Each year more and more students from all over the world sign up to learn English and take English proficiency exams. Unfortunately, a lot of ESL students don't know what they're getting into or what they should expect. Learning a new language can be difficult and even overwhelming. Listed below are 5 tips for ESL students to help them have a more fulfilling and enjoyable learning experience.

1. You Must Want to Learn English.

Don't learn English just because someone wants you to. The motivation must come from no one else but you. If you take English lessons half-heartedly, you will have trouble learning the language. You will dread each class and more likely than not, end up quitting. Don't waste your time or money. If you really don't want to learn English right now, don't force the issue. Wait for the time when you're ready and eager to learn.

2. You Must Find the Time

Unfortunately, there are no short cuts. You can't expect to learn the language by signing up for English classes once a month. The best way to learn English is to set aside a study schedule during a specific time each day. These study lessons don't have to be long. Lessons can range from 20 minutes to half an hour. Studying a little each day will help you remember and retain what you just learned. You need to make a commitment.

3. English Lessons Should Be Fun

Learners of English might be surprised to find out that yes, English lessons can be fun! There are alternative teaching methods that are just as effective as two-hour long, daily classroom sessions but are much more appealing to utilize. These methods include online tutoring using Youtube, Podcasts and supervised word games. You can also find plenty of online resources such as flash cards, movies and puzzles that are absolutely free. What is important is finding a method that is fun and entertaining for you. If you enjoy learning English you can be sure that you'll stick with it.

4. Native Speakers are the Best Teachers

One of the best ways to learn English is to listen to native speakers. Listen carefully to how they pronounce the words. Then try to say the words using a similar accent. If you don't have friends who are native speakers, considering hiring a native English tutor. Doing this online may save you both time and money.

5. Set Small Weekly Goals and Reward Yourself!

We often take on large goals and get discouraged when we're not reaching them as quickly as we would like. Instead of trying to learn a new language all at once, ESL learners should set small achievable goals each and every week. A goal can be as simple as learning 25 new words or as big as getting a high score on a TOEFL practice exam. The important thing is to do something fun and non-learning related to reward yourself every time you reach you goals. Good Luck!

Sheryl Lynn Roces is an ESL teacher and writer. She publishes and teaches for NG English http://www.ngenglish.com/.