| p>Wouldn't it be great if you could just magically learn | | | | what can come after "get bored with." For example, I |
| to speak English without having to work at it? That's | | | | can say, "I got bored with exercising," or "I got bored |
| what every language learner hopes for, but | | | | with the movie." However, I canNOT say, "I got bored |
| unfortunately it does take work to learn English. Even | | | | to exercise," or "I got bored with watch movie." |
| more importantly, however, it takes curiosity. For | | | | Thus, you need to learn how words normally combine |
| example, one German student who had studied and | | | | together, and you need to learn the grammatical |
| taught English her entire life, was surprised when she | | | | characteristics of words. |
| heard someone say, "Give it a try." She had never | | | | This approach to vocabulary and grammar probably |
| noticed before that English speakers probably say | | | | makes the most sense at advanced levels. If you |
| "Give it a try," much more often than we say, "Try it." | | | | have studied English for a long time and still make a lot |
| Even though she easily understood the meaning of | | | | of mistakes when you read or speak English, you are |
| "Give it a try," she had never noticed that common | | | | not alone. Research shows that most language |
| English phrase before, so she had never used it. Once | | | | learners who study grammar rules never actually learn |
| she noticed it, however, she could start to use it and | | | | to use grammar accurately, even after many, many |
| thus took a step towards improving the naturalness | | | | years. Therefore, it's probably time for you to try a |
| and accuracy of her English. | | | | new strategy to improve your English. |
| If your goal is simply to understand English, then | | | | Instead of studying grammar rules and vocabulary |
| learning the definitions of individual words might be | | | | definitions, try studying English as it occurs naturally. |
| enough for you. However, if your goal is to speak and | | | | Become a good observer. Choose small bits of English |
| write good English (to "use" your English vocabulary | | | | writing or speech and observe everything about them. |
| well), you need to learn more than definitions. Recent | | | | Listen to normal conversations and read English |
| language-learning research shows that it is impossible | | | | newspapers and magazines. As you listen and read, |
| to separate grammar and vocabulary, and research | | | | pay attention. You have to be a good observer in |
| also shows that it is important to learn combinations of | | | | order to learn a language well. You have to be curious. |
| words - not just single words. This means that when | | | | You have to wonder about the language you're |
| we learn a new word, it isn't enough just to learn the | | | | learning. Why did the speaker use the simple past and |
| definition of the word; we also need to learn the words | | | | not the past continuous? Why do people sometimes |
| it combines with naturally, and we need to learn the | | | | say, "You're welcome," but other times they say, "No |
| grammar connected to that word. For example, you | | | | problem"? What's the difference between "Give it a |
| probably know the meaning of "bored." However, to | | | | try," and "Try it"? |
| use this word correctly, you also need to know that | | | | Becoming curious about English, noticing how it is used, |
| "bored" frequently combines with "get" and "with" - "to | | | | and observing it closely are great strategies for |
| get bored with" something. You also need to know | | | | improving your English skill. Give them a try! |