10 Simple Ways / Tips to Improve Your English

Posted by Josette
Ive 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. Theres 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, dont force yourself to read something too difficult or
something you know you wont 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, Id 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 dont want to maintain a blog, why not write to a pen pal? Itd 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
dont 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 wouldnt 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 youre comfortable with and USE it at all times. Keep it next to you when youre reading.
I always put my favourite Oxford dictionary by my side when Im reading. So when I stumble upon a word
I dont know, I dont have to get up and look around for it. Its 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! Dont be shy to try speaking the language. Dont be afraid that others will
tease you. In fact, theyll 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 mans 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!
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. Theres no need to hurry when learning something especially a language. Make learning
English fun. Dont give up too soon or get discouraged. Dont 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, Id like to wish you all the best in learning English!

Students share ideas on how to improve

English proficiency
PETALING JAYA: The finalists in the Tale Spin 2014 finale thought all they had to do was act and
remember their lines.
But The Stars executive editor Soo Ewe Jin, who was one of the contests five judges, asked the team
members from SMK Seri Bintang Utara to share how they would improve English proficiency in the
classroom.
Since our deputy education minister is here, he can hear what you have to say, he said during the
question-and-answer session after Team 4 Sc Alpha 2 from SMK Seri Bintang Utaras performance in the
upper secondary category.
The team members were then given a chance to share their ideas which included having dramas such as
Tale Spin that made learning fun, using newspapers in the classroom and having a good English teacher.
Organised by Star-NiE and Pizza Hut, the contest was based on the storyboarding concept with characters
from movies, books and other genres.
The finals, which were held yesterday at a Pizza Hut outlet in Kota Damansara, saw the top two teams of
each category performing a flashback of events leading up to the first frame of their storyboards as well as
a question-and-answer session with the judges.
Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan said competitions such as Tale Spin would form the platform to
build character and cooperation among students.
He also met teachers who accompanied the students, advising them to do their best and not worry about
what others thought.
Most teachers in the country, I would say 99% of them are devoted to their work. We have problems here
and there, but tell me, who doesnt? he said.
Kamalanathan said the Government was making concerted efforts to improve the level of English
proficiency among Malaysian graduates.
Some students, he added, who did well in their examinations failed to earn a spot in public universities for
the 2014/15 academic intake.
It was shocking because some students had such excellent academic achievements but scored only Band
One (the lowest) for the Malaysian University English Test (MUET), said Kamalanathan.
He said students would have to be prepared as there would be more emphasis on mastering the English
language in line with the objectives of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
Pizza Hut Restaurants Sdn Bhd senior general manager Low Kang Moon said students should master
English as early as possible and he encouraged the use of Newspaper-in-Education (NiE).
Low added that he was proud of Pizza Huts fruitful collaboration with The Starwhich has been ongoing for
the past 17 years.

Star Publications (M) Bhd group chief operating officer Calvin Kan commended the enthusiastic efforts of
the students.
I really do not envy the judges as the competition is really tight, he said.
This years Tale Spin contest saw more than 30,000 entries from primary school pupils from Years Three to
Six and secondary school students nationwide.