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English Learning

2019.12.13
  • Gary Littlecott
  • LanguageLearning
  • 2019
Students often ask me about how they can improve their English skills. There is no simple answer to this question as learning a language is an extremely complex thing. However, here are three pieces of advice that I often give my students.
1. Read, read, read! You should read extensively in English. This is because your mind subconsciously picks up language such as grammar; collocations (words that usually go together – example: torrential rain) and you broaden your lexical (vocabulary) knowledge. I often use Penguin Readers in class so that students can enjoy reading in English every week. I would recommend picking reading material that is a slightly higher level than your current reading ability. For example, read a page of text (about 300 words). If there are about three to five words (excluding proper nouns) that you do not know, then the text may be suitable for you. However, I would encourage students to read anything that is of interest to them, even if it is a simple text. You should always enjoy reading in English; it should never be boring.
2. In my view, vocabulary learning is the single most important thing that a learner of English can do. A phrase I often say is ‘without grammar little can be conveyed, but without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed.’ Put another way, learning vocabulary is even more important than learning grammar. I tend not to use the word ‘vocabulary,’ instead I use the word ‘lexis’. While vocabulary tends to focus on the single word, lexis also focuses on collocations, multi-word phrases such as idioms, phrasal verbs and so on. A thorough knowledge of lexical phrases and collocations is the foundation for verbal fluency. My advice is to think bigger than the word. For example, you may know the word ‘die’ but do you know the lexical items ‘pass away’ ‘kick the bucket’ and ‘give up the ghost’? They all mean 'die' as well. That is why the memorisation of lexis is so important because your language knowledge will increase dramatically if you do so. Therefore, I recommend learning as many lexical items as possible. Use words cards to note the target language and memorise it. Use the cards as much as possible, for example whenever you are on the train or bus.

3. Who owns the English language? English began in England so do the English own the language? In my view, everyone who uses English owns the language. The Japanese should not consider English a foreign language but as their second language used for international communication. You do not necessarily need to speak English like a British or American person. Nor is it necessary to speak English with a British/American accent. Your accent and use of language may differ from British/American usage but it doesn’t mean it is wrong. My advice is to speak English as a Japanese person with a Japanese accent and to be proud that your English usage reflects your identity and not someone else’s.

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