How to Speak English

If you want to speak English well, what should you do to improve your English?

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[edit] Steps
1. Learn how to read and speak primary English. Just try to start as soon as you can. To keep in touch
with the language is, maybe, the most important step on learning any language.

2. Practice. Learning English requires a lot of practice, so don't wait! Try borrowing some books from a
friend and try to talk with your friends that have better skills than you do in English, even if you're in a
country which the native language is not English.

3. Get talking. Grammar is important, but the only way to fix all those rules in your mind is through
conversation. Don't ever forget that!

4. Think in English. Many languages have similar rules, but remember: When learning a language, use
Translation only in the beginning! If you use translation a lot, this might become an addiction, which
won't let you to think in English. Thinking in the language is mandatory, after a certain point.

5. Get a bunch of books written for young people. They are written in plain English and it's a good way to
start, before reading any more complex books.

[edit] Tips
• Try to speak English as much and as often as possible.

• Reading books is a good way to improve your English. When reading, read them aloud, so you can
practice your pronunciation. Remember that books are, maybe, the best teachers you'll ever get! They
give you new vocabulary, practice your grammar(since you see a lot of sentences, this helps you to
memorize the rules) and give you more control of the language.

• Watching TV and listening to the talk back radio will effectively improve your English. Watching the
news is a good way to start, because most of the journalists speak very clearly, without strong
accents.

• Read, read, read. The more you read the better your English will be. Through reading you acquire new
vocabulary without even realizing.
• Whenever possible read aloud. This way you will improve your pronunciation.

• Read news papers which will not only improve your English but also help to increase your
understanding of the culture.

• If you have English classes in school, then listen carefully in those and be engaged in them. Try to
have the best possible degree there, and always in lessons speak English when asking your English
teacher questions or answering questions.

[edit] Warnings
• Learning English requires a lot of practice and determination, so don't try to learn everything at once,
but don't ever give up!

• Remember that the hardest part on learning English is to get the correct pronunciation, since the
grammar is very easy, in comparison to other languages.

• English, much like French, is unfortunately one of the hardest languages in the world to learn because
of all the silent letters in words. It makes it complicated. But don't give up!

[edit] Things You'll Need

• A bilingual dictionary in the beginning and an English-English dictionary further on.

[edit] Related wikiHows

• How to Study for English Language
• How to Speak English to Non Native English Speakers
• How to Learn a New Language
• How to Improve Your Skills in English
• How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker

How to Learn English

English is the most general language for the international business world. People who are not native
English speakers must immerse themselves in English-speaking environments if they want to speak
English well and be successful.

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[edit] Steps
1. Learn the basic reading and listening abilities of English.

2. Spend at least one hour everyday listening to news or discussion programs such as NPR (National
Public Radio) news or BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation; the World Service or Radio Four are
best) news. It's hard to understand what they are saying when you first begin to listen to them, but
gradually you'll get used to the speed and tone. Then you can get a brief idea of what they are talking
about, although you can't get the detail. You don't need to listen to the radio for an whole hour at once.
It's best to spend twenty or thirty minutes on listening separately.

3. Spend more than three hours every day on reading English news or articles. Reading builds up your
vocabulary, idioms, phrases, and the concepts of English structures. If you do enough reading, it will
save you a lot of time since you will not need to spend more time on building your vocabulary or
grammar. Read out loud when you do your reading so that you can improve your pronunciation at the
same time.

4. Learn the phonetic alphabet (pronunciation symbols). This can help you pronounce correctly, and it's
necessary to speak with the correct tone if you want to make some friends with native English
speakers. This is a big deal for non-native English speakers.

5. Make some pen pals and write them at least once everyday. The best way to improve your writing is to
practice writing as much as you can. The more you write the more you know how to use what you've
learned from reading and listening.

6. Make friends with native-English speakers. This is the most difficult task because of the difference in
culture, but you can't really master English unless you can communicate with a native English speaker
fluently. You have to know enough things and have good listening skills if you want to have good
conversations with an American or Briton. Remember to ask a lot of questions to keep the
conversation going. When someone asks you a question, give more than just the basic information.
For example, if someone asks you "Do you like living here?" don't just answer "Yes" or "No," but tell
them why, too.

7. Watch some English TV. TV is the best and most inexpensive teacher to learn real English. Not only
you can learn formal English from news or debate TV programs, but you can also learn everyday
English from soap operas and sitcoms. Be careful because too much jargon or too many idioms make
your speech ambiguous.

8. Try listening to the Radio. Radio is also one of the best and inexpensive English teachers. Because
there is no picture, you cannot lip read. You must train your ear to listen.

9. Use an English-English dictionary and bring your dictionary wherever you go. If you find some words
that you don't know, look them up in your dictionary immediately.

10. Use your newly-learned idioms or vocabulary. Once you use the words which you memorized, you will
never forget them again.
11. Think in English. Getting used to using English all the time will make it easier to listen and react with it.

12. Join web groups or clubs where you can post questions freely and discuss the use of grammar such
as Kela-Bi Group at Google

13. Take an ESL (English as a Second Language) class at your local community college (if you live in the
USA.) Classes are free! Your tax dollar at work!

[edit] Tips
• Make friends with native English speakers.

• Learn about the cultures of English-speaking countries.

