7 posts tagged “learn english”

The Mac is a great computer and Apple in general is fantastic-- which is why I always recommend that our members get Apple's iTunes program to manage their English learning mp3 files.  iTunes works on both Macs and Windows and is super-easy to use.

I've always been astounded by the number of questions we get from Windows users-- who have trouble just opening a zip file and finding and organizing their mp3 files. 

With a Mac, all of this happens automatically.  So if you are considering a new computer and will be using it to learn English, I highly recommend a Mac!   If you already have a Windows computer, at least get iTunes (free download at www.apple.com/itunes ) to make your life easier!

And read more about English learning on our official homepage!  Learn English Mac is one of our recent topics which you can read more about.

Ive run a couple of surveys on the Club site recently, and members have also posted feedback regularly on the Forums.   Here is a short summary of the trends I've noticed:

1.  The POV Mini-Stories are a HUGE hit.  In fact, the new POV stories already seem to be the most popular lesson with members.  I suppose this shouldn't be surprising.  The POV stories allow members to practice and use the most common conversational grammar forms-- without studying grammar in any way.  You learn how and when to use these grammar forms... but you never study grammar rules and you certainly never worry about terms like "present perfect", etc.  

Of course, due to this feedback, I will continue doing POV lessons for all lesson bundles.   I will also continuing doing the basic TPR Mini-Stories-- which focus more on vocabulary, but still teach grammar intuitively and naturally as well.

2.  The new movie lessons are a hit.   The movie lessons have also proven to be popular.  In the movie lesson, I take a scene from a popular movie and then base a series of lessons around it (including a TPR Mini-Story & POV Story lesson).   Our first movie is the romantic-comedy "Hitch", starring Will Smith.

3.  Keep the Vocabulary Discussions.  One concern I had was with the vocabulary discussions.  To be honest, I worried they were a bit dry and boring compared to the other lesson types.  I considered eliminating them.  But members have unanimously asked me to keep them-- saying they are easy and helpful.  So, I'll keep doing them ;)

4. Layout.  Navigation and homepage layout have been a problem for a while-- the source of many complaints, in fact.  These have now been completely changed and the new layout seems much more popular.  Members can now easily access all lessons from the home page.  Also, lessons are now grouped by lesson title instead of lesson type.  In other words, on the homepage you click a lesson title (ex. "Hitch Intro", "Censorship") and that links to all the lesson types for that subject (ex. "Censorship Text", "Censorship Mini-Story", "Censorship POV", "Censorship Audio Article", "Censorship Commentary", "Censorship Vocab").

5. Audio Quality.  This was a problem in the beginning, but I've finally found a new microphone that is working very well.   Audio is now very clear and strong.

Remaining Issues

Members also had a few more suggestions and issues:

1. Forums-- Forum participation is still anemic.  Writing is the final step in the Effortless English system, but many members say they are too shy to write because they fear they will make many mistakes.  Of course I say, "Its fine to make mistakes"... but I know that isn't enough to reassure learners.

So I'm still thinking about ways to improve the Forums.  One idea I will try is to add lighter Forum topics.  Right now they are fairly serious-- especially ones related to the lessons.   I'll try adding topics such as "Movies", "Music", "Book Club", etc. and see if this encourages more participation.

2. More Memberships.  Lots of people have complained that I'm still in Beta Mode and am still limiting membership each month.   My only answer is "please be patient :)"     I don't want to fully launch the site (with totally open membership) until it is "ready".  By ready I mean:    a) The site has a library of at least 50 complete lesson bundles (each "bundle" contains:  Text Article, Vocab Discussion, TPRS Mini-Story, POV Mini-Story, Audio Article, and Commentary),  b) audio is upgraded further (I'm still researching even higher quality microphones and recording equipment), c) the Forums are active and energetic, d) our Street Team is organized and energized, and e) I've got a wider variety of lesson topics.  

Once these goals are met, I will end "Beta Mode" and will open membership more fully.  Until then, the best way to hear about periodic membership openings is to subscribe to the free Effortless English Newsletter-- to subscribe go to: www.effortlessenglish.org

So that's where things stand with The Effortless English Club.  HUGE thanks to the amazing members who have helped build the site.  Its only been a few months, but we have made big progress.   I'm having a fantastic time working with you all- and look forward to growing and improving more in the near future.

Take care!

I've been reading the business book "Good To Great" this week and it is very interesting.  The book talks about companies that used to be merely good, but at some point made a transition to greatness.  This being a corporate business book, the author's definition of "great" is, unfortunately, rather limited--  he defines "great" as powerfully outperforming the general stock market..... meaning these great companies had profits and stock gains far greater than competitors and the general stock market.

That's a nice little benefit for stockholders I suppose, but hardly what I would call "great". 

However,  the defining characteristics of these companies were quite interesting... and applicable to all kinds of organization greatness-- including greatness in schools.  I couldn't help but think of schools I've worked at as I read the book.   The difference between the management of those schools-- and that of the great companies-- is stark and huge.

