The power of S l o w L e a r n i n g

Being busy and impatient

People are in such a tearing hurry to learn English. Being impatient doesn’t help.

The search for a quick fix

While conducting corporate training sessions, I noticed that many participants were not really keen to understand, absorb, and appreciate the language point being presented.

They were often looking for a quick fix solution. For example, they want a phrase they can  immediately use in the next conference call.

In their minds there are a finite set of phrases to be used in predictable situations.

In a sense, that is true. But do keep in mind this works only when the phrases and grammar points are directly related to those specific situations.

As you know, the demands of work are not always predictable.

Change happens.

You may suddenly have to make a presentation to a foreign client. Or you may have to describe a complicated technical process via an email to non-experts. Or you may have to give a nuanced response to a reporter.

Imagine this happening: one fine day, you get a promotion and have to communicate a sensitive issue to your senior management. ChatGPT may not fully understand your prompt. Then what?

You must have a direct relationship with the language. 

That relationship cannot be transactional: I’ll attend a business English course for two months and pay attention during the sessions. My English language learning is done and dusted.

Sorry, that won’t work. Language is far more demanding.

Commit to a long-term relationship

You need to build a long-term relationship with the language.

Yes, I’m talking years… Start taking an interest in how other people communicate.

How to improve by yourself

Spend more time reading–analyzing the emails you receive.

• Is there anything you can learn? (Perhaps a polite phrase that is used.)
• Is there anything that you do not like about the email? Is it too wordy? Too vague?

When reading a report, step back to see the big picture.

• Who is the intended audience? Will they understand?
• Is the report organized logically?
• How does it look visually? Is it easy to interpret the data from that chart?
• Are all crucial points adequately covered?
• Is there any unnecessary information?

Look at it from another perspective.

• Are there any unstated assumptions?

You could take the same approach when reading your newspaper in the morning.

Read the headline. What is it about? Politics? Economics? The next scandal?

Now, look at the photo. How does the photo relate to the headline?

Spend a few seconds on the photo. Can you spot anything interesting? Out of the ordinary, perhaps? Does the politician’s face project confidence or insecurity?

Is the newspaper trying to make a point by choosing that particular headline to go with that particular photo? Think about it.

What do you think the article is going to be about? Will it have a negative, neutral, or positive slant? Go ahead and guess. Now, read the article.

By making predictions, you prepare your mind to better absorb the article. 

If you practice this way of reading, you will absorb and retain information more effectively. This is because you have prepared your mind beforehand.

If you are preparing for exams such as IELTS, this method of prediction will help you. 

Your takeaway from this post

S l o w    d o w n.

We are living in a world that places a premium on multi-tasking, skimming pieces of writing, and forming instant opinions.

And to get through the day, you may have to do all of that. But, there are moments when you can switch gears. These moments may last for as little as ten seconds. Make those moments count. 

Spend an extra minute or two over an article that interests you. It could be about sports, fashion, or culture. 

Similarly, linger for a few minutes extra over an important report. You might notice things you wouldn’t have noticed before.

When you start becoming mindful of  how language is used, you’ll start appreciating it–both the spoken and written word.

After some time your own language will improve. It will seem almost magical. 

How about that?