Tag: learningenglish

How to be a good language learner

Two students reading at a library

I have been teaching English for fifteen years now. Over the years, I have noticed some positive traits and approaches of good language learners. What we will cover is based on my experience teaching English, but these points would be relevant when learning other languages as well.

4 points to keep in mind when learning a language

1. Have a positive attitude

Learning a new language is rewarding in itself. You learn new sounds. You learn new words and idioms. You learn new grammatical forms. In short, you learn a new way to express yourself. A new horizon opens up.

I remember a student telling me that she didn’t enjoy learning English, and that she was learning the language only because she had no choice. As you could guess, learning English is a chore for this person. This internal resistance will work against her learning the language well.

If you are learning a language, do not view it as a burden. Relish the sounds of the new words. Enjoy the process. It’s always a pleasure to be a student, whatever your age may be.

2. Be persistent and patient

If there is a word that you find difficult to remember, write it down. Keep practising it during the week. If there is a grammar point that is tricky, take your time. Slow down. Spend a minute or two to better understand it. Make a sentence with it. If you make a mistake, no worries. Try again. The more persistent you are are, the more your mind becomes familiar with what you are learning. Give your mind time to absorb the new information.

I have met students who are impatient when it comes to learning English. At times, they overestimate their level of English. They are in a hurry to become advanced-level speakers. Don’t be. Being impatient is not going to make you learn the language any faster. In fact, you may get demotivated when you find that you are not improving as much as you thought you would.

Persistence is the path that will get you there.

3. Celebrate small wins

After many attempts, you use the present perfect tense correctly when speaking. Celebrate the win! After repeated mistakes, you use a preposition correctly. You say, ‘I’m in the car’, instead of ‘I’m on the car’. Celebrate the win! I’m not saying you have to eat a slice of cake. But, just recognize that you have achieved something, however small it may be.

If you have been learning a language for some time, your errors may be fossilized. When you finally get a word or grammar point right, pat yourself on the back.

4. Immerse yourself

Immersion is the secret to learning any language. Imagine you are in a country where people only speak a foreign language. Your learning curve will be steep.

All of us may not have the opportunity to live in a foreign country. But, we do have access to the internet. Watch YouTube videos. This would include: the news, short clips, songs, documentaries, comedy series, and yes, even cartoons.

When listening, be an active listener. If you are a beginner in the language, see if you can identify any words. Listen to the sounds of the language.

If you are at the pre-intermediate, intermediate level, or upper-intermediate level, you could keep your ears tuned for new words. You can try to guess their meaning from the context. Don’t worry if you are not sure of the meaning of the new word or phrase. By using your mind to guess the meaning, you are already on your way to expanding your vocabulary. You can always check a dictionary. My go-to dictionary is Cambridge Dictionary.

Apart from words, pay attention to how words are pronounced. Pay attention to the key words that are stressed in a sentence. Pay attention to how intonation is used.

Notice how grammar is used. In the beginning, try to recognize the grammar that you have already covered. Doing this will help you consolidate your learning. Later, focus on unfamiliar grammar points.

Phew! As you can see, when it comes to language immersion there are a lot of things to do.

I recommend that you take a pro-active role when learning a language. Become an independent learner. Isn’t that the best way?

The takeaway

Enjoy learning a language. Don’t worry if it seems endless. Eventually, with persistence and patience, you will attain your language goals.

Learning a new language can be fun and rewarding or it can be boring and dreary. The choice, dear reader, is yours!

Learning English for people in a hurry

People crossing a street in a city

You carry many identities within you. Area sales manager. CEO. Chef. Head of accounts. Homemaker. Entrepreneur. YouTuber. Parent. Part-time painter. Professional dancer. Gardener. Baker. Foodie. The list goes on.

To improve your communication skills, there is an identity that you must embrace: the identity of a student. Yes, you read that right. Look in the mirror. There is a student gazing at you. Just because you’ve left college, that doesn’t mean you have to stop learning.

Where is your classroom? Your classroom is your office. It’s your laptop at home. It’s the unopened newspaper on the table. It’s that Netflix series you are binging on. It’s your favorite business website. It’s the device you are using right now to read this post.

Who is your teacher? You have many. Your clients who send you emails are your teachers. So are the Tedx speakers who inhabit YouTube. So are the ads you see on billboards. In short, your teachers are everywhere. The question is, are you open to being taught?

When I conduct corporate training sessions, what strikes me is the limited range of people’s vocabulary. They are fluent in the jargon of their field. They have good domain expertise. But, when they need to express their views on unfamiliar topics, they are at a loss for words. They are often stumped when they are asked to talk about social issues, culture, and the environment.

The higher up the corporate ladder you climb, the greater will be the demands on your communication skills. As you progress up the ranks, there will be times when you need to present to a wider, more diverse, audience. There will be times when you need to explain complex systems to people from outside your sector. There will be times when you need to be diplomatic to not offend investors or clients. There will be times when you need to speak about broader issues such as employment, climate change, and ethics. For all those times, you would need to speak fluently, effectively, and confidently. To do so, you would need to have a wide range of vocabulary that you could immediately access.

Build your vocabulary

How can you enrich your vocabulary? Be more aware of the words and phrases around you. If you have a client who communicates effectively, find out why. When she writes emails, what phrases does she use? Could you use those same phrases when you write emails?

To learn in a more structured manner, visit BBC Learning English . There will be some words you are familiar with. But, there will be many words that you are not. Be open. Read the definitions for expressions you do not know. And check the ones you think you know. You may not know the precise meaning of a familiar word or phrase. You may be in for a surprise.

Do not use ‘fancy’ words to show off. Use words appropriately. Use the right word at the right time in the right context. Usually, simple words are sufficient. Remember, it’s not just what you say that matters, but also how you say it that matters too.

Listen for phrases you can use

When you watch a panel discussion, how do the panelists interact? Good speakers weave a narrative by referring to what was said before. They are not making isolated statements, but are interacting with one another, creating a coherent, meaningful conversation. Pay attention to the phrases that are used to refer to what was said before. For example, ‘I would like to build on what X just said.’ Or: ‘I partially agree with you, however…’ Could you use such phrases in your next zoom meeting?

Improve your pronunciation

Pronouncing words is a tricky affair. A problem with pronunciation is that when everyone around you is pronouncing a word incorrectly, you do not question that way of pronunciation. How can you escape this invisible loop? Doubt yourself. Personally, I have been often surprised when I checked words I thought I knew how to pronounce. I wish you many such moments. Cambridge dictionary is my go to dictionary.

The magic of awareness

Do you know what is essential for improving your communication skills? Awareness is the key that unlocks the door to better communication skills. Only you can open it.

Be aware of the spoken and written language around you. Be curious about a new word, phrase, or expression. Google it. Think about it. Absorb it. Notice if you come across it again. Decide if it would work for you. If it does, use it. If it doesn’t, no worries. Let it go. Whatever happens, you are expanding your language horizon.

Despite your busy schedule, you’ve read till the end. Bravo! Now, I have a gift for you. It is something that will last forever. That gift is: awareness.

Use it well.

Image credit: Pinterest