People want to learn English for various reasons. Some want to study abroad or do a job, and others want to settle down or do business in a foreign country. There is another group of people who want to learn English for self-satisfaction. As English is the most common language used around the world, you don't need too many reasons to learn it. Knowing good English can improve your communication and professional performance in your native country as well.
Language takes a long time to learn. So, there is a high chance that you will lose your interest. But if you set small, specific, and attainable goals, then you can stay on track and continue learning English. These specific goals will help you to look at the bigger picture. Here are some common goals you can set for learning English.
Study for 10 minutes a day
This goal is very small, yet many people will find it difficult to achieve. So, just allocate 10 minutes of your time every day to writing, reading, or listening to something in English. It is better to fix a particular time of the day too for this activity. That way you will develop a habit and stick to the routine.Increase vocabulary
Vocabulary is a big problem area for many learners. So, you must spend more time learning new words. You can set a goal to learn 10 new words and their meanings every day. The task shouldn't be just limited to memorizing the meaning. You must write them in sentences. You can either write individual sentences or write a story using those words.Once you learn how to apply the new words in your writing, you won't easily forget the words. You can categorize the vocabulary list, like, 'environment', 'business', 'entertainment', etc. That is you will find out vocabularies on these themes and make a separate list for each theme. You must create flashcards to quickly remember the new words.
Public speaking
Most people are scared of public speaking. Even if a person is good in English will hesitate to speak publicly. So, this must be one of your goals. In academic and professional lives you will have to present projects and conduct meetings. If you are not comfortable talking in public then you will find it difficult to express your thoughts or guide your team. To get good at public speaking you must practice every day. So, this must be part of your short-term goals. You can practice talking in front of a mirror for 5 minutes on your favorite topic, record it, and then listen. If you do it regularly you will find a pattern of your weakness in speech. So, you can improve in those areas. You should focus on the smoothness of delivery. Try to get rid of filler words like 'ah' and 'um'. You don't need to speak fast; go slow taking short pauses when needed. You shouldn't feel embarrassed with your accent. Not everyone will have a native accent. You just need to learn how to talk clearly.Listen to native speakers and understand them
You must listen to the speeches of native speakers regularly to check out their pronunciations. You can listen to podcasts or watch movies. When hearing them talk, try to understand the tone and style of their talk. Following their aspect is one aspect of learning; you must also understand them. The accents of native people are different depending on the country you visit. So, you must understand the different accents.There are differences in spelling and grammar between the US and UK English. You must learn those too. Understanding how the native people speak is difficult due to the connected speech. They don't pronounce the words the way it's shown in books. They say a word in a way that reduces the connectivity of sounds and words. So, words are not often said separately. For example, 'Go out' sounds like 'Gowout', or 'Is he busy?' will sound like 'Isi busy?' The native people also use 'chunking'. They use groups of words to make sentences instead of individual words.
How to write down goals
First, define the purpose of learning English; that is, whether for travel, study, or other reasons. Once you understand the purpose it will be easier for you to set meaningful goals. Next, you must make your goals specific and measurable. Don't have a vague goal in mind. For example, 'memorize 10 words a day' is an example of a specific and measurable goal. You should then break down the goals into smaller milestones. By creating a timeline you can make your language learning journey challenging. Finally, you must track your progress always. Once you achieve these small goals don't forget to celebrate.So, once you know how to set goals, you will find ways to achieve them. As now you will get results soon, you will feel motivated to learn English. Seeing the small outcomes of your efforts will make you happy and satisfied. You will now have a systematic approach to learning English. This way the chance of being successful is more.
Once you set achievable goals, you will continue learning to see the other side of the tunnel. You know that something outstanding is waiting for you there and you just need to walk that extra mile to get it. Setting these goals also reduces stress. If you don't divide your goals into small chunks there will be a long time gap between setting goals and achieving them. You will lose hope in the middle and get frustrated. The small attainable goals keep you on track all the time.
