8 steps to improve English

Apply these simple steps right now to improve

Parents and children can both benefit and improve vocabulary from reading bedtime stories snuggled under the covers. “The words in many children’s books are often outside the realm of adults’ day-to-day discourse, so parents can learn more words just by reading to their children,” says Susan B. Neuman, professor of Childhood and Literacy Education at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University in New York City.

Watch movies

Watching the movie version of your favorite book isn’t just a guilty pleasure, it’s also a vocabulary booster. “If you see the movie version of your favorite book you’re likely to have a deeper understanding and knowledge of the words in it,” says Neuman. “Seeing and reading something on the same topic is really important.”

Make good use of your tablet

Next time you’re reading an e-book and come across a word you don’t know, try highlighting it with your finger and looking for the option to look it up. Many tablets provide a dictionary definition in a little bubble, so you wont lose your place or have to switch between Google and your novel

Read magazines

If you want to improve vocabulary, don’t just flip through your favorite magazine, really read it. That means don’t just look at the pictures or skim product roundups; pay attention to the articles and photo captions

Listen to how words sound when you speak

Many people won’t remember tricky words unless they come across them frequently. Record yourself listen to as painful as it may seem it is great for your pronunciation

Get out of the house

“Going places and having new experiences are great ways to build new knowledge,” says Neuman. “Go to a museum or take advantage of other opportunities where you live. When you open your eyes to new experiences and people, you also get new words.”

Join a book club

“Book clubs are a wonderful strategy to learn new words,” says Neuman. Not only will it force you to set aside time in your day to read, it’s also a good way to discover books you might not normally be drawn to, which in turn exposes you to new words and helps you improve vocabulary.