Simple ways to improve your English

WHEN speaking to a small group of people, we tend to stick to the same subjects, using the same vocabulary. Here are some tips to help you get out of the rut.

To expand your vocabulary, learn synonyms.

One of the joys of English is that there are lots of synonyms, words that appear to mean the same but that are slightly different in meaning.

“Big” for example is a good general word but there’s also “enormous” which is “extra big” and “gigantic” which is “really, really big”.

When you have a good grasp of the differences, you can convey subtleties better. To broaden your vocabulary, make a list of three synonyms and understand how they’re different. Then use them at least once a day.

To improve fluency, use common expressions.

For example, in English you might say, “He’s so tight, he squeaks when he walks” meaning someone is a cheapskate. For this, it helps to get hold of an idiom’s dictionary. These do exist online but do be careful because many include street slang that really isn’t acceptable in any normal kind of social situation.

Make a list of three things that go together, like three expressions that comment on someone’s character.

For example, a person can be “a go-getter” meaning someone who is goal driven, and has “the gift of the gab” meaning they are persuasive speakers. Then look around and apply these phrases in as many conversations are you can, until it feels natural.