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Master
English
At Home
by Mr. Vig
Next, they go out into the real world and discover they need a higher
level of English.
And I’m glad you decided to take responsibility for your success
(many students say their bad English is because of bad teachers).
And I’m glad you’re trying something new (many students continue
with schools and rules for years and years)
Like an athlete who trains his muscles, you will train the four
muscles needed for English.
Your eyes.
Your ears.
Your mouth.
Your memory.
Train these English muscles every day and your English will improve
every day.
Simple.
Let’s begin.
-Mr. Vig
This guide and these methods are for the intermediate and advanced
student.
But if you need help, here are the most frequently used words in
English.
Learn them first, then come back, and understanding this guide will
be much easier.
Ear Training
"We had English class in school, but I never paid attention. All my
English is from 'Full House' and 'Family Matters.' “4
Reut Nistel
From: Israel
“It all started with television. When I was younger, we had cable, but
without Spanish subtitles. If you wanted to see television in English,
like cartoons, you had to watch time in English without any subtitles.
That was very helpful. I was going to class, but that wasn’t enough,
just hearing a teacher telling me how to speak English. Putting my
brain to practice, trying to understand Superman and Flash Gordon,
that was when I really started to understand English.”
-Fernando Lebrija
director, #REALITYHIGH
From: Mexico
-Stephen Krashen
Professor of Linguistics, University of Southern California
author and co-author of 11 books on learning language
He walked into the jungle and spent several months living with the
Vaupes Indians.
Because the Vaupes are probably the world’s best language learners.
And these are not similar languages. These languages are very
different from each other, like English is different from Chinese.
They don’t go to school, they don’t have lessons, and the don’t study
rules.
When they learn a new language, they listen to the language for about
two years before they try to speak their first words.
(There are also very few students who become fluent in school.)
1. interesting.
2. easy
3. daily
Why interesting?
The English in a TV show you love and the English in a TV show you
hate are the same. So why not choose the show you love?
Why easy?
I say, if there are a lot of words you don’t understand, but you
understand enough to follow the story, and it’s still interesting for
you, that’s fine.
And TV is better than films. The reason is, once you find a TV show
you like, you’ve found hours and hours of English. But a movie is over
quickly, then you’ve got to start the search again.
Plus, drama TV shows like Lost and Downton Abbey use a story
formula that makes you want to watch more and more. They’re
naturally addictive.
Subtitles or no subtitles?
Both are fine.
Eye Training
-Lukas Liebich
soft-skills trainer at Merck
lukasliebich.com
From: Czech Republic
Basically all books (99%) that I read are in English. I have a kindle
paperwhite reader, which I read every night in bed before I go to
sleep. Sometimes when I feel like it I will read in the morning too. On
weekends I read a little bit here and there.
Pavel Čučka
co-founder, Thrill Park Prague
From: Czech Republic
Read books. Read blogs. Read the news. Read comic books. Read
magazines.
Two groups
Research #2
Two groups.
Two groups.
After several months, both groups were tested on their grammar and
vocabulary.
I usually know the word. But it’s difficult to explain it; I haven’t
memorized the definition.
That’s normal.
Look at some news headlines in your language and see if you can
explain the words in the headline.
It’s a challenge.
If you can’t do that in your native language, why should you be able to
do it in English?.
But when you read, you’re learning words the natural way — in
context.
You read a sentence like, Getting enough sleep can be beneficial for
learning.
The word “beneficial” may be knew for you, but you now have a feeling
for the word. You know it’s positive.
And after you read it a few more times, you’ll remember it and
probably be able to use it in a sentence when you speak.
And just like a native speakers, you won’t know the definition, but
you’ll have a feel for the word.
Of course, this also happens when you listen and have a conversation,
but there are two unique aspects of reading which make it the most
beneficial thing you can do for your vocabulary and grammar: you
control the speed and you can see the word.
Another advantage that reading has over listening is that it’s easier
to find easy material.
You probably won’t find Winnie the Pooh very exciting, but there are
lots of books for teenagers about romance, vampires, wizards and
war.
But be careful.
Once you start using one, it’s easy to want to look up every new word.
Then, when you start doing that, the story goes very slowly, it
becomes work, you get bored, and you decide cleaning the bathroom
would be more fun.
