[005] English learning methods for beginners: Steps to improve effectively

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Have you ever had the following experience?

I’ve passed the advanced level of the Eiken test and memorized many English vocabulary words, but for some reason I can’t speak English fluently!
I thought I’d memorized English grammar thoroughly, but I couldn’t use it in conversations and it was all going to waste!
I try to speak by stringing together simple English sentences as much as possible, but I just can’t get the hang of it!
I don’t know how to study English as a beginner
I don’t know the steps to effectively improve

But don’t worry.

By reading this article,

you will understand the study steps!
Learn study methods for different English proficiency levels!
Learn the key points of study!
Learn common mistakes and how to deal with them!
Learn practical English study methods!

This article is full of information that you can’t find anywhere else.

Please take your time to read it.

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Introduction

When learning English, it is very important to set specific goals.

However, with a vague goal such as “I want to be fluent in English,” the path to achievement tends to be unclear, and you often lose motivation along the way.

For example, by setting specific goals such as “I will be able to have daily conversations” or “I will acquire enough English skills to travel abroad,” you will be able to feel your progress more easily and stay motivated to continue studying.

Such specific goals can also be used as a standard for measuring the progress of your studies, and make it easier to feel that you are growing.

Now, we will introduce several English learning methods, so please find an effective learning method that matches your own learning style.

Steps of learning

Step 1: Make English learning a habit

In order to learn English effectively, it is important to first make learning a habit.

By making it a habit, learning English becomes a part of your daily life, and you can improve your English skills naturally and effortlessly.

Specifically, if you devote a set amount of time every day to studying English, learning will become a daily routine and you will be able to use your time efficiently.

For example, by making it a habit to study English for 30 minutes every morning, you will gradually see results.

In addition, incorporating English into your daily life is also effective.

For example, listening to English podcasts during your commute or changing the language settings on your smartphone and SNS to English will unconsciously increase your opportunities to come into contact with English, and your English skills will naturally improve.

Find a method that suits you and incorporate English into your life.

This will make it easier to continue studying and achieve long-term results.

Step 2: Strengthen your basic skills

The most important thing in learning English is to first acquire a solid foundation.

If you don’t have a solid foundation, it will be difficult to apply your skills in the next step.

For example, by mastering junior high school level vocabulary and grammar, you will understand the basic structure of English and be able to use more complex English.

Having a solid foundation will serve as the foundation for your studies, allowing you to move on to the next step smoothly.

To improve your basic English vocabulary, we recommend using the New General Service List (NGSL), a vocabulary list of 2,800 words.

NGSL is a revised version of the General Service List (GSL) published by linguist Michael West in 1953.

At the time, GSL contained about 2,000 words that covered about 80% of general English sentences, and was widely used as a very effective vocabulary list.

However, as time went on, the words used also changed, and it became necessary to review the content. In 2013, Professor Charles Brown of Meiji Gakuin University, Professor Brent Carrigan and Professor Joseph Phillips of Aoyama Gakuin Women’s Junior College announced NGSL.

NGSL contains 2,800 words that are most commonly used in modern English, covering about 90% of general English sentences.

In other words, by memorizing it thoroughly, you can efficiently acquire practical English skills.

Since many junior high school English words are included in these 2,800 words, the range of words you need to memorize is narrowed down, making learning more efficient.

Before memorizing all 20,000 words commonly known by native speakers, it can be said that the smartest, most efficient and effective way is to thoroughly study this NGSL.

NGSL公式サイト

In addition, if you study using materials that are not suitable for your level, the content may seem difficult and your motivation to study may decrease.

Choose materials for beginners and study them repeatedly to deepen your understanding and proceed with effective English learning.

It is important to continue studying comfortably with materials that suit you.

Step 3: Create opportunities for output

When learning English, consciously creating opportunities for output is the key to improving your level.

English is not just about input, but by actually using it and outputting it, you can acquire practical skills.

For example, by using online English conversation to increase the opportunities to actually speak, you can test and further improve your current English ability.

By being conscious of output, the knowledge you have learned will be firmly established and you will improve your skills that will be useful in real communication.

It is also important to develop the habit of using English in your daily life.

For example, just thinking in your mind in English, “I’m walking home now,” on your way home will train your thinking pattern to use English.

This is an effective way to smoothly switch your brain from Japanese to English.

By making it a daily habit to switch to an English brain, you will acquire a sense of natural mastery of English and be able to speak English more smoothly.

