Blog

I know you are probably rolling your eyes at me now. At least, that’s what my students are doing in my class when I tell them to do some self-study (if not directly at me, then for sure behind my back!). You’ve heard it so many times before… The thing is that your time in class is only a fraction of the whole amount you spend learning. Imagine: a typical class lasts what – 60 minutes? 90 minutes? This only gives you a chance to ask your teacher for clarification of what you already have studied and perhaps don’t get yet. In all the other precious time of your day, there are so many minutes that you can spend learning, even if you don’t think you’re learning. Think watching Netflix with the English subtitles. Even if your spouse tells you that with them on, he feels he doesn’t need the sound anymore, it is still worth it. Chances are that you will always encounter a new word you have never heard before (encounter=meet). Still worth it! I started learning English because I fell absolutely and madly in love with a British band called Depeche Mode. I was 12 and I wanted to know what they sang about. No internet then, limited access to English lessons (that’s how old I am). What I mean is, find something that you genuinely (=truly) like so that it doesn’t feel like learning. Cooking recipes on YouTube, following your favourite English-speaking Instagram account, even setting the language of your phone to English – all of this (or even one thing) helps immensely (=a lot). One step at a time.