How to improve my English?

Latvia
June 24, 2011 10:45am CST
In this year I need to start to write my doctor’s dissertation, and I must write it not in my native language, but in English. My English knowledge isn't very good, especially if we speak about scientific level, where grammar and literary language must be perfect. So I wanted to know Your opinion, maybe You have some suggestions how to improve my English skills in short time? What would be the best methods to do that?
2 people like this
14 responses
• Romania
24 Jun 11
I can say I never tried to learn English at school. Everything I know I've learned watching movies and playing RPG games. RPG games are very useful because being in the game you have to pay more attention at what answer you give and because it is written you can learn a lot of grammar. So this way, from movies and games you can learn English and have fun in the same time. ;)
• Latvia
24 Jun 11
What kind of games are RPG? What you must do there?
• Latvia
24 Jun 11
Thank you! I will definitely try some of them!
• Romania
24 Jun 11
In RPG games you have a basic character. You have to level up, kill monsters but also there are people from whom you get missions. And you have to understand what they are saying and giving them responses. And this is how I've leared English because I was paying attention to undersand what I have to do. Here are some RPG games: Ghotic, Dungeon Siege, Dragon Age, and you can browse on internet and find more ;)
@blacks94 (161)
• Italy
24 Jun 11
Why don't you start "living in english"? Try setting english as the primary language fot everything, from your computer to wikipedia. Also, read lots of books in order to get a good vocabulary, and check a grammar each time you're unsure about a sentence. Remember that learning a language is not something quick to do. It takes a lot of time to properly learn English or any other language. If you need to practise with spoken english, I suggest watching videos on youtube in english. Especially if you have a favourite tv series, try looking for the original version on youtube and try to understand the dialogues without subtitles. Good Luck!
• Latvia
24 Jun 11
Thank you, for your response! You have mentioned so many different ways, and I will try to make my living in English. Thank you!
• Latvia
25 Jun 11
Maybe for someone this method is true and working, but for me, I surely can say that it isn't so. I read a lot, almost all the day I spent on internet where everything is in English. My vocabulary becomes better, but not my writing skills. Grammar is my stumbling block.
@blacks94 (161)
• Italy
25 Jun 11
@shamnanizar I am not a native speaker, nor can I say my English is perfect. However, it is my opinion that, although proper knowledge of grammar is required in order to speak any language, pronunciation is way more important when you have to speak english. On the other hand, if you have to get good at writing then you'll need a very good knowledge of both grammar and vocabulary. Some people simply learn grammar rules by heart, as you said. I don't think this is a good way to learn English, but for some people this is the only way to do so. In my opinion, getting to speak, listen and write English everyday automatically leads to understanding grammar rules (at least the basics). I am not very good at grammar, but I always manage to find the way to express what I think, so basically my advice to anyone trying to learn english is to practise everyday. Then, should you have a doubt about a grammar rule, checking it on a manual is obviously the best solution.
• Philippines
25 Jun 11
What you need is a technical writing crash course. Written and spoken english are two different things. Take some classes on technical writing.
• Latvia
25 Jun 11
Maybe you know some sites or programs where is such option to train technical writing?
@akp100 (13640)
• India
25 Jun 11
Hi Just keep doing work on mylot regularly and I am sure you English will improve by discussing with other lotters. Even mine English has improved lot after joining site. You already got too many suggestion for this so you can add this one in the list if you like.
• Latvia
25 Jun 11
Thank you for your response! You are right - I didn't even expect that this question will involve so many different and useful answers! Some of them I already knew, but there was also something new for me, that I definitely will try!
• Philippines
27 Jun 11
Well, that's the beauty of always asking around. It always helps to ask especially for starters. Ask and you shall receive.