This technique is an important step to learning English more practically.

Study methods for different levels of English

For beginners

The first priority for beginners is to master the New General Service List (NGSL) English vocabulary and junior high school grammar.

If you have a strong foundation, your subsequent studies will proceed smoothly and your understanding of English will deepen.

For example, by memorizing words and phrases that are commonly used in daily conversation, you will be able to have basic conversations and build the foundation for communication.

At this stage, mastering NGSL English vocabulary and junior high school level grammar will prepare you for the next step.

Also, learning how to write your name in English is a very useful skill in real life.

In English, names are usually written in the order “first name” → “last name“.
Here are some specific examples:

Joe Biden
Johnny Depp
Emma Watson

In English, Japanese names are also generally written in the order “first name” → “last name“.

Shohei Otani
Fumio Kishida
Hayao Miyazaki

However, starting from January 1, 2020, the Japanese government has decided to write names in the order “family name” → “given name” in official documents.

As a result, unless otherwise specified, names will increasingly be written in this order.

As it is difficult to distinguish between Japanese “family names” and “given names” overseas, you can indicate that the “family name” comes first in the following ways.

1. Put a comma between the last name and the first name

Otani, Shohei
Kishida, Fumio
Miyazaki, Hayao

2. Write the last name in uppercase and the first name in lowercase

OTANI Shohei
KISHIDA Fumio
MIYAZAKI Hayao

Furthermore, if you remember how to write an address in English, it will be very useful in real life.

For example, when sending a letter or package from Japan to an overseas destination, it is okay to write the address and destination in Japanese, but you must write “JAPAN”.

〒663-8152
5-82-1 Koshien-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo
Koshien Heights 303
To: Kobe Hanako
JAPAN

When writing an address in English, follow the rules below.

Write names in the opposite order to the Japanese order (from smallest to largest)
Write Japanese building names in Roman letters
Add “#” to room numbers
When using honorifics, add “Mr.” to men and “Ms.” to women, but do not add a title to your own name

Ms. Hanako Koube
Koshien Heights #303, 5-82-1, Kousien-town, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo,
663-8152,
JAPAN

For intermediate to advanced learners

It is very important to improve your reading and writing skills in English learning.

Practicing reading and writing will directly improve your reading and writing skills.

Practicing reading English articles and summarizing their contents will improve your reading comprehension and expression, allowing you to acquire more advanced English skills.

Strengthening your reading and writing skills will deepen your understanding of English and enable you to communicate more effectively.

It is also important to challenge yourself with practical English conversation.

By actually using English, you can grasp the current state of your English ability and clarify areas for improvement.

For example, you can improve your practical English ability by participating in online English conversation or English conversation circles, or by actively communicating with foreigners.

Through practical English conversation, you can strengthen your ability to apply and respond immediately, and you will become more confident in real communication.

Learning Tips

Set Many Small Goals

When learning English, it is very effective to set small goals.

If you only set big goals, you may lose motivation along the way.

However, by setting many short-term goals that are easy to achieve, you will be able to feel progress and will be more likely to maintain your motivation to study.

For example, if you set short-term goals such as “read aloud NGSL words more than 20 times in the first month” and “master junior high school level grammar in the second month,” it will be easier to continue studying little by little every day.

And the joy you get from achieving your goal will motivate you to move on to the next step.

In addition, each time you achieve a small goal, your “self-efficacy” (confidence that you can do it) will increase.

This will make you motivated to work towards your next goal and give you the strength to continue studying.

For example, it is also effective to set aside time to praise yourself for achieving your goals and set a “reward” to feel a sense of accomplishment.

In this way, by creating a cycle of goal achievement, you can continue learning English while having fun.

Visualize your learning results

Checking the results of your English learning in a visible way is an important point for self-management.

Seeing concrete results makes it easier to maintain motivation.

It also serves as feedback to determine which learning method is effective.

For example, one way is to record your progress using a learning app or notebook.

By recording the amount of time you spend studying each day and the number of words you have memorized, you can specifically grasp how much progress you have made.

This allows you to visually see the process of your study and review which parts you should spend your time on and which method suits you.

In addition, it is also effective to visualize your achieved goals and progress with graphs and lists.

For example, by making a list of the words you have memorized or graphing your study time by week, you can see how your efforts are stacking up.

In this way, visualizing the results of your study makes it easier to maintain motivation and improve your learning methods.

