English is the second most popular language in the world, after Chinese. When you travel to Germany, you will probably speak English. When you go on a business trip in Hawaii, you will speak English. Knowing this language is extremely powerful these days.
Unfortunately, learning English can be challenging and sometimes, even exhausting. All the grammar rules, spelling mistakes we need to avoid, and endless clauses make us tired. So, what if we learned English in a funny, playful way? Doesn’t matter if you are an adult trying to learn English, or a passionate teacher reading this for her students. Adding some entertainment to the study process will make it easier for you/your students to learn!
10 Way to Learn English Playfully
1. Watch Movies and Listen to MusicEasy peasy! Watching movies is a great way to improve your English. It is not only an entertaining method to use, but it is also very beneficial for your listening skills. Make sure you do not use subtitles. Remember! In real life, there are no subtitles, so you have to get used to fast dialogue or speeches!
Listening to your favorite English or American artists is another amazing way of learning English. For example, play Ed Sheeran’s songs while following his lyrics on Google. Search for the words you don’t know. Voila! Now you know more words, and more of Ed Sheeran. Great, right?
2. Sing and Talk in EnglishWhether you are in the shower or not, singing is a great idea! Watch the lyrics of the song you sing, and articulate the words as well as you can. After that, play the song again and listen to how the artist pronounces it. Is it similar to yours? If not, what can you change? Also, talk to yourself in English in order to improve your accent and pronunciation. It will definitely work!
3. Start Conversations in English When You Have the Chance To/Find a PartnerWhen you hear people talking English, start a conversation. You can ask them how they are and why they chose to visit your country. This is a great way to get to know people and practice your English skills. If you are too shy to do this, find a conversation partner and practice daily. Keep a log book and write down your progress.
4. Watch Interviews in EnglishWe all have favorite celebrities! Pick one of yours and watch endless interviews with them. It might be a start from your favorite TV show, movie, or even a pop singer. However, if you don’t understand some words they say, play that part over and over again until you get the hang of it.
5. Use Speaking Games to LearnEven though you are not young anymore, using games to learn English is an awesome idea. If you are a teacher looking for the perfect game, there is no specific one unfortunately. They are all really good at teaching students the new language. Take a look at some of your options:
• Last Man Standing• Charades• Taboo Words• Scrabble• Categories6. Write to Your Friends Who Post in EnglishIf you have friends who post in English, write to them and start an English conversation! It is a great way to practice your writing skills. If you miss some words, you can always look them up in a dictionary. Chatting is a fun and easy way to interact with people in English!
7. Read the Latest News in EnglishThere are so many newsletters written in English, that sometimes it is actually hard to follow the news without understanding English. So sign up for Huffington Post or The New York Times, and follow their posts. Reading at least one article per day is going to make a huge difference.
8. Listen to PodcastsThere are a lot of podcasts available online! Starting from beauty and cosmetics, to philosophy and psychology, there are endless topics to choose from! Learn more about your favorite subject while learning a new language. It’s the best of both worlds, my friend!
9. Use Apps to Learn EnglishAnother innovative way to learn English is using apps. With all the new technology, it is so easy to download an app on your smartphone and play while you are waiting in line to get a coffee. Sam Jason, manager at EssayGeek proofreading service says, “Don’t waste precious time, make the best out of every second you have.Keep the learning process going. The results are worth it!”
10. Learn New Jokes in EnglishLearning jokes will make you funnier whenever you speak English. It will also make you understand the American culture. Make sure you avoid racist jokes or comments!
Conclusion
English is a must for every one of us. If we don’t know it, we might feel excluded and isolated from the rest of the world. It is effective whenever you travel to a foreign country, and it keeps you updated on the latest news. So start learning English today, will you? Use the above methods to make it more playful. Good luck!