Learning English Online as a Beginner
English speaking sessions on Skype are an excellent way for people to practice their spoken English while improving their fluency, learning new vocabulary and fixing any grammar issues. Sessions on Skype reinforce what you have already learned and give you active practice actually using the language. But what if you don’t have any previous experience with English? Can you learn English online as a beginner?
What is the difference between Learn and Practice?
Learn {verb} : gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught.
Practice {verb} : perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to acquire, improve or maintain proficiency in it.
First you must learn something and then you practice it to make it better.
Think of a young child learning their native language. They are gaining all of that vocabulary from their parents, songs, stories… basically everything around them. If you are a beginner, you are in the same situation. Before you can speak, you have to learn the vocabulary and have it stored in your brain, ready to use.
Beginner English Sessions on Skype
The great thing about SkypEnglish4U sessions is that we totally focus on speaking and listening, no workbooks or exercises are done during our time together. This can be a problem if your English level is not enough to carry on a simple conversation for at least 30 minutes. I have worked with many ‘basic users’ in the past (see chart below), constructing sentences properly and speaking using basic structures. Basic users can gain from speaking practice and advance on to the next level. However, absolute beginners will not benefit from sessions on Skype because they do not have the foundation of English to construct sentences.
Suggestions for Beginner Students
- Start with a teacher who speaks your native language and can explain basic grammar rules to you. italki is a great site where you can search for an English teacher who speaks your language as well- sign up by clicking here!
- Find some helpful, free websites and Develop a Routine
- Download my PDF with the 500 most commonly used words> 500-most-common-english-words.pdf
- Surround yourself with English
Once you feel comfortable (even just a little) with speaking English, contact me for a 30 minute session. As I mentioned, I have experience with ‘basic users’ so it will not be overwhelming or too much for you. We will take it nice and slow.
Learning a language is not an easy task, but keep at it and you will feel great about your accomplishment!