I am a native English speaker. I was born in England. So, why am I writing about "how I learned English"? The reason is this: if you want to learn a language well, you have to imagine yourself living and growing up with the language, just as a child does.
How can you do this? Well, here are a few ideas for you to try.
1. Do not translate everything every time. Once you know what a word or phrase means, stop translating it in our mind before you use it. This leads into the second point:2. Try to think in English --- not just in the classroom or when you are reading your English textbook, but as often as you can. Waiting for the bus, in the office, eating your lunch, walking down the street. These are all times you can start to think in English. What are you looking at? What are you doing? Where are you going? Get into this habit of having English words and thoughts inside your head.
3. Try to come into contact with as much English as possible. Try to read a little every day. The higher your level, the more you should read. The same applies for writing. If your writing ability is poor, copy something that you have read. Listen to ICRT. Even though you might think you don't understand, it's still good practice for your ear; your brain is still absorbing all those English sounds.
4. Before you go to sleep, read a page or two of your English textbook. This must be the last thing that you do, so that as you go to sleep, your mind is full of English words which will be absorbed into your subconscious.
These four points are parts of the learning technique known as "total immersion." This is how the child learns English, by growing with it, surrounded by it all the time, every day, and absorbing it into his conscious and subconscious minds. This is the most effective way to learn a language.
I was for two years the director of the oldest established language school in Taipei and now I have my own company that counsels students on studying in England, the home of the English language and one of the centers of world education. Believe me, I have seen students struggling in the classroom, trying to say words and sentences, unable to communicate because they are still thinking in Chinese. Mentally they can't imagine themselves in an English-speaking environment. If only they would try "total immersion" they would improve much more quickly. It is hard at first.
However, look on it as a game and it is quite a lot of fun. After a few days it starts to become a habit, then it begins to work. Ultimately when you have the chance you must try to go to England and study English there. That is real total immersion. Not only is England the home of the English language, it is at the forefront of the language teaching world, a great place to live in and the gateway to the rich cultural diversity of Europe!
So, I hope that this has been a help to you. Remember "total immersion" --- that's the way I learned English, and it's the way you should too.
Content by Helen E. Weleh
From: China Post July 23, 1985
Edit by Peida Wu