How to improve your English outside the classroom

Writer Rita Mae Brown Said: “Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going”. At Stafford House we encourage our students to be active participants in this cultural journey. I am always impressed by our students; they work so hard to improve their English skills when they are with us. Attendance rates are very high and students are rarely late for class.

Often students will pop in to my office for an informal chat and catch up. Frequently they ask me how they can improve their English outside of the classroom. Over the years I have offered the following advice and I would like to share some tips with you:

 

1. Speak English at all times! Try to make friends with students from other nationalities. This is easy at Stafford House as we often have more than 30 nationalities studying with us.

2. Watch lots of television; try to follow a British drama. Some of these have been running for over 50 years. They are easy to follow and often very entertaining.

3. Keep a diary of your stay in the UK. One day you will reread this and have many fond memories.

4. Perhaps the most important advice is to meet British people other than your teachers!  Make friends with your homestay family, use the time over dinner to really get to know them.

5. How about joining a local club either continuing a hobby from your own country or starting a new hobby?  Recently one of our students joined a British table tennis club. He now represents Brighton at the national level.

We wish you best of luck on your language journey!

David Burgess - Principal Stafford House Brighton