Reading and writing in the English language can be difficult, even for native speakers. From grammar to vocabulary, many people are embarrassed or nervous when trying to communicate, but it’s a natural part of learning a new language.

Are you looking to improve your skills? Here are some methods and practices to make you more confident writing in English.

Keep a Journal or Diary During ESL School

It may seem like more homework to write a journal in English, but writing a journal entry, even if it is only a list of words that you have learned during your English as a second language program, will help strengthen your knowledge of English words and phrases.

Writing a journal or diary in English is good practice for words and phrases

Thinking about writing in another language will also make you more familiar with the rhythm and structure of how everything should be arranged in a sentence. In addition, writing something down in a journal or diary will help you memorize new words and phrases as you learn them, and give you something which demonstrates your progress.

Practice Reading in English

Reading can be great way to learn how to write properly. The more time you dedicate to reading in the English language, the better your comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary will be. For example, if finishing one book teaches you ten new words, imagine what finishing five or ten books will do. By reading regularly, you could soon be on your way to mastering English as a second language.

Do not feel limited to only reading books. You can use whatever materials you enjoy the most, from novels to newspapers, comic books, magazines, or even a dictionary or subtitles in a movie. You learn best when you are having fun, so if you choose something you like, you might be able to understand and learn the language better.

Reading in English can help improve your vocabulary and grammar

Try to pick something that includes proper punctuation and spelling, because different styles and formats will teach you different aspects of the language. You may not, for example, learn the same thing from an academic essay as you would from an online entertainment article.

Use Online Resources to Learn English as a Second Language

Like any language, English has many aspects to it that are not taught in class. The internet gives us a lot of opportunity to connect with people and learn from their experiences. A popular way of doing this is by writing a blog. When you publish your writing online, this means that an audience of native speakers can read it and give corrections and advice on your work.

You can also write on an English language forum or online discussion board. You can find a forum for anything that interests you, from sports to TV shows, books, films, and even hobbies like video games or painting. Forums are useful because you can talk about something that you like with other people who like it too. Since you are comfortable with the topic, you can write with confidence, as well as get feedback and corrections if you make a mistake.

Looking for a certified ESL school?

Find out more at ASC English.