Improve English language skills
Do you know there are small things you can do everyday to improve your English language skills?
You'll be surprised at how much you can achieve in a short amount of time.
To get you started with this goal, we asked students what they did to improve their English language skills while they were in New Zealand. Here are their suggestions, along with a few of our own!
Five tips for learning English in New Zealand
Practice your spoken English and meet new people at the same time. If you're studying at a university, college or polytechnic, there will usually be an English language club or language exchange you can join on campus. Or, you can search for local language clubs using Facebook, Google or the Meetup(external link that opens in a new tab) website.
Many students really like Mundo Lingo(external link that opens in a new tab) language exchange evenings, as they can meet others in a casual, friendly environment and chat in as many languages as they know! New Zealand has Mundo Lingo clubs in both Auckland and Wellington.
What social media do you use? How often to you use it? Try changing your language setting to English. This will make learning part of your everyday routine. As you'll already be familiar using Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter or Instagram in your native language, it'll make it easier to understand what labels and instructions might mean. The repetition of seeing these words everyday will help you remember them in no time!
Make it a goal to make new friends. This is really important when you're living overseas. Good friends can give you someone to share experiences with and support you when you're having a difficult time. They also give you a chance to practice English in a more meaningful way.
Instead of asking basic questions like 'What's your name?' and 'Where are you from?', you can ask more personal ones as you get to know them. For example, "Hey, can you come with me to the doctor? I'm worried I might not understand everything they'll say".
Choose a song from the list below and play it on YouTube. How many words did you recognise? Were there any new ones? See if you can hear a New Zealand accent.
Soaked by Benee | YouTube(external link that opens in a new tab)
Royals by Lorde | YouTube(external link that opens in a new tab)
Thank you by Stan Walker | YouTube(external link that opens in a new tab)
Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House | YouTube(external link that opens in a new tab)
If you like to sing, challenge yourself to learn the full song. This will give you something to share with people back home and it's a fun way to practice pronunciation. And there's always karaoke!
Even native English speakers don't use perfect English all the time. You'll often hear us pause, say 'um...' or mix up our words! So don't be afraid of making mistakes, it's a natural part of everyday life.
Do you feel like you've achieved this goal?
Send us a photo or video of your experience! Tag us on Instagram using #studywithnz. Sharing your experience can help other students with ideas on how to improve their English language skills.
Try a new goal, there's always something new to discover.
Related pages
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Speaking NZ English
Even native English speakers have trouble understanding the New Zealand accent sometimes! Here’s why New Zealanders have such a unique way of talking. Learn about New Zealand slang and some words and phrases in New Zealand English.
Speaking te reo Māori
Te reo Māori (the Māori language) is one of three official languages in New Zealand, along with English and New Zealand Sign Language. Find out how to pronounce it, where to learn it and some common words.
Get useful information and important updates to make your life easier while you're living and studying in New Zealand.