What's your English learning strategy?

By Adam Borowski

I'm not going to write the perfect strategy for you. That would be naive and presumptuous, because you ― as a reader ― have a unique background that I can't possibly know anything about. Let's try the Socratic Method. You're going to come up with an optimal English learning strategy on your own ― by answering the questions below.

1. Do you have a linguistic role model?

Exams aren't always enough to measure your language learning progress. It's a good strategy to find a linguistic role model. It can be anyone ― a teacher, a politician, a family member. That way, you'll be able to measure your progress in a tangible manner. There's no “fake it till you make it'' in mastering English ― or any language, for that matter.

2. Do you have to unlearn bad linguistic habits?

Parents and teachers want us to succeed in life. Unfortunately, the way we're taught English at school can cause bad linguistic habits. If your English is poor, then you probably have all sorts of bad linguistic habits impeding your progress. You'll need to unlearn them. Come up with a new strategy, which will help you identify ― and hopefully unlearn ― the old habits. It will take time. Old habits die hard.

3. Can people understand you?

It's likely a particular variety of English has been the dominant one in your learning process. It doesn't matter what kind of English variety it is ― as long as people from diverse backgrounds can understand you. If strangers can't understand you, then it's a signal your English learning strategy needs work. Record your voice and ask a native speaker to comment on the recording.

4. Do you care what others think about your English?

Everyone has an opinion about everything these days. Developing a sense of who is worth listening to is crucial. You will quickly learn to ignore the majority of opinions. Don't waste your time on theorists and armchair philosophers, who can barely string a sentence together in a foreign language, and their only contribution is a penchant for pontificating.

5. What's your area of expertise?

General English isn't enough. Constantly expand your vocabulary by focusing on topics you find relevant. Energy flows, where attention goes. Conversely, you could be a highly trained professional, who knows all sorts of scientific terminology, and yet you find it difficult to order a meal in a restaurant. Resting on your laurels, because you're fluent in general English isn't enough in the competitive world.

6. Is linguistic envy eating you alive?

Being devoured by envy, just because someone speaks better English than you is a self-defeating strategy. It's easy to cultivate envy. An expedient ― if not Machiavellian ― strategy would be to imitate people who are better English speakers than you, interacting with them in English as much as possible, making mental notes. Envy pointlessly drains your energy.

7. Have you answered the questions truthfully?

You must answer these questions truthfully. If your answers aren't realistic, then your English language learning strategy will reflect that, leaving you with only one option to become fluent in English ― waving a magic wand. Good luck finding the wand.

Adam Borowski (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) is a technical Polish-English translator, and a business English teacher.