
Today’s English learning secret is all about “Immersion” (click here for 한국어)
IMMERSION
There are only two parts to learning English. If you can master both these parts you will become a fantastic English speaker, speaking naturally and fluently. Sadly, most students of English only learn the first part and then wonder why they are not improving.
Learning English is very much like learning to drive a car. The first step is to learn the theory and pass the driving test. Once you pass the driving test, then you start to REALLY learn how to drive, how to react to different driving circumstances and how to drive in heavy rain, snow and ice.
The same applies to learning English. The first part is learning the grammatical and structural rules, and in Korea, as in most countries you do this in school. Once you have learnt the basic rules, as in learning to drive, then you need to start learning REAL English.
How do you do this? Now here’s the difficult part. TO really take yourself in to the next level you have to immerse yourself in English, you have to surround yourself with English and you have to USE English in an everyday situation.
I know this part is difficult, but remember you do not spent 24 hours a day driving, sometimes you might not drive at all, and that is the same with English, you do not have to immerse yourself in English 24 hours a day, but you do need to look at the news in English whether it is by newspapers or TV / radio, you do need to read English magazines and books, watch English movies and TV shows and practice speaking whenever you get a chance.
So there you go guys, to really take your English to the next level and to stop feeling like you are not improving your English, you need to immerse yourself in English and actually use it in an everyday situation. Get yourself an English pen pal, when your teacher tells you he or she is happy to receive your emails, write to them, don’t be afraid and DON’T be lazy - DO IT.
Take every opportunity to use the English you learn regularly, because this really is the only way you can improve your English.