The summer season is finally here and some people are planning to have rest. I believe that it's a great time to improve your English.
Why? Because learning is the most effective in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Holiday season seems to be perfect for that.
Here are 5 ways to improve your English on holiday
1. READ IN ENGLISH
When on the beach, in the middle of nowhere or resting after sightseeing, read in English. What to read? Whatever you like best! Books, magazines, newspapers, blogs ... Try to read them in English. If you decide to read books, it's a good idea to buy an e-book reader, which is comfortable, small, light and has an option of installing a dictionary to check unknown words without closing the book. If you think original books and magazines are too difficult for you, find materials adapted for different levels of English, for example, adapted books or short stories, magazines for learners of English, such as Newsweek Learning English or magazines published by Colourful Media for language learners with mini glossaries for every article and mp3 recordings.
2. WATCH IN ENGLISH
When on holiday, we often watch films or series as a form of entertainment as we have more time for that than usual. Watch in English. Watch films, series, serials or YouTube videos, documentaries, news, cartoons - whatever you like! At the beginning, you can use subtitles, first in your native tongue (which I don't recommend doing for a long time, because it makes you lazy - you stop listening and keep reading in your native tongue). Then you can watch them with English subtaitles, it also helps a lot. On YouTube, you have a possiblity to slow videos down. You can start by choosing a video on a topic you know well or a film that you have already watched in your native tongue. The main rule is to choose something of interest to you.
3. LISTEN TO PODCASTS
They are recorded audio pragrammes which can be downloaded on the Internet and then listened to on the phone or mp3 player or just on your computer. Their great advantage is that yu can listen to them everywhere - when running, walking, driving, or cleaning. There are podcasts on all sorts of topics, interviews, podcasts for learners of languages, TED talks, news, documetries, detective stories, Q&A sessions, tips and advice given by expersts, people describing their experience. You just need to choose what you like.
4. LISTEN TO AUDIOBOOKS
Audiobooks are somewhere in between podcasts and books. There are fans of this form of entertainment and learning. If you like listening to audiobooks in your native language, you should try listening to them in English, too! You may start with a book you already know.
