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Saturday, August 01, 2009

10 Simple Ways / Tips to Improve Your English

Posted by Josette

I’ve just thought up of some simple ways for anyone who is interested in improving their English. I myself am trying to improve in this language each day. There’s always so much to learn and it can be really fun! You just need to have the passion and enthusiasm to better yourself.
  1. This is what most people would advise: read. Read anything and everything in English. You can read story books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, comics, English textbooks, instructions and ingredients on food packages, advertisements, etc. For story books, don’t force yourself to read something too difficult or something you know you won’t enjoy. Make reading fun! Read books that you ENJOY reading. I hate to read books that bore me too.

  2. Watch English movies with subtitles. This would be my favourite way of learning English. Not only do I get to have a fun time watching the movie, I’d be learning new words at the same time and knowing how to pronounce them! Usually, you can get movies with English subtitles on DVDs.

  3. Listen to English songs. Read the lyrics as you listen to the songs. Listen to your favourite songs and sing along to them.

  4. Start a blog in English. This is one way for you to practice your writing. Blog on something that you love. If you are a fan of movies, start a blog and write about your favourite movies, your favourite characters, what you think could be improved in the movie, what new movies to expect next year, etc. Besides blogging, try joining online forums, engage in online chatting and more.

  5. If you don’t want to maintain a blog, why not write to a pen pal? It’d be even more fun to have a pen pal from a different country! I used to write to other people from the US, Germany, Mexico, and even Yugoslavia. I remember feeling excited when I see letters with foreign stamps on it in my mailbox. If you don’t want to spend too much money on stamps, then get a local pen pal.

  6. Write in your diary/journal in English. This is where you can write anything in it. But if you do write something you wouldn’t want others to read, make sure you hide it somewhere safe! Or try not to write anything offensive at all in case someone does find it. You can also write about neutral stuff like the places you went that day, what you ate, who you met, what you did, etc.

  7. Be best friends with a good English dictionary. You can use Oxford, Collins, Cambridge, etc. Buy a dictionary that you’re comfortable with and USE it at all times. Keep it next to you when you’re reading. I always put my favourite Oxford dictionary by my side when I’m reading. So when I stumble upon a word I don’t know, I don’t have to get up and look around for it. It’s right there by my side. Thus, I have no excuse for not looking the word up!

  8. Speak the language whenever you can. Speak it with friends and family. You can also sing along to English songs! Try karaoke! Don’t be shy to try speaking the language. Don’t be afraid that others will tease you. In fact, they’ll admire you for your courage and confidence.

  9. Learn a new word a day. Keep your own vocabulary notebook and write a new word and its meaning in it every day. Refer to it as often as possible so that the new words will stick in your head.

  10. You can also learn new phrases, idioms or proverbs a day. A kick in the teeth, sit on the fence, make a clean sweep, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, a man’s home is his castle, etc. When you come across a saying that you like, write it down and its meaning in your notebook!
     
  11. Bonus Tip: Invest a little for long term improvement in spoken and written English - Buy Panduan Kuasai Bahasa Inggeris Dengan Mudah @ Only RM40!
    How to Improve English (Kuasai Bahasa Inggeris)
Actually, there are many more ways for you to improve your English. If you have extra money to spend, you can even sign up for English courses, English camps and so on. But why throw away your money when you can learn the language in cheaper ways?

Learn at your own pace. There’s no need to hurry when learning something especially a language. Make learning English fun. Don’t give up too soon or get discouraged. Don’t get stressed out when it becomes a little difficult.

If you have your own wacky or unique way of learning the language, please share it with me and the other readers. The more, the merrier! Before I go, I’d like to wish you all the best in learning English!

Recommended Reading:
How to Improve Your Presentation Skills Effectively
How to Boost Your Resume Or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
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Comments
83 Comments

83 comments:

  1. well...this is the first time i visited this website...AND i find it really useful and informative...i really like the suggestion you give on how to improve english.
    i really like your article a lot..thank for sharing...its give me a very useful info..
    i'll be sitting SPM this year.On my last exam i get A1 on my english exam.I was so happy and grateful to God.All my hardwork has been paid off and i hope i'll be able to maintain the good mark.The point you give is true.I did a lot of reading and looking up for idioms,proverb and learn new words everyday!!It really help me in writing my essay as well as giving ideas...K,that's all...

