Improve Your English and Speak Fluently

Sabrena Doherty Author

This practical, step-by-step guide, shows you how you CAN reach your English goals and become fluent in English.

JOIN THE ENGLISH CHALLENGE 2024

You are reading this because you want to find a way to improve your level of English as efficiently as possible. 

And it is likely that you have been learning English for a while but still haven´t mastered it yet. 

You continue to have difficulty in conversations and with grammar and vocabulary. 

Am I right?

Don´t worry - it is possible, and I can show you how!

But first - to be able to know how to improve your English, you have to change your approach, and your mindset, in relation to learning languages. 

To do that, you should look at why it has been very difficult for you to improve and become fluent.

Usually people are taught languages by studying the grammar structures and the vocabulary, which can be boring and difficult. 

These are useful and necessary methods of learning, but they are only PART of the process. 

You also need 3 other ingredients:

1. To PRACTICE - you have to speak, read, and listen to what you are learning.

2. To ENJOY the process - if learning English isn´t fun and interesting for you, then it is much more difficult to improve.

3. And to have a GOAL - if you don´t know WHY you are learning, or if your objectives are not clear enough, then you will always be trying to get there but you will never arrive at your destination.

Therefore, to improve and become more fluent, the first step is to think carefully about your objective.

Let´s do that now. 

Answer the following questions:

1. Why are you learning English?

If you need some inspiration, here are more specific ideas (you can add to the list if your specific objective is not there):

Areas I want to improve:

SPEAKING & LISTENING

Be able to:

• Ask for clarification

• Make fewer mistakes

• Speak fluently without stopping to think

• Explain ideas & processes

• Understand people

• Maintain a conversation

• Give instructions & reports

• Ask & answer questions

• Agree & disagree & give your argument

• Participate in, and lead meetings

This video gives advice on improving your speaking & listening skills:

READING & WRITING

Be able to:

• Read more quickly

• Understand written English

• Write emails in English

• Write in English without mistakes

• Write reports and texts in English

Download your free email expressions here:

EMAIL EXPRESSIONS CHEATSHEET

GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY

Be able to:

• Speak with very few mistakes

• Improve & expand my grammar

• Improve my vocabulary

• Learn vocabulary about [TOPIC]

• Use grammar structures fluently

Learn 30 everyday expressions with this video:

2. Do you have a timeframe or a deadline?

Deadlines are important because they give you structure, something to aim for and motivate you to finish.

Having a deadline motivates you to reach your goal and is necessary for this learning method.

If you gave one, write it down. 

If you don´t, set one now!

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

• It may help to know what level you are now, and what level you need to be to achieve your goals. 
• You may find this chart useful to check your level, and know which level you need to be to achieve your goals (this is the common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You can find out more information here). You can also take an online level test but these do not usually assess all aspects of your English. 
• Alternatively, you can contact us to check your level on [email protected].

• You also need to consider how many hours it takes to improve from one level to the next. 

• For motivated adult learners, they typically need between 100 and 200 hours of guided learning to get from one CEFR level to the next. As you go up the levels, you need more hours to get to the next one. Be realistic with your deadline. You can find out more information on this topic here.

• To calculate how many hours of English you need to do per week (approximately), use this formula:

Number of hours needed ÷ no. weeks til deadline = Hours per week

NOTE: 

These amounts are approximate and depend on how you study, what type of learner you are, your age, your natural ability for languages….many factors. However, they will give you an idea in order to plan how many hours you need to do to achieve your goal.

Let´s look at an example:

1. Why are you learning English?

Because I am looking for a job and they always ask me if I can speak English.

1. Do you have a timeframe or a deadline?

I need to learn as quickly as possible so I can improve my career.

I am currently a level B2 but I need to reach C1 level to reach my goal of making less mistakes and understanding well.

I want to do this in 6 months. Therefore I need 7-8 hours per week of English to reach my goal.

(6 months= 26 weeks.

Improving by one level is approx 200 hours.

200 hours ÷ 26 weeks = 7.5 hours per week.)

Now you are clear on WHAT your goal is and WHEN you need to achieve it.

The next step is HOW.

Download your free eBook with step-by-step instructions on how to achieve your objectives in English:

EBook THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO IMPROVING YOUR ENGLISH.

You will:

• Learn what activities are best for you
• Find activities that fit your life
• Create your personalized programme to improve your English.

As a bonus, you will also receive exclusive access to our 3-day challenge to motivate you to take action TODAY to make your English better.

Good luck with your English!

Short inspirational video on how to improve your English:

This content is an excerpt from the book by Sabrena Doherty:

(Click on the picture for your free copy)

Categories: Improve Your English, Listening & Speaking