Things You'll Need:
- Computer with Internet connection Online American English dictionary Online U.S. newspapers and radio Conversation partner VoIP (Internet phone) service (optional)
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Step 1
Plan your course of study. Define why you want to learn American English. Is it for business, tourism or another reason? When you know your goal, you can decide what kind of vocabulary and study material you need. If you want to pass a test like the TOEFL or IELTS, consider enrolling in an online English course that offers specialized lessons.
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Step 2
Find reference material for vocabulary and grammar. Choose a bilingual or monolingual dictionary of American English. Look for a list of the main vocabulary and spelling differences between American English and other variants of English. Use a grammar reference that notes the differences between U.S. and British English. For example, your reference should tell you that "on the weekend" is American English but "at the weekend" is British English.
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Step 3
Look for reading material to help you practice what you learn. Look up the online versions of U.S. newspapers and magazines you enjoy, and read at least one article every day. Actively practice with your reading material. Keep lists of new vocabulary, write summaries, or create your own sentences using some new words and grammar points you found in the reading.
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Step 4
Collect listening material to help you learn American pronunciation. Look for ESL (English as a second language) listening lessons that include transcripts and quizzes. For variety, watch some movies or music videos with subtitles. Take note of any new words or useful phrases you hear. To practice listening to English at faster speeds, listen to talk radio online.
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Step 5
Play educational games. Break up your study routine with crosswords, word search puzzles, riddles, matching games, jumbled sentences and other language-related games. These games increase fluency by helping you learn to use English in a variety of ways. Visit American English educational Web sites for interactive grammar and vocabulary games.
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Step 6
Practice speaking with a conversation partner. To become fluent in American English, you should have frequent live conversations with a fluent speaker. For free practice with a native speaker, look for someone who wants to learn your language so you can trade language lessons. Many websites provide online language exchange opportunities. If you can afford to pay, look for a U.S. English teacher who offers conversation practice over the Internet. Use a VoIP service to avoid long-distance phone bills.
