English Lesson 6: How to Learn English at Home

  • Pretend you already speak English.
  • Learning language is not about information. It is about lack of information. Your brain has to want to learn. You are training your brain. Your brain has to be hungry for the knowledge.
    • Watch television and movies you do not understand, and try to understand using only English. Use English subtitles, not your native language.
    • Find English music you like and watch the lyrics videos on YouTube.
    • Read books in English.
    • Use an English-only dictionary.
    • Your notebook should be English-only. No translation allowed. Find a way! Draw pictures, write words next to each other, or write entire English phrases to remember the definitions of words you are writing. It is easier to remember five words together than one by itself.
    • Speak with friends. Who do you know who also wants to learn English? Watch the same movies, listen to the same songs, read the same books, and talk about them in English.
    • We hear that babies learn languages rapidly. We assume it is easy for a baby to learn his language. It’s not easy even for a baby! The baby has to be hungry, he cries, he’s lonely for company, he’s embarrassed sometimes and frustrated… and therefore the baby’s brain finds a way to learn the language! Challenge your brain, and it will learn for you.

Great English Sources

Translating

  • You will have to translate some to get the meaning sometimes. This is how to do that.
  • Once you translate, repeat in English until you feel the meaning in English. Translating is necessary sometimes, but bad. Translating satisfies your brain too easily and you want a hungry brain.