Balancing English skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking

When learning English, it’s important to practise all four key skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You have probably come across all four of them in your lessons and in textbooks and other resources, but did you know that they are all connected? In this article we'll explore how, but the short story is that making sure you balance all four, will ensure you make the best progress.

So, let's look at these connections.

Two systems: alphabet and sounds

When we read and write, we use the alphabet. This means we focus on language on a page or screen. On the other hand, listening and speaking rely on the sound system. Here, we pay attention to the way words are spoken and heard.

Practising both systems is important because it helps you link sounds with letters. English has a deep orthography (which means that spelling and sounds are less connected than in other languages). Learning to note both spelling and pronunciation, will help you be more accurate.

Receptive and productive skills

We can also group the skills in another way:

• Listening and reading are receptive skills. You take in information and understand it.

• Speaking and writing are productive skills. You create and share information.

  
  

If you only practise one type, you might struggle. For example, if you only practise receptive skills (reading and listening), you will probably find it really difficult when you try to speak. If you only practise writing, you might find it hard to understand others when you listen.

English skills

Think of the skills as working in pairs:

• Listening and speaking help you with conversations.

• Reading and writing help you with emails, messages, or studying.

By practising all four, you’ll improve both how you take in English and how you use it.

An alternative perspective

Another way to think about learning English is to focus on three systems:

1. Lexical (words and phrases): Expanding your vocabulary helps you understand and express more ideas.

2. Sound system (pronunciation): Understanding the English sound system helps with listening comprehension. Clear pronunciation makes it easier for others to understand you. Listening and pronunciation skills go hand in hand.

3. Grammar (structure): This helps you break down and put together sentences correctly.

   
   

Keep going!

Balancing your practice is the best way to grow your skills. Try to mix activities: read a short article, write about it, listen to a podcast, and then talk about what you heard. Every step you take will bring you closer to fluency.

Remember, learning English is a journey, and you’re doing great! Keep practising, and you’ll see amazing results.