Learning a language is not \u2018easy\u2019: nothing\nworthwhile in life should be considered a walk in the park. But that is not to\nsay that is it impossible either. Far from it! Every year, millions of people\naround the world successfully begin to speak a second, third or even fourth\nlanguage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite being considered the most important\nglobal language, learning English is no different, and once again many students\nof all ages begin to effectively communicate in English every year, increasing\ntheir ability to easily travel in English-speaking countries, improving career\nprospects, or simply opening up their horizons with regards to cultural and\nentertainment options. Whatever the motivation, learning English can also be a\nfun process, and when motivation and enjoyment are combined, you have a recipe\nfor success. A lack of motivation is often the reason for failure in any\nundertaking, and learning a language is no different. And if something is not\nfun, then a lack of motivation can very quickly become a reality, once again\nleading to failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, before we run down 6 common misconceptions about learning English, remember that motivation and enjoyment are key. If these two pieces of the puzzle are in place, then learning anything, not just how to speak English, becomes not just possible, but probable. So, let\u2019s commence with the mythbusting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doing almost anything can be boring if you do it in the wrong way. Let\u2019s consider this: do you like music, movies, TV series, reading, history, science, sport, traveling, having conversations with other people, meeting new people or socializing? If you have answered \u2018yes\u2019 to any one of those options, then learning English can be an enjoyable experience. Simply build your learning around something that you already enjoy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, so you still need to learn some basic grammar rules and vocabulary along the way, but if you love Beyonc\u00e9, and can learn the rules of the second conditional by really listening to and analyzing the lyrics to her hit song \u2018If I were a boy\u2019, wouldn\u2019t it be so much more fun than sitting through a grammar lesson? Or how about football. Why don\u2019t you watch the match involving your favorite team with English commentary? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yep, you\u2019ve just been looking at this all wrong. Start learning English, or supplementing your English learning, by doing something you already love.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
How sad would it be if this were true? But\nwhat cannot be doubted is that many people are turned off the prospect of doing\nsomething new due to their age. After all, as the old adage says: \u2018You can\u2019t\nteach an old dog new tricks!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, the old adage is wrong. Of\ncourse, a child possesses advantages over an adult in that their brain soaks up\ninformation at a seemingly more prolific rate, but what about experience,\nknowledge, and of course motivation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, there is scientific evidence supporting the notion that older learners are able to apply their superior knowledge of their mother tongue\u2019s vocabulary and etymology (origin of their mother tongue\u2019s words) to pick up English words and apply them more quickly. When it comes to learning a language, therefore, age truly is no barrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n
There are over a million words in English.\nIt remains to be seen if there is a single person who knows all of them.\nDoubtful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet the fact remains that the average\nnative English speaker survives and prospers on a vocabulary of between 10,000\nand 20,000 words. English language learners can pick up that number\nsurprisingly quickly, yet it also remains to be seen whether that number is\nactually required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider the word \u2018pen.\u2019 Would it not be sufficient to say \u2018the thing you use to write\u2019? Or what about the saddle on a bicycle, would it not be equally effective to say \u2018the place where you sit on a bicycle\u2019? Vocabulary is fun, but vocabulary is also overrated. After all, how could a layman understand any technical activity otherwise? <\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The apps available to assist you in\ntranslation and communication activities are almost innumerable at this stage,\nand these include apps which can instantly translate words in images. Does\nanybody really need to speak another language anymore with all the high-quality\ntechnology available?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, anyone who has had a frustrating\nmoment with predicative text, or has seen a misunderstanding arise from a\nwritten message can certainly relate to the fact that no language app, no\nmatter how well developed and marketed, is perfect. Neither are humans of\ncourse, but communication is so much more than just the words we use, or indeed\ninstruct us on how to interpret them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it is not just the imperfections of apps that make the idea of not needing to learn a language ridiculous. Replacing the human ability to do anything with a machine will always be controversial, but when it is communication we are talking about, then truly what better way is there to communicate than person to person. Like in so many other fields, technology can assist us, but it can never replace us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basing yourself in an English-speaking country will undoubtedly be of benefit, but with technology and the freer movement of peoples, effectively learning to speak English is possible from wherever you may be. The key here is immersion. As long as you are motivated and surround yourself with as much English as possible (and that does not NEED to be native English), then a successful outcome is of course within reach. Applications like Skype and FaceTime mean lessons with native teachers are accessible from anywhere there is an internet connection. And simply the ubiquitous nature of the English language in culture and tourism means that someone, somewhere will always be speaking English. We never said technology was bad!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First of all, this is totally dependent on you. If you are motivated (there\u2019s that word again) and you immerse yourself, learning to communicate in English (or any other language) can be a relatively quick process. Of course, learning a language to a deeper level does take time and perseverance, but throwing yourself into the task with abandon and with a sense of fun will mean you can communicate in no time. Don\u2019t be afraid, never be embarrassed and enjoy the ride \u2013 English is within your grasp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Learning a language is not \u2018easy\u2019: nothing worthwhile in life should be considered a walk in the park. But that is not to say that is it impossible either. Far from it! Every year, millions of people around the world successfully begin to speak a second, third or even fourth language. Despite being considered the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[471,468,470],"class_list":["post-541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration","tag-english","tag-english-learning","tag-mythbusting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n