Have traditional English courses left you feeling overwhelmed? Here’s how you can learn English without studying in 2023, even if you’re starting from scratch, and have fun in the process. A few days ago, I posted a charming video in English on the EfficaceMente Facebook page. Can you guess the first comment I received? “Beautiful, but… incomprehensible.” This isn’t the first time it’s happened, and I certainly don’t blame those who left the comment. Our school system has always treated the study of English as a low priority, just ahead of civic education. In many Italian schools, errors, and limitations often mark English instruction. Despite studying it for 13 years, very few students who complete their studies can confidently engage in a conversation entirely in English. But blaming the school is simplistic. Many believe that learning English is nothing more than a useless hassle. It’s something we have to do to pass a silly test or spruce up our CVs. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Today, English is no longer a luxury; you’re out of the game if you don’t know it. In 2022, English is the world’s universal language, spoken by everyone, for everyone. Worldwide, 1 in 5 people speak English, the official language in more than 50 countries. In today’s world, it’s essential to know English, whether to increase your job opportunities or to handle everyday situations. “I can’t spend a fortune on an intensive English course, and I don’t have time to learn all those grammar rules! It’s impossible!” The truth is, you can learn English without studying, at least not in the traditional way. I shared the four strategies I’ve adopted to perfect my English over the years. I want to introduce you to an alternative method in today’s article. I asked Mario to share the tricks he used to learn English, which helped him secure a seasonal job in the United States. Mario will discuss: His story. Why English is, fundamentally, an easy language. How you can learn it without studying. His method. Let’s find out how to learn English quickly with Mario.
Looking out the window, I see a palm tree, its leaves swaying in the warm spring breeze on my apartment balcony. Further ahead, a small farm with a few cows grazing under the Florida sun. Even farther away, Lake Bryan hides behind a pine forest. I reminisce about my last trip to the USA this year. Parties, hugs, farewells. I board the United Airlines Boeing, a layover in New York, and then arrive in Columbus, OHIO. This year has passed too quickly. A new job, new friends, a new life. My contract with the company that hired me ends in two weeks, followed by a month of touring the States as a tourist. I’ll return to my old friends, house, and continent. This made me think back to the beginning of my journey. A journey that began almost ten years ago when I first decided to learn English. Let’s make one thing clear right away: I never enjoyed studying English, or any language for that matter. But today, I’m confident I’m fluent in English, and I’d like to share the method I used with you. Let’s start with the basics.
In elementary school, I was failing English. In middle school, I was flunking English. In high school, I was the best in English. Yes, you read that right. Do you know when I became the best? When I stopped telling myself these lies: “I’m not good with languages.” “Well, I’m fine living in Italy, after all.” “The English teacher is terrible.” “I have four jobs, three girlfriends, and a dog; I don’t have time!” Many of these beliefs probably developed during school. According to traditional standards, you can only learn a language by studying books, learning grammar, or translating classical poetry. Yet, it needs to add up. Have you ever wondered how you managed to speak at five years old, even without learning a single grammar rule?
Let me tell you my story. I was a lazy teenager. I had yet to publish his guide to studying twice as efficiently back then, and I applied the bare minimum to avoid failing. Yet, I learned English, and I did it by having fun. The truth is that traditional studying, in the conventional sense, is the least effective way to learn. For millennia, our minds have learned through direct experience. Desks in schools, chalkboards, and boring teachers came later, wreaking havoc with their methods of teaching English! You can’t use traditional methods if you want to learn English effectively. You have to use unorthodox techniques.
In my method, the starting point is written English, not spoken English. Many suggest watching movies with subtitles. Others recommend translating song lyrics. Yes, but: In a 2-hour movie, dialogue is only sometimes the dominant part. Song lyrics often use a particular language. Imagine an American learning a foreign language by watching Mr. Bean or listening to some music: “And… Do you want a drink? Come here. You for me. I tell you softly…” You get the idea! And besides, what’s the point of starting with spoken English, especially pronunciation, which is undoubtedly one of the most challenging aspects to learn? That’s why I won’t tell you to “learn English by listening.” Let’s start with the fundamentals: written words. Yes, but how? There’s an almost endless pool of English writings available. Contemporary essays on any topic, thanks to the internet.
Today, you can use the web to learn English, delving deeper into your passions. Here’s how: Find Your Passion: You have a passion. Something burning inside you, something you could do for hours without feeling tired. This passion will be your key to learning English. Go to Google.com (in English, please!) and start looking for blogs, forums, and sites discussing your passion. Are you passionate about cryptozoology? No problem. I bet there’s a website on that topic, too. Once you’ve found your reference sites, all you have to do is start reading, reading, and reading some more. If you don’t understand a word, use an online dictionary to help you. Engage with the Community: As mentioned earlier, to learn, you need direct experience. Reading isn’t enough; you must participate and contribute to the community of enthusiasts you’ve joined. Leave comments on forums, blogs, or Facebook pages. You don’t have to write essays; briefly express your opinion: “Yes, I agree,” “I like it,” etc. Simple sentences to help you overcome shyness. Don’t worry about your inevitable mistakes; take the plunge. This is crucial: when you go from being a spectator to an actor, you force yourself to learn a new language to communicate more.