Anyone who is bilingual in English is guaranteed a job in almost any company, because that means giving the business the opportunity to expand and become much more competitive in the face of new organisations that are making a big impact. Above all, if your work involves dealing directly with customers, suppliers, salespeople or the media, you’ll already know that the English language skills are essential for navigating a market as globalised as the one we operate in today.
Would you like to find out more about the importance of mastering English and just how far you can go if you reach a high level? Find out in this post and get motivated to keep learning!
English language skills: the three pillars on which you should focus all your attention when learning this language
The general concept of language skills refers to the knowledge that a speaker – whether a native speaker or a non-native speaker – has of a language. The more extensive and in-depth one’s skills in a language are, the better one will be able to formulate, convey and understand a message, which will determine the quality of communication.
If you want to learn English, before using the various techniques and tools available, you should focus on developing your English skills individually – especially if you’re starting from scratch – to build a solid foundation in grammar and vocabulary that will enable you to progress effectively.
Let’s have a look at the three English language skills!
Listening comprehension: Listening to and understanding conversations is the first step in learning a language and, in fact, it is the first skill we develop from a young age when we are exposed to our mother tongue day in, day out. This is not entirely a passive activity; rather, it requires full attention and practice through self-assessment exercises, such as questionnaires or tests that confirm whether we have understood the content correctly. These exercises become more complex as they require us to understand more detailed information.
Training your ear and trying to work out what is being said is essential for getting your brain working and exercising your ability to make associations and your memory. Trying to remember new vocabulary and its pronunciation will be very helpful in constructing increasingly complex sentences.
Oral expression: this is the ability to put into practice and communicate the knowledge acquired through listening. It refers to the ability to form logical and correct sentences with the correct pronunciation. This language skill enables us to relate to and interact with other people.
Reading Comprehension: This is the ability to understand written language, interpreting both the symbols specific to the language and the meanings of words and grammatical structures. The best way to improve this skill is to read a great deal – all kinds of texts – and gradually increase the level of complexity.
Reading Comprehension: Writing coherently, with correct agreement and in a fluent manner is a real challenge for people who decide to learn a new language. This is the most advanced skill and, for example, in the case of Spanish speakers, it becomes more difficult when studying non-phonetic languages.
As you know, English has become the key language for all professionals who wish to reach the top of their career or enhance their international profile. In areas such as the foreign trade, international relations, logistics and many others – if you don’t know English, you’ll face a serious hurdle to overcome. But don’t worry, as with everything, there are methods that will help you consolidate your knowledge. We’ll tell you all about them below!
How can you improve the dreaded ‘listening’?
Listen to music and songs in English: Music is a great way to improve your listening skills. Listen to songs in English and try to pick out the words and phrases you hear. You can look up the lyrics and follow along whilst listening to the music to improve your understanding. Just make sure you don’t skip over any vocabulary you don’t understand!
Watch films and TV series in English with subtitles: Choose simple films or TV series in English and turn on the English subtitles. This will help you link the words you hear with their written form. Try to pay attention to the actors’ pronunciation and intonation whilst following the story.
Practise with podcasts or audiobooks in English: Listen to podcasts or audiobooks in English on topics that interest you. You can start with ones where the speaker speaks more slowly and then move on to recordings spoken at a faster pace. Try to understand the information and make a note of any words or phrases you don’t understand so you can look them up later.
How can I improve my written English?
Freehand writing: Practise free writing by choosing a topic and writing down everything that comes to mind about it. Don’t worry about grammar or structure at this stage; just let the words flow. Then, review and edit your writing to improve its accuracy and coherence.
Proofreading: Ask someone to proofread your essay and point out any grammatical errors, vocabulary mistakes, incorrect expressions, or any other areas that need improving. Use this feedback to learn from your mistakes and improve your writing skills.
Practise structured writing: Choose a specific writing format, such as essays, formal letters or book reviews. Practise organising your ideas into coherent paragraphs and use a clear structure comprising an introduction, body and conclusion. Make sure you use vocabulary appropriate to the format and vary your grammatical structures.
Check out these three ideas for practising your ‘speaking’ if you live in Spain
Language exchange: If you can’t go abroad, the world will come to you. Look for language exchange groups or events in your area; there are usually plenty listed on language schools’ websites or social media pages. These events bring together people who want to learn English or Spanish so they can chat and give each other feedback. This is the perfect opportunity not only to practise speaking English and improve your fluency, but also to exchange ideas, learn about new cultures and make new friends.
English conversation classes: Find out if there are any language schools or cultural centres offering English conversation classes. These classes are specifically designed to practise speaking. You’ll be able to take part in group activities, discussions and speaking exercises. What’s more, you’ll have the guidance of a teacher who will give you feedback and help you improve your communication skills.
Online practice: Make the most of online tools to practise your speaking. Look for online language exchange platforms where you can connect with native English speakers via video calls. You can have regular conversations with them and practise different topics. There are also mobile apps that let you record yourself speaking English and receive feedback on your pronunciation and fluency.
As you can see, as well as academic options for learning English, there are other ways you can start practising today from home to improve your language skills in record time. Go on, give it a go and carry on reading our blog on professional development and much more!