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  2. After reading your "Ways to Improve English" I noticed that I did apply , infact, still applying those 10 tips in my daily life. It's true! It works! Perhaps I can share the tips with my form six students.

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  3. Learn 10 words a day, 30 days you will learn 300 words, 1 year you will learn 365 words.

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    Replies
    1. Just a small correction, 10 x 30 = 300, therefore 365 x 10 = 3650 words in 1 year, not 365 ;)

      Delete
    2. Whatever, please appreciate his effort.. Don't always find fault in everything.

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    3. I don't think this is fault finding. It's just a minor correction though. No offence just that I felt our culture can't accept friendly reminder whole heartedly. ..long way to go

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    4. Its good to correct each other.. between it might just a typo erreor which missing one 0 in the figure.

      Delete
  4. this is the cheapers way to improve my english..
    its was really really helpfull..thanks for the informations=)

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  5. One of the simple ways to improve English language is by talking the language itself...be more daring people may laugh but you will learn along the hard way....

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  6. other tips can be shared with is always talk with foreigner.

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  7. I have been a teacher for a good many years and I find that motivation is a vital factor. generally students put off learning English until they have left upper secondary school to go to college/university or when they join the workforce. I taught a group of unemployed graduates for 6 months and I must say the motivation level was rather high. I believe they learned more English in the 6 months than they did 9-11 years in school.

    http://malaysiahappytraveller.blogspot.com

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  8. English is common througout the world and it is a must for a common man to live. Any information on this subject is great for people to improve this skill.

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  9. it was a very helpful article. i did improve my english after i bought Linguaphone. Although a bit expensive, but it is worth of money

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  10. There is this site called mysasas.com that claims to offer 10,000 "smart english quizzes". i think this site can help improve a student's english too.

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  11. Having taught English in public schools, I see the single most important factor in the learning of English is MOTIVATION. And in the Malaysian school system, motivation is tied to the exam requirements. Yet, ideally, one should not be motivated to learn a subject simply because it is mandatory to pass in the exam. I have taught one batch of unemployed graduates, and even though they were paid to learn, most were highly motivated. All I can say is that students realise that English is important, but decide to defer the serious learning of it till after their SPM, or when they are working. Some don't even mind paying from their own pockets to improve their proficiency.

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  12. that article is really true. everyone should realize that there are so many ways to improve their English. its either they want it or not. English is fun!! and mastering the language is more fun!! hope each of Malaysian people will start their effort to master this language.dats all . =}

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  13. YK Lim, have you check wikipedia? try entering 'malaysian university wikipedia' in the google search engine. hope that helps!

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  14. yup..that's true indeed..but one thing i dun have. it's a friend to speak to. when i was in singapore,i and my friends were used with all english stuff. after my parents decided to migrate in malaysia,i found out that my english is going really blunt..i felt a bit shame when i hung out with my friends in singapore cuz i could not speak fluent enough. i hope i'd be strong to go through every circumstances in future.

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  15. i like this post.
    i'm learning english in my own way too.

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  16. first of all.. speak english everyday is really good effort..now im tryin to increase my level..me started to read english book and enjoyed watching a english movies..actually,im a SPM candidates 2010.. i hope i pass with flying colour..the rest said its not late to learn and wake up from dream..despite my friend tease me..i will take it as compliment.. i will not give up and be for it.. :))

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  17. all af the ways to improve english in this article is true..i will practice all of the tips to improve my english. i actually bad in english..i want to be a person that is good very well in english..because the english is very important now,,to get the job also must be good in english.. so, i will try to follow the ways.. may god give me to study english until i really can use this language very well one day..THANKS for share some tips..!

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  18. the ways u suggested are quite useful to me too=).i'm just graduated from a chinese school and started my new journey in the college.it's quite challenging for me to speak englsh everyday in this new environment.Lack of confidence,scared of getting shame among my new friends are the problems i'm facing now.Anyway,i believed that if here's a will,there's a will!i will never give up=)

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  19. Thks, It is really helpful to improve my language..

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  20. Dear all,

    I love to see all comments and tips on how to improve our English..but i dont know what happen to myself,whenever i want to start learning and practice English,I feel very nervous..

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  21. Thanks.. it will help me to improve my English...

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  22. I find this article really useful, therefore I thank you. :)

    My English has gotten a lot worse ever since I started listening to Korean songs. :P So I guess I should start applying tip number 3 in my life from now on.

