How to learn English Quickly, Easily and Effectively!

How to learn English quickly, easily, and effectively

For sixteen years in the ESL teaching industry, I have always been searching for the best methods to teach and learn English. Then one day, I have stumbled upon an eye-opening TED Talk video on YouTube called - "How to Learn a Language in Six Months" by Chris Lonsdale. After watching the video several times, I decided to incorporate that knowledge into my school's curriculum, and I would also like to share it in order for you to learn English quickly, easily, and effectively!

Many people don't know that effective language learning actually involves a lot of psychology.

How can a normal adult learn a new language quickly, easily, and effectively?

First, we need to find where it's already happening and identify the principles that actually work. - this is called "modeling".

Many people think that learning a new language is impossible but anyone can do it in 6 months! (at a fluent level)

The history of human progress is all about expanding our limits; so if you are willing to work hard and open your mind, you can achieve what you think is impossible, and make it "possible".

In this article, there are 5 Principles you need to understand and the 7 actions you need to take. But first, I'd like to tell you the 2 myths in learning a language:

• Talent 才能 - You don't need special talent to learn a second language; anybody can do it.

• Immersion per se 英語漬け - In America, UK, or other native English countries, there are many immigrants who have lived there for 10 or 20 years but still could not speak the language. This is also true in a reversed situation; there are westerners who live in non-English speaking countries and can't speak the local language.

"A drowning man can't learn to swim".

Meaning when you are still starting to learn English, you're like a baby, and when you're in a place where you don't speak the language, you feel people are like adults talking about stuff you don't understand. This would stress you a lot, so you won't learn.

Now that I have clarified those things to you, let's get started.

The 5 principles of rapid language acquisition

５つの法則

Principle 1: Focus on the language content that is relevant to you.

自分に関係性のある内容に集中

The formula is this:

Attention = Meaning = Relevance = Memory

注意力・意味・関連性・記憶

For example, imagine that you are walking in a forest and you see this...

In the picture, you see just a normal tree with some markings, but you probably won't pay attention to it.

You walk 50 meters from the tree and you see this...

By this time, you should be paying attention. Then, you walk another 50 meters and you see this...

So, Tree + footprint = bear (and now it got your attention)

The tree is relevant to the bear, so any information related to your survival is stuff you're going to pay attention, so you will remember it.

This is the same for language learning; information that helps achieve your "personal goals" has relevance, so you will remember it.

Principle 2: Use your new language as a tool to communicate from day 1

言語を最初の最初から 「コミュニケーションの道具」として使うこ

Tools: We master tools by using tools.

We can master tools the fastest when they are relevant.

In this case, the tool you use is English.

We can use English to communicate either in work, travel, other tasks without using your native language.

Use your new language as a tool to communicate from day 1

Once you start learning a new language, it's advisable to use it as soon or as frequent as possible because as the saying goes, - "If you don't use it, you will eventually lose it". Meaning that any skill not used or practiced regularly will be forgotten.

Principle 3: When you first understand the MESSAGE, you will unconsciously ACQUIRE the language

｢伝達内容を 前もって理解していれば言語は無意識のうちに身に付く｣ ということです。

This is called "Comprehensible input approach" (インプット仮説), which has been thoroughly researched in the past.

Focus on understanding and not the details in grammar, and not accumulating a lot of vocabulary. "Physiological training" is key.

For beginner students of English, the reason why it's difficult for them to understand the language is that they have this filter in their brain which I call - "English deaf". Our brain filters in the sounds that we are familiar with, and filters out the sounds that we are not.

If you can't hear it, you can't understand it, and if can't understand it, you won't learn it.

When you first understand the MESSAGE, you will unconsciously ACQUIRE the language

Principle 4: Talking takes muscle...

話すという行為は 筋肉を使います

There are 43 muscles in our face and we have to coordinate those muscles in a way to make sounds and expressions that other people would understand.

When you do a new exercise, your body hurts because your body is adjusting to the new movements. But the more you do it, your body will adjust to it.

So when your face is hurting when doing English pronunciation practices, it actually means you're doing in right.

Talking takes muscle

Principle 5: Psyco-Physiological state matters

外国語を学ぶ時は 心理状態が重要ということです

If you're sad, angry, stressed...you are not going to learn.

If you're happy, relaxed, in an alpha brain state, and curious, you are going learn English quickly.

A very important idea is...you must tolerate "ambiguity".

If you're the type of person who tries to understand 100% of what you're hearing, you will go crazy and be incredibly confused all the time because we are not perfect.

If you're comfortable of understanding some information little by little, relaxed, you will learn English quickly.

Psyco-Physiological state matters

The Seven Actions to take

7 つの実践

Action 1: Listen a lot! - "Brain soaking"

たくさん聞くこと｢脳を浸せ｣

• Put yourself in a situation where you listen to tons of English and it doesn't matter if you understand or not. Let your brain absorb the words "unconsciously".

• Listen to the rhythms and patterns that repeat, and words or sounds that stand out.

Action 2: Get the meaning first before the words

言葉より先に意味を知ること

• Use and observe the speaker's body language

• Human communication is mostly body language

• Use patterns you already know

Action 3: Start mixing words

単語を組み合わせること

• Using 10 verbs x 10 nouns x 10 adjectives = 1000 possible phrases

• Language is a "creative process" do like babies do.

• Get creative and start mixing, it doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to work.

Action 4: Focus on the core words

核の部分に集中すること

• Master the most commonly used language

• In English, if you know the 3000 most commonly used words, you know the language.

• Week 1 - Say in English the phrases that you usually use in your language.

• Week 2 - Use pronouns, common verbs, adjectives, nouns, etc (simple words)

• Week 3 & 4 - Use "glue words" or connecting words like conjunctions and preposition. Once you can connect groups of words, you are already talking.

Action 5: Get a language parent

｢外国語の親｣を 見つけておいて

• Someone who is fluent in the language and who will do their best to understand what you mean; who will not correct your mistakes all the time (case by case); who will feedback their understanding of what you’re saying using correct language, and uses words that you know.

Action 6: Copy the face

顔の動かし方を真似ることです

• Watch native speakers and observe their face particularly how their mouths move when they’re speaking.

Action 7: “Direct connection” to the target language

頭の中のイメージを使って理解しよう

• Find ways to connect words directly with images and other internal representations. Don't rely on always translating from your native language to English, it won't work!

So these are the things that I have learned and incorporated in our English Exposure Program. Students will be able to apply the language in "day 1" with the use of tasks. And since relevance is important, our program is completely "customizable" and that we focus on the students' interests.

In Richmond Language Academy, you will be able to learn English, practice English, and apply English in your life!