Many English Language Learners (ELLs) find themselves in a predicament when they take an ESL-based examination. Despite having graduated from a bilingual school with top marks, they are often caught off-guard by the degree of difficulty an exam like the IELTS has. Created by professors from England’s Cambridge University, the International English Language Testing System is notoriously difficult for most international students.
Its testing covers listening, speaking, and reading comprehension, but often presents questions in an unfamiliar format. However, the listening section of the test is by far the most feared, as many students are simply unable to process the accent of the speaker.
Similarly, ELL individuals in the English-speaking workforce often find themselves struggling to communicate with their co-workers. The same can be said for many ELL university students. A recent study revealed that the students even admitted they would only speak with people from their own country. The reason? Simply a lack of confidence. In most cases, the English they learned and the English being spoken seem to be completely different.
But why is the English learned in an ESL setting so different from the English in day-to-day life? Why don’t English speakers talk the way the textbooks say they do? Furthermore, why does every grammar rule have so many contradictions?
The following are a series of tips and strategies that should help ELLs of all ages and walks of life.
Find Language Support
Reading and watching videos in the native language are both extremely useful, but are often without context. You can learn how and when to say certain things, but books and videos don’t explain why. Find a friend or co-worker who is strong with the language. They can help explain words and phrases that you do not understand. More importantly, a friend who is strong in the language can help you understand the context of certain words and phrases.
Many colleges and universities have ESL support. There may even be student language tutors available for non-students. Some college students make their money doing various academic jobs on the side. You may find a gifted language tutor that can help you for only a small amount of money.
Some communities may offer ESL classes as well. Getting to know what is available in your city or town can not only help with learning the language better. It can also help build confidence as you learn among other non-native speakers.
The Department of State also has a helpful directory of ESL and ELL resources and programs for all 50 states. These resources range from finding a suitable college for an ELL student to linking a person with other ELL individuals in their area.
Cambridge University has many online resources as well. Since many of the English standardized tests come out of England, Cambridge and Oxford are two of the best possible sources for guidance on the complicated parts of the language.
There are plenty of websites that offer structured and detailed language lessons put together by experts. The TOEFL and IELTS examinations have free sample tests available online for anybody looking for a real challenge, complete with a grading scale once you complete them. It’s possible to find discounts online on these types of packages for university students.
Building a better language base is easier than you may think. Begin your search for resources to help you improve, and put yourself on a path to better reading, writing, and communication.
Be Aware of Cultural Differences
English is a language that relies heavily on idioms and regional phrases, so much so that even the most confident ELL individuals may find themselves quickly lost. Furthermore, there are regional dialects to consider. While the average American will hear the words “soft drink,” “cold drink,” “soda,” and “pop” and know they all mean the same thing, an ELL individual will more than likely not.
To add another degree of difficulty, English is a hybrid language. This means that it borrows from several different languages. A language becomes a hybrid language because of outside influence. Both the United States and the United Kingdom hold within them a diverse population of people. As such, words, phrases, and even customs of non-natives become embraced by the native population over time.
Of course, all these factors are responsible for why the English language is so hard to learn. Here are a few tips to help learners break down the barriers and have more confidence in their interactions.
Read Up
Reading can help with difficulties learning a language, but not all books are going to be useful. Depending on what a person tries to read, they may find themselves only more confused.
If you are going to read, find things that pertain to your line of work or your interests. Reading the newspaper may be too confusing without context or an interest in the information. However, if you are a bird-watcher, a book about nature would be a great start.
Additionally, find language guides that are situation-specific. For example, if you are trying to improve your English for your job, find a business-related dictionary and start learning words and phrases used in your field. It would also be helpful to find a guide to commonly used idioms.
Netflix and Learn
Reading is not the only way to help improve speaking skills. Movies and videos can allow the viewer to hear the language in its natural context.
When watching a movie, a person can see many aspects of the language in action. For starters, situation-specific viewing can help an individual in the same way that reading can. If you are a medical student, why not binge-watch one of the many shows that take place in a hospital?
Watching movies and videos with subtitles can also be very helpful because pronunciation is another problem among ELL individuals. You have the option of listening to unusual words and phrases multiple times so you can know exactly how the native speakers say them.
There is one other benefit to watching movies in the English language: you get to hear the tempo of the speaker. Hearing tempo benefits the listener by not simply hearing what is said but how it is said. Tone, pitch, and speed are just as important as pronunciation in the English language. Paying attention to these things can not only make you a better speaker, but they can also make you a better listener.