Table of contents:
- 1. You are cramming new words
- 2. You are watching TV shows with Russian subtitles
- 3. You raise the bar
- 4. You train once a month
- 5. You learn English for yourself
2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
Basic English communication skills can be acquired fairly quickly. The main thing is the right approach to learning.
1. You are cramming new words
People tend to do what is pleasant, and in these moments we least of all think about efficiency. When apps came out to help you learn words, everyone started to study hard, earn points for jagged words, and think they knew better English now.
Expanding your vocabulary is not the right goal if you already have at least 1,500-2,000 words and want to travel freely.
It is not applications that will help here, but films and communication with foreigners. It is about the speaking skill that people usually forget, although it is he who is fundamental. Don't just do what you do best, use more directions. Speaking and listening is often much more beneficial than improving your vocabulary.
2. You are watching TV shows with Russian subtitles
Many are convinced that they are spending time with benefit when they watch American TV shows with Russian subtitles. But with this approach, you will learn English for a long time. Just 5 minutes after the start of the series, the brain concentrates only on the picture and subtitles, because it is simple and accessible. You hear English, but you cannot perceive it.
To make TV shows really help in learning, I suggest using the following technique: play the same piece of video in the original language several times. Try to understand the meaning of the dialogue the first time you play it. In the second case, turn on English subtitles, check yourself and write down unfamiliar phrases. And finally, on the third playback, pronounce sentences with the characters, try to mimic them, repeat pronunciation and intonation.
This method will help you learn new constructions, memorize them better and practice speech.
3. You raise the bar
The task of learning English from scratch is daunting: the brain is convinced that you want too much from it. Surely you think that it will take 5-10 years to learn a language, but in reality, to learn a language at an everyday level, three months will be enough. For basic communication, it is enough to know only 700 words and master the basics of grammar. If you are not going to conduct business negotiations with foreigners, you do not need a high level of English. It turns out that in the distance you are imagining an elephant, but in reality it is only a fly.
4. You train once a month
Better every day for 5 minutes than once a month for 10 hours. This rule also applies to the English language. To learn the language faster, you need to study regularly, and also be sure to repeat the material covered.
The easiest way to understand how the brain works is with the forgetting curve, also known as the Ebbinghaus curve. When you have learned new material, it seems to you that you have memorized it 100%. The next day you will remember only 33% of this information, and in a month - 21%.
To memorize the material, you need to repeat it several times. The repetition cycle is as follows:
- immediately after studying;
- in 20 minutes;
- after 1 day;
- In 2 weeks;
- 2 months later.
This will allow you to better memorize rules or learn words. If you practice rarely, but for a long time, you forget 80% of what you have learned.
5. You learn English for yourself
We interviewed students at our school and found that 65% of them learn English for themselves, and this is a waste of time. You must have a clear goal.
The main reason that motivates to learn a language is money. In international companies, those who speak English are paid 25-30% more, and the language becomes your competitive advantage when hiring.
A common problem for English learners for years is lack of action. You have been thinking for a year that it would be nice to learn the language, but the dream will remain unrealizable, because this goal does not ignite you. With the same success, you have been going to learn how to draw or play the guitar for many years now: desire alone is not enough. Set yourself a rigid framework: the exact deadline, the specific reason, and the level of language proficiency you want. This will help maintain enthusiasm and reassure the brain that the game is worth the candle.
If you recognize yourself in at least one of the listed mistakes, it means that this is what slows down the development of the language. Stop learning English for years!
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