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  23. I very thank for my teacher who tell this good website for all form 6 students.I promise that i will start to improve my English through these 10 simple ways !!

    Josette , thank a lot for your sharing^^

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  24. I very thank for my teacher who tell this good website for all form 6 students.I promise that i will start to improve my English through these 10 simple ways !!

    Josette , thank a lot for your sharing^^

    if my grammar has any mistake, please tell me . thanks^^

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  25. hey there,im really attracted to this suggestion. its quite enjoy and cheap. i believe that the technic is totally right, yet for me this technic comes after we had enough motivation.after all i have just finished my spm ex. and at the beginning of my form 5, i got c for english, as i quite good students, i doesnt want english making my result bad.so i struggle so hard in english and i do many thing such as reading many english books and so on and im totally all out trying to improve my english. all my tired and hardship pay off when i got b in mid-year exam and a2 for trial.thanks god im continue with my very hard efford and i got a+ for english in spm. i think we can do everything as long as we ready to face many hardship and callenge and ready to sacrifice ourself.

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  26. i had improved my english language skills through thousands of grammars question and practicing writting everyday from 15 to 30 minutes of a short stories or paragraph.

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  27. I agree with you. Of all the 10 ideas that you gave, watching movies with english subtitle helped me the most (at least this is what I feel) during my struggling years in Singaporean school. It requires less concentration and inspires one for ideas as well and is able to take me off my stress. It works all the time and that success in learning really inspires me to constantly look for interesting way to learn English. :)

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  28. This article is really useful and helpful for all students in Malaysia.Every information from A to Z can be found in this blog.Gratefully,i found this blog.Hope that i can really improve my English language after using tips suggested.I was wondering why i can write in english but not when i was speaking.I believe it'll be better soon.

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  29. hey,tis website is extremely nice and useful to everyone.since i'm taking form six this year, this ten tips will give me a hand to get flying color results for my muet.actually, i got A only for my english in spm and because of financial constraint i can not pursue my tertiary education at overseas.i'm quite sad and extremely mixed feeling to take stpm.but now i'm motivated and willing to put my maximum efforts to pursue my study to overseas under government scholarship....hopefully it will not my dream only but will change to reality...thanks

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  30. i alway shame by my freind because my poor english. i feel difficulty in arranging words went writing english and my spealing is bad... always need to auto correct or fine in surge engine.i do not know how to use verb and proverb.
    Thanks Josette to sharing

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    Replies
    1. U should improve grammar first rather than reading and writing.Grammar is always the hardest thing if u don't accept it.

      Delete
  31. ~thanks for your tips... actually, i'm relly weak in english.... idont know why??....maybe i think this subject is just an unimportant thing... but that's true english cant be learn in last minute???... i think so... especially my grammar... how can i improve my grammar to be excellent???

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  32. hye....thanks for all those suggestions...Actually i have to do a research on "Reading Helps to Improve our English"
    but actually i don't know what kind of methods should i use so that i can get accurate results.Maybe i will try to run a test and pick 40 students randomly and then ask them to do a grammar test.after i got the marks i will ask the students to read an english article which has superb vocabs and correct grammar and sentence structures..after that i will ask them to do the test again...take the marks and then compare the results with their previous results..but you know what,i'm damn afraid that the results will show nothing and this definately will lead to researcher bias...haih....

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  33. hi

    thank a lot for the tips..its help me much!
    i'll try to follow all 10's of it.

    thank you Josette

    :)

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  34. I like your articel very much and now i do improve my english everyday..nice job..thumbs up!

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  35. i am alone at home,no body around me, so, i rarely speak english, , i like watching english movie and use english subtitle, to add vocabulary, usually i watch every new movie for about 10 times, then i separate a movie into some minutes portion , then use vocabulary to know its means, i keep watching those movie. after a few times, the new world stick in my head

    i like writting like i doing this, but its rarely needs to write in english, and i don't know wheater what i write is wrtitte in true grammar or not

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  36. this quite usefull ..
    if there's a will ,there's a way.

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  37. thankz 4 this tips.. im very like it..
    my english very bad...
    i hope when i use your tips i can improve my english....
    n i hope u can teach me from internet..
    or fb....

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  38. yeah i will follow the 10 step..... TQ FOR THE TIPS

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  39. im a form 5 student. i really want to improve my english as i know it is a vital languange. my essay is quite good although still got a few grammar mistakes. my problem is, im to shy to speak. at school, i cant speak with my malay friends as they will said im boastful. if i speaks with my indian friends, they will answered in bm. and when i speak witg my teacher i'll suddenly forget the words that i should say.

