When new students come to WSE, we always get asked the same question: “How can I improve my English quickly?” If they’re already taking an English course in the UK, then they’re definitely on the right track. Face to face tuition in an English speaking country is one of the best ways to improve your English quickly.

But how can you make the most of your time in London and make sure you learn as much English as possible? We’ve put together a list of 5 brilliant ways to improve your English in London. 

Read everything you can get your eyes on
English is everywhere! From the moment you walk out of your house in the morning you are bombarded with text. From adverts on bus stops to shop fronts to road signs. Read everything you can. These are great bitesize chunks of English that will help you improve your vocabulary. There are also lots of free newspapers and magazines on offer around London so pick one up in the morning and read as much of it as you can. Keep the newspaper or magazine with you throughout the day and you can dip in and out of it in your spare time. Underline new vocabulary, expressions and phrases and try to use them in conversation. Our favourite magazines is Time Out because it’s full of tips on what to do in London.

Say yes more
Moving to a new country is overwhelming, especially if you don’t know anyone so our advice is to accept as many invitations as you can. If your classmates invite you out for a coffee, say yes. If a friend of a friend of a friend is having a party, go along. If your host family’s next door neighbour invites you to walk the dog, go with them. These are great opportunities for relaxed conversation and speaking practice. This will help you grow more confident using English, improve your English speaking skills and hopefully you’ll have some fun along the way. London is the best city in the world (yes we are a little biased) so say yes more and experience everything we have on offer here.

Volunteer
It can be hard to find a job in London if you are still learning the language but volunteering is a great way to improve your English while doing some good at the same time. There are loads of different opportunities from working in a charity shop to visiting care homes to joining the cheer teams of sporting events. Yes, that’s a thing! Volunteering is another great way to improve your speaking and listening skills in English. Our students have even volunteered as simultaneous interpreters in the past which is a great way to practise your translation skills. For more info on volunteering opportunities in London, visit https://volunteerteam.london.gov.uk

Hit the English grammar books at one of London’s best libraries
When you live in London, you’re using English all day long in almost everything you do. However, it is really important to consolidate this passive learning with grammar exercises. This is one of the best ways to improve your English grammar skills and your overall accuracy when communicating in English. This may not be as exciting as some of our other recommendations so why not choose an inspiring location to study such as the British Library or the V&A Museum’s library. We also think the Wimbledon School of English library is worth a visit… It may not be as beautiful as the others but you have free one to one support from our Study Centre Manager, Sean. He is full of tips on how to improve English grammar.

Watch a film at the cinema
We all know this is one of the best ways to improve your listening skills in English. The challenge of going to the cinema in London is following the whole film without subtitles. Tickets can be expensive sometimes but there are lots of 2 for 1 offers available midweek so bring a friend and turn it into a social event. We’ve got another blog about the best cinemas in London so check that our for WSE’s top tips. If you’re feeling particularly studious that day, why not write a summary or a review of the film in English? It’s a great way to improve your English writing skills and practise techniques such as summarising, critiquing and giving opinions.

Our 5 brilliant ways to improve your English in London blog has got it all covered! We’ve got tips on how to improve your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English. We hope these tips help you communicate more confidently in English and you have some fun while you’re doing it.