One of the most important and most interesting things all the great companies did is that they strictly followed a policy of "First Who...".  

First Who means that the companies were MOST concerned with getting great people, not with creating a great vision or plan or system of control.  These companies realized that if they recruited and collected great talent, they wouldn't need to worry about motivation, control, innovation, and incentives....   because great people motivate themselves and are automatic innovators. 

Another interesting point-- these companies delayed strategic planning until they had gathered a large group of extremely talented people-- then they let those people make the plans, adapt to change, and innovate.  

By contrast, the non-great companies they studied did the opposite.  These so-so organizations focused first on creating plans, regulations, rules, and ways of controlling employees.  First they made a plan, then they tried to hire people to implement the plan.  Turns out this is a recipe for mediocrity.

What's the lesson for schools?  Well, its exactly the same--    first and foremost, focus obsessively on getting and keeping outstanding teachers.   Scour your area for the absolute best teachers.   Recruit them from other schools or other fields. 

Once you get them, do everything possible to keep them.   Likewise, once you've assembled that kind of talent, don't squash them with controls-- rather, turn them loose.   This is the kind of approach you see at places like Apple Computer, Gore Associates, etc.    But its an approach you almost never see in education.  In fact, I've never seen a school run this way.

Even more than large corporations, schools are places that love control, rules, and bureaucracy.  So much so that the term "innovative school" is almost an oxymoron.  Schools, as we all know, are the graveyards of innovation.

In the end, this is the core reason I started Effortless English.  I realized that I would never find a school that was great-- and I knew I lacked the money to build one myself.   I also realized that most students have very negative feelings and memories about schools-- and this makes it very difficult for even a progressive school to succeed.

In the end, I realized that schools, in fact, are not necessary for learning English... and in many ways they are very harmful.  

With the internet, we no longer need mediocre schools.   Students don't need them.  And teachers don't need them. 

We can now build powerful, positive, egalitarian international learning communities.   By doing so, we will teach and learn more effectively, more quickly, and more enjoyably.

Which brings me back to the initial point of this post.   In the end, what will make Effortless English great is not me or the lessons--  it will be the many GREAT members who share their passion, enthusiasm, and creativity.   I have already discovered the secret to making Effortless English truly great--  I only need to focus on getting great members.  So far, we've off to a great start!

Starting with our next lesson bundle, I will be adding a new lesson to Effortless English (for members).   I'm calling this lesson the "Mini-Story POV".  POV stands for "Point Of View".

In this lesson, I will use the same story I tell in the regular Mini-Story lesson.  However, I will retell this story using 2-3 different points of view.  Mostly I will focus on the major conversational verb tenses used everyday in English.  Of course, I will not discuss grammar terms or give a grammar lecture.  I will simply change the time reference of the story and use the appropriate verb and phrase forms. 

For example, if the original story is told in the present (happening more or less now)... I might retell the story with the following time introductions:

Ten years ago.....
Since 2003....
For 3 years now....
In the year 2015....

By listening to the different version, members will get an intuitive understanding of different points of view in English, and how to change the language for each one.   In this way, members effortlessly "learn grammar" without studying grammar or analyzing it in any way.  With time, members will internalize these points of view and will be able to use them effortlessly-- without thinking. 

After over 10 years of teaching English, its now very easy for me to predict which students will succeed and do well with English, and which will not.  Of course, most will not.

What's the problem?  The problem is that most students are stuck in a cycle of frustration.  The definition of "frustration" is wanting something but being unable to get it.  The problem, in other words, is not an educational problem.  The problem is emotional. 

Most students want to learn English and use it effortlessly.  They want to chat easily.  They want to easily understand native speakers, understand English language articles and books, and understand speeches and movies.  They want to use English without struggling.  But most learners never reach these goals.  As time goes by, they become more and more frustrated.  They think, "I've been studying English for 5 years, why can't I use it yet?"   

Most answer that question in the wrong way.  They think, "I just need another year of study" or...  "I just need to learn more grammar" or.... "I just need to memorize more vocabulary".   So they keep struggling for another year.  And at the end of that year, they are still frustrated.  They ask the same question again.. and again give the same answers.  And so the cycle continues.

The problem is, these students have been using the wrong methods from the beginning-- methods that increase their frustrations and negative feelings about the language.  Where did they learn how to study English?  Most learned in middle school or high school-- from teachers who had no idea how to teach.    As children, the learners were taught to respect these people-- but the truth is that most English teachers have no idea how to teach the language. The success rate for most English schools is less than 5% (less than 5% reach conversational fluency).   These teachers don't know what they are doing, they just follow textbooks that their school gives them.

When learners leave school, they continue to use the same study methods used by their teachers-- because that's all they know.  But these methods are total failures. Over time, the negative emotions grow stronger and deeper.

It always amazes me that so many students hold on to failed methods.  In every class, I have very frustrated students who complain to me.  They complain that their English is bad-- after years of study.  They complain that their progress is slow.  They complain that they hate studying English.  They complain about artificial textbooks.