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  40. thankyou so much for ur tips.....my english is very poor....i hope ill get some help through ur tips in improving my english language....

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  41. use google translate..haha

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  42. Thanks for the suggestion.
    Ask for me, I do no.1. I read books that i really enjoy such as Twilight. Then I love watching English movies and listen to english songs. I do have a blog (but not all my post were in English).Write to a pen pal? Hmm..also have a few good pen pals.No.8, speak the language, alway try it with my friends. Love to learn idiom / proverbs.
    :)

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  43. hye..guys...actually..i want to talk in english but all my friends always teasing me....that's is reason i don't want to talk in english...but i really love talk in english..it's fun and we can learn a lot's of new word's.....what should i do??

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  44. well,the information you've posted here are really helpful and useful for those who really like to learn the language. Hope you don't mind if I add-on few more details to help out here for those who are really passionate or eager to learn the language.

    I've actually read some of the books from the professional named Dale Carnegie. I'm here not to promote his book here, but to share some useful fingertips here with all of you. The most essential thing of the points you've listed above is as a reader they must have an interest with the subject or topic they'd like to talk or study about.

    They must grab all the chance they've got to speak in their community by joining the clubs like rotary club or interact club or join other group activities as long as they can have a chance to speak up. You've to conquer the fear in speaking and gain self-confidence to speak before a group. Certain amount of stress would help you in speaking physiologically when your heart beats become faster and you can speak fluently.

    When they're reading, you can practice to read it aloud but not reading to yourself. This is one of the phenomena that I've found from my experience as a student or a tutor. This is one of the main reasons why a lot of students are not able to speak although they can understand from others in a conversation. It is because your mind doesn't work well with the language as it is unaccustomed to you. Your mind would work very slow, or you'd suffer from a fogging thought. Of course, your tongue and your mouth are not ready with or using the language. Thus, this is why you've to determine yourself in reading the any materials in English.

    As you've mentioned earlier, we can use blog to express ourselves by using the language. It triggers our minds to think in the language and it turns to a habit when we use the language very often. It'll occur naturally when we need it with or without our realization. We can use Facebook or Short Message Service (SMS) to express to others.

    Finally, never give up in trying before a success. If you've a wish, you'll attain it no matter what. It's because you've the will in achieving it and you'll certainly put your effort in it. So, you'll success eventually. Do have faith in you, and so do I. I'm one of them and I believe you're one of them too.

    **All the best for all**

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  45. The problem is even greater in kampung areas. Using English is like a bane, it could be a hindrance for the enjoyable conversation that we used to have, especially when speaking with someone whose proficiency is greater or lower than us. I do agree with that because when we speak in the second language we've got to think before we speak. That what makes our speech delivery to be less smooth. At times we don't get the right word to express our intention. The answer for this situation is lack of fluency while the only solution is practice, there's no other easier way, I suppose.

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  46. im looking for something to share it with my friends that interested in learning english.i also have my own way i learning english and i'd like to share it with u guys n hope that it will help u..when u watch a movie with subtitles,try to see when, where and how they use the words and try to imitate it and use it in your daily life..if you find that notebook is old fashion, try to write those words and keep it in your phone...=)

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  47. I use to sing, read, in english; I like it so much that I even record myself while reading something outloud, maybe I you'll be interested in my 'methods', or you may even want to hear something from me

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  48. finally i can be improve a bit in my English...even my English broken English but i dared to speak to my lectures, family and customers... i really really enjoy myself learning the English language...

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  49. somehow i also want 2 improve my English knowledge,i think the tricks that u have been presented really help me 2 go forward.

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  50. nice blog...I pick up chatting as my way to improve english.And i will make sure that i use good english in chatting (most of the time)

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  51. i'll try my best to learn english with the ways gaiven.i hope it worked. wish me luck~~

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  52. this is my first time I visited this website... I like what u suggested to us on how to improve English.. U have write that the way to improve English by trying to join online forum.. can u suggest what kind of online forum that is suitable for students??

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  53. for me i had fell in love with my english teacher in my early days and became obsessed with the language then i read the dictionary at 13,and today at 35 i rank among the best. i think obsession is the key,don't just learn for the sake of learning, but to satisfy your desire.hope you are getting this. i am a chinese who is still learning english with the same enthusiasm even today!!!!

