It is a West Germanic language that was first spoken in early medieval England and is now a global lingua franca1;Something of, from, or related to the country ofEngland.2 Yes, you think it right. That is no other than the one and only universal language, English.
This is basically one of the major subjects all Filipino students have to take during their twelve years of schooling. However, it is a mere fact that only a number of learners get to master and make use of this very much precious and widely-used language. The thing is, there is a lot of effective ways to learn and acquire the BasicEnglish skills. As an ESL teacher, let me share with you some of them.
First things first, prepare yourself. Nothing beats good preparation and the very first thing that you should ever prepare is no other than yourself! Be ready to make a couple of mistakes here and there, right then and now. You got to have the correct mind setting which has positivism and motivation. Sometimes you will think that it is going to be hard, (yes, which is really true) but that is just normal, you know. All other ELL (English Language Learners) are aware of that that because they have been there. (Trust me! They know “the feels”….) there is nothing wrong with making mistakes and errors for this journey, so it is okay to tell yourself “it’s Okay!”
Next, after preparation there goes immersion! By this I mean that you should surround yourself with a lot of English. If you can afford, go get yourself a plane ticket, go reach for your dreams and fly to America! On the other hand, if you cannot, well … immersion can also mean English books, English stories, English newspapers and magazines, with a bunch of English movies. Learning another language will be easier if you will immerse yourself to it—Just like getting yourself soaking wet in the rain when it pours. Don’t merely stand there and do nothing. You have to do something, of course. Reading is one of the keys to be able to bear the fight. A good, patient reader has a lot of advantage in this. How will you learn new vocabulary and cool complex words if you will not have the reading enthusiasm? Go and watch English movies with subtitles. If it happens that you encountered a new word, get yourself Mr. Webster and give focus to it. Listening to English songs can be useful, too. We all have this tendency to like and fall in love with music so why not take this as an opportunity? Listening to English songs can give you the chance to copy and imitate the way natives speak. (That’s how I got mine. One grateful music lover here!) I won’t be sure how it is going to affect you but I have to tell that it is somehow helpful for non-natives like you. (And me!)
Also, one tip that you must do if you really wanted to learn English so badly, is to USE it. I know that it is easily said that done. But it is an inevitable thing. You have to practice speaking. Actually, one must speak a lot to be able to master it. That is why the first tip is important. A lot of students fail to speak English fluently simply because they are scared to speak in the first place. Many students feel shy to practice, thinking about theembarrassmentfrom the possible errors and mistakes they can commit. You have to get out of that thinking if you wanted to learn. In China and other countries, they even attend online English classes to practice their speaking skills. This highlights the point and importance of honing and practicing your fluency. Find anyone whom you can speak English with. I’m pretty sure there will be someone to help you out.
Bear in mind, that in language learning, what you do before, during and after is really important. Consistency is another thing that you should possess. Have fun on your journey. Enjoy learning English because it is truly a very amazing thing. Go pave your way and good luck!
By: Ms. Mary Car T. Gaor | Teacher I | Jose C. Payumo Jr. Memorial High School | Dinalupihan, Bataan
