On the IELTS listening test there could be people from any English speaking country and they all have different accents, so this is a good opportunity for you to practice listening to them. This is great exposure to genuine native English speakers. Why don’t you do the same? Did you know that you can change the top 10 search to a different country? Simply change it to an English speaking country and you can watch a different YouTube video everyday. I’ll regularly go and check out what is in the Top 10 and get lost in a few videos. There are thousands of people in the group who would love to practice with you. If you would like to chat to other IELTS learners, visit my Private Facebook group. There are thousands of people out there who would love to practice your language with you and vice versa. If there are absolutely no English speakers in your area you could try using language exchange services on Skype. Why not set up an IELTS group in your home town or city? In my city alone there are lots of groups ranging from website design, board games, young entrepreneurs and language exchange. allows you to meet up with people who have similar interests. If you can’t find any try or internations Try searching for expat blogs in your city. In many cities there are expat communities who often have social events and meet up for a chat. There really is no substitute for regularly speaking to native English speakers. This really makes you think about the grammar and vocabulary in an engaging way.Ģ. Lyrics training allows you to not only listen to your song, but also provides a fun interactive gap fill. No, the ideas below are all the things that my successful students have done not just for study but also for enjoyment.ĭo you like listening to English songs? Not only do they teach you new words and phrases but they can also help you with sentence stress, linking words and intonation, all aspects of pronunciation that you will be tested on in the IELTS speaking test. That would be boring and boredom leads to people getting frustrated and ultimately quitting. I’m not talking about doing practice tests at home or reading your IELTS books in bed. The single biggest difference between students getting 8 or 9 and those below them is studying at home. Reflection: Think about how it went.I’m about to reveal to you THE biggest difference between students who get the band score they want and the those who fail to meet expectations. How will you use your time? Who (other learners, teachers, home stay, flatmates) can help you? What learning materials do you have available? Spend your time doing real, meaningful activities. Connect what you are learning to the real world.Make sure your learning is relevant and you know why you are learning this language and how you can use it in your life.If it is not interesting, do something else or get some advice. Go with the flow – it will make sense later. Don’t worry if “it doesn’t all make sense.” If you are worried, you will not learn effectively.Try out new language and experiment with words.After reading and listening to something, tell someone about it. It is fine to read and listen to things that are easy. This helps your reading and listening skills and means that you are meeting new vocabulary all the time. Practice reading and listening everyday.Research shows that you acquire language by using it and trying to communicate. Make sure you get lots of speaking practice.What can you do to learn English effectively?