Is there anything wrong with my English learning method?
I’ve just realized that I seem to have a completely different way of learning English from most of my classmates. My classmates do a variety of exercises. They browse the library for textbooks and exercise books. Some of them even go to language centers. In short, they focus strongly on the exercises. The situation is quite different to me. Of course I do exercises, but I don’t frequently search for books like them. I often buy some exercise books and stick to them until I’ve done all the exercises. I don’t do exercises as frequently as them, as doing exercises for a while is too boring for my taste. I spend my time more on English fictions, comics and websites (and adventure games, which require a lot of ready and/or listening), and I always keep a notebook and my old Oxford dictionary in case I need to write any new words. So far, I’ve received some positive comments from some Flutherians about my English (a big thanks for anyone who appreciate my English :), but I feel as if there’s something wrong with my learning method. While my classmates do exercises I seem to be playing around. Am I too lazy? Is there anything wrong with my current learning method?
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8 Answers
If your method of learning another language is working for you, then do not worry if it is different than another person’s. The biggest challenge for a person learning a new language is the difference between formal and colloquial. The comic books and listening to radio/movies will help with the latter. Of course, nothing will help more than spending time in a country that speaks the language, as long as you are willing to converse with the natives.
English instructor here!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with your methodology. In fact, I applaud you for it. Our English department would—almost certainly, almost unanimously—agree that the best way to improve your writing (sentence structure, vocabulary, and, naturally, reading comprehension) is through reading.
And I would advocate reading everything you can get your hands on. Challenge yourself to read every day. Read newspapers, blogs, comics, blurbs, statuses, forums, novels, poetry, plays, newsletters, e-mail, text messages—everything. Variety helps all the more in improving reading and writing.
Exercises are great to refresh your memory on grammar, sentence structure, syntax—all that mechanical jazz that’s necessary and important, but not necessarily the heart of language. It would be best to have a balance of exercise drills, reading, and writing (if you aren’t writing on a regular basis, try that out too! Fluther is a great site for practicing your writing.)
A lot of ESL students I have worked with shied away from reading because they were intimidated by it or convinced that they just “weren’t readers”, but I strongly believe that a little bit of reading could definitely have helped them out!
I can read what you wrote and understand it perfectly. I can also see that you are not a native English speaker, but it generally takes years of work in a second language to become so proficient at it that native speakers are unaware it isn’t your native tongue. I’ve watched your English improve while you have been posting here, so I would say that so long as your preferred method seems to work for you and you enjoy using it, stay the course. The greatest obstacle to learning a new language is drudgery. Make it fun, and make it work. Best of luck in your studies.
Agree with @ETpro. I tried to learn to type with Mavis Beacon. It drove me nuts. Then I got into an internet chat room, and I stopped worrying about making the goal under the time limit and started having fun chatting. I improved very quickly.
I taught ESL for four years. What you are describing is the natural way to acquire a language, and it is the best way to become fluent. Keep it up. You’re doing a fine job.
Not at all. You are doing the right thing, and it is obviously working. I wish schools would do it your way.
I’ve been trying the same method learning another language and found it far more effective than the textbook approach I encountered in schools. I’m encouraged to see it’s working for you and that’s what matters.
I’m with @Hawaii_Jake.
Your classmates are learning about English. You’re learning English.
And we Americans APPRECIATE it.
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