How to learn English quickly

Can you learn English quickly? Yes, you can. All you need is a proper strategy. I’m going to give you mine, which I suggest to the students who need it. Since I got great feedback on them, I decided to blog on it.

Know why you need English

It is always a good idea to analyse your needs – why you need to learn English. If you feel you can go random and get what you need, you will be in for a rude shock.

For example, if you need English to clear an interview, focus on the vocabulary related to your domain knowledge, eg, medicine for doctors, engineering for engineers, and so on. Also, look up some of the job interview training sites where you will get a lot of interview language.

If you are going abroad on a business trip or conference, brush up on the conversation starters.

If it’s travelling that you have on your mind, read up travel blogs and literature.

Keeping this focus in your mind, you must…

Read as much English as you can

Not forgetting the focus we mentioned above, read materials you require to meet your needs of learning English. Your domain magazines and other publications for your domain related English.

Newspapers, magazines, web-pages, social media feeds if you want to speak on general topics, like, with friends. They also help you with small talk.

If you wish to polish your English, I suggest reading classic literature – no, not Shakespeare! I’d suggest Bertrand Russell (I just love his works!), Edgar Allen Poe (if you like aliens), Mark Twain, Arthur Conan Doyle (the Sherlock Holmes man), to name a few.

I prefer to read novels. I’ve read John Fowles, Martin Amis (I love his Money), AJ Cronin, and a whole lot more. You could also read some of the American “Westerns” if you love that kind. I do. I have.

My favourite is PG Wodehouse! I guess he is every Indian’s favourite!

But, remember, don’t simply turn the pages, enjoy the story, and drop it. You need to do some “studies” here!

Do some note-taking

When you come across any word or phrase, idiom, or any other usage, write it down in context. It means the sentence in which that element was used, and its meaning.

Maintain a small notebook that you can refer to, frequently. Then, you need to start using them whenever you speak.  This will avoid that “It’s on the tip of my tongue, but…!” syndrome.

Talk with others

We use language to communicate. And the quickest way is to open our mouths and speak. Don’t do that “texting” – it’s so disgusting!

When you speak, the new elements stay on in your minds more than when you “WhatsApp” them. I have heard people telling me, “I understand English but I can’t speak”. That’s the “WhatsApp generation” for you. If you understand English, you know the words. Just use them! And, believe me, nobody’s going to laugh at you. And, if some screwball does laugh at you, they’re not worth it. IGNORE THEM!

Watch English YouTube channels

Whatever be your area of interest, watch that channel. If you like politics, there are millions of them. Cooking, sports, mechanics, humour, you name it and you have channels out there on YouTube.

Never mind if you can’t understand the “weird” accents at first. But, keep listening and you’ll soon get used to it and start understanding them. Another important point here is you get to hear a lot of “native-speak”. The kind of chunks they use could take your English to the next level.

Interviews of celebrities

A great way to learn English is to read or listen to interviews given by celebrities. They don’t speak as if they’re reading! They speak naturally. They use their regional slangs and their kind of humour. Watch or read them over and over again. Note down the new and interesting expressions, see how they’re used, and use them in your own situation. You feel the thrill when you use them on your own! I know that experience.

Never lose hope

Finally, it could so happen that after some time, you start feeling like you aren’t making any progress with English. Don’t despair. When you do start to feel frustrated, read some comic books! You read that right! And English has millions of them floating around! They are useless English-wise, but they can take your mind off the “learning” bit, and relax you, while still keeping you in touch with English.

A word of caution here:

You will have to join an English class to make some easy, definitive, and quick, and meaningful progress! The teachers are actually trained to get the language inside of you! With the busy schedules that we have, not to mention the Coronavirus, online classes are the best option for now.

All the best with your English learning!