• If you have your sights set on the US, look for literacy programs in your area -- they are often free,
learn a trade and do your best to acquire English-speaking friends. Americans like people with an "I
can do it!" attitude. In Britain, a useful skill and some modesty are more the key.

• Find a native individual who not only speaks English, but can teach it. Learn grammar and vocabulary
using visual, auditory and spoken methods. Spiral the cycle and keep it interesting.

• Children might enjoy learning in a kitchen while drinking milk after school.

• As a teenager, live for a year in an English speaking country. This is much less expensive if you do a
barter - accept someone in your house in trade for living in theirs.

• Learn English by reading, listening, studying, and asking questions; practice what you learn by
speaking and writing.

• Dictation is an excellent way to improve your listening and spelling skills. Have a friend read a few
paragraphs from a book or a newspaper. Write down what you think you hear. Compare what you
have written with the actual text.

• If you can dream in English, this means that you have succeeded in becoming a fluent English
speaker, but not that your English is perfect.

[edit] Warnings
• Never stop getting new information in English and keep practicing writing and speaking.

• Many old British sitcoms use strong (and sometimes ambiguous) accents and dialects.

• Reading will increase your understanding of English and add to your vocabulary, but it's talking that
will increase fluency.
[edit] Related wikiHows
• How to Learn German
• How to Learn Russian
• How to Learn Key Phrases in Kurdish
• How to Study for English Language
• How to Learn Key Phrases in Dutch
• How to Cope With Repeating a Grade

[edit] Sources and Citations

• http://www.english-for-students.com
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/ For the BBC news site.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/ For the BBC Radio 4 site, offering 'listen live' and 'listen again' options
(down the right hand side).
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/ For the BBC World (Radio) Service site (there's no point visiting it
if you don't view it in English).
• Fundamental English Training

Spelling Rules

There are few Spelling Rules which should be followed in the formation of words.

Final a consonant:

1. For the one-syllable words ending in single vowel + single consonant,

double the consonant before a suffix beginning with vowel.

Examples:

• beg + ed = begged
• run + ed =running
• rob + er = robber
• sad + est =saddest

but…

• wish + ed = wished (two consonants)

• fear + ing = fearing ( two vowels)
2. For the words of two or three syllables ending in single vowel + single

consonant, double the final consonant if the last syllable is stressed.

Examples:

• Begin + ing =beginning

• Permit +ed =permitted
• Occur +ed =occurred
• Control + er =controller

There are more Spelling Rules that follow.

3. The consonant is not doubled if the last syllable is not

stressed.

Examples:

• Benefit +ed = benefited

• Suffer + ing =suffering

Exceptions:

• Worship +ed =worshipped

• Handicap +ed =handicapped
• Kidnap +er =kidnapper

4. The consonant ‘l’ is doubled, even if the stress does not fall on the last

syllable.

Examples:

• Quarrel + ed =quarreled
• Signal + ing = signalling
• Travel + er =traveller
• Distil + er =distiller

5. If the word to which suffix ‘ful’ is added ends in‘ll’, the second ‘l’ is dropped.

Examples:

• Skill + ful =skilful

• Will + full =willful
There are more Spelling Rules that follow.

6. For words ending in silent ‘e’, drop the ‘e’ before a suffix beginning with a vowel.

Examples:

• Live + ing =living

• Move + ing =moving
• Drive + ing =driving
• Hope + ing =hoping

NOTE:

The ‘e’ remains before a suffix beginning with a consonant.

Examples:

• Hope + ful =hopeful

• Engage +ment =engagement

Exceptions:

• True + ly +truly
• Whole +ly =wholly
• Due + ly = duly
• Nine + th =ninth
• Awe + ful =awful
• Argue +ment =argument

7. Notice the special case of words ending in ‘ce’ and ‘ge’ which keep the ‘e’ when adding
‘able’ and ‘ous’.

Examples:

• Notice +able =noticeable

• Peace +able =peaceful
• Change +able =changeable
• Courage + ous =courageous

8. Words ending in ‘ee’ do not drop an ‘e’ before a suffix.

Examples:

• See + ing =seeing

• Agree + ment =agreement

9. Words ending in ‘ie’ change the ‘ie’ to ‘y’ when ‘ing’ is added.

Examples:
• Die + ing =dying
• Tie + ing =tying
• Lie + ing =lying

There are more Spelling Rules that follow.

10. A final ‘y’ following a consonant changes to ‘i’ before a suffix except ‘ing’.

Examples:

• Happy + ly = happily
• Beauty + ful =beautiful
• Carry + ed = carried
• Marry + ed =married
• Marry +age =marriage
• Carry +ing =carrying
• Marry +ing =marrying

NOTE:

But, ‘y’ following a vowel does not change.

• Pray + ed =prayed
• Play +er =player

Exceptions:

• Pay +ed =paid

• Say +ed =said
• Lay + ed =laid
• Day + ly =daily
• Gay +ly =gaily

11. When ‘ie’ or ‘ei’ is pronounced like ‘ee’ in jeep, ‘i’ comes before ‘e’ except after ‘c’.

Examples:

• Believe
• Relieve
• Achieve
• Grieve
• Yield
• Field

• Receive
• Receipt
• Deceive
• Deceit
• Conceive
• Conceit
Exceptions:

• Seize
• Weird
• Protein
• Surfeit
• Counterfeit
• Plebeian

These are the Spelling Rules which determine the formation of words of
different kinds.