Yet when we actually use English in class- they look bored.  They don't want to read articles or books, discuss issues, or listen to podcasts and movies.  These students prefer to analyze English and debate tiny grammar points.  They can describe the past perfect progressive in detail, but they can't hold a 5 minute conversation with a native speaker. 

Unfortunately, many of these learners just can't seem to change their attitudes and beliefs.  They stick to the old methods, fail again... and then complain to me again. I can see their frustration growing, but there's nothing I can do.  Eventually I just laugh and ask, "I've already given you my advice, what do you want me to do?"  

These are the students that make teaching an unpleasant job at times.  But luckily, there is another group of students who make my job fun.  These students know the absolute secret to English success.

That secret is passion.   The most successful students are always the independent and passionate ones.  They are emotionally connected to the language.   They are excited about learning English.  They are filled with enthusiasm.  And they don't whine and cry and wait for a teacher to force them to learn.  The successful students are active learners.  They seek out authentic English--  conversation partners, TV shows, books, comics, movies, websites, magazines, essays, podcasts, CDs, etc. 

These learners don't analyze grammar.  Instead, they analyze their own study methods. They don't simply repeat the same boring methods they learned in school.  Instead, they try many different ways of learning.   They talk to people who have already succeeded and ask for advice.  They talk to professors and ask for advice.  And they listen to that advice and try the suggestions. 

In the first five minutes of a new class, I immediately know who the successful learners will be.  They are the ones who are sitting near the front, smiling, and listening intently.   They look curious and excited.  They are eager.  It doesn't matter what their level is,... they will always succeed in the end.

And the guaranteed failures?  They're the ones sitting near the back, with grim faces.  They're the ones who complain about English.  They are the ones who always have the super complicated grammar questions-- using grammar analysis to avoid the authentic language.  They are the ones who are focused on some test, rather than on people and cultures. 

So there it is.  If you want to succeed with English, you don't need talent.  You don't need great intelligence.  You don't need amazing willpower.  You don't need to analyze grammar.  You don't need a super memory.

All you need is a genuine passion for the language and the people who speak it.  Develop that, and everything else will happen automatically. 

Cultivate your passion for English, and you are guaranteed to succeed. 

As I slowly progress with Spanish, I continue to use an "over learning" approach.  By this I mean, I am focused on learning the basic fundamentals of the language very deeply before I worry about moving on to more advanced material.   I want the basics of the language to sink deep down into my unconscious brain.  To be honest, I'm not concerned with reading advanced material, such as Don Quixote or something similar, at this time.

One advantage of overlearning is that it gradually builds confidence.  I'm feeling much more confident with basic material now.  Last week I started trying to speak and I was surprised to find that I didn't feel so nervous after all.  

I thought about trying to forge ahead to more difficult material, but in truth I have in no way mastered the basics yet.  So instead I will keep repeating basic material.  Unlike some students, I find that I like a lot of repetition and do not get bored by it.  One reason is that I find new ways to use the same material.  For example, at first I'll read for understanding and new vocabulary.  Then I'll listen to it many times to gradually improve comprehension.   Then I'll pause & repeat difficult phrases until I can hear and understand every word.   Then I'll read the material quietly as I listen.  Then I'll read it out loud.  Then I'll pause and repeat sentences and focus on pronunciation.  Then I'll pause and repeat sentences and focus on speed and fluency.   

In this way, I get a lot of use out of the content.   At my level, I don't need tons of books, tapes, and movies.   I'm much more satisfied using a smaller amount of materials and going deep.

I realize that this approach may not be for everybody, but I do suggest giving it a try.  Perhaps for one week, you could try focusing on just one article.   Practice with it in numerous ways.   Try to completely absorb it, not just at a conscious level-- but at an instinctual unconscious level. 

Give it a try. 

Today I had a Skype discussion with Miwa, Hideko, and Serge.  I was inspired. 

Miwa and Hideko live in Japan.  They both were up at 3am to chat with me and practice their English.  Miwa works a tough job with long hours and is a single Mom.  She already has fantastic English skills, but is still working hard to improve and will take the TOEFL test this year.   Hideko, in addition to learning English, is also learning French and wants to pass the test for being a tour guide-- in both English and French.  

And Serge?  He trains seriously as a cyclist, practices English 3+ hours a day, and has a full time job too. 

I'm ashamed to say it-- but these three amazing people make me feel like a downright lazy language learner (which, I suppose, I am ;)    These three excellent people are a testament to what can be accomplished when you have motivation and confidence and persistence.  They are a testament to the power of passion and belief. 

Simply put-- I was inspired.   Inspired to be a better Spanish student.  Inspired to be a better English teacher.  Inspired to work harder on my own goals.   Inspired to be more passionate and motivated in my daily life.

Thank you Miwa, and Hideko, and Serge.   You are truly amazing!

PS:  I suppose the one advantage to being a lazy student is that it motivates me to always search for the simplest, easiest, and most effective ways to learn :)