1. TIPS TO LEARN ENGLISHTIPS TO LEARN ENGLISH
EFFECTIVELYEFFECTIVELY

2. TIP 1:TIP 1: BUY A GOOD DICTIONARYBUY A GOOD DICTIONARY
 Choose the right level for you: beginner,Choose the right level for you: beginner,
intermediate or advancedintermediate or advanced
 Decide whether you prefer American or BritishDecide whether you prefer American or British
EnglishEnglish
 Find an English-to-English dictionary which alsoFind an English-to-English dictionary which also
gives Chinese meaningsgives Chinese meanings
 A good dictionary gives the various meanings ofA good dictionary gives the various meanings of
the word, its part of speech, plurals,the word, its part of speech, plurals,
pronunciation, collocations, usage, whetherpronunciation, collocations, usage, whether
British or American and examples of usageBritish or American and examples of usage
among other thingsamong other things

3. EXAMPLES OF GOODEXAMPLES OF GOOD
DICTIONARIESDICTIONARIES

4. TIP 2:TIP 2: LEARN OR REVISE THELEARN OR REVISE THE
IINTERNATIONAL PHONETICIINTERNATIONAL PHONETIC
ALPHABETALPHABET

5. TIP 3:TIP 3: KEEP A VOCABULARYKEEP A VOCABULARY
NOTEBOOKNOTEBOOK
 Group new words by subjectGroup new words by subject
 Look up words in your English-English dictionaryLook up words in your English-English dictionary
 Write down words on the left sideWrite down words on the left side
 In the middle write down noun (n), verb (v),In the middle write down noun (n), verb (v),
adjective (adj), etc.adjective (adj), etc.
 Write the English definition on the rightWrite the English definition on the right
 Copy a sentence from the dictionaryCopy a sentence from the dictionary
 Use the word in many other sentencesUse the word in many other sentences
 Repeat the word at least seven times toRepeat the word at least seven times to
remember itremember it

6. A VOCABULARY NOTEBOOKA VOCABULARY NOTEBOOK
ENTRYENTRY SAMPLESAMPLE
WordWord Part of speechPart of speech MeaningMeaning
coronarycoronary
/ k r( )n( )ri/ˈ ɒ ə ə/ k r( )n( )ri/ˈ ɒ ə ə
adjectiveadjective Relating to orRelating to or
denoting thedenoting the
arteries whicharteries which
surround andsurround and
supply thesupply the
heart.heart.
The cause of coronary heart disease is a narrowing
of the arteries that supply the heart with blood.

7. TIP 4:TIP 4: READ ENGLISHREAD ENGLISH
BOOKSBOOKS
 Find books that are not too difficult for youFind books that are not too difficult for you
 Do not stop every time you find a new wordDo not stop every time you find a new word
 Guess what the word probably means andGuess what the word probably means and
continue readingcontinue reading
 Check in your dictionary laterCheck in your dictionary later
 Write new words into your notebookWrite new words into your notebook

8.  Find English-language movies and TVFind English-language movies and TV
series with both English and Chineseseries with both English and Chinese
subtitlessubtitles
 Only use the subtitles if you reallyOnly use the subtitles if you really havehave
to; maybe watch once with subtitles andto; maybe watch once with subtitles and
then once again without subtitlesthen once again without subtitles
 Download podcasts on subjects of interestDownload podcasts on subjects of interest
to you e.g. news, science, health, drama,to you e.g. news, science, health, drama,
sport, arts and entertainmentsport, arts and entertainment
TIP 5:TIP 5: WATCH TV and MOVIESWATCH TV and MOVIES
andand
LISTEN TO PODCASTSLISTEN TO PODCASTS

9. SOME MOVIESSOME MOVIES

10. SOME TVSOME TV
SERIESSERIES

11. SOME BBC PODCASTSSOME BBC PODCASTS

12.  At the KTV, sing English songsAt the KTV, sing English songs

OrOr download English-languagedownload English-language
songs with their lyricssongs with their lyrics
 Sing the songs while readingSing the songs while reading
the lyricsthe lyrics
TIP 6:TIP 6: SING ENGLISH SONGSSING ENGLISH SONGS

13. TIP 7:TIP 7: SPEAK ENGLISHSPEAK ENGLISH
WITH YOUR FRIENDSWITH YOUR FRIENDS

14. TIP 8:TIP 8: FIND AN ENGLISHFIND AN ENGLISH
TEACHERTEACHER
• Chinese teachers are good at English grammar and explaining rules
• Native English teachers are good at pronunciation and idiomatic
English

15. TIP 9:TIP 9: Write a journalWrite a journal

16. 
Find foreign friends to talk toFind foreign friends to talk to
 Talk to them in person or on Skype or WechatTalk to them in person or on Skype or Wechat
 Find pen friends or chat friendsFind pen friends or chat friends
 Dedicate some time each day to study English.Dedicate some time each day to study English.
 Read English out loud, even when you’re onRead English out loud, even when you’re on
your own. Record yourself.your own. Record yourself.
 For pronunciation, there are many internetFor pronunciation, there are many internet
sites and dictionary apps that read out thesites and dictionary apps that read out the
wordswords
Decorate your room with flashcardsDecorate your room with flashcards
TIP 10:TIP 10: SOME QUICK HINTSSOME QUICK HINTS

17.  Think positively of English as yourThink positively of English as your
window to the worldwindow to the world
 Build yourself an English environmentBuild yourself an English environment
 Don’t be self-consciousDon’t be self-conscious
 Forget about losing faceForget about losing face
 Don’t be afraid to make mistakesDon’t be afraid to make mistakes
 Learn to think in EnglishLearn to think in English
 Practice makes perfectPractice makes perfect
 Use it or lose itUse it or lose it
TIP 11:TIP 11: SOME MOTTOESSOME MOTTOES

18. TIP 12:TIP 12: BE POSITIVEBE POSITIVE

19. ENGLISH IS GREAT!ENGLISH IS GREAT!
ENGLISH IS FUN!ENGLISH IS FUN!
I LOVE ENGLISH!I LOVE ENGLISH!
MY ENGLISH ISMY ENGLISH IS
GETTING BETTER!GETTING BETTER!