Learning English is, for many, an impossible mission. This may be due to the widespread belief that haunts most Spaniards: we're not good at English. But is this really true?
The answer is "no." Of course, that's not true. The only problem is that it's not a Romance language like Italian or French, and that's why it's much harder for us to learn English than those languages, for example.
Being a language from the Germanic family, it is structured completely differently from Spanish, and that's why, as our brains have to use different mechanisms to structure language, learning English is a truly complex task for many people.
Fortunately, all is not lost. We're going to teach you four fundamental rules for learning English effectively.
- Learning English with just one word a day is impossible.
You've probably heard about those "foolproof" methods for learning English that promise to make you speak like a native by learning one word a day. Well, we're sorry to tell you, but that's a myth.
Of course, having a certain vocabulary is very important for learning English, but that's not everything. You have to know how to pronounce, understand, and express yourself... And that's not acquired by learning one word a day.
That's why we recommend, rather than learning English with one word a day, learning phrases, expressions, and useful things that will help you communicate and get out of a tight spot at any given time.
- Don't just focus on learning English through grammar
Of course, grammar is essential for learning English, but not exclusive. It is very common in our educational system to pay a lot of attention to grammar and forget skills like speaking or the listening, which are even more important if possible.
In fact, according to the Hoge method, the key to learning any language is listening and practicing a lot. Otherwise, no human being would be able to speak without first studying grammar.
- Learn with alternatives to textbooks
The textbooks that have plagued us since we began our English learning journey aren't enough. In fact, instead of helping us in the process, they actually provoke a certain repulsion because they are tedious and boring.
Use books, magazines, podcasts, TV shows, or series in real, contemporary English, with real-life situations that will help you learn real English. listenings Textbooks are situations interpreted by actors, which you have been listening to for years and which are practically useless to you because, in real situations, when a native speaks to you, you do not understand.
In these cases, and without wishing to disparage non-native English teachers, it's also worth noting that learning English with native teachers is very beneficial for learning. Thanks to this type of teaching, your ear becomes accustomed to the language and, little by little, you begin to better understand what you hear and assimilate it.
- Repeat exercises are not as effective as they seem
It's true that to learn pronunciation, we need to hear a word or phrase several times to remember how to say it. But that's not enough.
It's necessary to internalize knowledge more thoroughly, because to truly learn English, simply listening to something repeatedly isn't enough. Therefore, it's recommended that exercises not only involve listening and repeating, but also responding and attempting to maintain a conversation.
It's also very effective for our teacher to ask us questions if we don't know how to continue the conversation on our own. This forces us to think, make assumptions, or make excuses, keeping the conversation flowing.
Learning English can be difficult but not impossible.
So, we know that learning English is not an easy task for the various reasons we've already explained, such as the structural differences between this language and Spanish or the widespread way in which it is taught. But with these four rules, we assure you that the process will be much less tiring and more productive.
Trust us to help you learn English. Trust the Native method and prepare for your official exams. Cambridge English with us.
