Improve Your English Language Skills

Being fluent in English opens a world of career opportunities in countries, businesses, and industries around the globe, including careers in international affairs, global trade, diplomacy, commerce, and tourism.

Despite advances in tools that translate languages, English also remains the undisputed language of the online world. From software and apps to social media platforms and peer-to-peer review sites, English serves as the main language in which people communicate online.

Without a good understanding of this language, you are sure to be left behind in the tech-driven world.

English proficiency tests

Another reason you should brush up on your language skills is because, even if universities don’t conduct an entrance exam, you can be sure that as a non-native English speaker you will be required to sit for an English proficiency test of some sort. IELTS vs TOEFL: which one should you take?

Two of the most common English proficiency tests are, the TOEFL: the Test of English as a Foreign Language; and IELTS: the International English Language Testing System.

The TOEFL consists of four sections and is scored on a 0-120 point scale. The average score required by universities in the United States is approximately 80 points.

The IELTS exam also contains four sections and is scored on a band system, with one band meaning the user has no knowledge of English, whereas 9 bands imply that the person is an expert in the language.

The average band requirement for universities in the United Kingdom is 5.5 to 6 out of 9, in all the four modules as well as the overall score. Both exams test a student’s ability in reading, speaking, listening and writing.

It’s one thing to earn a good score on one of these two exams for non-native English speakers, but it’s another thing to be able to navigate life and studies at a university in a country where English is the main language.

You will have to speak up in classes, maybe even work as part of a team, and you will want to make friends with fellow classmates during social activities. Not only is your proficiency in English necessary for your academic success, but it’s a key element in getting settled in your new environment when you study abroad.

Tips for improving your English language skills

There are four facets of learning or mastering a language: speaking, writing, reading and being able to listen and understand when the language is being spoken.

Here are a few ways in which you can improve your language skills before you take off for your studies abroad.

• Watch movies, shows or the news in English, preferably with subtitles. This is a great way to increase your vocabulary and learn English grammar, the correct pronunciation of words and the correct usage of certain words.
  
  
  
• Read a good book or articles in a newspaper or magazine (printed in English, of course) for one hour per day. Not only will this help you relax, but it will also improve your language. Keep a dictionary handy in order to look up words that you don’t understand and write them down in a book with the definition. Before your hour is over, take a couple of minutes to go through the new words and memorize them. Lastly, try to use them in conversations during the day to help you remember them.
  
  
  
• Join a group such as TOASTMASTERS where you can spend time talking in English. TOASTMASTERS is an international non-profit organization that will not only improve English skills but also builds your self-confidence in public speaking. If there isn’t a TOASTMASTERS close to you, find an English native and ask them to help you. Spend time talking to them and ask them to correct you where you use the language incorrectly. Who said you can’t have fun while learning a new skill!
  
  
  
• Start writing down your thoughts in English, be it writing about your day or about a specific topic. This does not need to be a long essay, just something so that you can try your hand at writing. Once you are done, run the Microsoft Office spell checker or use a program such as Ginger or Grammarly to look for spelling mistakes and grammar errors. Take note of the errors and recurring themes.
  
  
  
• Practice makes perfect: you won’t progress unless you’re being consistent in your attempts. Daily actions such as speaking to your family and close friends in English or going down to your local coffee place or favorite restaurant and practicing ordering food in English or even writing down your thoughts and daily occurrences can go a long way.