Got your attention, didn’t it? We, of all the Asian races should have the easiest time comprehending the English language. Why? Because here in the Philippines, English is everywhere! It’s on the billboards that decorate our thoroughfares, it is the language of choice of most of our textbooks and newspapers, even our favorite actors and actresses speak a smattering of English every time they appear on television. The truth is, if only we are more aware of our surroundings, understanding, and speaking proper English will be as easy as 1, 2, and 3. Now, for the fun stuff, here are some sure-fire ways to improve your English without hitting the books… well, not the heavy books, at least. Watch movies to improve your vocabulary. Two out of three movies that come out each week is in English. Majority of the shows on cable television is also on English. Now, watch one whose storyline is very familiar to you so you always know what’s happening. Next, pay close attention to the dialogue and resist the urge to translate it into your native language. Follow the story by watching the picture and hearing the words, some of which you are familiar with, some of them, not. By doing this, the meaning of the other words will become clear to you as well. The accents, facial expressions associated with the words, idiomatic expressions used… all these you will be able to absorb by watching movies. Once you’ve done this, you can start mimicking the actors in the movie. Hearing them speak the words is a bit different from saying them yourself. Practicing along with the movie will make you more confident of your pronunciation of words.
If practicing alone with a video isn’t your thing, you can always get your friends to join you. If not a video, why not take an English enrichment program, such as the one that AHEAD PRO offers, where your written and verbal English is workshopped. Learning English won’t be that difficult, most likely. After all, here in the Philippines, English is everywhere.