Being able to communicate fluently in English is a necessary skill, and is among the abilities assessed when taking higher education, and even when applying for a job later on in life. It is therefore important to have a good foundation for English education, and to continuously work enhancing one’s English language skills.
There are many effective strategies that can be taken in order to enrich one’s English communication skills. Engaging in specialized home tuition services is among the most direct ways to strengthen one’s English skills. By working with English tuition specialists, especially from a reputable home tuition agency, your child’s English communication skills would definitely benefit.
Beyond hiring an English tutor for your child, some of the methods that can help your child become fluent in English are the following:
1. Watching films and TV programs
Children learn a lot from what they see and hear, and this is true even when trying to learn English skills. Choose movies and TV shows that have age-appropriate content, and those that practice decent language.
Aside from TV programs for kids, films such as Toy Story or one of the many Disney movies out there are great ways to expose your child to good use of the English language without having to worry about the content.
Documentaries and interviews may also work, but choose the kind of materials that your child will be watching to ensure that these are child-friendly.
2. Make reading a habit
Reading is an effective way to see how other people write and some of the best things for your child to read are books. There are many child-friendly books out that will not only help your child pick up writing styles, and expose him to words we may not encounter in day-to-day conversations, but would also help him widen his imagination. What’s great about books is that these are reviewed before being published, so your child will unlikely come across errors.
Newspapers and magazines are also nice things to read, but some content might not be age-appropriate so be extra careful in the types of newspapers and magazines that you expose your child to. There are some educational magazines out there, and these could be something that you can get for your child to read.
3. Practice English at home
Applicable to non-native English-speaking homes, using the language at home is a great way to become accustomed to speaking in English. Speaking in English with your child at home will allow him to be comfortable in using the language, and it will also allow you to share your thoughts on areas where your child might need help with. Is your child pronouncing a word differently, or are there words that he or she is misusing? These are things that you, as a parent, can help correct.
Of course, we are not underestimating the importance of keeping one’s culture alive, but offering a decent amount of using the English language as a means for communicating at home can definitely have a positive impact on your child’s development. Striking the right balance is key.
4. Encourage your child to keep a journal
Being fluent in English is not just about being able to use the language to speak, but also to read and to write. It is therefore equally important for your child to have some form of writing exercises to hone his English-writing skills.
Some ways you can encourage your child to write is by having a journal. A journal allows your child to write about his day, or about any particular topic. The idea is for your child to regularly write something so that he or she gets accustomed to using the language for writing.
5. Take note of unfamiliar words
There are many times that we encounter unfamiliar words, but we don’t end up learning what it actually means because we dismiss it. To change that, one good practice is to ask your child to jot down words that he or she does not know the meaning of, and to work with you in checking out the meaning later on. This is a good exercise that can effectively widen your child’s vocabulary.
And this applies not only to words your child hears, but also to unfamiliar words he reads. Your child can write these words down and could also check how to pronounce them correctly by using online tools, or by asking you.