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  54. make it an ambition, to read a 900 pages novel without looking up the dictionary and i have done it in mere 5 years, learn 15 words a day, you will remember 10, add 10 more plus the 5 and you will remember eventually,i can do it so can you.

    today i can finish a thick novel in 3 days without the aid of dictionary.

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  55. thanx for your good information, actually i'm not good in english but after i read your information i get some idea how to improve my english...tq

    sorry because my english is worse..hehehe

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  56. hey.... i like your way of writing nd keep it up ......i suggest u that read alot as much posibale

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  57. thanks a lot..all this way a very usefull..thanks again..i will do the best on earning ENGLISH..>.<

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  58. I guess recording your own voice and listening to that, in order to find your errors, can be a good way to improve your speaking skills.

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  59. Hopely I"ll be good in english by following the good ways for improving it...,$thanks a lot

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  60. yea its a good article, furthermore its better for us to learn this language because this is the only language that could connect us to people all around the world, as this is a international language. :)

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  61. Wow, this is the first time I visited this web...It's really useful..Thanks so much for your sharing....Nowadays, English is an international language, then, we should master it. With your sharing, we can improve our E skill quickly and will develop it soon.

    Thanks again

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  62. i'm agree with the point that malaysian's education is based on examination..that why we can't improve our english language..the students were learned to pass their exam not to improve the langauage but some factor needs to consider in learning english itself in Malaysia..Motivation is the main factor to improve themself, sometimes we fell ashamed to speak in english when the environment is otherwise..plus, english is the second language in Malaysia.

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    Replies
    1. I am agree with you.The environment also important, if you surrounded by all the mandarin speakers, then,how you get a chance to speak in English?You Seldom speak,when you need to speak, you will not have any confident at all,you scare to you yourself might not use it correct ,so a lot of problem on it, I also thinking of improve my English but I cannot find a good way to do it because I don't have money to afford to learn,I am so happy to see that you give me hope on this.Thank you.

      Delete
  63. This tips really help me in English Language and help me to hardwork and push forward on this english language

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  64. I would like to improve my english.Those i Shy to speak english

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  65. Thankyou so much for this!

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  66. Im not good in english..im working with multinational comp..my superior told me that i need to improve my english...thats my gap..im so nervous when my superior ask me to do a presentation...or they ask me to deal with foreign worker or with the contractor....now i got new task to do a recruitment...im so worried due to i need to deal with people and using 100% all english...i take it in positive way...i belive that we should face the harder first to achieve what we want to be...now im still learning and searching the best method to improve my english...thanks for the above suggestions..i should try first and practice the ideas give...

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  67. Inadequate communication skills are becoming more evident in the workplace. Recruiters and managers are increasingly challenged with finding candidates with effective oral and written communication skills. No matter where you are in your career path, poor communication habits can hinder your growth. Entry level candidates who cannot communicate effectively will probably not pass the initial job interview. Those who are already employed can block advancement opportunities by exhibiting poor communication skills. Here are a few tips by which you can improve you communication skills:

    1. Practice speaking, the more you practice the more you will get confident and habitual with the language.
    2. Make friends with whom you can practice speaking in English.
    3. Read Newspapers, books, articles, blogs etc., also listen to English news and radio broadcasts.
    4. Take up some activities in English like cooking classes or anything which you like doing. Just make sure you do that in English.
    5. You can join an English language specialised courses for improving communication skills and help in making one confident and fluent in language.

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  68. Thank you so much guys.. I will use all of this tips to improve my English...

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  69. Actually i'm not good in english too... But if i follow those tips sure i can improve my English... Thanks for the tips guys ..

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  70. i'm not good in english too and i am one of the spm candidates this year. i am really worry as i only got c for my english paper on the spm trial. it really turn me down as i dont know how to improve this language. but with the above simple ways , i hope i can follow it and improve it. thank you for sharing this useful tips. please pray for me on my spm soon. Thank you ^^

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  71. It's hard to find best translation service from french to english from the web or any freat service provider. But I just found best french to english translation service from web. Hope it will be work for others too.

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  72. how awesome tips!. i had been asked to write an on it by my lecturer. this could be the contents of my essay. kikiki. hope that i can practice it in my daily so that i can gain band 4 for my MUET at least.anyway, i saw an advertisement of scholarship in this page.just wondering it's true of fake?.

    ReplyDelete

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