Choosing the Wrong Materials
People learn English for many different reasons. Of course your level is very important when you are choosing the materials you will use for self-study, but you should also always keep your own personal goals in mind.
Maybe you want to improve your English so that you can travel or study in another country. Perhaps you want to learn business English vocabulary to help you in your professional career. Or you might even be preparing for an international English exam.
Here are some tips on how to choose the right materials for you.
If you are taking classes, your teacher will already have some materials for you. Look at them as soon as you get them at the beginning of your course. What kinds of activities are there?
Maybe you want to improve your English so that you can travel or study in another country. Perhaps you want to learn business English vocabulary to help you in your professional career. Or you might even be preparing for an international English exam.
Here are some tips on how to choose the right materials for you.
If you are taking classes, your teacher will already have some materials for you. Look at them as soon as you get them at the beginning of your course. What kinds of activities are there?
- If the materials do not have many reading activities or stories, be sure you add some of your own. You can also find pronunciation exercises and grammar explanations.
- Make a list of your personal goals. What topics do you want to be able to talk about? What specific things do you want to achieve with your English?
- Talk to a professional. This can be your teacher, another student, or someone else who knows a lot about learning English. Get recommendations on the best materials for you.
Finally, remember that the time you spend in class is not enough. You must do homework and self-study to really learn the language. The harder you work, the better you will learn and the faster you will reach all your English goals!
