Twelve years ago I became a "Stargate" fan and got introduced to fanfictions. First I only read German ones but then a friend sent me an English one and after the first sentence I just wanted to know what happened, so I had to read on, even though I did not fare well with my school English and basically had to look up every word, because even those I thought I knew, sometimes had different meanings in context. But soon enough, words started to stick in my head, and I didn't need the dictionary as often anymore.
So yeah, just reading things that interest you, will make it not feel like learning at all, and the words will start to flow into your head like nothing. I can babble with the best of them now, all thanks to "Stargate", and picked up lots of expressions and slang on the way as well, and special British terms now also with watching lots of British TV. The only downside is that I sometimes pronounce words the wrong way, as I did make up some pronouncations in my head. But watching TV series with English subtitles and listening to what they say is going to change that as well.
As we can see in our very lively discussion right now ;)
I also have to be careful to not pick up any wrong grammar or misspellings when I read all those internet boards. For example, I don't understand how one can mix up "bought" and "brought". There is no r in buying, where do they get the extra r from?
Twelve years ago I became a "Stargate" fan and got introduced to fanfictions. First I only read German ones but then a friend sent me an English one and after the first sentence I just wanted to know what happened, so I had to read on, even though I did not fare well with my school English and basically had to look up every word, because even those I thought I knew, sometimes had different meanings in context. But soon enough, words started to stick in my head, and I didn't need the dictionary as often anymore.
So yeah, just reading things that interest you, will make it not feel like learning at all, and the words will start to flow into your head like nothing. I can babble with the best of them now, all thanks to "Stargate", and picked up lots of expressions and slang on the way as well, and special British terms now also with watching lots of British TV. The only downside is that I sometimes pronounce words the wrong way, as I did make up some pronouncations in my head. But watching TV series with English subtitles and listening to what they say is going to change that as well.
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This happens to English native speakers too. :)
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I also have to be careful to not pick up any wrong grammar or misspellings when I read all those internet boards. For example, I don't understand how one can mix up "bought" and "brought". There is no r in buying, where do they get the extra r from?
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