When you are a CISL student in San Diego or San Francisco, you attend class, complete your homework, and speak English inside and outside of class: you therefore have plenty of opportunities to practice English throughout the day! But what else can you do to improve your English skills? Incorporate these daily habits into your life and you will improve your English even more!
Daily habits to improve your English
Make sure that English is your background music. Do you play music? Play it in English! Do you listen to music on your way to work? Listen to English music! Check out our articles on Gotye’s “Somebody I Used to Know,” U2’s “With or Without You,” and the Summer Jams you need to hear.
Learn a new phrasal verb each day. Why not? Check out our 30 Day Phrasal Verb Challenge for some common phrasal verbs you should know, and take this challenge to improve your understanding and use of these tricky components of the English language!
Dedicate a few minutes to a learning app like Duolingo. How often do you use your smartphone during the day? If you are constantly on your phone, dedicate a few minutes towards practicing English on an app. Check out this article about great apps for learning English and try them out!
Think in English for a specific amount of time. While driving, commuting, cooking, or walking, try to think in English for a few minutes.
In English, try to:
- Tell yourself what you did today
- Talk about your future plans
- Describe the situation around you
- Explain a news story that is currently happening
Keep a line-a-day journal. Use a small notebook to record what you do each day. You will learn and record new words daily! Read the notebook every few weeks to study your new vocab (and remember past experiences).
Synonyms for “daily”
To describe your new daily English habits, try using some of these words!
Everyday (adjective): happening or used every day
- My everyday morning activities include waking up at 6, having coffee, going to the gym, and then showering before work.
- This is an “everyday” wine: it’s not special, and it’s something you can drink on a Tuesday while eating pizza.
Every day (adverb): each day
- Every day I wake up at 6, have coffee, go to the gym, and shower before work.
- Do you drink wine every day?
Regularly (adverb): in a regular manner; on a regular basis; very often
- I regularly go to the dentist.
- Do you regularly go to the gym?
Per diem (adverb): for each day (used in financial context)
- Her per diem rate is $50.
- Are you paid hourly or per diem?
Once daily: happening once each day
- I take my vitamins once daily each morning.
- Once daily I take the time to relax and meditate.
Quotidian (adjective): of or occurring every day, often to refer to something boring.
- The quotidian grammar activities we do are actually really helpful!
- The quotidian life of the academic year is over: summer is here!