improve language skills

USAGE SUMMARY

"improve language skills" is a perfectly grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to someone's abilities to use language (i.e. speaking and writing). For example, "My goal this year is to improve my language skills by learning Spanish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

by helping to improve language skills.

The New York Times - Health

Use the time between to improve language skills.

The Guardian

New work indicates early intervention can improve language skills in kids lagging behind.

Stanford University

Recent proposals suggest that some interventions designed to improve language skills might also target or train selective attention.

Brain Research

I hope they lead to sensible, practical proposals for supporting migrants to improve language skills when the CICC delivers its final report to Ruth Kelly in June.

The Guardian - Opinion

New work to be presented at AAAS indicates early intervention can improve language skills in kids lagging behind.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The benefits highlighted in recent studies include some that are obvious and some that are not so obvious: improved SAT scores; improved math and verbal proficiency; improved language skills; higher acceptance rates to medical schools; lower current and long-term drug and alcohol abuse; and higher self esteem.

Los Angeles Times

"Improved language skills have been identified as a key factor enabling ethnic minority pupils to catch up with white British children over time.

The Guardian

"Language learning is not just about improving language skills," says Androulla Vassiliou, EU commissioner for education and multilingualism, who is behind a move to increase the UK's access to international travel exchanges through the streamlined Erasmus Plus programme.

The Guardian

Educational experts are now hoping that some of the strategies used to boost the attainment of ethnic minority pupils – including improved language skills – might now be employed to support their white peers and help them catch up.

The Guardian

Three separate systematic reviews of what educators call dialogic reading essentially engaging in a conversation with young children as you read to them found positive effects including improved language skills, literacy, and school readiness.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to enhance specific linguistic abilities, specify the area. For example, instead of saying "improve language skills", specify "improve writing skills" or "improve conversational skills".

Common error

Avoid using "improve language skills" without context. Clarify the specific skill you want to improve, such as grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation, to provide clear direction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improve language skills" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, where "improve" acts as a verb indicating the action of making better, and "language skills" serves as a noun referring to the abilities related to using language. The examples from Ludwig show how the phrase is used in different contexts, and according to Ludwig AI the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

32%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "improve language skills" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression across diverse contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves the purpose of indicating the enhancement of one's abilities in a language, including comprehension, speaking, and writing. It's adaptable for both formal and informal settings, with prominent usage in news, academic, and scientific domains. To maximize clarity, specifying the particular language skill to be improved is recommended. The phrase is considered common in frequency, with authoritative sources like The Guardian and Stanford University frequently employing it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop language skills

Focuses on development aspect rather than enhancement.

enhance linguistic ability

Replaces "skills" with "ability" focusing on general linguistic capacity.

strengthen language proficiency

Emphasizes making language skills stronger, suggesting current but needing improvement.

refine language usage

Highlights precision and correctness in language application.

hone language expertise

Suggests a process of perfecting language skills to an expert level.

advance language capabilities

Highlights making progress in language skills.

boost language competence

Focuses on increasing one's overall language competence.

upgrade language facility

Suggests a modern or technological enhancement of language skills.

polish language techniques

Implies refining specific methods or techniques in language usage.

cultivate language command

Emphasizes developing a strong and authoritative control over the language.

FAQs

How can I use "improve language skills" in a sentence?

You can use "improve language skills" in a sentence like: "Taking a language course can help you "improve language skills" significantly".

What is a good alternative to "improve language skills"?

A good alternative would be to say "develop language skills", which focuses on the development aspect rather than just improvement.

Is it better to say "improve language skills" or "enhance language skills"?

Both phrases are correct, but "enhance language skills" implies adding value or quality to existing skills, while "improve language skills" suggests correcting deficiencies or making skills better overall.

How does studying abroad help me "improve language skills"?

Studying abroad provides immersive experiences and practical application, essential to "improve language skills" beyond what classroom learning can offer.