And remember, you won’t remember words you find in the dictionary
anyway. If a word is important, you’ll see it again and again. And
when you see a word used in context over and over again, you
eventually start to get a feel for its meaning. And that’s what you
want — not the definition.
Mouth Training
-Heinrich Schliemann
archaeologist who spoke 14 languages
From: Germany
-Lukas Liebich
soft-skills trainer at Merck
lukasliebich.com
From: Czech Republic
“I started learning English in primary school. But it was regular
classes. Not so productive. I was forced to do it. And whenever you
force people to do something you don’t get any real benefit out of it.
The turning point was when I went to the UK for a summer job.
Because for me the best way to learn is to learn it in context. Not to
study. You learn the language when you put yourself out of your
comfort zone and when you speak even if it’s with mistakes.”
-Tomasz Palak
business manager at UniCredit Bank in Vienna, Austria
From: Poland
It’s great if you have friends who are native speakers, but if you don’t,
a teacher may even be better.
When you make a promise to yourself to “get out more and meet
people.” Well, you’re going to be tired some nights and stay home.
If you’ve ever hired a personal trainer for the gym or used a workout
partner, you already know the advantage of having someone waiting
for you.
Plus, teachers are patient. They speak slowly and clearly. And they
help you when you don’t understand.
He needed a teacher.
If you live in Prague, you can find a teacher to meet you in-person in
your home.
If you don’t live in Prague, look for the teachers who offer online
lessons, or do a search for “offers online lessons.”
But this is like shooting in the dark: how do you know if you hit the
target?
But when you don’t have anyone to speak with, this is good practice,
like a boxer who trains alone by hitting a bag.
Also, shadowing, can make you comfortable with how words are used
and with grammatical structures. When you repeat sentences over
and over again, it’s like you burn the memory into your brain.
Repeat the sentences loudly and clearly. It’s like what a coach tells an
athlete, how you practice is how you perform.
2. Move
If you can’t go outside, jump up and down or dance for a minute before
you shadow and then move your arms and body when you speak.
And remember…
1. interesting.
2. easy
3. daily
Interesting…
This means, if you get a teacher, you don’t talk about grammar!
If you like to garden, you find a teacher who gardens and you talk
about gardening.
And if you don’t like shadowing, then don’t do it. Some people love
this exercise, others don’t. It’s optional. But loving everything you do
in English is mandatory!
Easy…
For shadowing, this means reading the text while you listen and
repeat.
Daily…
You may not have the money to pay for daily lessons, but do your
best.
However, if you need English for a better job, and if better English will
make you more money, then paying a teacher is not a cost, it’s an
investment. You will get the money back.
And to learn faster in each lesson and to get the maximum value out
of your teacher, I can recommend my guide, English Lessons on
Steroids.
Memory Training
-Heinrich Schliemann, founder of Troy who spoke 14 languages, describing in his book
Troy and Its Remains how it’s possible to improve your memory as an adult
What do I do?
Get a notebook.
Then, when you see or hear a word you’d like to remember and use,
write it down.
Here’s how:
Then, you cover the right side of the page and try to remember the
word.
When you quiz, or test, yourself your brain is working harder than it
is when you’re just looking at a page, which is what people do when
they study.
Forgetting is normal.
Basically, it’s quizzing + quizzing for many days + quizzing for many
days with longer and longer gaps between quizzes.
But if you quiz yourself just before you start to forget a word, it makes
the memory of the word stronger. Do this several time over a month
or more until you feel you have the word locked in.
“When my English was not that good I went to Australia and I was
completely afraid of talking to people. I met a few really good-looking
Australian girls and I couldn’t even talk to them. I was pretty
insecure to speak in English, unless I had a few tequilas in me. Now, I
don’t care about my accent. I have completely different confidence.
I can go to any meeting in English. I can talk to any girl in English. I
can get any movie I want in English. My life changed because my
world is international.”
-Fernando Lebrija
director, #REALITYHIGH
From: Mexico
Monika Soukup
executive producer at Milk and Honey Films
From: Czech Republic
But I have been on TV. Although I was in a crowd and you can’t really
tell it’s me.
Check it out. And when you join I’ll send you some free stuff.
Cheers,
-Ryan Viguerie (also known as Mr. Vig)
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