English is a subject that many students in Singapore’s Primary and Secondary schools find challenging. Whether it’s difficulty in building vocabulary, tackling comprehension questions, or expressing themselves in writing, students face numerous struggles that can damage their confidence in learning the language.
Through this guide, we aim to offer straightforward and practical tips to help students strengthen their English skills. By focusing on both competence and self-assurance, we hope to equip students with tools to approach the language with greater ease and success.
Problems Faced by English Students
Four of the main problems we have identified among students are:
A lack of confidence: Many students hesitate when learning English, as they lack confidence and are embarrassed by their perceived lack of skills. This can make it more difficult for them to improve.
Feeling like they're falling behind peers: Struggling to keep up with classmates can lead to frustration and anxiety, further affecting a child's motivation to learn.
Being unable to understand teachers in school: When lessons move too quickly or use complex language, students can feel lost and unable to follow the material effectively, further leading to the lack of confidence.
Not wanting to study the language: Negative experiences or the perception that English is boring or difficult can create resistance to learning, making progress a challenge.
At Keynote Learning, we have found that resolving these root issues is the key to helping a student restore confidence in their English language skills, and these tips can help achieve that.
Tip 1: Develop a Passion for English
The first way to improve your child's English level is to help them develop a sincere passion for the language. Ideally, this step should be taken early into their learning journey, so that they can form good habits from a young age.
In order to master a language, it cannot be seen as a chore or something that exists solely for exams and tests. Learning should be natural, and English should become a part of their everyday life. If a child can get used to English being a daily necessity, they can develop a positive attitude towards it, and see it as more than just a graded subject. One good way is to expose them to stories they have an interest in, and expose them to books that they may enjoy reading. If they have a good reason to engage with the language regularly, such as a favourite book series or TV show, they will naturally gain more exposure to it.
Tip 2: Read and Write Regularly
In order to improve your child's English vocabulary and familiarise them with English grammar rules, they should be exposed to reading material regularly. Encouraging consistent reading habits, such as creating a daily reading routine, helps build confidence and solidify these skills over time.
Reading different materials, including books, newspaper articles, and blogs, broadens one's vocabulary and ability to understand context. Being exposed to stories can also help them understand language structure and storytelling, which helps when writing compositions.
Writing practice can also be used to reinforce these efforts. Encouraging them to practice English through writing diaries of short essays can help them organise their thoughts and construct sentences with ease, helping them improve their reading comprehension and language fluency.
Tip 3: Practice Speaking
Practicing speaking is crucial for improving English fluency. One effective method is reading aloud. This not only enhances their speech skills, but also builds confidence and results in good communication skills. Regular practice ensures comfort with the language, helping students avoid over-reliance on regional dialects or Singlish.
Speaking English at home is another way to naturally improve a child's pronunciation skills. Having these regular conversations can put vocabulary and grammar rules into practice, and lead to them speaking fluently in school.
It is also important to practice their English speaking skills for the oral exam in their PSLE and O levels. Integrate this into your child's study routine, as these speaking exercises can make a difference in their communication level.
Tip 4: Get Help From an English Tuition Teacher
Most of the time, it isn't laziness or a lack of learning aptitude which causes a student to fare poorly—it is a lack of structured guidance that leads to a child struggling with revision and self-improvement. Being unable to find the starting line can be highly stressful, and this hit to their morale can put them off from trying their best in the first place.
At Keynote Learning, we provide dedicated support and guidance for students, with personalised teaching that can help meet their individual needs. It is vital to find the right match between learning and teaching styles, and with our class sizes, we can spare that attention for students looking to improve their English.
Our experienced teachers not only address academic weaknesses, but also share effective study techniques and give advice beyond the classroom. They help build confidence through consistent practice and encouragement, fostering a positive attitude toward learning.
Make English Lessons Enjoyable With Keynote Learning
Keynote Learning aims to transform English lessons into engaging experiences for students. By utilising a variety of methods, we encourage students to participate actively and develop a deeper interest in the language. We offer English Tuition Classes for both Primary School and Secondary School students, ensuring learning is fun, engaging, and purposeful.
Contact us today to find out more!