When moving to another country, a new language and culture can be quite overwhelming and challenging. It’s a massive leap out from your comfort zone, yet at the same time, it can also be an exciting and perfect opportunity for you to start again.
Are you planning to move to an English-speaking country? In that case, learning English is the first step to help you adjust and settle down in the new environment. English is considered the universal language because it’s the most popular and widely spoken language worldwide. English has also become a common language for businesses, providing them with a common ground for communication.
Suppose you’re coming from a non-English-speaking country and are now moving to an English-speaking one. In that case, this article will provide you with a few language learning tips to help you immerse yourself in English and improve your current level of competency.
- Take An English Language Course
Before you officially pack and move to an English-speaking country, taking an English language course from your country is a good idea. For example, if you’re from Singapore, you may enroll in an English language course and study for at least six to twelve months. Learning English in Singapore is easier as there are two ways to explore the language. You can choose between on-site learning (face-to-face studying in school) or online learning (virtual course).
Before starting your language learning journey, assess your current competency in the English language. This way, the school or language learning center can put you in a class that best fits your current English-language competency.
- Read Plenty Of English Books
Reading can be an excellent way to enhance your English language skills and expand your vocabulary. Whatever type of English book you read can expose you to various sentence structures, literary flow, and word sequences.
When you’re reading an English book and find some unfamiliar words or hard-to-read phrases/sentences, write them down in your notebook or paper. You can return to them later to look for their meanings and pronunciations and practice them.
- Listen To English Audiobooks Or Podcasts
Another way you can learn and master the English language is by listening to audiobooks or podcasts. This can be useful, especially if you don’t always have enough time to lay back and read some books. Whether doing household chores, riding on public transportation, or eating, you can play some English podcasts or audiobooks in your earbuds. Listening to English podcasts and audiobooks can help you learn correct pronunciations, rhythms, intonations, and their proper uses in sentences.
- Label Your Items
Sometimes, it isn’t easy to memorize English words or nouns as quickly as you’d hoped. Labeling your items can help you familiarize or remember English words in preparation for your move abroad. For example, if you’re currently trying to memorize the English names of your kitchen tools and ingredients, you can put labels on them to help improve your vocabulary. You can do the same for other household or office items.
- Watch English TV Programs
Watching English TV shows or movies can also be a fun and entertaining way to master a new language. When watching English movies or shows with English subtitles, you can read and listen to the words simultaneously, making it easier to absorb the language. What’s more, you also learn famous English expressions, idioms, and slang which you can’t always learn from books.
- Live With Native English Speakers
You may already have learned some English language basics and recently moved into an English-speaking country. To put your learnings into practice and further improve your English language skills, choose to live with a native English speaker if possible. Living with native speakers can encourage you to use all your learnings and communicate in English in all aspects of your daily life. They may also teach you new English words or correct your pronunciation, helping you improve daily.
- Get Involved In The Community
This approach may be challenging and daunting, but getting involved in the English-speaking community is a surefire way to boost your English fluency. You can apply for a job and work for a company with native English speakers. This allows you to expand your network while boosting your language skills.
If you’re still applying for a job, you can use your time to volunteer instead. You might also meet new friends, putting your English language skills into practice. During the days when you’re at home, step outside and meet your native-English-speaking neighbors. Introduce yourself using the English language you’ve learned and get to know them.
You can also explore other places that align with your interest, such as the local library, gym, mall, café, or sports center. Exploring places that are within your interest can help you meet people who potentially have the same interests as you. From there, you can talk about your mutual interests while improving your English language competency in the process.
Key Takeaway
Learning a new language may seem easier said than done. But with these different blended learning strategies and consistent practice, you can master the English language in no time. Remember, the best way to learn English is to fully put yourself in an English-speaking country and continuously speak and hear the language. So, don’t be afraid to use the basics you’ve learned and let your daily interactions with native speakers help enhance your English fluency.
