by Daniela McVicker
Becoming good at something takes time and practice. This goes double when foreign languages are concerned. The English language represents the lingua franca our age.
However, that doesn't mean that everyone is as proficient at it. To that end, we are here to take a look at several secrets which can help you write (and speak) like a native.
Chances are that you have set your eyes on a certain style of writing. Not every writer is proficient at prose, poetry, essay writing or academic research all at once.
Make sure that you have a clear goal in mind when you start learning English in more detail. It will help you focus on the relevant vocabulary without wasting time on (for now) unimportant phrases and wording.
It doesn't matter whether you like books, TV shows, movies or all of the above. Make sure that you choose the medium that suits you and gets acquainted with English as much as possible. Make it a habit to watch shows with English titles to see the grammar and spelling.
Read English books written by just about anyone as long as they are written in proper English language. Combine your thirst for knowledge with something you like to do and the entire process will become easier for it.
Every artist starts their career by copying from the works of their idols. The same logic applies to English writing as the format rarely changes.
Whether you are a fan of King, Hemingway or someone third, don't be afraid to copy. Writing like they do will allow you to get more comfortable with English and help you write faster with fewer mistakes as time goes on. Once you are confident enough in your abilities, you can move on to fully original writing.
It can be daunting to practice something on a daily basis. However, this is the best way to progress and learn a new language more efficiently. Set small milestones for your writing and come up with short essays to work on. These can focus on just about anything from diary notes to essays about your city.
The point is to make it normal for you to write in English and express your thoughts in a foreign language. It's also a good practice to check out websites ratings and see if you can find a professional writer to work with. These writers can help you find your writing voice and even correct any mistakes you might have made in your writing.
No skill or art form was ever developed without feedback. You might be making rudimentary mistakes without being aware of them. It's important to consult someone with knowledge and expertise in English language in order to course-correct your studies.
This can be anyone from a close friend to a college professor you respect. What matters is that you find a second pair of eyes apart from your own and see if the writing you produced makes sense in the context of learning the English language.
Everyone gets tired of their work at some point. Why not try and write a different type of paper for a change? You can write short stories about what you did during the week, romanticize them to make them more appealing or simply stick to diary-based writing.
You can even try writing poetry or rhyme if you are confident in your vocabulary up to this point. No matter what you choose to do, it's worth noting that you should stick to the things you love. There is no point in forcing yourself to write in academic terms if that isn't appealing to you.
Most importantly, don't rush your English language studies. English is one of the most widespread, easy-to-learn languages of today. However, it still requires thought, patience and constant learning to get right.
This is especially true for writing since it requires spelling, grammar and formatting to boot. Give yourself some leeway and make sure that you are comfortable with the pace you learn in. Before you know it, you will be able to produce quality English writing without anyone's help.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-person-writing-on-notebook-834897/
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