Q&A for How to Improve Your English

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How do I speak English confidently if it is my second language?

Community Answer

Don't worry about making mistakes or about other people judging you. Be proud that you are able to speak a second language; this is an accomplishment. Over time, you will feel more confident.

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Question

Can I take a newspaper to school to read and help improve my English?

Community Answer

This is a great idea. Just make sure to put it away and pay attention when the teacher is giving a lesson.

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Question

How can I become a fluent English speaker?

Community Answer

Start watching your favorite English programs (even cartoons in English will work). Or you can try listening to BBC News or watching your favorite English movies. Speak English whenever and wherever you are able to. Also consider taking a class.

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Question

How can I improve my writing?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Read out loud what you've written. If it doesn't sound right when spoken, change it until it does.

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Question

How do I speak English fluently?

Community Answer

Watch English cartoons and movies, listen to songs in English on the radio, and use English word signs stuck on items around your house. Join a club or class that lets you practice conversing in English with other people.

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Question

I am having trouble with remembering the past and present tenses. What can I do?

Anonymous queen

Community Answer

You can make a table of tense forms along with a few examples and stick them on your study table. Further, you can make placards out of small paper sheets and jot down the tables. Whenever you are free, memorize the forms and imagine other examples that could go with them.

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Question

Most of the time I feel very shy - I am not confident and everyone says so! What can I do?

Community Answer

You may feel shy because you're not confident in your ability. The best way to fix this is to practice more. The more you practice, the better you will be and your confidence will increase.

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Question

I live in ethiopia and there is no one who speaks english fluently. What can I do to improve my English language?

Community Answer

Read a lot of books and watch English channels/television programs.

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Question

I know how to speak, but when I'm in front of anybody I'm totally spellbound. What can I do to improve my public speaking?

Anchor Luk

Community Answer

Just see all the audience as a big background. Don't look around or at specific faces, because this will give you pressure. Try to just focus on one item in the back of whatever room you're in or on one person in the room that you are comfortable talking to, like having a one to one conversation; you should feel less nervous.

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Question

I have a large English vocabulary but I am having trouble utilizing this when speaking. How do I improve on this?

Donagan

Top Answerer

By practicing.

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Question

Most of the time I feel very shy, and I'm not confident. How do I speak English fluently?

Michael Starc

Community Answer

Break the ice. Don't care about other people, because they will always be speaking on your faults and mistakes. Remember it's you who can make yourself who you are, not others. If you are happy with your progress, that's good enough.

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Question

I don't talk much, but I actually love to talk. I'm nervous to face others. How can I change my attitude?

Rhonda Crook-Roddy

Community Answer

Under what circumstances are you nervous? Are you expected to do any public speaking for your job? Are you extremely shy? Self-conscious about your English? Your looks? Other things? You might want to do some self-reflection about all this. One thing to think about: other people may not even be aware of how nervous you feel. They may be genuinely interested in what you have to say. You might explore your feelings with a trusted friend or consider counseling to help you identify what the underlying reasons might be for your discomfort.

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Question

What is a good correcting website?

Community Answer

Lang8 is very popular for peer-to-peer correction in multiple languages. Try searching for it and finding a language pair.

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Question

How do increase my word limit and how I will be able to write or speak on any topic any time?

Community Answer

Watch videos in English, read as many things as you can in English, talk to English people. Also, if you can, take English classes.

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Question

What can I do if I'm afraid and feel ashamed in front of people while speaking English?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Remind yourself that those people would have the same trouble if they tried to speak in your native language. Then just keep working to improve your use of English.

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Question

What can I do if I have a problem using verb tenses?

Jackson McAfee

Community Answer

Practice, practice, practice! There are tons of exercises all over the internet that can help you improve your understanding of tenses.

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Question

If I played as an English interpreter, would it help me in my verbal abilities?

Elissa Schwartz

Community Answer

You really need to know proper English first in order to translate what is being said into English. I would suggest practicing verbal abilities before you consider being an interpreter.

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Question

In my country, English is the second language. I've tried to speak English with my friends, but they think I am a spoiled brat. What should I do?

Community Answer

They're probably just jealous that you're trying to better yourself by learning a second language. If your friends don't want to learn English with you, try some of the other techniques in the article. If you know any teachers at school that speak English, ask if they could help you, and try to immerse yourself in the language by reading English books and newspapers and watching TV shows and movies in English.

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Question

In my essays I obtain low marks because of my spelling; how can I improve that?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Use a dictionary.

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Question

How can I improve my accent?

Donagan

Top Answerer

We get our accents -- and we can change them -- by listening to and copying other people's speech. Find an accent you like, and copy it exactly.

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Question

I can speak English, but the problem is that I don't know which accent I am speaking. Is this okay?

Community Answer

Yes. Your accent is less important than the fact that you can speak the language. If you're really not satisfied with your accent, pick an English speaker who sounds the way you want to sound, and copy him/her. It may take a while to change your accent permanently.

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Question

Do you recommend reading a book without understanding every word I read, or should I understand every word, taking a lot of time to read?

Donagan

Top Answerer

That's up to you. Some people want to understand every word; some just want a general understanding of the material.

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