Becoming More Fluent in English

PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE

The secret to success in almost any learning situation is hard work. Look for every possible way to connect with English. Make it part of your daily routine. I find that this constant connection really pays off. After a while, it just becomes part of your life and you don’t even need to think about it.

MAKE MISTAKES

You can’t learn a language by being silent. Fear of making mistakes will keep you silent. This is a time to be bold and jump into the cold wáter. People will not laugh at you. They will enjoy your attempts to speak their language.

BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR GOALS—SELECT YOUR TARGETS

You don’t have to learn everything about English. Be selective. In business we have specific skills you may need for your job. For example, if you need to write reports for the Home Office, concentrate on that. If you need to talk to clients on the phone, work on that.

CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE—ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY

In learning anything, attitude is extremely important. Learning a language is difficult if you are not motivated. Check your reasons and ask yourself honestly why you are learning a language. If it really doesn’t get you excited, do something else. Find ways to connect with the language that give you pleasure. Don’t suffer!

UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF GRAMMAR

Most English teachers are obsessed with grammar, but the truth is that it isn’t that important.
Learn to speak and then learn the rules. Don’t let grammar hinder your progress.

KNOW THAT IT IS A PROCESS

I’m sorry to tell you that language learning has no end. It is a process that will continue the rest of your life. There is no magic point when you know everything.

STOP THINKING—TRANSLATING IN YOUR HEAD

Thinking is not good. If you pause to translate from your language to English, you are making your life more difficult. Practice will cure this habit.

FORGET ABOUT APTITUDE OR AGE

Sorry, there is no language learning gene. Nor is there a specific talent that gives you an ear for the language. It doesn’t matter if you are old or young, you can learn. All sorts of recent research backs this up. The secret is following the tips listed above.

As a Business English Coach I work with a very limited number of select clients.If you are serious about your business career and need to perform well in English you may contact me through this website.