You could expand your vocabulary and learn more grammar by seeing how others write.

Reading is fun and enjoyable, and, if you use the library, practically free!

xHealthY

“I passed my finals.”

Congratulations on passing, Eddie! That's great!

Yes, I think doing some reading would be very good.

You could also add a bit of newspaper and magazine reading.

It also helps to do a lot of listening. Why not take make it a point to listen to the news every day for 15-20 minutes? You will generally hear very standard English on CNN, for example. Or take a look at NPR (National Public Radio) and listen to some of the stories they have. They have a section called "All Things Considered" that you might find interesting. (Click on the words in blue -- they are links to the NPR website.)

xHealthY

“Thanks, I will consider on going to the library. I would love to learn some vocabulary words. So far, I've learned some words! I'm trying to use them often.

But please correct grammar, every time I write. :)”

Thanks for taking the time to let us know how your final exam went, Eddie. But don't be a stranger! Keep on posting.

Take care,

Amy

xHealthY

“Thanks, Amy.  I will keep posting so that you could correct my grammar. Hehe.

I will do what you suggested. I'm going to start reading the newspaper. Also, I'm going to try those links you posted. By the way, I love this show called "Curb your Enthusiasm" from Larry David. Is it okay to watch that show? I've watched all of the episodes, but I would love to watch them again! Because I want to learn.

I'd watched is correct? I'd recommend using the present perfect "I have watched".

”

I know someone who apparently learned quite a bit of his English by watching endless episodes of "The Simpsons". I remember once telling him that his writing sounded very much like the way Bart Simpson talks. And that is fine in the right context. However, quite a bit of what Bart Simpson says is not appropriate for more formal or polite situations.

What you've just finished learning about in your course is "standard" English grammar. However, especially in informal spoken English, you will often hear grammar that is different from the more formal "standard" grammar.

Of course books are good too. I would suggest reading something that was written fairly recently.

There is something we call "register" which is important to keep in mind when you learn any language. You might say that a "low register" is very informal and a "high register" is very formal. Generally speaking, you will hear very informal language in online chatrooms. Of course, it's important to learn informal English too, but for academic purposes, "chatroom language" (and especially "chatroom spelling") is not appropriate.

I lived in Germany for about 18 years and taught English there. I learned German after moving to Germany and I remember my German teacher telling me one day that what I had just said in German "sounded like a farmer". What she meant by that was that what I'd said didn't sound very refined or educated. What I had said was something I had learned from my German friends (who were neither uneducated nor farmers). I had heard them say it many, many times. It was OK to say in an informal situation, talking to my friends, but it would have been seen as being incorrect if I had used it on a standardized test of German. It would not have been appropriate in a more formal situation.

On the other hand, I sometimes got feedback from my German friends that something I'd just said in German was far too formal. I remember once ordering a beer and my German friends told me I'd done it far too politely and formally.

Anyway, my point here is that if you want to reinforce the "standard" grammar you've just spent so much time learning and practicing, make sure you also expose yourself to sources of English that are most likely to use standard grammar.

xHealthY

“Okay, thanks. I will read the news. Also, I hope it's okay to read books. Although, I often have to look up for words at in the dictionary, but I have a program installed on my computer in which all I have to do is type the word and it will tell me the definition.

Is it okay to read about 20-30 min a day?  Do whatever you can. I'd say what's most important is to make it a point to do it regularly. Try to do it every day.

I've decided to read the newspaper and books. Also, I'm always at on the internet! I am mostly playing PC games, which where I chat with people online! But I occasionally come here and post, to see whether or not my grammar is correct. :)

”