Formal methods, such as classroom-based work, and informal methods, such as watching television or attending a social event to observe how people speak the language naturally, are among the various ways to learn English. There are also good learning systems and English grammar books available. The language can be studied individually or in a group setting. Speaking, listening, writing, and observing are usually the best ways to learn English.
Direct observation of how people greet each other or what they say when ordering food in a restaurant can help you learn English in everyday situations. Such cultural examples can assist a person in learning English that is more likely to fit in with his or her surroundings than more formal lessons learned in a classroom or from books. Classroom-based methods, on the other hand, are more likely to provide the foundational skills upon which more informal strategies can be built.
Attending social events with native English speakers who explain certain customs or ways of speaking can provide cultural insight to people learning the language. These experiences may improve skills and provide “real-life” learning of cultural events that were previously only taught in a classroom setting. For example, English learners may read about a basic event like a birthday party in class and practice relevant words like “cake” or “wishes,” but actually attending a party can provide more meaning as well as an opportunity to speak and listen to the related vocabulary in a natural setting.
Learners can benefit from practicing various forms of written communication, such as letters and emails, with people who speak English as their first language. Verbal learning can be strengthened listening to spoken English from a language course on tape and repeating the words. After mastering the fundamentals of English, more advanced lessons, such as those found in grammar books, can be attempted.
Many community colleges offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, which provide a group learning environment. Such formal classroom methods for learning English can assist in ensuring accuracy and providing a solid foundation in the language. In most ESL classes, students are taught basic English, including spoken and written English, as well as the general culture of the area. ESL classes can also serve as a social outlet for people who are new to the language, allowing them to study and practice English together.