Let’s admit it, learning a new language is exciting but it can also be very challenging. Most of the time we try to memorize a lot of words, but sometimes it’s trickier to use them in actual conversation or writing. 

There’s an easier way to help us learn English! Here are three simple hacks to learn English better (which could also help you in your I Speak Better classes!). 

LISTEN A LOT 

Now, you may be thinking that it may seem intimidating to listen to a language you don’t understand. 

According to Chris Lonsdale’s TEDx video, how to learn any language in six months, people’s brains are often taught to eliminate unfamiliar language sounds they don’t understand, and because their brains refuse to hear these sounds, people tend to not learn it. And so, he suggests that for people to actually learn a foreign language better, they have to listen A LOT.

He calls this process brain soaking. It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand what you’re listening to. The whole point of it is familiarizing yourself with the sounds, rhythms, patterns and things that stand out (Lonsdale, 2013). This will help your brain to actually hear these unfamiliar language sounds and let them enter your brain so you can learn it. Soon enough, you’ll find the language more familiar the more you listen to it!

GO FOR THE LEXICAL APPROACH

Rather than memorizing your English vocabulary word per word, Michael Lewis introduces the concept of lexical approach – organizing your vocabulary words into chunks or simply word combinations. The idea is to recognize groups of words that are commonly used or stated together in order to better remember them. 

For example: 

Brush your teeth | Generous donation | Commit a crime 

BE AS CREATIVE AS YOU WANT 

This may be the most important learning hack we could ever suggest. 

Learning English could sometimes be challenging and so, you have to find creative ways that would help you appreciate the learning process better. For example, if you like music, you could probably listen to some songs in English or if you prefer watching movies, select films where the actors speak in English.

Doing these things could help you not only learn English but also have fun while learning. 

Sources: 

How to learn any language in six months by Chris Lonsdale via https://ed.ted.com/on/GOA9dfE2

Why has the lexical approach been so long in coming? by Leo Selivan via https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/mar/26/leixical-approach-revolution

What Is the Lexical Approach? by Richard Nordquist via https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-lexical-approach-1691113