Improving your English skills can benefit you in a lot of ways. Taking up English language courses go a long way in helping you build a strong foundation for your language proficiency. Since most universities abroad expect international students to submit proof of their language proficiency, an additional benefit of taking up a language course is that it can be an opportunity to make yourself eligible for studying abroad. Getting the highest score in IELTS can make this easier for you. But the real question is, how do you make that happen?
The International English Language Testing System is a language proficiency test that you need to take up if you are planning to migrate to an English-speaking country. Through this exam, your important language skills such as reading, listening, speaking, and writing are tested and you will be scored accordingly. The overall scoring range is out of 9 and each range signifies different levels of efficiencies. A good scoring range is from 7 to 9 and the highest score signifies that the test taker has understood the usage of the language in the right way, establishing proficiency in English.
What Are the Four Major English Skills?
Learning something new always comes as a package. You cannot develop a skill without extending your horizons and keeping yourself open to learning every aspect of it. Getting better at the English language means you broaden your knowledge on each of these aspects. These are the major English skills that one must be good at:
Reading - This is where you should probably begin when you are in the process of improving your English skills. If you are a beginner in learning this language, start with the very basics. A lot of novels have very simple narrative styles, so by developing the constant habit of reading, you will be able to come across new words and learn their meanings.
Writing - This is another part of learning the English language which you cannot neglect, especially if you are in the very first stage of the learning process. One of the huge benefits of developing the habit of writing is that it will help you remember the things you learn better.
Speaking - Those who know how to speak know how to conquer the world! Learning to speak confidently will improve your communication skills and boost your self-confidence like nothing else!
Listening - For you to give the correct answer, you need to get the question right. And listening intently will help you understand better before you write or speak. In fact, in order to speak and write fluently you need to have very good listening skills.
Top Methods to Improve Your English Skills
Be it learning the English language for the first time or getting better at it professionally, you need to have enough practice and be consistent in using it in your day-to-day life. You cannot achieve something in a day's time and for the language to not feel foreign, you need to get used to it. Once you gain a basic understanding of the language, you can learn the specific dialect of the same. If you are in the process of learning the English language from scratch or looking to sharpen your skills, these simple tips can benefit you in the right ways.
It's never too late to work on your vocabulary
- No matter how well you know the language, the way you use it always matters. Vocabulary is all about the usage of words and how wisely you frame them in times of need. Make sure that you work on your vocabulary since the right choice of words play a crucial role in places where your language skills are evaluated.
- Have a separate journal in hand to make note of the words and their meanings you are unfamiliar with. This is one of the easiest ways to remember these words and it can help you learn them quickly.
Hey, you know what you should do? Read!
- Duh! This is where you should probably be starting. They say that for you to write and speak, you need to develop a certain taste and understanding which comes only through reading a lot.
- If you are someone who is new to reading and feel like you are not consistent enough, take one step at a time. Begin with something as simple and interesting as reading a novel. Pick any of the well-known books and authors and start reading one book at a time, as reading multiple books can be overwhelming for a first-time reader.
- Make sure to dedicate some time every day to read at least a few pages, giving yourself a deadline to complete the book. Once you see yourself completing one book, you will be motivated to begin the next book.
- Books aren't the only form of reading that you could do. Skimming through the newspaper every day can help you familiarise yourself with new words and teach you how sentences can be structured.
A paragraph a day keeps the blunders away!
- There is no better way to learn English faster than by developing the habit of writing every day. You cannot learn something quickly without a certain amount of practical knowledge, and this is applicable to all learning including language proficiency.
- Start as light as writing a journal. Keep a dedicated journal and write about how your day went. You can also get down to some simple writing like noting down your weekly, monthly, and yearly goals as this can additionally help in developing self-discipline too.
- Begin with using simple words and simple sentence structures and gradually learn how to make them better. More than using complicated words and fancy writing, it's about how well you make use of simple words to create neat content that evaluates your writing.
Watch, learn, and don't eat my cookie! (that's a F.R.I.E.N.D.S reference, in case you didn't catch it 😆)
- We now live in a generation where no one has to be taught to use digital media. It is one of the most important forms of media for content consumption and if you use it the right way, you will be able to learn a lot of things at a faster pace.
- Find the best tutors on the internet who can help you improve your English skills and teach you in such a way that you will find the whole learning process stimulating and useful.
- Take up short courses to sharpen your grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills. Some websites even provide certificate courses that can give your portfolio credibility.
Getting better at a new language might seem very difficult, but the truth is, it is not! With the right kind of guidance and proper study materials, you will be able to improve your English skills in no time. All you have to do is ensure that you make consistent efforts to practice what you have learned and do everything you can to familiarise yourself with the language and its usage.
If you think about it, learning a new language and getting better at it is no less than a bold adventure. And even if it sounds scary, just go for it! Good things are supposed to be scary!
In case you're planning to study abroad, it's high time you check out our website!
FAQs:
3. How long does it take to improve my English skills from basic to advanced?
There is no proven time period in which you can get better at the English language. It's how much time you invest in learning that makes you better, and that can even be the shortest time span in which a person can possibly learn!
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