When it comes to English learning the vocabulary can be one of the hardest things about the language. The vocabulary used within the English language is so broad that getting your head around it all can be one of the hardest things to try and overcome. There are a number of issues that come from having such a broad vocabulary and it’s important to know these so that you can start to see some big improvements both inside and outside of the classroom.

Phrasal Verbs

With phrasal verbs this can cause a number of problems as depending on the preposition you attach to the word it can completely change the meaning. There’s no easy way around it so it is important to try and learn them as natives use them a lot.

Vocabulary

Collocations

These are also used often alot by native speakers and because of this it is important to know how to use and recognise them so as to improve your range of vocabulary. Collocations are the words which go together to sound natural to native English speakers and help to give you alternative ways to express yourself in the language.

Slang

This is something that you can really only learn from native speakers, as this is where you will hear slang the most. This makes spending time in the country a great way to help you learn the language as this is often not taught in the classroom.  Although it’s informal language, knowing slang will help to improve how well you can communicate in the language and improve your proficiency.

When it comes to learning another language, you are never too old to start. There are many benefits to knowing another language, especially where English is concerned as it is spoken in so many countries throughout the world. However some   people may feel like they haven’t got enough time to spare when it comes to learning the language. Luckily there is a simple solution to this problem- taking a part time English course, or even evening classes.

Part time courses

With the part time courses you can still learn the language, but with less time spent in the classroom each week. You still get the chance to do one of the full time courses that are available at the school, so you don’t miss out on finding the right course to suit your needs for learning the language. The only difference is that instead of attending 5 classes a week, you can attend from 2 days a week, so you don’t have to give up on all your other commitments.

Learning English

Evening classes

If you can’t spare time during the day to learn English, then the evening classes may be just the thing you need to help you learn or improve with the language. The evening classes run from anything from 2 weeks up to 48 weeks so it can be another useful way to help you learn the language.

When it comes to learning a language, saying the words right can be difficult. Even if you know the words and all the grammar, knowing how to pronounce words is a big part in helping to improve your fluency. Although it’s hard to sound like a native unless you learn the language from childhood there are some things that you can do to help.

Read out loud

Reading out loud will help you when it comes to pronouncing the words as you try to get your tongue around how the words should sound. Take a book or magazine, or even use the resources online, and read the articles aloud.

Record yourself

When you are speaking you could be making mistakes that you aren’t even aware off. When you read something record yourself, either with your phone or even using programmes available online to record yourself through your computer, and play it back to see how it sounds. This way you can find out for yourself where you need to improve in your pronunciation.

Listen to how the words are said

Listening to natives is the best way to learn the proper pronunciation.  Watch films and listen to shows even on the radio to hear how words are said and repeat them afterwards to get used to how they should be said.  English is not a phonetic language so this is really important.

Learning English

Look in the dictionary

When you come across a word that you aren’t sure how to pronounce, look in the dictionary to see how the word is said and to be sure that you are pronouncing it correctly. If you use an online dictionary you can even hear how the word should be said with the audio files available.

When it comes to learning a language it can be easy to forget some of the things we have learnt once we return back home. Having been used to speaking it every day, it can be easy to fall out of practice with talking and thinking in the language.  Although classes will help with the learning of the language, especially when it comes to grammar and even pronunciation, it’s important that you continue to work on it. There are several ways that you can do this- all of which will help to improve your fluency even more.

Online courses

Doing an online course will allow you to keep things fresh in your head and to improve your grammar. You can continue the classes you started while in the capital with the same teacher. With online courses you can work on developing your knowledge of the English language- all from the comfort of your home.

Learning English

Read books or newspapers

Read books in English. This way you will learn useful phrases and even sentence structures, while enjoying a good book at the same time.

When it comes to newspapers there are a number of online publications. This way you can practice reading in English but as well as that it  will keep you up to date with current affairs. After all speaking a language isn’t just about knowing the words, it’s also about knowing the culture as well.  

Listen to music

Listen to some of the latest songs in English and keep up to date with the hits. With Radio 1 there is a top 40 singles chart every week to keep you up to date with what is being played.

When it comes to spending time in London getting used to hearing English when it is spoken by natives can be difficult as you will find that, like in any country, accents differ from place to place. In order to make things easier before you come to spend time in the city, there are ways to help you improve your listening skills, helping to make it easier for you when it comes to understanding the natives while you are here.

Listen to the radio

When it comes to English there are lots of radio stations you can listen to, to help you understand the language when it’s spoken. Whether it’s music, the news or the weather- you can listen to it all. And when you’re feeling really confident you can even try different radio channels from different areas to see how you get on with other accents.

Improving your listening skills

Watch films or TV shows

Watching a film in English will help you to get used to the different accents and also to see what all you can understand. To start off you can even try the film with subtitles. What’s more there are some TV shows that will really help you to build up your vocabulary and listening skills.

Listen to songs

Listening to songs will help you to improve your listening skills. Try listening to the song first then looking up the words after, to see what all you have understood.

Don’t translate everything you hear

When it comes to understanding the things you hear don’t worry if you don’t get everything. As long as you get the gist of the conversation there’s no need to worry, as the rest will come with time.

