Learn English on Your Own with These Resources

Are you trying to learn English on your own but don’t know what resources to use or where to start? Think back. What motivated you to start learning English? There are many reasons why students push to begin learning a language. Whether it’s for a job opportunity or personal edification, the goal remains the same: speak fluently. Along the way, you may meet people who offer to help you acquire your new language, but the learning process ultimately depends on you. 

You are in charge of your learning. In order to reach your goals, you must come up with a plan or strategy so you don’t fall behind or lose motivation. It might sound simple to grab a book or watch a video to improve your English, but it is not always easy to do. In today’s post, we’ll give useful resources to learn English on your own. Are you ready? 

What to Do When Everything Depends on You

Those who had to learn English on their own likely share one trait in common: persistence. This is what makes high achievers reach dreams that once seemed impossible. Students who don’t think about giving up and choose to hang in there, even when the learning process is rough, receive their reward. What should you do? 

According to Lifehack, one way to improve any skill is by actually teaching what you have learned. Making time to share your knowledge can help you retain information and learn from others. In fact, when you sit down with other English learners who study by themselves, you motivate them to keep giving nothing but their best even when faced with adversity. If this is not enough, there are other steps you can take to improve your English.

Resources to Develop Your Listening Skills

YouTube is one of the leading websites for English learners. The platform has everything for everyone from beginners to advanced language learners. How to maximize YouTube to learn English? Each week, find a category that interests you. For one week, solely focus on videos related to a specific topic and learn as many words, phrases, and idioms about that topic. You can turn on the subtitles or slow the video playback speed so that you increase your chances of understanding the speaker.

YouTube also offers a wide range of podcasts for students to listen to at any time. Podcasts are excellent for passive learning. When you find a podcast you like, listen to it first without turning on the subtitles. Pay close attention to the speaker’s words and see how much information you understand. The point is not to focus on every single word that is said but to get the main ideas. 

Are you looking for more? Try audiobooks. Books have been used for centuries for scholarly learning. Audiobooks are great because they are recordings of books that you can listen to just about anywhere. How do you get the most out of it when it comes to learning English? Concentrate on the narrator and the elements of the story being discussed: plot, characters, setting, etc. When you are starting out, keep a piece of paper next to you and write down new vocabulary words that you want to look up later. 

Finally, if we have not listed enough resources, you can also listen to online radio stations. There is a radio station for just about any kind of topic. One major advantage of online radio stations is that you can sometimes engage with the host by calling into the station. Additionally, you can use the chat feature to communicate with other listeners or find a virtual partner to practice English. You set your own limits when you learn by yourself.

Resources to Improve Writing Skills

Generally, writing is one skill that poses a challenge to students in many languages. In elementary school, students learn grammar, punctuation rules, and basic spelling strategies. However, there comes a time when you want to start enhancing your writing skills like a professional. 

Write and Improve is a website developed by the University of Cambridge for students to practice writing. You can just click on the “start writing” button, then choose the appropriate level. Additionally, he software provides you with feedback to show areas needing improvement.

Writing and reading go hand in hand. Good writing comes from extensive reading. To begin, pick a book you like. After you have read a chapter, imitate the author’s style but using your own words. This is a fun exercise to develop creative writing and discover your voice. 

Resources to Improve Reading Skills

You can improve your reading comprehension skills on your own. In fact, doing so can be more gratifying. Start by going to a nearby bookstore and getting a book on a topic that interests you. If you don’t live near a bookstore, try your local library.

Plus, try to read a certain amount of pages a day and keep a journal to write your reactions to each story. What did you like? What would you change? You can also write vocabulary words and review them when you’re not at home or on a trip.   

Resources to Improve Speaking Skills

For the most part, English learners wish to improve their speaking skills quickly. Before you can start speaking a language, you need to learn words and expressions to get by. To help, you can find places where expats live or frequent. Prepare a set of topics to discuss or questions you would like to ask them. Try not to make it a one-sided conversation or overwhelm the person with questions.

However, if you prefer to stay at home, online English conversation partners can help you practice the language. Preply has hundreds of affordable English tutors who will correct your pronunciation mistakes and help you become more confident in your speaking. You can also go to groups on social media platforms and ask for a native or advanced English conversation partner. Keep in mind that the person may want you to teach them your language in exchange. 

Bonus

Whenever you face the unfamiliar, always do your best. Learning English on your own might seem a long process, but if you stay organized and set realistic goals, you will see results. In another post, we shared tips for memorizing vocabulary in any language, which will help you tremendously if you decide to keep studying English on your own.

Takeaway

Learning English on your own is definitely possible. Most of the time, you only need to be connected to the web and able to explore the content available. You get to create your own schedule and decide what topics you want to learn about or reinforce. Do you have a tip you would like to share? Write it in the comments!