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For MR Mahmood Bayani
For MR Mahmood Bayani
The Advanced Learning Routine: 12 Methods to Improve All Your English Skills
As we mentioned, you will need to focus on improving your abilities in the four different skill
areas: Reading, listening, writing and speaking. We will discuss each one of these key skills, one
at a time.
The Receptive Skills
First, we will start with reading and listening. They seem very different but they have one major
thing in common: Reading and listening are both receptive skills. You will receive English-
language input and need to understand it.
Reading
1. Change your usual resources
One of the reasons students reach a plateau in their reading skills is that they often read
the same kind of text over and over again.
Do you read the same newspaper every day? Are you on the fifteenth book in a series of mystery
novels?
Native speakers of every language use a lot of idioms and expressions in their everyday speech.
One way to take your English to the next level—beyond advanced, and closer to fluency—is to
make sure you use them too!
I am sure you have already learned a lot of idioms and expressions, and there are whole books
and websites where you can learn more. But the key is to start using them!
Every day, make a list of five idioms that you would like to use. It is okay to repeat a few of the
idioms for many days, or even weeks. Then, challenge yourself to find appropriate moments in
the day to use them. Even if you are speaking your own native language all day at work, you can
do this silently in your own mind.
Then the next time you find a good moment to use them in English, they will come more readily
to your lips, and your English will sound more carefree and natural.
First things first, unless you moved to an English-speaking country before the age of about four
years old, you will not sound like a native speaker when you speak English. That is okay!
Just because somebody is a native speaker does not automatically make them a perfect speaker,
anyway. Just because somebody does not sound native, does not mean they speak English badly.
The most important thing about English pronunciation is that you are well-understood by the
people with whom you converse.
Since you are at the advanced level of English proficiency, I am sure people already understand
you pretty easily. Now it is time to perfect your English accent!
Keep listening to native speaker pronunciation. Listen to the pronunciation of friends who have a
higher level of English than you. When you hear pronunciation like this, try to mimic it.
Pay attention and try to figure out exactly what mouth shape and tongue positions are necessary
to keep improving.
12. Practice with a native speaker or with a friend who has a higher level of English
proficiency than you
You probably knew this advice was coming. What is the number one way to improve your
English speaking skills?
Speaking, of course!
No native speakers around you? Don’t worry! There are plenty of other solutions, including
practicing with a friend who has the same or a higher level of English than you. Here are some Page | 6
more great options for when you are ready to speak but cannot find a speaking partner.
Remember, mistakes are normal, even at the highest level of language learning. Not even native
speakers speak perfectly all the time!
Don’t be afraid to invite your friends or language partners to correct you when you make
mistakes, and you will keep improving.
Depending on your motives for learning English, you may need to focus on certain skills more
than others. Figure out which skills are essential for you, and work on those first.