Enjoy learning English

The most important thing in continuing to learn English is to enjoy learning.

According to data from the US Department of State, it takes more than 3,000 hours of study time to master a second language.

Based on this figure, if you have not been exposed to English after graduating from high school, you will need to study at least 1,500 hours.

For example, if your goal is to study 1,000 hours, it will take about two years even if you study for an hour and a half every day.

As you can see, learning English is a long-term project, so it is very important to continue while enjoying it.

By incorporating themes and topics that interest you into your studies, you will naturally increase your motivation to learn English.

For example, it is a good idea to find a way to enjoy learning English, such as enjoying your favorite movies and music in English, or trying English games and quizzes.

Also, by incorporating English into your daily life, such as reading English blogs and watching your favorite YouTube channels in English, you will be able to continue learning without feeling burdened.

In this way, enjoying learning English is the key to continuing to learn in the long term.

Finding a learning method that you find fun and continuing it without forcing yourself is the shortcut to success.

Make English a part of your life

Incorporating English into your life is an important way to create an environment where you can learn English naturally.

By being exposed to English even a little bit every day, learning will become a habit as a part of your daily life, not something special, and you will be able to continue it without any difficulty.

For example, start by listening to the English news every morning.

News is a great way to learn current affairs and new vocabulary, and it will naturally train your listening skills.

Also, by changing the language setting of your SNS to English, you will have more opportunities to read English on a daily basis.

This will not only improve your reading ability, but also allow you to learn natural expressions and slang.

In addition, you can improve your speaking and listening skills by regularly using online English conversation classes and incorporating shadowing (practicing pronunciation by imitating the English spoken by native speakers).

For example, listening to English podcasts on your commute or in between housework will help your ears get used to English.

In this way, by making English a part of your life, you can naturally improve your English ability without having to set aside special time.

Incorporate English into your daily life and create a learning environment where you can continue without any difficulty.

Common mistakes and how to deal with them

Biased study methods

It is very important to learn the four English skills (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) in a balanced way.

If you continue to study a certain skill with a bias, other skills may not be developed sufficiently, which may cause problems in real communication.

For example, if you focus too much on listening, you may not be able to find the words to speak English or your writing ability may be insufficient.

Also, if you focus only on reading, it may be difficult to express yourself naturally in real conversations.

For this reason, it is important to learn the four skills of listening, reading, speaking, and writing evenly.

For example, you can improve your overall English ability by incorporating a variety of activities such as listening to English podcasts (listening), reading English news (reading), having online English conversations (speaking), and writing a diary in English (writing).

In English learning, training all skills in a balanced way will improve your practical communication ability and enable you to have natural conversations.

Non-habitual study methods

Making English study a habit is very important for success.

Studying at the same time every day makes it a part of your daily life and makes it easier to continue.

Habitual study is the key to realizing long-term progress.

Studying that is not a habit tends to be difficult to continue and increases the likelihood of giving up.

For example, if the time or place you study changes every day, it can disrupt your study rhythm and reduce motivation.

That’s why it’s effective to create a routine to study at a fixed time every day.

For example, the key is to incorporate English study into a specific time, such as listening to an English podcast during your morning coffee time or reviewing vocabulary before going to bed at night.

It also helps to have a fixed place to study.

For example, studying in a specific place, such as your home study or a cafe, makes it easier to concentrate on your studies.

In this way, by making English study a habit, you can create an environment where you can continue without any strain and pave the way to success.

Learning methods without specific goals

It is very important to set clear goals and study in a planned manner towards them.

If you continue studying without a specific goal, you will not know what you are aiming for, and your motivation will easily decrease.

For example, if you set a specific goal such as “to be able to introduce yourself in English within three months,” you can study efficiently towards that goal.

Setting such a goal gives you a standard for measuring your progress in learning, making it easier to feel a sense of accomplishment.

Also, after achieving your goal, it is effective to set the next goal and aim to gradually improve your level.

For example, once you are able to introduce yourself, setting a new goal of “to be able to have simple English conversations within six months” will serve as a guide for continuing your studies.

By having a specific goal and studying towards it in a planned manner, your English ability will steadily improve.

Setting goals makes the direction of your studies clear, and you can progress while feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Learn practical English learning methods

Step 1: Consolidate your English basics

When you start learning English, it is very important to first solidify your basics.

If you don’t have a solid foundation, it will be difficult to move on to the next stage.

