Learning a language is like learning an instrument. It is an art. When learning a language, you don't just learn how to speak, write, and read. You also learn about the culture of the native speakers, and only then will you truly understand the beauty of it. I studied English for many years before I came to America, but I only started to fully absorb the beauty of English. In this article, I will share my experience and my tips on how I get to where I am today with English.
There is one thing you have to remember before reading this article: My methods are designed specifically for me. I have been using them for years, and they work for me; However, I cannot guarantee that they will work for you, or that you will like them. If there's one thing you can get out of this article, it is that you have to figure out what works best for you.
1. Get the grammar and vocabulary down as soon as you can.
We all know that the first thing in learning a foreign language is to understand the grammar structure and learn as many words as possible. Back home in Vietnam, English is compulsory in our curriculum. Before I moved to the U.S., I had already been taught English for 10 years, plus hours of extra English classes outside of school. That's pretty much the way people learn foreign languages in Vietnam: really hitting those books. That helps a lot with reading materials in English and writing essays, reports, research papers, etc. So how do you learn more words? Books, movies, TV shows, and video games in that language are really helpful tools. I actually learned a lot of English words in video games.
2. Improve your speaking and listening skills.
The one problem I found among international students is that a lot of us do not have good communication skills, and we have a really thick accent. I, however -- according to my American friends -- only have a slight accent.
As I was growing up, like a lot of other kids, I spent a lot of time watching Disney Channel, Star Movies, HBO, Discovery, and playing a lot of video games in English. I turned these programs into helpful English learning tools by just listening and repeating the dialogues, reading out loud any text, and looking up new words. By doing that, I was able to understand what was going on in my video games in order to pass the missions, and practice my English.
Ever since I moved to America, I've been making as many friends as possible, especially native English-speaking friends. They speak perfect English and I benefit a lot from just communicating with them on a day-to-day basis. After some time spent in America, I can speak fluent English with a minimal accent, I can understand and develop a sense of humor in an American way. The best thing is I can be in a conversation and totally aware of what's going on and contribute to it, which I think is the most satisfaction you can get when learning a language.
3. Practice makes perfect.
Learning a language is the same as learning an instrument. What makes a guitarist a good guitarist? The answer is time. A person who has just recently picked up a guitar can't ever be as good as one who has been playing for five years. The same goes for learning a language, spend time on it and let it marinate. My methods only work after years and years of practice, and yours will, too. Start today.
