A language is an expression of ideas, thoughts and information. English is a language that can be expressed in written or spoken words and words are nothing but idea units used to signify something. In order to learn English, understanding the words and rules of grammar is essential followed by practicing the things learnt. There can be more than one approach when it comes to learning. Some people prefer verbal learning prior to written, which means learning to speak the language before grasping about the formation of letters and alphabets. This kind of learning is observed in children as they lean to speak then gradually read and write. The second methodology is learning simultaneously reading, writing and speaking. This approach is better suited for adults who can comprehend in a quick manner and relate the new things learnt with the common aspects of the language they already know. Any approach can be adopted but the basic focus areas of learning remain the same, those are: reading, writing, speaking and listening or understanding what the other person is saying.
At the core of understanding is the alphabet. It is essential to learn the twenty-six English alphabets that can be easily found in elementary school textbooks of English. After learning about the alphabets the next step is to learn about the combination of these alphabets known as, words. All the focus areas are strengthened when it comes to learning words because writing skills are strengthened when spellings are learnt correctly, reading skills are strengthened when the learnt words are identified, speaking and listening skills are enhanced when words are spoken or words spoken by someone else are identified and absorbed. At this stage a lot of practice is required for remembering the meaning of words and the way in which they are spoken. The next level is learning to use combination of words known as a sentence. A sentence is a statement that has some meaning. This is the stage when rules of grammar should be studied because a sentence is not considered to be correct if it does not comply with the rules. These rules are applicable both while speaking and writing. A thorough practice is required to master these rules. It can be achieved by using a book or learning through a teacher who can point out the mistakes that a beginner usually makes and enlighten with the correct usage. After sentences, the next stage is drafting paragraphs or speaking coherently the entire idea without pausing. Pauses occur because of translations. Translations are done when a person thinks in the native language and converts the meaning in English by using the words known. But this approach affects the validity of grammar to a great extent. What is grammatically accurate in one language might not be valid in English and this is not the correct approach to learn any language, although similar words can be related but translations of sentences should be avoided. To avoid translations, thinking must be done in the same language that has to be spoken. Mastery in English can be achieved only if thinking process is also done in English and not just speaking, reading or writing. To think in English there has to be English all around, so that it is absorbed by the brain subconsciously. This can be done by reading extensively, watching movies or television shows that are in English, listening to songs or talking to native English speakers whenever possible. This helps to get down to the essence of the language and understand it in a deeper way.
These steps were a requisite to learn basics of English but to be a master of this language, focus areas should be mastered. The first focus area being reading can be improved in the following ways: Reading an English newspaper or a novel daily can help greatly. The habit of reading daily not only improves the reading speed but also increases the familiarity with the language. A good reading speed signifies that the mind is processing the information at a proper pace and that only happens when the language is properly known. To further enhance this skill, lip reading should be avoided as it obstructs reading. Keeping a finger below the text being read should also be avoided as the movement of finger is slower than the reading pace of the brain, hence it can hamper the speed. Begin reading with simple short novels gradually moving on to the classics of English. The fundamental principle here is, ‘the more, the better’. Same stands for writing. Writing is a vast area as compared to reading. It is not just practice but the application of creativity of as well. Before moving on to the creative aspect, conformation with the proper writing style is a must. This is accomplished by being thorough with the grammar and rules. After grammar comes coherence. Coherence is a must in order to be a skilled writer. It means that the thoughts should be well linked and placed in a correct order while writing. Random thoughts which are written without coherence pose difficulty for the reader and also reflect the shortcoming of the writer because in many cases the writers are not physically present in front of the readers. If any information is wrongly interpreted by the reader it can give a bad impression about the writer. Hence, usage of words should be judicious and every piece of writing should be properly punctuated. Punctuations in English play an important role in the absence of a narrator. They are the expressions and feelings in English. Proper punctuations embellish the language with emotions but if this aspect is wrongly used it can ruin the meaning and spoil the written piece. Writing is an unending dimension and it needs rigorous practice. Maintaining a diary or a journal helps to practice writing. It is not just about writing correctly, it is about writing legibly as well and English is a language if written in a beautiful handwriting can attract readers.
The other two focus areas are inter-related that is speaking and listening. Listening is the first step followed by speaking. Something that is heard in a particular manner will be spoken in that manner. This is evident from the fact that people living in a certain area speak English in a particular accent and even the immigrants pick that accent irrespective of the way they spoke earlier in their native place. There are many accents in English like the British, American, Australian, Spanish etc but more than the accent it is the fluency, logic and confidence that counts. Mastery of grammatical content breeds confidence, practice breeds fluency and coherent thinking breeds logic. Watching English movies and talking to native English speakers greatly helps as it strengthens pronunciation and the brain automatically picks up the right usage. Last but not the least buying a dictionary is a must so that new words can be learnt, meaning of words can be found and some dictionaries also throw light on the pronunciation that helps in a great deal.
Learning a language means learning a skill, not acquiring knowledge. You test your command of a foreign language by your ability to perform in it, not by how much you know about it (Alexander 2009). Learning English is fun and advantageous as well because it ranks third among the languages most spoken by the people. It is indeed a business etiquette followed in many countries and it opens up a whole new bag of opportunities of interaction among people and there is nothing to doubt about the statement given by Walt Whitman, ‘Viewed freely, the English language is the accretion and growth of every dialect, race, and range of time, and compacted composition of all.
Works Cited
Alexander, L.G. ”How to learn English.”
Word Hacker. 6 February 2013. Web. 2009.
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