Answering questions from listeners about English language learning goals.

How can learners set goals to improve their English?

Teacher Dee recommends the four boxes approach.

First make four boxes representing the four major language skills: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking.

Then under each of the skills, focus on specific learning activities that help you improve that skill.

For example:

Under reading, set a goal to read a short passage of just about 100 words every day, then extend the goal to reading articles, short stories and lastly novels.

Under listening, set a goal to listen to a short dialogue every day and then tell someone what the dialogue is about. Then extend the goal to longer conversations, then a speech, then lastly English news broadcasts.

Under writing, start by writing simple sentences, then compound and complex sentences, then paragraphs and lastly, essays. Always get someone to check and correct them for you.

Under speaking, start by talking with people you feel comfortable around like friends and family members before you try speaking formally in more public settings.