By firmly acquiring the basics, your learning will proceed smoothly.

Specifically, start with the following:

Simple grammar:
For example, understand basic verb tenses, such as present tense and past tense.
Basic vocabulary:
For example, memorize nouns and adjectives that are commonly used in daily life, such as “apple” and “happy.” From the NGSL vocabulary book.
Pronunciation practice:
Practice the pronunciation of basic words and phrases to acquire accurate pronunciation.

For example, by practicing simple sentences such as “I eat an apple” and “She is happy,” you can acquire basic grammar and vocabulary.

By firmly establishing your basics, you will be ready to move on smoothly to the next step.

With a solid foundation, you will be able to continue learning with confidence when moving on to more difficult content.

Step 2: Develop an English brain

The next step to becoming fluent in English is to develop the habit of thinking in English.

This will allow you to process English smoothly in your head.

Specifically, try the following methods:

Thinking in English:
Try to think about the events of your daily life in English.
For example, practice explaining what you are doing in English, such as “I’m making breakfast now.”
Reading English sentences:
Reading English news articles and books will expose you to English vocabulary and expressions.
For example, reading simple news articles every day will help you become accustomed to English.
Mental commentary:
This is a way to comment on the events of your daily life to yourself in English.
For example, on your way home, practice thinking in English by saying to yourself, “I’m walking home now.”

By repeating these exercises, you will develop an English brain and be able to think in English naturally.

Step 3: Develop practical skills

In order to use English effectively, it is important to increase the number of opportunities to actually speak and improve your communication skills.

It is necessary to not only practice, but also to actually converse in English.

Specific methods include the following:

Use online English conversation:
By using online English conversation for about 15 minutes every day, you can develop practical conversation skills.
For example, it is effective to have the opportunity to speak with native speakers using English conversation apps or websites.
Create opportunities to converse in English:
It is also effective to have regular opportunities to speak in English with friends and colleagues.
For example, you can participate in English speaking clubs or language exchange events.
Use English in real life:
Make a conscious effort to create situations in which you can use English, such as when traveling, working, or having hobbies.
For example, you can practice natural conversation by participating in English tourist guides or business meetings.

Increasing opportunities to speak English repeatedly in this way will help you communicate smoothly in English.

Summary

Learning English in an enjoyable way is the first step to success.

By having fun while learning, your English skills will naturally improve.

For example, watching your favorite movies with English subtitles or listening to your favorite music in English will help you improve your listening skills in a fun way.

It is also important to continue learning at your own pace, and moving towards your goal without rushing is the shortcut to success.

Continuing to study English is the key to improving your skills in the long term.

You may not see results right away at first, but by studying a little bit every day, you will gradually improve your skills.

For example, by reading a little bit of English sentences every day and memorizing words, your English skills will steadily improve.

By continuing, you will gradually see results, so it is important to continue studying without rushing.

Let’s summarize the points of this article.

Enjoy learning English
In order to continue learning English, it is important to have fun while learning.
According to statistics from the US Department of State, it takes more than 3,000 hours of study to acquire a second language.
For example, enjoying movies and music that interest you in English will help you continue learning in a fun way.
Enjoying learning English is the key to maintaining motivation to learn in the long term.
Make English a part of your life
By making English a part of your life, you can naturally come into contact with English.
For example, listening to English news every morning and setting the language of your social media accounts to English can help improve your listening and reading skills.
Incorporating online English conversation and shadowing is even more effective.
Unbalanced study methods
It is important to learn the four skills of English (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) in a balanced way.
If you focus too much on a particular skill, other skills may not improve.
For example, by not focusing only on listening, but also on practicing speaking, you can improve your overall English ability.
Study methods that are not habitual
The key to success is to make English study a habit.By creating an environment where you can study regularly and creating a routine of studying at a fixed time every day, you can make English study a natural part of your life.For example, getting into the habit of studying English for 30 minutes every morning will make it easier to continue studying.
Study methods without specific goals
By setting clear goals, you can progress with your studies in a planned manner.For example, by setting a specific goal such as “Be able to introduce yourself in English in three months,” you can study efficiently.Once you achieve your goal, set the next goal and aim to improve your level step by step.
Develop practical skills
It is important to increase the opportunities to actually speak English.You can improve your practical skills by using online English conversation and securing a place to converse in English. For example, taking a 15-minute English conversation lesson every day will naturally improve your English communication skills.