TASK: Translate the following text into Czech, make notes on new vocabulary. Bring the text in the lesson. Essential tips for beginners when studying english Learning a new language can be daunting, especially when you’re first starting out. If you’re a beginning English language learner, check out these fourteen tips for developing your speaking, reading, and writing skills in a fun and effective way. Set goals Identify why you want to learn English. For example, maybe you plan to study abroad in an English-speaking country for a semester or you need to use English for your work in specific situations. Use your goals to motivate yourself and help you identify areas of English to focus on. Do a vocabulary warm-up If you focus on a particular vocabulary unit in class, try to think about the topic in English and vocabulary related to the words from the lesson. For example, if you’re doing food vocabulary, spend some time thinking about your favorite foods to cook or order at a restaurant. Keep a journal in English Try to write at least a paragraph every day about anything on your mind. You can write about what you did that day, what goals you have for tomorrow, the lyrics of a new song you heard, or an idea you have for a short story. Writing on a daily basis will help you get used to expressing your thoughts in English, and writing by hand as opposed to typing will also help you improve your spelling. Watch movies in English Most English learners consider this one of the more fun ways to improve their language skills. Choose an English-language movie that you want to watch and put on subtitles in your native language so you can follow along, or watch a movie in your native language and put on English subtitles so you can see the words on the screen. Read books in English Start with easy reader books that are appropriate to your learning level, but don’t be afraid to work your way up to longer books with more extensive vocabulary. Young adult books like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games are good because they’re written in relatively simple language but are still entertaining for adults. Read aloud Try reading part of an English novel, play, or poem aloud in order to improve your pronunciation and get yourself warmed up for English conversations. Build word families Every time you look up a new vocabulary word, try to find one synonym (a word with the same or similar meaning) and one antonym (a word with the opposite meaning), as well. Speak to native speakers Whenever possible, practice your conversation skills with a native speaker so that you can get a sense of the normal speed and inflections of the English language. Learn from your mistakes Whenever you’re having a conversation with a native English speaker, let them know that you’d like them to correct you if you make any mistakes. This will help you avoid many of the common grammar and structure errors that beginning English learners often make. Listen for sounds and stress and intonation When listening to native speakers, pay attention to the words they emphasize. The words which carry content are usually nouns, verbs, and adjectives. They help you form a picture of what the person is trying to communicate. Function words, which are usually pronouns, prepositions, determiners, and auxiliary verbs, help connect the content words and make the sentence grammatically correct. Paying attention to the content words will help you figure out the meaning of what a person is saying. Sing songs If you like music, you can practice English by singing along with your favorite English-language songs. Print out the lyrics and look up English words you don’t know so you can improve your understanding. Learn how to be a selective listener When you first start listening to native English speakers, it willbe tough to understand all the words they’re saying, so focus on the words you recognize, and try to figure out meaning based on the context. No matter what study methods you choose, make sure you’re practicing English on a daily basis. This is the best way to develop your language skills and make sure they stick.