What are the best ways to improve English before starting a PhD in the UK?
Posted by kenza-Necessary5280@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 32 comments
Hi everyone,
I’m a French-speaking student preparing to start a PhD in London soon. I want to improve my English as much as possible before I arrive, especially for academic discussions and presentations.
What methods helped you most when improving your English before studying or working in the UK? Any tips for sounding more natural and confident in academic settings would be really appreciated.
Thank you!
HorrorAccomplished78@reddit
Quite possible to get an English girlfriend/boyfriend. As kem to only speak in English. That’s how I learned basic French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish and American.
kenza-Necessary5280@reddit (OP)
I don't have any English-speaking friends.
HorrorAccomplished78@reddit
Hard to believe that. Are you from Languedoc then? Pretty primitive down there.
kenza-Necessary5280@reddit (OP)
I'm not in Britain yet
HorrorAccomplished78@reddit
Hard to believe that. Are you from Languedoc then? Pretty primitive down there.
Indigo-Waterfall@reddit
When I lived in France there was a thing called “franglais” which was a meet up between French and English speakers. You would speak half the time in French and half the time in English. Maybe see if they have any locally to you?
Kiss_It_Goodbyeee@reddit
There's only one way, practice. Listen, read and speak as much as you can.
Listen to LBC radio, read the BBC website or the Guardian online newpaper, find some native speakers you can talk to.
qualityvote2@reddit
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Past-Obligation1930@reddit
I always tell my students to read a daily newspaper. The Times and the Guardian are acceptable. The FT is too, but it’s REALLY dry.
Not the tabloids, they will actively make you stupider.
The Daily Mail and Daily Express will try and convince you that everything that’s wrong in the world is because France refuses to gun down migrants before they get into boats.
Past-Obligation1930@reddit
Oh, and don’t worry about it too much. Three and a half years of living in the U.K. will help immensely, provided that you don’t exclusively socialise with French people. Just talk to people in English as much as you can, and you’ll be fine.
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
Listen to British youtubers or podcasters and just hear different accents and pronunciations.
When you arrive make sure you sieze opportunities to speak with Brits and ask for feedback or tips on your accent.
ExpectedDickbuttGotD@reddit
Yep, and watch British tv, listen to British radio, etc
capcaveman8181@reddit
Play the original StarCraft as it was not translated in french. Also listen to british series/films in english, with the english subs (and not the french ones). This way, if you miss a word , you can read it and see what it was.
British stuff, not american, as you'll also pick up the local expressions and accents.
Good luck!
kenza-Necessary5280@reddit (OP)
Mercii
HorrorAccomplished78@reddit
Also say thanks in English to get used to it here.
boomerangchampion@reddit
Good advice in here already but your written English is good, so if you did that on your own, you're halfway there. Speaking is different, admittedly.
I wouldn't stress too much about sounding natural or confident. I work with a lot of Europeans and their English varies. It is always obvious when someone is just struggling with English but knows what they're talking about. It is a very minor inconvenience that people in academia will be used to dealing with, and you will improve rapidly as soon as you move here and start speaking it every day.
leftat11@reddit
What’s your current English level? I’m assuming an IELTS of 6.5+?
If it’s below that, getting an English tutor to bring up up to that standard with specific expertise in teaching ESL to university students.
For academic English it’s worth getting a tutor in your specialist field or related to get the specific language you will need for your PHD, they will also help with University and academic vocabulary and slang that’s oddly British and often makes no sense to anyone else. Use a UK based tutor as they have been through the system, they don’t need to be PHD level themselves necessarily.
Watching YouTube videos in your specific field in English will also help.
For general UK vocab watching YouTube’s and tv and film in British English.
You can also read books in English, look for British writers. I’d definitely start reading article and books related to your subject and start collecting vocab. You can also see what the norms in the academic writing are for your topic within the UK university system.
kenza-Necessary5280@reddit (OP)
Merciii
Barry_Burton_1974@reddit
It'll sound like an advert but have a look on Preply. There are tons of tutors who'll work for different situations.
maceion@reddit
Listen to BBC radio 4.
IanM50@reddit
Have you thought of listening to British science audio podcasts. Easy to wind back multiple times until you get the language
Or if the podcast is about quantum things, just wind back many, many more times.
Enjoy your UK stay.
fleurmadelaine@reddit
My husband is a native English speaker and is now fluent in French. He learned by immersion.
Listen and watch English speaking TV. See if you can find someone to speak to in English. If you’re coming to the uk, I’d recommend British rather than American media because there are some different language and cultural nuances.
RejectedIdeas@reddit
BBC World Service should be available wherever you are. Tune in and listen. Once you arrive BBC Radio 4 is a great way to get to grips with English. There is also a lot of English content on the web. From YouTube to gaming.
HandToeKneeUK@reddit
Listen to and copy Stephen Fry pronunciation of words.
He has done a lot of audio books over the years!
SnooDonuts6494@reddit
The best way is to go there. Is that an option? Could you maybe go a couple of weeks early and perhaps explore the country a little?
Obviously that requires time and at least some money. It doesn't have to be very expensive though - if you stay in hostels and get cheap train tickets, etc.
jobione1986@reddit
I would highly recommend tiktok. And just following some British tiktoks on various subjects.... Rebecca.... Is a Birmingham based "dish up dinner with me"... Content creator who will get you used to a regional accent and some of the business. Matt Richardson is a comedian but he just talks bout comedy in a very clear .. slightly southern accent,. Whatinthechef is a cooking tiktok focusing on south Asian cuisine...and British food Another type of English accent to get used to. Luke hammer is a gay British tiktoker who does a lot of working class humour....this will help with humour. Oh and lase.... She is worth listening too as well. All if these people speak very clearly... But are every different.
Peteat6@reddit
Read, read, read! I’m guessing your PhD will require you to do a lot of reading. That seems to me to be more important than listening or speaking.
Even if you have to defend your thesis in an oral exam, there’s no harm in asking them to clarify anything they ask you.
Ok-Exam6702@reddit
Listen to BBC Radio 4. Great programmes and perfect English!
Massive-small-thing@reddit
Watch British TV
shadowmoses4726@reddit
i haven’t learned english but i have learned (some) german. honestly watching english content creators, english presentations etc is a very good way to pick up every day language as well as professional language. it’s always a good thing to learn how to speak a language naturally (if that makes sense.) it will make communication soooo much easier.
Real23Phil@reddit
I talk with English 2nd/3rd language speakers on Discord, when I look for other gamers to play with.
Electronic-Call-4319@reddit
connect with your classmate and practice english with them.