Four Skills in English Learning

Cheng Yu

Grammar/Writing

Oct. 22, 2010

Four Skills in English Learning

    English is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world, and it is the primary language used in international affairs. The English language has official status even in nations where it is not the primary spoken language. English is indisputably the primary language of global trade and commerce. Although there are no certain answers regarding how to learn English effectively, there are four recognized skills in learning English, which are listening, speaking, reading and writing.

    Listening, as one of the important means of communication, is used most widely in people’s daily life. In linguistics, taking a lot of listening is an effective way of enlarging vocabulary.

       Speaking is often connected with listening. The good way to improve speaking is to listen and imitate and try to use different words.

       Reading is the most important step in gaining information and knowledge in learning foreign languages. It is a basic skill for English learners. The helpful way for improving reading ability is to try to read as much as one can and try to use English-English dictionary.

       Writing helps to consolidate the grasp of language skills. Sentence is the basis of an article. English learners should try to begin with sentences, and then paragraphs. Taking journal will be an efficient way to improve writing.

    To sum up, the four skills cannot be separated in the learning process. Language learners may have different ways in learning. However, by unifying the four skills, people may find the most effective way for them to learn English.