Below are some practical solutions to help you improve English grammar.
Grammar is like a game. Some who are well-versed with the language learn grammar intuitively; some struggle with tenses, clauses, sentences, and so on. Below we put forward some effective ways to learn & improve English grammar.
1. Make a commitment
Learning English grammar needs a lot of motivation. Once you are ready to begin studying, stick by it until the end.
2. Keep a grammar book at your disposal
Keeping an English grammar book will allow you to revise what you have learnt in class, as well as force you to learn grammar as often as you can.
3. Utilise a grammar app
Nowadays, everyone has a smartphone. Make use of it. Download a dictionary app and a grammar app. You can use it while commuting or in your free time.
4. Practise everyday
One of the best ways to improve your grammar is to solve as many exercises as possible. Scots’ intensive English courses will expose you and encourage you to use correct grammar through various upbeat and efficient activities. Your teacher will also help you determine some of the rules behind the grammar before confirming your answers and explaining in detail to you. Don’t forget to take notes during classes and do all your homework.
English grammar mastery also involves the acquisition of five critical skills sets (reading, thinking, listening, speaking and writing). Seek every opportunity in your daily activities to practise these skills.
5. Learn new words
Keep a notebook for new words. Every day, everywhere, you will see new words. When you write them down, you have a record of them that you can use again. Set a target for yourself to learn and use 10 or 20 new words every day.
6. Read more in English
This is one step you can’t skip if you want to get better at grammar. Reading helps you to see how the grammar works. Choose something that you are interested in and read about it. Find books, magazines or newspaper articles that suit your current level of English. You will find new words every time you read, you will start to understand the ‘tone’ of the writer and how they deal with grammar aspects. Whenever you find something that seems different to you, Google it or ask your teacher. Indeed, when you are grammatically incorrect, the correct sentences could sound strange to your ears.
7. Listen in English
Don’t think of learning English as happening only in the classroom. You can learn English all day, every day by looking at and listening to what is happening around you, on the street, on the bus or train, in the supermarket. Keep your mind, ears and eyes open and you will be amazed how much English, and the culture of the people using it, you will pick up.
8. Try and communicate in English with your teacher and friends
Studying English at Scots gives you an awesome opportunity to think in English and speak English only. The more time you spend practising conversational English with your teacher and classmates, the better you would start understanding grammar rules, for example, tenses, regular verbs, irregular verbs, pronouns.
9. Watch English movies or TV series
Watch English movie and series with subtitles. Note the usage of language, tenses, subjects and verbs — the three areas people usually mess up in.
10. Write more in English
English grammar improvement also involves writing practice in class and writing for your own enjoyment outside of class. One simple way to practise writing is posting your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter status in English, leaving English comments, replies instead of in your mother tongue.
11. Understand the logic behind a grammar rule
There is always a logic behind a grammar rule. Note down all the rules you erred in previously and figure out why a particular word or sentence is the way it is. Once you got to know its logic, you would never make that mistake again.
12. Ask your teacher for extra help
Scots teachers are a great resource and are happy to help you when they can. Feel free to ask your teacher about things you are not clear about. Also, they can help you to identify areas that you can work on and help you to develop revision skills.
Originally published at www.scotsenglish.edu.au.