@axlrate7 (1398)
• Philippines
1 Jul 11
Thank you that you created this discussion, I also want to learn english and speak it fluently, cause I really need it this day. I will read other respondent tips for you and will follow their suggestions. =D
@axlrate7 (1398)
• Philippines
5 Jul 11
Thank you for your advice, I made look at your profile and learned that you're a Filipino. You're very good in speaking this language, you did trained well. I hope I can be so good like that in the future. =)
• Philippines
5 Jul 11
Being able to accept the fact that you need improvement on a certain aspect of your life is a good start towards improvement. Looking for and trying to act on it right away is an even better move! Good thing you chance upon this thread so that you may learn more things to improve yourself. Just learn yourself way up and you'll suddenly find yourself being able to reach your goal of improving your English language skills! Good luck!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
25 Jun 11
Well, try to make English as your primary language. Rehearse yourself by having a daily conversation with a trusted friend whom can also give his view for catching errors. Try to read old english books aloud. Magazine Articles can also be a lot of help when improving your grammatical skills. Try to watch movies without the subtitles to practice your listening skills as well.
• Latvia
25 Jun 11
Thank you! Will try to find some friend who speaks in English much better then I.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
25 Jun 11
Read more printed materials in English. My nephew learned to speak proper English by watching the tv cartoons. They come out with polished spoken English. I have few friends here who are English lecturers and they are more than willing to help those who want to improve their English. Being in mylot itself is a great help to improve our English.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
24 Jun 11
I would suggest going to busuu.com and seeing if they have a category for english, I know they do for other languges. You can chat with other people on this site in english and they can help you with your english, just ask them to correct you whenever possible.
• Latvia
24 Jun 11
This site seems very interesting and useful! I will definitely try to improve my language skills there. Thank you!
@anklesmash (1412)
24 Jun 11
I have heard that watching tv in the language you are trying to learn and the best thing to watch is the news as it is less likely to get you to start using slang as newsreaders tend to use good quality language if you used this to learn english i watch bbc news or listen to the bbc world service if it is available where you live.I don't know if this would help you to learn english quickly i think it is more of a lifestyle thing enabling you to think in a second language.
• Latvia
24 Jun 11
Thank you for response! I will look for news channel.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
25 Jun 11
Listen to the radio more often, and learn how the native born English - speakers conversation, and listen carefully. Watch more movies and television, to learn their customs, and the way to speak to each other. Finally, read more books, and learn the writing and learn their meaning.
• United States
24 Jun 11
Time isn't to your advantage and you'll need to learn English enough to write your dissertation AND write the dissertation itself! That's double the effort in a small amount of time! I suggest that you find the English department of your school and ask someone to help you in your writing? It's not like someone is going to write it for you. You'll be looking for someone who can edit and polish your English. I hope this helps and good luck in writing your dissertation! :)
• Latvia
24 Jun 11
Thank you! Such idea was on my mind too. I would try to improve my knowledge, but this opportunity I also will use! Thanks!!!
• Philippines
24 Jun 11
I am similar to you. I also have some English problems. Vocabulary, grammar, etc. etc. Gosh! It's a bit embarrassing if other intellectuals read your paper and there are some gramattical errors. Nobody's perfect, anyway. Still, it's for the sake of formalities. My advice is you read some books or novels. A friend of mine suggested it to me. He told me that the reader could also learn from it.
• Latvia
24 Jun 11
Thank you, for replay! Partly you are right, but it isn't so easy - almost five years I read books in English daily. I translate quotes from them to my works, but my English skills doesn't seem to get better. Especially if we speak about construction of sentences or grammar. Books can give good vocabulary, but for me this method doesn't work in right sentence making and grammar improving.
@alvanloh (162)
• Malaysia
25 Jun 11
English cannot be improve in an instant. Just like any other language, English cannot be studied. Ask yourself, how does a infant learn how to speak a particular language? They actually learn from listening to others speak. So my advice is to listen to the radio. But that's for conversation. If you want to improve your grammer, then READ. Read the newspaper, or a book. Take note that you must take a book that you can read with a bit of very strong vocabulary that you dont understand. Then use the dictionary to check for them meaning. Write them down in a memo or something. Soon you will be a english pro.
• United Arab Emirates
25 Jun 11
There so many people who are just like you and try to improve in English language as it is common language for the worldwide communication. i would suggest to read english news papers in your area and check the hard words meaning in Dictionary.