Are you thinking of taking up English as a second language? Are you spending most of your leisure time taking English lessons or engaging a personal English tutor? Or do you belong to those who prefer to be a self-tutor? The route to learning English by your own efforts is not impossible- it just takes more time and perseverance. There are many ways to improve your command of the language, be it conversational or written. Some of these methods may sound easy but it definitely takes tremendous effort and discipline to stick to them.

First of all, it is important to build up your vocabulary and learn as many words as possible. You can start by jotting down all the new words and phrases that you encounter everyday. When you converse with others, it is likely that there are words that are unfamiliar or new to you. You should take down all these words in your notebook and check out their meanings using a dictionary. If you have access to internet, this task is just a few clicks away. There are plenty of online dictionaries that are free and simple to use. One of them is www.freedictionary.com which also provides searches in different languages.

Another effective method for teaching yourself English is to adopt the daily habit of reading novels or newspapers. You can also choose to read some magazines that are related to your interest or hobbies, so that the reading does not bore you. Again, it is advisable for you to highlight those words and expressions that you don't understand. After you are done reading, go back to the highlighted words and expressions and write them down in your notebook. You should also leave some space besides the words, for writing of an explanation or a definition. The next step is fill up these blanks by looking up their meanings using the dictionary. Some online versions also allow you to key in many words at the same time and this helps to save a lot of time.

To effectively teaching yourself English, you can try to listen to the news on the television or other media. Generally speaking, radio broadcasters that report the news speak clearly, use good vocabulary, and also use idiomatic expressions. For the online versions, you can access the news reports from National Public Radio and the British Broadcasting Corporation (NPR and the BBC). However, listening to the radio will suffice as well. If you can, it would be a good idea to record a ten to fifteen minute segment of a news show or any broadcast that might interest you. Take note of any words or expressions that sound unfamiliar to you. If you were able to record what you listened to, listen to it again to see if you can figure out what the new words and expressions mean through the context that they are used in. In this way, you can easily learn a few hundreds words a day and in no time, you have to get yourself a bigger notebook!

When learning new words and expressions, it is important to take note of whether these words and expressions are used in an informal context or a formal context. Many words and expressions are used both formally and informally. If you aren't sure of exactly how to use a new word or expression, you can try them out with work colleagues and friends. Strike conversations with your friends using the new words that you learn. In addition, you should also listen as closely as possible when you converse. Listen for anything that sounds different, new, or unfamiliar. If the circumstance permits, don't be afraid to take out your pocket notebook and write it down. If you say something that isn't quite right, the person you are speaking with might take note of it and let you know. If you aren't sure of something you said or would like to say, then ask about it. Do not be afraid to ask and I'm sure the people around you will be impressed by your diligence and determination.