http://www.esp-world.info/Articles_26/Original/Difficulties%20in%20learning%20english%20as%20a%20second%20language.pdf

HOW TO LEARN ENGLISH, A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, EFFECTIVELY

          We Malaysians find it hard to learn English, the second language in our country and the international language. However, there are only some of us who can communicate well in this language.

           What are the effective ways to learn this foreign language? First, read more to improve your reading skills. Reading many articles in English may improve your proficiency of reading. If it is too difficult for you to do so, just read the articles of the event which you are interested in from the newspaper or magazines.

          Speak in the language as often as you can. Perhaps, there will be peccadilloes in your conversation and thus invoke laughter. Do not be afraid, the more you speak the more mistakes you make, the more you will learn.

          In fact, there is an interesting way of learning. If you enjoy English movies, listen to the conversations of the characters and copy down the speeches into your notebook. Then, try to read them the way the actors do in the films. If you are able to catch what your English teacher says, it is not wrong to note down her speeches and practice it on your own. You may make minor modifications and utilize it in your daily conversations. Nevertheless, avoid using any of slang words, such as, ‘loco’, ‘phat’, and ‘sus’. Furthermore, you are not advised to use translation forms of idiomatical sayings of other languages in your essays.

          Listening to English songs is a way to master your listening skill of this language. But, please bear in mind that you should, somehow, do understand what the lyrics mean.

          Is there any other secret way to excel in English within a very short period? There is. According to a famous author of love-stories, Chong Su Han from Hong Kong, the finest way of learning a foreign language, is to learn from the person whom you admire most. It is because you will pay 100 percent attention to every word she utters. Her words will remain in your mind for a long time. Well, the way Miss Chong has recommended is true. I have tried before and it was how I started learning English. With nine month, from an extremely limited English user, I was drilled to become a normal English users who can speak and write, by learning from the girl I swooned over. Anyway, the person whom you admire has to be good in English, otherwise you ought to give up is method out of frustration.

            In conclusion, listening, speaking, writing and reading have to be synchronized in the process of mastering the language. Write letters in this second language, you will realize your writing skill has improved, eventually. Rome was no build in one day, please be patient, if you really put in effort in improving your language skills, you will become an excellent English user.

            The belief that those who come from non-English speaking family will remain in competent-users of this language until the end of the day, is not true. Trust yourself, nothing in this word is impossible to achieve. Finally, my advised to everyone learn English and improve your language-skills before it is too late, otherwise you will be left behind.