5 tips to learn English in 2023
It’s a new year, and it’s a time when many people make their first, or fiftieth, attempt at learning English.
In reality, learning a language is simple, but not easy. It’s simple because if you continue to practice, you will get better. But it’s not easy because it takes lots of time, motivation, and consistency.
I want to help you succeed this year, so here are my top 5 tips for successful language learning.
1. Know what you want
It’s very difficult to achieve an objective if you don’t know exactly what that objective is. Follow this simple idea:
You get good at what you practice.
So if you’re interested in becoming a grammar expert then you should spend 100% of your time studying grammar. But don’t expect to be able to have a conversation, because grammar is only a tiny part of conversation. Make sure that you focus your time and energy on building skills that are useful for you.
2. Choose your teacher carefully
It’s 100% possible to learn a language on your own. Millions of people do it every day. But a good teacher makes the process faster and easier. A good teacher is well-qualified, experienced, and treats you like an individual.
Do not choose a teacher because of where they were born. Being a native speaker of English does not make you a good teacher.
3. Have realistic expectations
A lot of learners will give up very quickly because they have unrealistic ideas about learning English. Unfortunately, this is mostly caused by false marketing promises, for example:
- You will learn English in 3 months!
- You will sound like a native speaker!
- You will learn 10x faster with my system!
You should stay away from people who make these promises. Learning a language is probably one of the hardest things that an adult can do, and you should not expect results if you study for 5 minutes a day. Your results will match your effort.
4. Have patience
Learning a language is a lot like getting fit. It takes time to show results, and if you stop, the results disappear pretty quickly. But once you do see results, it’s totally addictive!
Research has shown that it takes around 30 years to reach peak fluency, so don’t feel bad and give up when things move slowly. Learning a language is the work of a lifetime.
5. Measure your progress correctly
The best way to check the progress of your English is to ask yourself:
“Can I do things I want to do in English that I couldn’t do before?”
If the answer is yes, congratulations! You are succeeding! You don’t need to pay for an exam or get a level like A1 or B2. The way you measure progress should reflect your personal objectives and how successfully you communicate in the real world.
Learning and using a new language is a life-changing gift, one that money can’t buy. But with practice and patience, it can be yours in 2023. That’s what I wish for you.