Summer is a great time to unwind and relax. You can rest and refresh yourself before returning to the hustle of school or work by going to the beach, hanging out with friends, or trying out new activities to beat the heat.

If you’re about to embark on a semester abroad or on a business trip wherein you’d need to improve your English, there are several activities that are fun and relaxing that you can try. You’d be hitting two birds in one stone – enjoying and learning during the summer!

Here are some fun activities you can try that will help improve your English.

Leisure reading

Reading for school or work often involves technical material that isn’t engaging. Fiction books, magazines, blogs, comic books or other recreational material are fun and engaging to read, especially if the topics are aligned with your interests. Not only are these fun to read, but they also help you learn English!

Studies show that leisure reading can improve your vocabulary, especially since words are applied in a narrative or story (Schouten-van Parreren, 2019). So pick-up your favorite novel or comic book and read up for fun this summer! Plus, you can read somewhere relaxing like in a café or even by the beach!

Journaling

Keeping a journal is a great way to document the happenings in your life and to express your feelings. If you create a journal in English, your writing skills can definitely improve! In fact, many language learners use journals to enhance their skills, and there are studies that demonstrate significant effects on their performance (Baleghizadeh & Mortazavi, 2013).

You can keep your journal light and easy by simply jotting down your feelings, reflections, ideas, and your activities for the day. 

Board games

Board games are fun to play with friends and family, but games like Scrabble, Scattergories, and Taboo can help develop your vocabulary and spelling (Tuan, 2012). Not only do these games help you have fun and relax, but you can also deepen your vocabulary.

Sources:

VOCABULARY LEARNING THROUGH READING: WHICH CONDITIONS SHOULD BE MET WHEN PRESENTING WORDS IN TEXTS? by CarolineSchouten-van Parreren via citeseerx.ist.psu.edu 

The Impact of Different Types of Journaling Techniques on EFL Learners’ Self-Efficacy by Sasan Baleghizadeh & Mahboobeh Mortazavi via scielo.org.co

Vocabulary Recollection through Games by Luu Trong Tuan via citeseerx.ist.psu.edu.