Ideas for improving your English while studying in the UK
Once you’ve begun your studies in the UK, learning doesn’t have to stop at the classroom. Developing activities and habits which fit around your classes will improve your newfound English skills immeasurably even when you’re not studying from a textbook. Here are some top tips for improving your English while studying in the UK.
Stay with a host family
It can be difficult to carry on your practice outside of lessons without any native speakers around. By staying with a host family, you can give yourself the chance to practise your English skills in the mornings and evenings as well as during your classes.
Make friends locally
For students studying at a language school such as The Bristol Language Centre (http://www.blc-english.co.uk ), being around locals can really help you develop your English skills away from the classroom – and Bristol is known for its friendly and social vibe. For those who are shy of talking to new people, BLC students can try joining one of the many Bristol evening classes in their local area.
Get out and about
When studying with others who are at the same level as you, it can be tempting not to put yourself in different situations. Explore the local area either on your own or with friends and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to learn more language skills. Shops, restaurants and public transport are all great places to practise your English.
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Read local publications
Local newspapers and magazines are generally inexpensive and are great for practising your reading skills. Interviews and articles with lots of dialogue can also help you pick up on phrases which you may not have heard before and you can practise using them yourself in conversation.
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Start your own English language blog
A great way of practising your writing skills is learning how to describe your life and the things which interest you. By starting a blog about your learning experience, you can expand your knowledge of important vocabulary and reduce your grammar mistakes. This is also a fun way to learn quickly and share your experiences with other students.
Only search online in English
During your studies, try switching your search engine to the English language version of MSN, Google or Yahoo to practise searching for specific information in English. This can also give you a wider range of websites to choose from and more opportunities to link up with native English speakers.
Write a review
Another fun way to improve your writing skills is to write an online review for a film, book, hotel or restaurant you have experienced during your stay. Many non-natives write for websites like Amazon and IMDB and it’s a good way to practise your skills by writing about something which interests you.
Listen to the radio
While you’re out and about, listening to English broadcasts can help you to pick up new phrases and learn how different words work in context. English music can help you to understand rhythm and tones in the language while news broadcasts can introduce you to more complex words and sentences.
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Listen to audio books
As well as radio programmes, audio books are great to listen to when you’re out exploring the city. You can also download extended speech radio and podcasts for free from a number of websites including the BBC and Scientific American.
By giving yourself the chance to learn outside of the classroom, you’ll be on the way to fluency in no time. Try some of these ideas and make full use of your time in the UK in order to achieve your learning goals.
Resources:
BBC: Learn English - Online resource for English language learners.
Guardian: Learn English - News and information for English language learners.
British Council: Learn English - Online resource for learners with games, activities and exercises.
