The Essence of Language Learning

Are you looking for the best way to learn English?

Do you seek the ultimate method?

I will tell you the ultimate method.

Persistent, consistent hard work.

Unfortunately, contrary to what other "teachers" wold say, there is no cheat code to learning. We wiLl tEaCh yOu EnGliSh uNdEr 100 hOuRs. Yeah, of course, like anybody did that before. The closest thing to a cheat is the sensitive period for spoken language which lasts from 7 months to 3 years of age.

But there are tips and tricks that can help you with your language goals.

Firstly, start as soon as possible.

If you are a parent and you know a foreign language you want your child to speak, assist them in learning that language from day 1. Speak and play with them in that language.

If you are not a small child anymore and have goals of your own, the above still applies. Start as soon as possible. If you are still in school, great. You don't have to worry about work and family related issues. If you are an adult, still, start as soon as possible. Our ability to learn declines every day. But does it mean we can't learn after a certain age? Of course not. Adults have their own advantages over children. They are more methodical, logical, mindful, self-aware and motivated. Also they have money for private tutors or language learning resources. However in the age of the internet, you can easily learn anything without spending any money.

Secondly, just keep practising, just keep practising, practising, practising, practising....

If your memory is similar to a specific blue fish's from a children's movie when it comes to language learning, I can assure you that all of us are like that in the beginning. BUT after spending hours and days and weeks and months learning a language, all of the practice builds up into knowing a language. But you have to practise. A lot. The difference between a master and an apprentice is the time spent practising. And until we invent the ability to upload knowledge into our brains via a cable or something similar, we have to acquire skills the hard way.

But where should I start practising? My favourite learning apps are Duolingo and Memrise. Both of them are free, and the desktop website has no restrictions. You can make unlimited mistakes without having to buy hearts or pay for a subscription plan. Of course these are not perfect, so you will have to use additional resources to learn specific grammar points. If you are not the best at using Google, you can use our beloved ChatGPT, which will give you a detailed answer to all your questions. Use it while it's free.

Thirdly, immerse yourself in the language.

Our brains are the masters of adapting. But if you do not have to adapt, your brain will not spend it's resources on unimportant stuff. This is why forcing yourself to speak a language is advantageous. An overpowered way to learn a language, if you have the courage to use it, is to find a language parent or a language learning friend. This will not only make you a more proficient speaker, it will also make learning more fun. Not only you will learn a new useful skill, you will also make new connections. This is how children learn their mother tongue so it is a proven method.

Another way to immerse yourself in the language is to do everything in that second language. Read, listen, watch, play. Read books and articles, listen to songs, watch movies or series, and play games that interest you. These methods will provide repetitive practise, which will solidify your knowledge.