Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[EnglishLCI]

Whether you�ve enrolled in an ESL program for beginners, advanced ESl classes, or Business English courses, the key to improving your English lies in how seriously you take your English learning goals and how hard you�ll try to achieve them. Sounds too �serious�, right? And no fun? Although, improving your English does require a certain amount of hard work and concentration, it is possible to find the perfect balance between concentrated studying and spontaneous, fun learning. Follow this foolproof plan, and you�ll be speaking more confidently in English in no time.

Plunge into it head first!

No matter how great, how experienced, or how knowledgeable your teachers are, you will never absorb the teachings they impart through osmosis. Do not think you can just sit quietly in the back of the classroom, and just listen and watch what goes on. If you really want to improve your English, you have to dive into the experience; participate and be actively engaged in the lessons, right from the start, even if you're a beginner and will only be able to say a few words. This is not the time to be shy or self-conscious about your English, after all, you�ll be surrounded by students just like you!

Do your homework

Throughout your life you�ve always heard teachers and parents tell you to study and do your homework, and let�s face it, they were a pain in the neck. But they were right. After school study is essential to strengthen everything you�ve seen in class. All of those new words, grammar tenses, and expressions must be reviewed, practiced, and chewed on, so to speak. This way you�ll increase your chances of remembering and effectively using everything you�ve learned. Besides the exercises assigned to you by your teacher, there are several fun things you could do for �homework�. You could read short news articles or blog posts. Watch videos on YouTube or CNN.com. Make a note of any new words or vocabulary and then look them up in your dictionary. The resources are endless!

Get out and mingle!

It is absolutely essential that you practice what you�re learning in class in real life settings. Engage the locals in conversation and ask them about their customs, history, sites of interest, and activities. Even if you're a beginner there's lots you could say and practice, from day-to-day phrases, to polite requests. No matter what your level is, you must make the effort to speak to people outside the classroom. You could join a club or organization, even sign up for extracurricular classes, like cooking, pottery, or skiing.

There is an amazing variety of ESL Programs to choose from, but once you do make your choice, you have to commit to it for the duration. An English course in the US is an investment, and one you won't want to waste. To really make it worth your time and money, you must do your part. If you do, you won�t be sorry. You�ll feel more confident speaking English and be ready to take on the world!

Rachel Clarkson is an English teacher at LCI English ESL Programs and blogger at the ESL Blog.
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LCI offers the best ESL classes through experienced teachers and high quality programs in Denver, Colorado. Check out great ESL resources and articles at www.englishlci.com/blog