If you had to name your most important subject in school, you might name something like math, computers, or science. They can lead to good jobs in programming, research, or other well-paid fields. Still, you would never be able to manage in those areas without your English studies.

People often think that English studies are less useful than other subjects because they rarely lead directly to jobs, except possibly in teaching or writing. However, a good grasp of the language is extremely important for most other jobs, and even studying literature or grammar can help with communication skills that people need every day.

Suppose that you want to become a doctor. Learning to treat a broken leg or a fever might seem more important than reading or writing. However, you still need to read other people’s articles to learn more about new treatments, and you will also need to write about your own special knowledge. The same is true in many other fields, such as mathematics, engineering, and teaching.

People have different ways of improving their English skills, and you should find the ones that work best for you. The most important thing you can do is read. Reading poetry, fiction, and non-fiction can help you learn different styles of writing and how they affect the audience. Trying to read a bit above your normal level of understanding can also be good, but not all the time. Finding a good mixture of high-, medium-, and low-level reading is best for most people.

Even though almost any kind of reading can be helpful, you should try to make sure to include at least a few of the classics, such as Shakespeare or Dickens. These works still have a lot of good insights into life, and they have influenced many modern writers. If the originals are too long and difficult, you can find simplified versions of them to read instead, such as Charles and Mary Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare.

The same is true of writing. Your school classes probably give you the chance to try different types of writing, but you can also experiment with it on your own. Try writing instructions for putting together a toy or a machine, or write a poem or short story about any subject that interests you. Even if your writing is bad at the beginning, it will improve with practice.

Depending on your personality and home life, you may or may not be able to discuss your English studies with your family, but your friends might be available. Finding people who can encourage and help you with reading and writing can make the whole process easier.

No matter what you end up doing, your English studies will be important. With a bit of extra work now and in the future, you can make sure that you do the best you can in this essential subject.

Bibliography:

Fitzpatrick, Katarina. “How to Get Better Grades in English Class.” http://classroom.synonym.com/better-grades-english-class-6373163.html

Swanson, Beverley B. “How Can I Improve My Child’s Reading?” http://www.readingrockets.org/article/how-can-i-improve-my-childs-reading.

WikiHow.com. “How to Succeed in English Class.” http://www.wikihow.com/Succeed-in-English-Class.

WikiHow.com. “How to Get Good Grades. “ http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Good-Grades

The Wordstream Blog. “16 Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills.” http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2014/08/07/improve-writing-skills