by Erik Van Tongerloo

Created on: January 04, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

There are many ways to improve your English. In the first place you need to make the difference between writing and talking and on the second place it is important if English is your native tongue or not.

If English is your native tongue it is easier but keep in mind that you can't know everything about this language. Another problem is that you have different kinds of the English language. English in Great Britain, America, Australia is different. The ranking of the words is different and surely the pronouncement.

For people who don't have English as their native tongue it is difficult to know when they learn the best form of English. My native tongue is Dutch but if I have to choose between the different kinds of English I like more the British or the Australian pronoun cation. It is easier to understand but of course there are also differences between the local places. I don't like the Scottish and Irish pronunciation, then better the American way.

So if English is your native tongue you can improve your English by reading books, writing on specific writing sites like this one or essay sites. Research in a dictionary or an encyclopedia can be helpful to learn new words and medical or technical terms. These are words which are difficult and you gain a lot of knowledge.

If your native tongue isn't English you can best improve this language by staying a few months in a country where they only speak English. If you have friends in such country, stay there for a time and you get more experience in talking this language.
But of course this is not possible for everyone. You need to have many free time to stay there and that is not possible if you are working or at school.
Reading is always good to improve your English. You read books written by professionals and you learn a lot of new words. Try to understand them without searching immediately in a dictionary. Use it only if you really don't understand it.

The Internet is also a good source to improve your English. Chatting with friends who have English as their native tongue is a very good manner because they can tell you when you make mistakes and explain why.
Watching television and look to movies without subtitles. The use of cd's with English lessons can help you too. Try to repeat what they say in the same way they speak the words. Practice is the key to success.

I have some American friends and we send each other many emails every week and they are helpful to give me useful language hints. This is the way I improved my English writing a lot.
These emails and writing in Helium are the best things for me to improve my English.

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