Effective Way to Learn English

by Siew Ning
(Selangor, Puchong, Malaysia)

I need your help, Diana! My English is very poor and I need some way to improve my english it. After I found finding this website, I realized that the motivation you mention in here is the same as what my lecturer teacher or instructor has told me before.

It doesn't work for me.

So what is the an effective way to learn English?

I have taken 2 times of Toefl twice and I just scored only 44 out of 120. I tried to find out what my mistakes were, and I found out i knew that my reading and listening part is weak. However, the speaking part and writing part also are not good as well either. I will be taking the test for a third time but what should I do to improve my English before then?

I know that my vocabulary was limited, so when I need to express my ideas, I have no idea how to complete my essay because I don’t know the words. My friend has told me before, to read the newspaper everyday and speak out loud when I'm reading. If have I find a difficult word, i need to I should write down the whole sentence from the newspaper and find the meaning of the words. Is it doesn't work Does this work? Maybe i'm I didn't put a lot of effort into improving my English.

I have searched in many websites for learning English, i have go going through the website and i have done doing all the exercises but it seems like it does not work for me. I think that watching English movies is more effective to for me. First, I watch with English subtitles and then without subtitles. I use a dictionary when they speak out the say words I dont understand. After that, I found find that i have forget I forget the meaning of the words. The reason is i I knew the meaning but I didn’t use it in my essay. So what should I do?

My friend asked me to write a daily diary everyday, but I didn't do it. I have no idea how to start it? I need your advice and what is the motivation I should have to improve my English.

I appreciate for your willingness to help.

Ning

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Hi Ning,

Several parts of your message trouble me. You said that,

The motivation on websites "...doesn't work for me."

"Maybe I didn't put a lot of effort into improving my English."

"I need your advice and what is the motivation I should have to improve my English."

These quotes frustrate me because it shows me why you are not learning English like you want to.

Wanting to learn a language and actually learning it are two different things. I know you want to learn English, but from your message you don't seem willing to do things to better your English.

You did mention that you didn't know where to start and I will try to help you with that, but you need to realize that right now you are stuck in the "want" stage of learning and you need to get into the "doing" stage.

The first issue you need to address is finding your motivation. No one can tell you what your motivation should be; it is personal and changes from person to person. Answer this simple question,

Why do you want to learn English?

Write down all the reasons you can think of. Your reasons could include travelling, your job, meeting new people etc. Write down your reasons.

Now you can see your motivation for learning English. The reasons that you are learning English are your motivation.

You are trying methods and activities that don't interest you.

Someone tells you to read the newspaper because that works for them. You try doing this but, for you, it's boring. If an activity is boring, it will not help you learn English for very long. Soon you will stop doing it. You need to find something that is interesting for you...like watching movies.

You like watching movies...so do that. After each movie you could write a review of that movie to practice your writing and the words that you learnt from that movie.

You write very well...about how your English is bad...

This is probably because you frequently write about how poor your English is. Imagine if you wrote more about your life, or interesting new things...you would strengthen your writing in all areas.

Facts

Listen more to improve your listening

Write more to improve your writing

Read more to improve your reading

Speak more to improve your speaking.

So now you have to choose activities that inspire you, that you enjoy and that you will do daily. That is your responsibility. You have to improve your English and do it in the best way possible for you.

There is no ONE answer.

You could listen to podcasts on an mp3 player while you go to work or walk or clean your house.

You could read articles about topics that interest you but are in English. I like to read about weight loss, travel and actors in Spanish.

Basically what I am telling you is this;

1) You need to find your motivation, the reasons why you are learning English.

2) You need to choose ways to study and use your English that are interesting and fun for YOU.

3) You need to stop wanting to learn English and DO it.

I know you are looking for answers and quick fixes but you really have to find them for yourself. I can give you ideas but I can't force you to use them. I hope this helps you. Please let us know how you are progressing in the future.

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