3. Before you begin (or go back to)
studying English, ask yourself one
question. Why do I want to study
English? Is it because you want to, or
because someone else wants you to?
Like every decision in life, studying
English must be something you want to
do.
Why do you want to learn
English?
4.
If you know why you want to study,
setting goals is easy. For example,
maybe you want to travel to an English-
speaking country. Great. Your goal might
be to learn "Survival English". Perhaps
you already know many useful phrases,
but you want to improve your listening
skills and pronunciation. Whatever your
goals are, write them down.
Set goals
5. How long do you need to study to achieve
your goals? This answer is different for every
student. The important thing is to be realistic. If
you work 60 hours per week, don't plan on
spending another 40 hours a week studying
English. Start off slow, but study regularly. Use
material that is challenging, but not too
difficult. Find out what works for you. After you
have studied for a few weeks, adjust your
study schedule accordingly. Do you study best
at night, or on the bus on your way to work?
Do you like to study alone in a quiet place, or
with friends and background music? Click here
for a sample 4 week agenda.
Make an agenda
6. Learning English requires a lot of
motivation. Nobody is going to take your
attendance when you aren't in class. If
you are sure you are ready to begin
studying, make a commitment. Click
here to sign a contract with yourself.
Make a commitment
7. The things we do best in life are the
things we enjoy doing. If you aren't
having fun learning English, you're not
studying the right way! You can be a
serious student who has fun at the same
time. Make up your own rewards
program to give yourself incentives to
stay on task.
Have fun learning English!
8. Study a Balance of the 4 Key Skills
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Keep the Balance
10. You are like a new baby
Babies learn their language slowly.
First they learn to listen.
Then they learn to speak.
Finally, they can read and write.
1
11. Listen to English every day
Listen to English radio.
Watch English TV.
Go to English movies.
Use online lessons.
2
12. Make an English/ESL friend
Make up conversations.
Practise dialogues.
Use beginner textbooks.
3
13. Read English stories
Start with children's storybooks.
Try ESL readers.
Read advertisements, signs and labels.
Try EnglishClub.com for Young
Learners.
4
14. Write down new words
Start a vocabulary (new word) notebook.
Write words in alphabetical order
(A...B...C...).
Make example sentences.
Always use an English-English
dictionary first.
5
15. Keep an English diary
Start with one sentence.
How do you feel?
How is the weather?
What did you do today?
Write another sentence tomorrow.
6
16. Visit an English speaking country
Learn English more quickly.
Stay with an English family.
Hear native speakers talk.
Have a fun experience.
7
18. How can I help my one-on-one
conversation partners with their English?
How can I have a great conversation in
English?
How can I improve my English?
What online resources can help me with
my English?
Contents
19. Get to know your conversation partner’s
interests
Identify the level of readiness and build on
with new things step by step
Know your partner’s learning strengths and
preferences
Incorporate all the language aspects into
your lesson
Make it challenging, but not too challenging
Create friendly, encouraging and curiosity-
stimulating learning environment
Tips for Conversation
Leaders
21. Don’t be shy and self-conscious!
Communication errors can be solved.
A conversation is an interactive activity
involving listening and speaking from
both parties.
It’s all about listening and asking
questions.
Do some research!
Lulls are normal.
If a conversation is going wrong, it may
not be your fault.
How to improve my
conversation skills?
22. Greet with smile
Maintain eye contact
Give a firm handshake
Tell your name
Ask for the other person’s name
Repeat the other person’s name
Never draw a negative picture of
yourself
How to introduce myself?
23. Relax and forget about yourself
Listen
Ask questions
Use a friendly tone
Choose your words and questions carefully
Avoid controversial and intimate topics as well
as arguments
Neither interrupt a person in the middle of his
thought, nor speak on top of it
Compliment the other person
Thank for a great conversation
How to have a great
conversation?
24. Personal, intimate question
I’m sorry, but I’d prefer not to answer this question.
Question you don’t know the answer
I have no idea.
Question you didn’t catch
Can you repeat the question?
Question you don’t understand because of
unfamiliar words or question structure
I’m sorry, but I don’t understand your question. Would
you mind telling it in different words?/What do you
mean by…?/What does…mean?
How to handle a difficult
question?
25. Be active and set goals for improving
your English!
A language is not only speaking, but a
combination of speaking, listening,
reading and writing, including grammar.
Use different learning styles such as
visual, auditory and kinesthetic to
achieve your objectives.
How can I improve my English?
26. Learn English Free Online:
http://www.learnenglish.de
Learn American English Online:
www.learnamericanenglishonline.com
Learn Languages for Free Online:
http://www.busuu.com
English Club:
http://www.busuu.com
Resources
27. Listening and reading aloud
Writing
Networking and making friends
Greeting people on the street
Having small talks in public
Watching foreign movies with English
subtitles
Joining one-on-one conversations,
conversation and common interest
groups
How to improve speaking?
29. Speaking to English speakers
Watching TV and movies
Listening to radio
Reading audio books
Singing English songs
Practicing pronunciation
Joining conversation groups/one-on-one
conversations
How to improve listening?
31. Reading picture books or comics
Reading newspapers and magazines
Asking questions during conversations
Watching TV and movies
Browsing English websites
Consulting dictionaries
Constantly learning new words
Clarifying meaning of slang and idioms
Knowing grammar
How to improve
comprehension?
33. Listening to native English and imitating
Reading along with audio books
Speaking, being corrected or asking for
correct pronunciation and repeating after
Paying attention to letter combination
sounds, stressed syllables, word linkage
and intonation
Training speech organs position, shape
and movement of English sounds
How to improve pronunciation?
35. Reading, listening, writing and speaking
Using subject-verb structure
Differentiating questions from statements
Understanding parts of speech
Practicing verb tenses
Knowing words beyond their meaning
Learning phrasal verbs
Doing grammar exercises
Quizzing yourself
How to improve grammar?
36. English Grammar Exercises and Tests:
http://world-english.org
English Grammar:
http://www.manythings.org/e/grammar.html
English Grammar Quizzes:
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/
http://a4esl.org/a/v.html
English Study Zone:
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/
English Grammar Rules and Exercises:
http://www.musicalenglishlessons.org/index-ex.htm
Phrasal Verbs:
http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/verb_preposition.html
http://www.learn-english-today.com/phrasal-verbs/phrasal-verb-list.htm
http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/phrasal-verbs-list.htm
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrasals.htm
Resources
37. Reading audio books
Watching movies with subtitles
Listening to songs and following their
lyrics
Learning letter/letter combination
sounds
Stressing words correctly
Paying attention to punctuation signs
Slowing down and pronouncing every
single word as well as word endings
How to improve reading?
38. Listen and Read Along:
http://www.manythings.org/listen
Phonics Games:
http://www.vocabulary.co.il/phonics
http://www.familylearning.org.uk/phonics_ga
mes.html
Songs and Lyrics:
http://www.isabelperez.com/songs.htm
http://www.songsforteaching.com/esleflesol.ht
m
Resources
39. Reading, listening and speaking
Learning English grammar and vocabulary
Understanding the basic subject-verb
sentence structure
Using correct spelling
Analyzing frequently misspelled words
Making use of grammar and spell check
Punctuating correctly
Blogging, text messaging or having pen
friends
How to improve writing?