Tame the Mass Killer

Over and over for many years and even generations, English as a language has emerged as a mass killer for students, right from their school days, continuing up to higher education and then job interviews. Records prove that most of the students fail in their examinations due to poor knowledge of English language, which ultimately results in inadequate or no understanding of the subject that is being taught in English. Even in job interviews, many interviewees are branded as poor communicators and rejected if they are not able to answer in proper English, though they might know the answer. It is unfortunate that even after knowing this, many of us still do not take any concrete efforts to tame this mass killer. The author, in this article, suggests ways and means of self efforts that can be taken by you to improve your knowledge of English as a language of communication.

The knowledge of English language can be classified into the following.

Understanding what is being told or written in English.
Reproducing whatever is being understood in English
Writing in English
Speaking in English

If I ask how many of you sit with a blank face while attending a lecture that is being delivered in English, many hands will go up. This has happened to you every time, over and over, for years together. But how many of you have really made an organized effort to improve your English understanding is a big question mark. The first step towards improving your knowledge of English language is to accept that your English is poor. Once you recognize the problem, it becomes easier to find solutions. The next step is to acknowledge that English has emerged as the common language of Business Communication and will remain there with increased globalization. The third step is to tell yourself that learning English as a language is extremely important for surviving in this hyper competitive world. If you are through with the above three steps, here are some easy remedies which can fit into your daily life without disturbing your routine or calling for extra time.

Read English News Papers only. And read them daily, from the first word to the last word. Even if the matter is not of any interest to you, read it for the sake of improving your English. The kind of variety an English news paper has in terms of vocabulary and expressions is rare to find anywhere else. This is because there are multiple writers in a news paper and the reader is exposed to different styles of writing, usage of words, and expressions. While reading, keep a dictionary with you. If you do not understand the meaning of any word, refer to the dictionary immediately and understand the complete meaning of the sentence and also the context in which it is being written. Pay attention to full stops, commas, exclamation marks, etc. This will help develop your own bank of English vocabulary.

Watch English news channels only. If you are a cricket fan, while watching matches, tune in to English commentary channel only. This will help you understand how things are described in English. The audio visual effect of the cricket match will help you understand better. Listen carefully to the expert comments and start forming your own opinions, but in English only.

Once you start understanding English properly, it becomes easier to write. Start by writing few sentences every day. You can even start writing a daily diary and try to write anything and everything of that particular day. Pay attention to the grammar and use of words. You will realize that your diary reflects the various moods you were in while writing. Accordingly, your choice of words will also differ. Remember, the purpose of writing decides the choice of words to be used because many words although are synonyms, their expressions are different. Writing helps in learning to reproduce whatever is learnt. Good handwriting is equally essential as it enhances writing pleasure.

Speaking in English is the most vital and dreaded part. Many people can read or write very well in English. But when it comes to speaking in English, they struggle to find the right words. This is due to lack of practice. Speaking in English demands instant reproduction of whatever you know, think, feel, etc. Instant sorting, selection and reproduction of the words from the word bank in your brain are necessary. Proper pronunciations are equally important. One must stress on each word that is being spoken and ensure that it is pronounced properly. Form groups of likeminded people and converse with them in English only. Speak with your teachers or bosses only in English. If you still do not have anyone to converse in English with, identify someone good and be ready to pay him or her for having English conversation with you every day, atleast for an hour. This will give you the much needed confidence and your brain will also get accustomed to sorting, selecting and reproducing words instantly. With more and more practice, you will get better and better.

The gist of this article is the more exposure you give yourself towards English through various ways and means, the early and easily you will learn and practice English. So stop making a demon out of it. Pull your sleeves, gear up, and be ready to tame this fear of English language, which is acting as a mass killer.