Here are 7 ways ESL students can improve their English alone and for free, with additional strategies and examples to make learning even more effective!
1️⃣ Watch music videos with lyrics (Shazam) for fun and immersive learning 🎶
- Strategy: Choose your favorite songs and watch the music videos with lyrics displayed. Apps like Shazam or Musixmatch help you identify songs and get instant lyrics.
- Examples:
- Start with simple pop songs like Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” or Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”
- For more advanced learners, try songs with deeper meaning or more complex vocabulary like Adele’s “Someone Like You” or Coldplay’s “Fix You.”
- Bonus Tip: Try singing along or writing down the lyrics to improve listening comprehension and pronunciation.
2️⃣ Subscribe to English Speaking 360 for daily doses of English immersion! 📺
- Strategy: Watch ESL-focused content on English Speaking 360 regularly to pick up on vocabulary, sentence structures, and idiomatic expressions.
- Examples:
- Watch lessons on common grammar mistakes, vocabulary differences (e.g., British vs. American English), and pronunciation tips.
- Follow along with exercises that test listening skills and reading comprehension.
- Bonus Tip: Comment on videos to practice writing and interact with other learners.
3️⃣ Have engaging conversations with an A.I. friend 🤖💬
- Strategy: Use apps like Replika, Tandem, or HelloTalk to practice English conversation. These apps allow you to chat with an A.I. partner or real people, simulating real-life conversations.
- Examples:
- Start a conversation with an A.I. like Replika by talking about your day. Try asking it questions like, “What’s the weather like?” or “Can you recommend a book?”
- Use Tandem to chat with native speakers or other learners. Share voice messages or video calls to practice speaking.
- Bonus Tip: Set daily goals to chat for 10–15 minutes with your A.I. friend or conversation partner.
4️⃣ Stay updated with current events using Breaking News English 📰
- Strategy: Visit Breaking News English to read simplified news articles. Each article comes with audio recordings and exercises for different levels.
- Examples:
- Start with easy-level news articles (A2-B1) about world events, environment, or technology.
- As you progress, move to higher levels (B2-C1) where articles include more complex language and grammar structures.
- Bonus Tip: Listen to the audio version while reading along with the text to improve both listening and reading skills.
5️⃣ Harness the power of ChatGPT as your personal English teacher and conversation partner! 💡
- Strategy: Use ChatGPT to ask questions about grammar, sentence structure, or vocabulary. You can also have free-flowing conversations on different topics to practice speaking and writing.
- Examples:
- Ask ChatGPT to explain tricky grammar points like the difference between “present perfect” and “past simple.”
- Engage in storytelling by writing short essays or telling ChatGPT about your weekend, and get feedback on your sentence structure.
- Bonus Tip: Challenge yourself by asking ChatGPT to quiz you on vocabulary or verb tenses.
6️⃣ Dive into the fascinating world of YouTubers who speak English 🎥✨
- Strategy: Subscribe to English-speaking YouTubers who create travel, lifestyle, or educational content to immerse yourself in natural English.
- Examples:
- Watch Drew Binsky for travel vlogs around the world, packed with casual English conversations.
- Follow Uptin for personal finance and travel content, with clear and practical language.
- Check out channels like TED-Ed for educational videos on a wide range of topics.
- Bonus Tip: Turn on English subtitles to catch new phrases and expressions as they speak.
7️⃣ Discover an exciting TV series to binge-watch and immerse yourself in the language! 📺🍿
- Strategy: Choose a TV show with English subtitles and watch a few episodes daily to improve comprehension and pick up on everyday vocabulary.
- Examples:
- The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family are perfect for humor and easy conversational English.
- For more advanced learners, try Sherlock, where you’ll encounter British accents and complex plots.
- Friends is great for casual language and idiomatic expressions.
- Stranger Things combines mystery and conversation, suitable for intermediate and advanced learners.
- Bonus Tip: Try pausing the show occasionally to repeat phrases or guess what will happen next. This sharpens both listening and speaking skills.
These strategies help ESL learners improve their English while having fun and exploring different resources. Keep practicing consistently, and you’ll see improvement in no time!