Learning by reading
Vital words for understanding
improve /ɪmˈpruːv/ – zlepšit, vylepšit
even if /ˈiː.vən ɪf/- přestože, i když
tutor /ˈtʃuː.tər/ – lektor, učitel
each /iːtʃ/ – každý, každá věc
thought /θɔːt/ – myšlenka, nápad
goal /ɡəʊl/ – cal, směřování
(to) aim /eɪm/ – mířit, zamýšlet
yourself /jɔːˈself/ – ty, ty sám
.
strange/streɪndʒ/ – podivný, zvláštní
probably /ˈprɒb.ə.bli/ – pravděpodobně, asi
(to) compare/kəmˈpeər/ – porovnat, ve srovnání
(to) need /niːd/ – potřebovat
honest /ˈɒn.ɪst/ – upřímný
consistent /kənˈsɪs.tənt/ – důsledný, vytrvalý
(to) seem /siːm/ – vypadat (jako)
obvious /ˈɒb.vi.əs/ – žřejmý, očividný
I recently heard a question that got me thinking: How do you know if you’re getting better at English? Well, let me share some ideas.
Learning English on your own, without using it for work or in your daily life, can make it hard to see if you’re improving. Even if you have regular lessons with a private tutor, sometimes it feels like you’re not making progress. But there are simple ways to know you’re getting better.
Keep a language journal. Make a special journal just for your English learning. Write down new words and phrases you learn in each lesson. Share your thoughts about language topics and note any challenges you face. This journal can show you how you’re doing.
Set clear goals. Work with your tutor to create specific learning goals for each lesson or over time. You can aim to learn new words, speak more fluently, or understand better when people talk. Having clear goals helps you see your progress.
Use language apps. Try language learning apps like Duolingo. If you use them often, you can see how you’re doing.
Test yourself. There are many tests online to check your English skills. Take these tests from time to time. Make sure you check speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Keep a record of your scores to see if you’re improving.
Record yourself. This might sound strange, but recording your voice speaking English can be very useful. You can hear how well you speak and if you’re improving. Record yourself answering a few questions, and listen to them later. You’ll probably notice a big difference.
Use English in real life. Even if you don’t need English for work, try to use it in real situations. Order food in a restaurant, ask for directions or chat with people when you travel. Think about how these conversations go compared to before. If you don’t travel much, find someone to practice with. It could be at a café, in a group, or in a conversation class. Talk to different people in different places.
Watch and read in English. Keep watching movies, TV shows, podcasts, and books in English. Pay attention to how much you understand without subtitles or translations. Compare it to when you started learning.
Get feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask your tutor for feedback on how you’re doing. They can tell you what you’re good at and what needs work. Trust them if you’ve been working together for a while. They’ll be honest with you.
Be consistent. Learning a language takes time. Regular practice, even if it’s short, can help you improve bit by bit.
Remember, learning a language is a slow process, and you might not see changes right away. But if you use these ideas and think about your progress regularly, you’ll know you’re doing better in English, even when it doesn’t seem obvious.