How to learn English?

[Parallel]

Hi everyone

I think there doesn't exist the "one and only" key to learn English - everyone has to find out for themselves what's best and does the trick...

Personally I like to use different mediums. For me it's good to have a bit of a change, not every day the same procedure...

I love to read books. And I also listen to English music, usually on the radio. As soon as my kids come home from school, they turn on the radio, and there you are - English songs in abundance! When I travel by car, I often try to guess the meaning of the texts which is quite tricky sometimes, and the best thing is, you can repeat what you've just heard aloud, by singing or chanting it, and no one cares (as long as you're traveling alone I mean)!

Then of course I enjoy using this forum, doing tests and all that, reading articles and looking into texts written by other members, that's very interesting.

Last but not least I'm really fond of audio books. Lucky me, I have quite a lot of such CD's at my disposition in our public library. Even if I don't understand everything, it gives me a good insight into different ways of speaking and dialects. I never listended to a Shakespear, I prefer modern books by let's say Nick Hornby, Perlman Elliot, Le Carré, and so on, but also authors of the past like Hemmingway, Dickens, Steinbeck, Miller, Virginia Woolf and others. So I can listen to native speakers, which I haven't got much possibility otherwise.

Apart from that I use a very old method of learning vocabulary: you take a small card, write an English word or expression on one side of it, and thee explanation on the other. Then you take a little box to put it in, so you have got your personal word trainer ready at hand whenever you like. At first I only wrote down one word per card, but now I try to write down as much words as possible on the same card, often experessions that are related to each other, in order to best use the precious space in my little box. I've got an hours commute by train every day, so I often do some word training in the morning (after reading the newspaper that is to say). In the evenings I'm usually too tyred or too lazy...

It's quite a pity, that I don't have more opportunities to speak English. When you come across new words you should use them in a sentence of your own as soon as possible! But writing on the forum is also a way to do so.

But I've just found out that one can even communicate in spoken English through the forum by the use of a headset. So let's try that - for better or worse!

Urs

[Armenak]

Hi Torsten.
I'm reading texts in the internet and listening CNN broadcasting. So this is my experience.

[Indolent]

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Hello Torsten.

In fact I thing my effortlessness is the reason why I don't improve my english.
I have bought a very good dictionary (Babylon) which i use very often and I try to read books on grammar beyond the weekly lessons, but i think i should hear more english songs and watch movies in english too.

Bye

[Parallel]

Dear Admira
You wrote: "I am leaving in England for 4 years".
To leave means to go away, so it's the opposite of what you wanted to say.
Leaving is spoken like believing, with a long i (I believe in Angels, may be you know the song).
"Live" is the word you were looking for: it is spoken like give, with a short i.
That's it for the moment, yours Urs

[Admira]

Dear Parallei
Thank you very much for your correction,yeah you have right i have made a mistake instead of writing living i have write leaving,i know the meaning of leaving,it means you are going away,about the song "I believe in angels"yes i do know the song,this song have sung the Abba group.i like every song of them.Thank you again to let me know my mistakes,it's helpful when someone tell you what is wrong,but because i didn't practise my writing sometimes i make this kinds of mistakes.OK then bye bye for now.
Best wishes
Admira
_________________
To be or not to be ,that is the question.

[Oinas]

Hi!I prefer versatile learning methods.I think the best and the most effective way to learn english is by speaking it,because it is interactive;one has to understand and speak english.Unfortunately I rarely have a chance to speak english.Instead I have watched english language documents on science,travelling and everyday life.Additionally I have done rather many interactive exercises on internet,mainly english-test.net exercises,which is a great web page.I don´t have a chance to study english as much as I want to,cause I have full-time job and other hobbies,too."I have many irons in the fire".Anyway, I try to study english on regular basis.It is nice and useful hobby.For example when travelling abroad,one can utilize one´s english language skills and make oneself understood.Yours sincerly,Oinas.

[Muhammed Salihov]

Hello Torsten.If you strive and is possible everything.ok

[Ivec]

Hello, dear Torsten,
I am very sorry, but I cant to learn more, because I am learning another language. Maybe I will start to learn later.
Thank you.
Best regards
Ivo Gaidiskis

[Emilia]

Hi, Torsten! I would like to have movie with subtitles in English. I think, it is very interesting and powerful. Regards. Emilia.

[Emilia]

Hi, Torsten! How are You? I hope fine. It is my idea--I would like to have in video lessons movie or animation with subtitles. Best wishes. Emilia.

[Rae Sita]

hello
who can help me?
why i can't downloand that mp3???

[Ahoora]

Hi dear Torsten
I always try to listen to some audio books and as you know watching movie is one of my favorite hobbies.and sometimes I chat with some native English friends.For reading I firstly tried to read some books for teenagers and after I improved my vocabulary I am trying to read some novels now,of course it is so difficult for me but I love learning English.But unfortunately my main problem as you know is SPEAKING.

[Sardor]

Hello ! I need help! Where I can to download topics for listening ? Thanks to lot!

[Waad]

well I watch a lot of movies and I read out loud so I can improve my reading and accent ate the same time .

[Aylee]

Hi everyone ,
the topic is really cool :) How I can learn English faster ? Well my opinion , I am always watching movies without subtitles and trying to understand what is the text about , this way I can practice my listening skills :) and the best way of course is to talk with person or persons who knows really good English , so that he/she can help with speaking and correct the mistakes. Actually this are my ways of learning faster English. And I am learning also in school so I must talk in English all the time , and that is good :)
Best Wishes Aylee :)