1. The Internet.  There are online English courses, online advice and lessons in English, video and audio in English (Youtube, radio stations, mp3′s, podcasts), explanations (dictionaries, thesaurus, wikipedia), social networking websites (facebook, twitter) and much more!
2. Movies & Music.  Check out your local video store and see if there are movies in English.  As mentioned above, you can also get probably a lot off the Internet.
3. Read titles in English.  Use your library to see if there are titles in English, if you can, obtain ebooks and pdfs of books online or at book websites, and find as many books as you can that interest you in English.
4. Read out loud.  Take the reading one step further and actually read out loud.  Practice the sounds of the words that you read silently.  One of the reasons why we trip up so often when speaking is because we never use the words out loud.  It’s like exercising.  You need to run a few kilometers so that when you finally do have to run a long distance, you don’t want to die.
5. Take it a step even further.  Record yourself when you speak English. After you are finished recording, play it back and see what you sound like. If you are not clear, then you can simply try again. This is a great way to see how others hear you. » Continue reading “20 best ways to learn English plus online English learning websites”

This is the first installment of a series of interviews with experts in English education aimed at offering tips, trends and information related to English learning and teaching in Korea. – Ed.

In 1995, Kim Dae-kyun began teaching English reading classes in Shillim-dong in southern Seoul to earn money for studying abroad.

His decision to temporarily dabble in English education however, changed his life, and he is now regarded as one of the top TOEIC instructors in Korea.

“Since the introduction in 2006 of New TOEIC, questions have become more difficult, so students should arm themselves with real competence to get a high score,” Kim said. » Continue reading “[EYE ON ENGLISH (1)] No shortcuts in mastering TOEIC”

This is the third installment of a series of interviews with experts in English education aimed at offering tips, trends and information related to English learning and teaching in Korea. – Ed.

Korean learners and educators prefer American English, including its accent and idiomatic expressions. The evidence: Korean textbooks on the subject are mostly if not entirely based on American English.

Lee Chan-seung, CEO of NeungYule Education, said such dependence on the single variation of English is passι, as other countries are increasingly adopting a policy in favor of what is called “World English.” » Continue reading “[EYE ON ENGLISH (3)] Lee promotes ‘World English’”

This is the fourth installment of a series of interviews with experts in English education aimed at offering tips, trends and information related to English learning and teaching in Korea. – Ed.

English education in Korea is a huge industry. Hundreds, if not thousands, of English study books are being published every year and a growing number of parents are sending their kids to English-only kindergartens.

But the majority of Korean learners struggle, something often attributed to the methods they use and ineffective education policies. » Continue reading “[EYE ON ENGLISH (4)] ‘Work smarter, not harder’ to learn English”

This is the fifth installment of a series of interviews with experts in English education aimed at offering tips, trends and information related to English learning and teaching in Korea. – Ed.

Lee Keun-chull does not believe in perfection when it comes to learning English. After all, trying to obtain a high level of English proficiency in every field is not only impossible, but fatally discouraging.

“The most important thing is to have a purpose-based approach,” Lee said. “If I want to sell clothes at Dongdaemun market, I will focus on certain expressions, and if I want to become a reporter for an English newspaper, I will focus on writing.” » Continue reading “[EYE ON ENGLISH (5)] ‘Purpose-based approach’ to English”

This is the sixth installment of a series of interviews with experts in English education aimed at offering tips, trends and information related to English learning and teaching in Korea. — Ed.

By Yang Sung-jin

Stephen van Vlack, professor of the Graduate School of TESOL at Sookmyung Women’s University, said Korean parents should help their children develop in both Korean and English, particularly concerning literacy skills.

With expertise in theoretical and applied linguistics, van Vlack also said that authentic reading is a “doable” strategy for most Korean learners, while providing detailed steps as well, depending on proficiency levels. » Continue reading “[EYE ON ENGLISH (6)] Better English through reading”

This is the seventh installment of a series of interviews with experts in English education aimed at offering tips, trends and information related to English learning and teaching in Korea. — Ed.

By Yang Sung-jin

Lee Soh-hee, professor of Seoul University of Foreign Studies, said graduate students majoring in interpretation and translation are deeply anxious to improve their English competence during summer vacation, but hard work would pay off more than short cuts.

“I totally understand my students who want to move to a next level as fast as possible, especially during the summer break, but whatever they do, they have to devote plenty of time and energy, which cannot be possibly done in just two months,” Lee said. » Continue reading “[EYE ON ENGLISH (7)] Lee offers advice for aspiring interpreters”

From the Korea Herald:

This is the eighth installment of a series of interviews with experts in English education aimed at offering tips, trends and information related to English learning and teaching in Korea. – Ed.

By Yang Sung-jin

Bae Yu-chung’s career defies quick classification. She is widely known as a stage actress who took various roles for high-profile dramas. She also joins many press conferences or international conferences as a seasoned master of ceremonies, thanks to her masterful use of Korean language that easily outsmarts even professional TV anchors. » Continue reading “[EYE ON ENGLISH (8)] Constant training key to English proficiency”