In a world as globalized as today, the ability to communicate with people from other countries is a huge advantage, and English has become the universal language. Whether traveling, taking courses abroad or taking advantage of professional opportunities, mastery of the language is increasingly required, being a basic prerequisite in most Brazilian companies, for example – and a requirement to occupy the best positions.
In Brazil, achieving fluency is still a huge challenge, which involves the need to improve language learning from primary school onwards. According to the EF EPI Report, an annual study conducted by EF Education First, a group that holds the English Live, which analyzes the level of English language proficiency in 100 countries, Brazil is only 59th in the world ranking with an index considered low (50.10). Compared to neighbors in Latin America, Brazil is 12th out of 19. Leader of the continent, Argentina has an index of 58.38, almost nine more than Brazil.
But what do you need to do to achieve the fluency you dream of? First of all, you need to know what it means to be fluent. Also according to the EF EPI Report, those who have a very high level of proficiency are able to read complex texts with ease, use differentiated and appropriate language in social situations and negotiate contracts with native speakers. One level lower are those who can give a presentation at work, read a newspaper and understand TV programs.
Although the study of English is part of the Brazilian educational matrix and the language is studied in primary and secondary schools, many choose to intensify this learning even further. To achieve the desired fluency, having support from a school that is a reference in teaching English is important, but it is also necessary to practice the language in other ways on a daily basis. Check out ten ways to improve your English outside of the classroom:
Watch films and series without dubbing (or even without subtitles)
Nordic countries lead the proficiency rankings, among other reasons, because they encourage language learning with TV programs in the original language, without dubbing. This way, children get used to English from an early age. Here, it is possible to change the language in most programs on closed TV and on streaming services, such as Netflix. The ideal is to watch them without subtitles, but the simple fact of listening to the language, even with subtitles, is a great help.
Listen to radio and podcasts in English
The language, intonation and speed of radio programs and podcasts are completely different from films and series and are more similar to an everyday conversation. Streaming services like Spotify offer thousands of podcasts in English, and some apps let you listen to radio stations from around the world.
Change the language of electronic devices
Nowadays, we spend most of our time connected to cell phones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices. Why not use it in English? It is possible to configure all these devices in English, in addition to installing some apps and software in the language
Read news in English
The internet allows access to thousands of English or North American news sites, such as BBC, O The New York Times and the The Economist. In addition to providing extremely relevant content, reading these sites in the original language allows you to come into contact with a more formal structure of the language – which is very useful for situations in the corporate world
Read books in English
Likewise, reading books in English, especially fiction, allows contact with other structures of the language, including colloquial English in dialogue situations, for example. The vast majority of bookstores in Brazil, such as Amazon and Saraiva, sell physical and digital books in English. Furthermore, there are numerous websites that provide free ebooks.
Expand vocabulary
The great importance of reading, in addition to knowing grammatical structures, is expanding vocabulary. Writing down new words, looking up their meanings (preferably in English dictionaries) and memorizing them is essential. After all, the word is one of the basic units of any language.
Participate in forums in English
Taking part in forums specialized in certain subjects, which are in the English language, is an excellent way to practice written English. But it doesn't necessarily have to be a forum – it's possible to do this on Facebook and Instagram pages, for example, interacting with native users.
Talk – even if alone
Being fluent in English is, above all, having the ability to express it through sounds – to speak! It's important to practice pronunciation and intonation every day, whether with friends, native speakers or simply speaking to yourself. Reading excerpts from websites or books aloud and recording the audio to listen to later is one of the most effective ways to improve conversation.
Set goals and practice daily
There is no secret – English is a matter of practice! There is no point in taking courses and not practicing learning outside the classroom, for at least an hour a day. It is important to set goals for the four bases of the language – speaking, listening, reading and writing, including vocabulary and understanding grammatical structures.
Lose the fear
It is inevitable that the first immersive contact with the language – on a trip, for example – comes accompanied by a certain fear, whether for understanding or for communication itself. However, it is necessary to put fear aside and speak up! Any native speaker will be able to understand, even if the pronunciation needs improvement, but the best way to evolve is precisely to let the language flow and communicate!
