AchēvIf you’re a Canadian newcomer who doesn’t speak English as your native language, improving your English skills is a great way to better adjust to life in Canada. Here are some suggestions for how a newcomer to Canada can improve their English language skills.
Watch TV in English
Watching English television programs is a great and fun way to begin picking up on different words and improving your overall vocabulary. As you watch TV, you’ll slowly find yourself understanding more of the discussions and improving your own English. Watching TV can also introduce you to unique phrases and jargon that you may not have learned yet.
Try An App
There is a wide variety of apps aimed at helping you learn and improve your English language skills. Apps such as Duolingo are excellent ways to take a curricular approach to learning languages. Additionally, many apps make practicing your English language skills into a game, which can make learning fun. This is a great way to dedicate just a few minutes a day to practice your English using methods proven to be successful.
Have Conversations with Others
The best way to become proficient in English is to have conversations with others. While this may be a bit intimidating at first, you’ll find that you’re rapidly improving your abilities in the English language. Consider finding a conversation partner and setting aside an hour to chat a few times a week. This can help you learn new phrases, practice your comprehension and rapidly improve your ability to interact using English.
Read Out Loud
There are many things you can read that will help you improve your English language skills. One of the best things to start with is a newspaper. Newspapers typically use simple sentences that make it easy for people of varying English skill levels to read them. Thus, newspapers are great things to practice with. Be sure to read aloud to yourself, as this will allow you to practice your reading comprehension and verbal communication skills. This is a great way to improve your confidence in using English.
Make a Word Notebook
One great way to improve your English language skills is to continually strengthen your vocabulary. Consider keeping a notebook where you write down new words and phrases that you learn. Make it a goal to learn a few new English words or phrases each day. Once a week, flip through your notebook and review some of the words or phrases you’ve learned. Use them in sentences. A great way to do this is to write down new words that you naturally encounter as you go about your day.
Consider Taking a Course
You don’t necessarily have to take an English course to improve your English language skills, although it’s certainly an idea to consider. However, taking any course that interests you, such as a cooking class or exercise class, will expose you to the English language and require you to interact with others. This is a fun way to practice your English. You can find courses at various places. Many community centers may even have free courses that you can try out. Take a look at the different resources in your area and find a class you are interested in taking.
Have a Positive Attitude
Understandably, newcomers to Canada may become frustrated when adjusting to communicating in English. However, trying to keep a positive attitude about learning will go a long way towards helping you to improve your English language skills. Try not to feel embarrassed or bad about making mistakes but rather find humor in the situation. After all, learning a language is a lengthy process, and no one is expected to be perfect. If you have a positive attitude about the process, you will likely find that you can get more enjoyment out of honing your skills.
Final Thoughts
For those who don’t speak English as their native language, improving their English language skills can help them adjust to life in Canada more quickly. Improving your English skills doesn’t have to feel frustrating or difficult. You can utilize fun strategies like these seven tips and incorporate them into your schedule when you have time. The more you practice, the more you’ll feel comfortable with the language.
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