You may say “”I don’t have enough time to learn English!” and I won’t believe you. You just need to revise your priorities and I truly believe it’s a matter of good motivation to find 30 minutes 4 times per week to study regularly. Remember we have a Facebook group, where you can join and stay tuned for free valuable content which will be useful in your self-study process.
A few suggestions follow on how to use your time in the most effective way to help in the learning process.
1) Think differently and foster a positive attitude. Stop thinking that, “I don’t have enough time to learn English!” but instead think, “Yes, I have time to learn English”. It’s a small thing but it makes a huge difference in how we perceive our time, which consequently affects our motivation and learning behaviour. Take a look at your schedule for the next week, find 4-5 days when you can concentrate only on studying. Switch off your mobile, close the door, don’t scroll FB wall for a low-quality feed and be honest with yourself. Now it’s your time and use it wisely.
2) Do your best to spend 30 minutes, 4-5 days a week on improving your English skills. On one day read a wordlist, on the second listen to a podcast, on the third find some free time to revise grammar structures or do some exercises, on the fourth arrange a one-hour conversation lesson in order to talk and improve your pronunciation skills, on the fifth listen to or watch the BBC or CNN. Even if you fail to fulfil your expectations and you spend 4 days per week on studying, don’t be too self-critical because you didn’t have time for the fifth day. Be positive and think about what you already have done and how much you have improved.
3) Listen regularly to your favourite radio station, turn on the TV to watch and listen. However, I would rather recommend listening than watching because, while listening, you are relying solely on the voice and concentrating more on the actual message.
4) If you want to use your time effectively you can download a podcast onto your smartphone or tablet and listen to it when you don’t have access to the internet. While travelling to work listen to an English podcast rather than listening in to someone else’s conversation on the train or bus.
5) Take advantage of the possibilities you already have. In a hotel or on a plane you can ask for a copy of a newspaper or magazine. Read a few articles. If you have a problem with any new vocabulary, try to figure out from the context what it may be. If you still don’t know, ask a colleague for help.
6) Don’t use a dictionary if you really don’t need to. Try to understand the whole context. Check only the meaning of keywords.
7) Read and acquire. Revise. Ask question. Now is the time to start!
8) Note down everything that needs clarification.
9) Make English your interest and passion. This may sound absurd, but why not? Why not read interesting news and articles only in English? You can also make new friends and speak regularly via Skype or write them emails.
10) Studying is a process not a miracle. You need to remember that only studying regularly will give you the best results.
GC thank you for help with this article! 🙂
