You are focused on the translation

Translation nightmares aren't just for language learners; Take a look at the challenges the translators of the Harry Potter series had to overcome to make it a worldwide success.

When you start learning a language, it is pretty normal to translate new ideas into your native language. However, you will not be able to improve your speaking skills in English if you still want to translate into both languages.

Each language offers something unique and intriguing to learners, and English is no exception. Many phrases, sentences, and ideas that you know in your preferred language may not exist in English. If you are constantly trying to translate to find English equivalents, you will quickly develop into a feeling of frustration.

It's hard to imagine that a foreign language has completely different turns of phrase from ours, but this is one of the joys of learning. Just do your best to understand how things are structured. If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't be afraid to take a break. Remember, your brain is a muscle like any other. Resting from time to time is not laziness but a simple way to bounce back better afterward.

9. You're afraid of mixing everything up

What do you do when you study English? Do you read the same newspaper every day, or do you spend your time reviewing the same memorization techniques over and over again?

It is necessary to know which method of work is best for you, but you also have to work with new challenges and strategies so that your learning of English remains interesting.

For example, when preparing for a marathon, you combine your running training with strength training sessions to improve your running motivation. In addition, you make sure you change locations regularly. This analogy works perfectly in a language learning context. You must continually challenge yourself and add new things to your learning.

Bringing freshness into your studies will inevitably help you improve your knowledge faster, learning to explore interesting ideas and topics efficiently.