Tag: how can i learn english in my home

Be a couch potato and learn English

Couch Potato

Source: vectorstock.com

The best way to a learn a language is to immerse yourself in it.

Be surrounded by it, every waking hour. Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to stay in a foreign country. The next best thing could be watching TV.

Television (and now Youtube, Amazon, Netflix) gives us a window into other language worlds and cultures. Surprisingly in India, people do not seem to be taking advantage of this medium as much as they should.

Specifically, when it comes to learning English, learners see it as a distinct subject which is utilized in specific situations (e.g. while taking an exam, or making a presentation at work). This way of thinking limits the way one learns the language. Learning English is understood as learning grammatical rules and lists of words. This creates a narrow (and often fragile) language base.

Being a couch potato could be a part of the solution. (Ah… I see that smile on your face!) There are stories from around the world which highlight the link between TV watching and language learning. Two sisters in Isreal learned Spanish by watching an Argentinian telenovela with Hebrew subtitles. Read about them on CNN. In the short article, the sisters say that they learned English the same way.

And, you can learn English (or any other language) that way too.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  1. Choose a series that you enjoy. If you like the theme, chances are that you will be more willing to sit through it.
  2. Where possible, have subtitles. Even if the subtitles are in the same language, that is okay. In this way you are using two language learning skills – listening and reading. The two skills reinforce each other.
  3. Watch the programme again and again. A baseball player from Venezuela watched each episode of the serial Friends at least five times. And his level of English has improved dramatically.
  4. If there is some vocabulary you do not understand, reach out to your cellphone. Google the word and find out its meaning. Go ahead and do it. Don’t postpone it, as you may forget the word. This is a natural way to build your vocabulary, because you are encountering the word in its natural context.
  5. If there is a grammatical structure which is unfamiliar, try and find out more about it. Google. Don’t be lazy.
  6. You can have a varied diet as well. Watch a cartoon channel, a news channel, and a nature documentary channel. In this way, you expose yourself to different kinds of vocabulary. This will help you when you have to converse on different themes.
  7. Be consistent. (Remember point 3 in this list.)

Be an active, curious couch potato. Although your body may be immobile, your mind is all action!

For more on learning English, you can visit these 3 free websites.

Learn English with your child

patenting

Learning any language takes time. And that includes English as well.

Many people working in the corporate sector want to learn English words and phrases that are directly related to their work.

They often do not have the time or inclination to strengthen their foundations (grammar, vocabulary, writing skills, reading skills, listening skills, and speaking skills).

Learn with your child

How can you strengthen the foundations of your language?

If you have a child at home, consider yourself lucky. You can learn with her. Together, practise reading from her textbook.

Use the content in the textbook as a launchpad for further learning.

For example, if there is a lesson on food, watch YouTube videos on the topic.

When watching, be sure to be an active listener.

Make a mental note of new vocabulary, grammar structures, and pronunciation. See if you can identify any of the words / grammar that you and your child have come across in the textbook.

After you finish the activity, you could have a conversation about it.

Did you like the YouTube video? Why? Why not? What were the main points? Was there any new information? Were there any words that you want learn more about? Was it easy to understand the accent of the speaker? 

Immersion is key

If you want to learn any language– the secret is immersion. The language needs to be around you all the time.

With your child, set aside some time when both of you speak only in English. For instance, at the dinner table, you could revise the words / grammar that you have together looked at.

Don’t worry if mistakes are made. Making mistakes is a good sign. That means you are engaging with the language. After all, when learning a new language, it is normal to make mistakes. 

Practise, practise, practise. Over time, you and your child will become fluent speakers. 

Be consistent

It is said that the child is the father of man.

I believe that the child is an excellent English teacher for a man or woman. Learning with your child is a fun, natural way to learn anything.

If you choose to learn with your child, make sure that it is a long-term project. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see immediate results.

Slow and steady wins the race! Always.

For more information and advice, visit: British Council LearnEnglish Kids.

Do you have plans for your child to study abroad? This is a post on how to help her succeed in international English exams.