When it comes to learning English as a foreign language there are a number of things that can make it difficult for people to reach the fluency they want. As with any language there are a number of things from the mother tongue that can make it harder for us to learn. False friends and idiomatic expressions are just two things that can play a part in all of this, and knowing both will help you on your way to sounding as fluent as possible in English.

False friends

When it comes to learning another language false friends can sometimes cause a few problems as the translation into English may have a completely different meaning. There’s a good chance that many of us have some funny stories to tell about when false friends have got the better of us, but making sure to learn them will really help when it comes to your fluency in the language. When it comes to learning English there are a number of false friends to look out for, especially for native Spanish and French speakers.

Idioms

When it comes to sounding fluent in another language using idioms is the one way that you will really impress native speakers. In English there are lots of idioms and knowing a few will make a real difference to your fluency in the language. Idioms and idiomatic expressions are used all the time in English so knowing them will also help you when it comes to understanding natives as well, as they are something you can’t translate word for word in order to understand their meaning.

When in London be sure to make the most of your classes as they are going to provide the ground work that you need for helping you to improve with the language. However no matter how much you study or read, being able to communicate and feel confident in speaking the language is really important, as you get the opportunity to put all the theory you know into real life practice. For many people it can be speaking the language that is often the hardest part and that’s why it’s important that you seize all the opportunities you can to practice speaking the language.   

Speaking with natives

One of the things that can often hold you back from speaking the language is shyness, especially when it comes to speaking to natives of the language. However there’s no need to be shy. Everyone makes mistakes, and we can only learn from them. Whether it’s a case of asking for a coffee in a café, asking where something is in a supermarket, or even just talking with a friend, don’t worry about any mistakes you might make.

When it comes to learning a language, going to the country where it is spoken is said to be one of the best ways to learn. If you have made the decision to come and spend time studying English in London there are a few things to think about, as you start preparing for your time away. Be sure to have all these in order before the time comes for you to leave.

Visa

For students travelling from outside of the EU, you need a visa to spend time studying in London. There are two types of visas which you can get, The General Student Visa or the Student Visitor Visa.

Travel Insurance

Make sure to take out travel insurance to cover yourself incase anything should happen during your time away. Taking out travel insurance is a must. It’s best however to take out the insurance before your trip begins (in case of an emergency that prevents you from coming) and for a few days after your expected departure date.

English Language Studio

Mode of travel

You need to decide how you will arrive. The quickest way of travel in most cases is to  take a flight to London, with many of the low cost airlines serving the various London airports. However if you are planning on staying for a long time then you may want to consider travelling by car,  bus or even train to allow you some more room in your suitcase!

Banking

Should you be planning to stay in London for more than six months then it could be worthwhile to open up a bank account. This way you will be able to easily access your money. The school can help you with setting this up.

Deciding whether or not to go away and spend time in another country can be a difficult decision to make. There are a lot of things to think about, but when it comes down to it the benefits often far outweigh the doubts.

Discovering a new culture

When we spend time in a different country we can discover a different culture and attitude to the way we think about or see things. This helps us to take a different view on things and to broaden our horizons, which  couldn’t be easier to do in such a cosmopolitan city.

Creating memories

No matter where in the world you go there will always be a place or person that you will remember. Whether it’s a fond memory of the local place you end up going out to during your time at the school, the group of friends that you make,  or even a teacher that has really helped you with learning English, these are all things that you won’t  forget. You can be sure that during your time away you will build up plenty of memories to take away with you.

Friends

Feeling independent

One of the big benefits about spending time away is that it will give you a real sense of independence and the chance for you to see how you can manage by yourself.  Whether it’s little things like cooking for yourself or bigger things such as finding yourself somewhere to live in the city, you will be able to see just how you can manage for yourself.

Learning about yourself

Going away is the perfect opportunity for you to grow. Yes it sounds a bit cliché but going to a foreign country gives you the opportunity to discover yourself. It also gives you the opportunity to do things that you hadn’t considered before, while getting to meet new people and discover a different culture at the same time.

For some of us the end of school can often mean the end of us studying a foreign language. However after spending years learning English, does it not seem a bit of a shame to throw it away. Surely we should do what we can to keep it up, as the benefits of knowing a second language are endless.

Communication

English is the most widely spoken language in the world. With over 750 million people who know the language, it is clear that it is a huge benefit when it comes to communication. In fact, it is seen as the business language, so it couldn’t be more useful to know.

Employability

Knowing a second language always looks good on your CV Resume as it shows your potential employer that you have  good communication skills. Not only this but knowing a foreign  language can also open up many more career doors for you, giving you more choice when it comes to deciding what you want to do.

Travel

Knowing one of the most widely spoken languages in the world has huge benefits when it comes to travelling. If you go to an English speaking country, you can almost guarantee you will find an English speaker who can help you with whatever problem you have. This means all you have left to do is relax and enjoy the trip.

Learning English

Internet

Most of the information found on the Internet is in English. Knowing the language means you don’t have to rely on a bad translation to get access to the information you are searching for. Also it opens up the amount of information resources available to you.

Music and Films

Most of the biggest songs and films tend to be in the English language. For music, being able to hear and understand the lyrics can make a huge difference to the meaning of songs. When it comes to films, you can enjoy the original, without the dubbing.