60 STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH (From: TESL-L Eletronic Discussion Forum for teachers of English as a SL: LISTSERV@CUNYVM.CUNY.

EDU)
1. Use a monolingual dictionary, but try not to use the dictionary too much. 2. Look for opportunities to use the language in natural communication both inside and outside of class. 3. Compensate for your lack of linguistic ability by: occasionally using your native language, asking for help (repeat, clarify, slow down, give examples), guessing, using mime or gesture, and describing the concept for which you lack a word. 4. Dont be afraid to make mistakes. 5. Evaluate your own progress and work harder in the skills you are weaker. 6. Hypothesize. 7. Before you read a grammar rule, try to formulate it yourself by analyzing the examples. 8. Dont pretend to understand when you dont. If you dont understand something, say so. 9. Be persistent, and dont give up easily. 10. Keep a language diary and record whatever you learn each day. 11. Limit your expectations to those that are reasonable and attainable. 12. Be patient. Memorize creatively using images, rhymes, sounds, etc. 13. Negotiate with your teachers when you want errors corrected. 14. Open your mind and develop a positive attitude towards the native speakers and their culture. 15. Praise yourself. 16. Quit making excuses. 17. If you are not making improvements in the foreign language, before you blame your teacher or textbook, ask yourself if you are using the strategies of a good language learner. 18. Relax before you go to class and before doing homework, and before taking tests. 19. Form a study group, or study with a partner. 20. Think aloud in English. 21. Examine your own language learning strategies, problems, successes, and preferences, and talk about them with other students. 22. Observe your classmates language learning strategies and learn from them. 23. Review the materials you learn with a friend everyday. 24. Instead of memorizing grammar rules, make sentences to test your understanding of new grammatical structures. 25. Participate in class activities. 26. Make flash cards to learn new vocabulary. 27. Write new vocabulary in a small notebook and carry it with you. 28. Make sentences with the new words you learn. 29. Speak with your classmates in English even if they know your native language. While watching movies, or TV news and shows, or immediately afterwards, make notes of new vocabulary and idioms or expressions. 30. Try to use these words in real contexts. 31. Do not overuse close-captioned TV. 32. When talking with a native speaker or watching a film, pay attention to how words are pronounced. Take advantage of every opportunity to speak English.

33. Talk to yourself in English when you are alone. 34. Try not to translate in your head. 35. Take notes in class and rewrite class notes at home. 36. Do all your assignments and always be prepared for class. 37. Write down words that you dont know Highlight your textbooks, and write notes for yourself in the margins of your textbooks. 38. Dont miss any of your classes. 39. Write the words you learn several times to improve your spelling. 40. Teach what you learn to a classmate, a friend , a relative, etc. 41. Buy and read English newspaper and magazines. 42. Use what you learn in real situations. 43. Do homework immediately after class. 44. Listen carefully to people when they speak English even if they are not talking to you. 45. Find a pen-pal or an e-mail pal and write to him or her regularly. 46. Try to become friendly with your classmates and your teacher. 47. Accept the fact that youre learning a new language and do not be afraid of making mistakes. 48. Make friends with students and people who do not speak your native language. 49. Find some American friends. 50. Read novels, short stories, or anything else youre interested in on a regular basis. Learn about the American culture. 51. Call the phone lines that have recording (weather, traffic, etc.) every day. 52. Read out loud to yourself. 53. Find ways to make learning relevant, useful, and fun. 54. Read materials you are interested in regularly If you can, get a job on campus to be in contact with Americans 55. Keep a journal or diary and write in it every night. 56. Record yourself speaking English every week to gauge your oral progress 57. Make guesses when you are not sure how to say a sentence or a word. 58. Keep this list handy and refer to it periodically. 59. Make use of any or all of these learning strategies, especially those that suit your individual learning styles.