1. Learn English By Yourself
A How-To-Do-It Presentation
by Khalid Al-Dossary

2. Topics
Why
How

3. Learn English by Yourself Why?
Work and business (Knowledge is power.)
Day-to-day activities
Cultural awareness and international communication [Open a venue to the wide world (globalization).]
Mental growth and development (Your mind: Use it or lose it.)

4. Why? English helps you to…
Have excellent communication and better interaction
Utilize fully your unlimited potential for growth and development
Function better in a changing world

5. Why? English helps you to…
obtain cultural enrichment
become a life long learner
increase your overall competence and skills

6. Why? Learn English by Yourself
You really have no other choice.
People who master English as their second language always do so by work that is beyond what they did in the classroom.
Conventional Ways of learning English:
Traditional ESL programs, British Council, Saudi Aramco English, TOEFL Preparation, etc. are all designed for a limited level of English.

7. Learn English by Yourself HOW
Make a plan for addressing all four language skills
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Emphasize the skill that is most important to you but give adequate attention to the others as well.
Also look for activities that integrate the different skills.

8. How To: Listening Conversation with native speakers
Conversing with yourself (reading aloud)
Selected television and radio shows
Listen only
Listen and repeat
Lectures
Language teaching cassettes

9. How To: Listening Conversation with native speakers
The best way; don’t be shy.
Selected television and radio shows
News programs
Talk shows
Entertainment shows (good source of current language usage, idioms, slang)
Documentaries

10. How To: Listening con’t
Lectures
Take a recorder. (Listen & Repeat)
Language teaching cassettes
TOEFL Prep listening tapes
Complete courses on CD
Learning English by The Learning Company (American English)
Flying Colours by Macmillan/Heinemann (British English)

11. How To: Listening con’t
Listening lessons on the internet
Eviews Listen to Interviews
Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab
English Listening Lounge
English Channel: ESL
Search (There are many others. Let me know when you find an excellent site.)

12. How To: Speaking Conversation with native speakers
(Spontaneous and planned or rehearsed)
Conversation with other English language learners
Pronunciation lessons in English courses

13. How To: Reading READ. Don’t study reading. Read.
Getting started
Graded readers
Children’s books
ESL textbooks
Moving on
And then
Un-simplified Novels
e.g. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Newspapers
Magazines
Professional Journals

14. How To: Writing ESL courses and writing exercises Daily journal
; acceptable pen pals
Friends, family studying abroad
Work-related writing

15. How To: Work Together Form a self-study group.
Use a successful model such as PELC Self-Directed Learning Groups
Set objectives
Meet regularly
Vary activities
Have a recorder and a leader
Limit number in the group
Get recognition within the company

16. Learning English By Yourself
Tools
Textbooks
A computer with Internet access
A library
A notebook for
Journal entries
Vocabulary
A plan or schedule

17. Vocabulary Notebook Entries
A more useful entry:
Oppose (verb) to disagree with; to work against (definition)
The company opposes testing products on animals. (sentence)
Opposed to sports
Opposed to war
Opposed to marrying someone (extension; adjective)
A useful entry:
Oppose (verb) to disagree with; to work against

18. Learning English By Yourself
Make a (flexible) plan.
Work with your learning style.
Integrate the different skills.
Remember most people feel honored that you want to learn their language and are pleased to help you.
If you stop, start again. (But try not to stop.)
Put yourself in situations where you have to use English.
Spend a little money if necessary—buy good texts, hire a tutor.

19. What it takes to turn your plans, including your plan to learn English, into reality?

20. Patience Practice Perseverance
Three P’s
Patience
Practice
Perseverance

21. Reading Reciting Repeating
Three R’s
Reading
Reciting
Repeating

22. Confidence Cultural tolerance Continuity Effort & Encouragement
Three C’s and Two E’s
Confidence
Cultural tolerance
Continuity
Effort & Encouragement

23. Seek help from experts, but be your own teacher.

24. Thank you for your attention and best wishes in your endeavors.

25. Learning English By Yourself: Tracking Your Progress