Before paying for intensive course in order to prepare for IELTS or any other language test, take some time and read this short article about simple yet very effective methods of improving your foreign language skills - no special textbooks or tutors required.

Many people don't believe that they can succeed in foreign language by themselves; they attend language courses, hire tutors, purchase expensive textbooks, but they don't even know that there are some simple methods to help them for free.

Improving vocabulary, pronunciation, and ability to build phrases quickly.

Simple enough: just take your favourite book written in your native language, and start reading it aloud in English (or whatever language you're studying). Look up in the dictionary, if you encounter words translations for which you don't know. Use any materials you like to help yourself build correct sentences.

You may find it difficult, but after some practice you'll see the progress. Your main task is to keep practicing, and the results will be rewarding.

Improving vocabulary, memorizing common language syntax.

You will need the book you really like, that you have read before. The more familiar you are with the text, the better. Choose modern book; if you will practice with something classical, you may find out that you're learning obsolete language. The best choice is the book that was originally written in the language you're studying and then translated into your native language, in which you have enjoyed it.

Next, do find the same book in the language you're studying - either download it from the Internet or purchase from a book store. That's it: now begin reading this book carefully, following the plot and not missing a single word.

This method has two advantages: you are reading the book you really like and enjoy, and you don't have to interrupt your reading to look up the dictionary, because you know the plot. Provided that the book chosen is really familiar to you, you will find it quite easy to read it in the foreign language, because you won't have to spend time building correct translation in your mind.

Improving vocabulary, syntax and speech comprehension.

This last method is the modification of the second one. The only difference is that you'll have to find not a textbook in the language you are studying, but an audiobook instead. The rest of the process is the same - listen to the audiobook, trying to understand as much as possible. You'll find it an effective way to improve your comprehension skills, because in fact you know the entire "dictionary" for the book you're listening, that allows you to use study time more effeciently - not to browse dictionaries, but to listen to the live speech.