1. What is Your Object in Studying English?
Whatever your object may be, you must aim at the ability to read general literature and to speak and write correct and idiomatic English.
2. A Few Warning Words
There is no royal road to the mastery of English.
You cannot master English without reading widely.
3. Two Dictionaries Recommended
The Concise Oxford Dictionary
The Pocket Oxford Dictionary
4. How to Read the Dictionaries
Read it from time to time.
5. Good Pronunciation
Good Pronunciation doesn't mean your Chinese friends can understand your English.
6. English Pronunciation is English
The best way to learn good pronunciation is to study under an Englishman or American and imitate him.
You should Treat every English sound as a sound peculiar to English, and when you read or speak English, try to forget that your mother tongue is Chinese.
7. What to Read
Your chief reading matter must have been written far less than a hundred years ago, a few weeks ago if possible, must have been written in simple English, and must have been written by an Englishman or American.
8. Reading Aloud
Reading aloud helps you to learn by heart, and learning by heart is essential to all who aim at writting well. Reading aloud helps you to cultivate good pronunciation and good intonation, and good pronunciation and good intonation are essential to all language learners. Reading aloud helps you to discover certain beauties of language that you may fail to see in your silent reading.
9. Do you Read the Preface
The preface to a book states its purpose, subjects, scope, etc. The reading of it will show you what you May expect in the book and whether it is the kind of book you need, and will thus Ensure a more intelligence and more respectful perusal or save much time that might otherwise be wasted on it.