Are you studying English to get a good job, or a better job? To pass a college or university course? For travel? To make new friends? Whatever your reason, I'm sure you want to learn it faster and remember it longer. These five tips can help you.

1. Find a study buddy or form a study group.

One group of students at our college started a vocabulary club. They met after class and took turns presenting three new words, along with their meanings and sentences showing their meanings.

Another student started a conversation club. She and the other members met outside of class to speak English. This was especially important in her case because the other students from her country expected her to speak her native language outside of class. By starting a conversation club, she got the support she needed to speak English.

Find a study buddy or start a study group. You will learn more English when they help you. You will practice the English you already know and drive it into your long-term memory as you help them. Ideas will become clearer as you talk them over with the other students.

You learned your native language by listening to and talking with many different people. Learning English the same way will help you progress much faster-and it's more fun!

2. Record the weekly weather forecast from the radio and the internet.

Then check the weather each day. Which one had the most accurate forecast? This will give you valuable reading and listening practice. It will also give you a good topic of conversation-Canadians love to talk about the weather!

3. Keep a learning journal.

How do you remember what you've learned? One excellent way, as we've discussed, is to talk about it with other people. Another way is to think about it on your own. A learning journal can help you with this.

Choose a notebook that you like.

* On the first page, write WHY you are learning English. Write as many reasons as you can. Write the most important one, for example, to get a good job or to pass the TOEFL. But write others, too. Do you think English is an interesting language? Do you want to make friends from other countries? Do you want to learn about other cultures? Do you want to live in an English-speaking country someday?

* Try to write something every day, or at least every week. Here are some ideas:

- new words (make sure to also write the sentences where you found them)

- new phrases and sentences

- cultural information

- funny things that have happened

- new foods you have tried

- places you've visited

- things to tell your friends and family about

- mistakes to avoid

Thinking about what you are learning will help you to enjoy learning English more and remember it better. It will also help you to see that you are reaching your goal. Whenever you feel like giving up, read your journal and see what you have learned. You will be encouraged!

4. Exercise.

Are you surprised to find this in an article about learning English? Scientists tell us that physical exercise helps us to think more clearly and to remember things better. It even helps us to grow more neurons in the brain! (Most adults start to lose their ability to remember at around age 30.) If you would like to learn more about how exercise can help you understand and remember better, please read ScienceDaily (Mar. 20, 2007).

5. Pay attention to timing.

Most people learn best in the morning. By getting up a few minutes earlier to study just before class, you could save yourself time later in the day. Try it tomorrow morning. Get up just 10 minutes earlier than usual, and spend that short time studying.

Now you know that most people learn best in the morning, so it's a good time to study. But did you know that while you sleep, your brain organizes what you learned that evening? That means that just before you go to bed is also a good time to study!

They say it takes 21 days to build a new habit. Try getting up 10 minutes earlier-at least on school days-for the next 21 days. Learn or review something hard or important in the morning, like your new words in sentences or a grammar point. Then review what you learned for a few minutes before you go to bed at night. It could change your life!

6. Take every opportunity.

Speak English with your classmates. Speak with your teacher. Practice conversation with native speakers. Go on outings where you will hear and speak English. Watch English newscasts and programs. Work hard for your dream today-you don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Follow these six tips, and have more fun learning English better and faster!

Margaret Welwood is an English as a Second Language Instructor, freelance writer and editor. She has taught English as a Second Language in Alberta, Canada, for over 25 years. To sign up for her free seven-part vocabulary course for adults, click here: http://www.teachyouryoungchild.ca/registration_form.htm

To learn how to prepare your young child for success in school, click here: http://www.teachyouryoungchild.ca