Whole body approach to English
The efficient way to study English is to use one's whole body:
eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, ... every part!!
- Use your eyes for reading English literature or articles.
Newspaper, novels, magazines, anything is OK.
- Use your ears for listening to English: radio news, movies,
TV shows, etc.
- Use your mouth actively to speak English especially with foreign
peopleŠ\friends, teachers.
- Give your hands a pen to write English.
- Finally, your feet are good partners to seek opportunities
to make non-Japanese friends, get fine materials, in short, to
make contact with English.
Every factor mentioned above is equally important. To improve
your ability synthetically is the best way.
reading
Now, let me give you some more details about each factor. As
for reading, try English newspaper or magazines, which are really
good because there are many kind of topics in them, so you can
see a variety of words. If you are at a basic level, I recommend
Asahi Weekly, which has really interesting topics and is easy
to read , for it contains translations of difficult words in writing.
Moreover this newspaper is so colorful that it will make you feel
like reading. For students at a middle or advanced levels, it's
good to read TIME magazine. This is a little bit difficult , but
once you try it, you can make more progress in your learning.
listening
Next, about listening, you should listen to the real spoken English
which is as fast as native speech. A good listening source is
FEN (Far East Network), the radio news broadcast by The U.S. Armed
Forces in Japan. From 9 a.m to 10 a.m, it is news and discussion
time. In my case, I record that news and listening in train with
portable cassette player. After a few months, I felt my listening
ability improve. Why don't you try it?
speaking
Concerning speaking drills, I should tell how to get a chance
to make friends with foreign people, or even Japanese. There are
several possibilities. 1) to take a GOKEN class and attend in
positive way; 2) to go to anther language school such as NOVA
or GEOS, if you can afford to ; 3) to join international club
such as NIJINOKAI , which is rather cheaper. In case, you should
keep one promise; be positive about speaking.
writing
To brush up your writing skills, most effective way I have found
is to take a writing class in the university or GOKEN. If you
do so, you get the situation in which you can't be lazy about
writing. The advanced writing course, which I've been enrolled
is really good, for example.
planning
Ii is not necessary to do the things mentioned above perfectly.
Do at least a little of each things, though. Here is one example.
When you go to school, you listen to English news on the train.
Monday, you attend the GOKEN class ( advanced writing course).
Wednesday and Friday go to NOVA to speak English. On the train
going back home, read TIME magazine. Sunday, you write a short
essay, which is homework due the following Monday. Every day you
are certainly and consistently using English. Do your work continuously.
Maintain your own pace.
feet!?
Finally, don't neglect chance to contact with English. It's maybe
most important, but often forgotten. For example, go to big bookstore
to get interesting English literature. Go to Waseda's computer
rooms to send a mail to foreign pen pals. Why don't you seek any
chance by using your feet?
Anyway, your positive attitude will someday bear fruit. Good luck!!
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