Tips: How to (Happily) Learn English?

Not a pro yet, well, even for Bahasa (my-mother-tongue) I will never call myself a pro.

So here in this post, I plan to share or talk or randomly type on something that I hope can be useful for those who want to learn English and be confident with it. This has been a talking topic, I have with some friends and therefore I believe it might be also useful for those of you, whether you call me friend or not (yet). Some of these tips might ring a bell, still let’s scroll a little bit and you will see the content! Enjoy!

1. Read English stuff

If reading is an American Got Talents’ contestant, I believe it will receive 4 yeses and a golden button. Reading is like a matter life and death important in any language! On your own or even other’s, for fun or serious, reading is coming in handy.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss

For myself, I admit if reading can help vocabulary, improve my memory and focus and it is just fun to do, right? However, I learned from my own self, that it will be more trusted if you see the scientific reasons behind any statement especially when it comes to something with a behavior-change expectation. I don’t want to give the benefit of the doubt, that is why I have listed some points below for you to “read”. Let’s say the title will be “The Function of Reading”.

1. Reading Reduces Stress (http://www.kumon.co.uk/blog/reading-reduces-stress-levels/ and https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/5070874/Reading-can-help-reduce-stress.html)

2. Reading Stimulates Brain (https://www.rd.com/culture/benefits-of-reading/)

3. Reading Expands your Vocabulary (http://www.csun.edu/~krowlands/Content/Academic_Resources/Reading/Useful%20Articles/Cunningham-What%20Reading%20Does%20for%20the%20Mind.pdf)

4. Reading Improves your Focus and Concentration (https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7298-info-mania-dents-iq-more-than-marijuana/ from www.neuronation.com)

If you are not far cry from me who could be hypnotized my research summary like up above, let’s go indulge in enough good books now, to learn language (or just learn anything)!

2. Get More Touch with It (English)

I am convinced if more folks have more experiences surfing the web than the sea. Me, myself, access search engine almost every day, for helping me throughout the daily challenge of brain stuck. However, peeps, I think this point is somehow less useful, because you all have been using English in browsing or social media, am I right? LOL

3. Virtual tools

As far as I remember, I use a language app to learn another language I had or currently have an interest at, such as Arabic, German, Korean, French, Spanish and Vietnamese. For that, I recommended Duolingo.

For English only, I am focusing myself to learn more on reading and listening long text or talks and so I’m having an app called LEB English (available in play store) for my daily supplement.

I am also into “idioms” and have a big desire to hit the books about it every single date. I spare some time on the go for “Knudge. Me”, an mobile-app for learning the English idioms (which is also available in PlayStore).

4. Write them down!

Everytime I read a novel or text with a fancy word in English or other language I am learning, I always like always to write it down in a distinct notebook, or any space possible. The act of writing helps the information stuck in our brains better. Also, this can be applied when you hear something in those languages or talks, go write them down as it will train our ear for certain accents (which can be a hack for your pronouncation issues) and support you improving your focus.

5. Learn and Get Entertained

Another modest yet exciting thing you can do if you want to nail a language is by maximizing the usage of entertainment. I learned from many ways in pop culture to advance each major skill in English/language, such as:

• Listening : songs, movies, talk-shows, audio-books. The good news is all of them are as easy as ABC in the search of YouTube.

• Reading: magazines, short-stories, web articles related to your hobby and interest. Also, easily by typing your concern in Google.

• Speaking : Well, I am not so sure, but I do singing for this!

• Writing : (If you use subtitle, you might notice how to form a sentence or write a word, kind of)

6. Talk to Yourself!

I have no number in mind if you ask me how often I am to speak to myself in front of mirror in English. Cause I do it all the time.

For practicing new word, I just knew, or forming a random talk, practicing my speech or literally just spread a personal sharing, I am talking to myself in front or not to mirror and consider it as the best practice for speaking if:

• You have no friend to practice (I absolutely sure to recommend you get friends who are also willing to learn English or at least help at the drop of a hat).

• You want to practice without any specific talk or time.

Wonder how I do this?

Now, ball is in your court! It is up to you to make the next step!

I will be writing again later soon, because I think it might be too long for you read at once, I love your eyes, so give it a rest! See you super soon, InsyaAllah peeps!

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Make sure if you know that I will be happy as a calm to help and discuss you on this, just drop a comment or find me in another platform! Remember, every cloud has a silver!

Thank you! Sella Lametta ♡