5 Useful Tips for Adult English Learners

Learning any language can be a challenge. It takes a lot of time, patience, and effort. Many adults feel like it’s too late for them, but that’s not the case! Learning another language is a great way to give your career a boost, and the English industry today is booming as more and more companies require it. Here are some tips I’ve put together from my own language learning experiences and from my years as an ESL teacher.

1. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. When learning any language, you always need to know what to expect from yourself. It can take some time to reach the level you want. Learning from your mistakes is a very important part of this process. I’ve encountered quite a few students that stayed quiet in class rather than risk the embarrassment of saying something wrong. I’ve also met people who were shy about using English in the everyday lives for the same reason. Mistakes will help you learn. If you are in a class, your mistakes can also help other students learn.
2. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Once you’ve become comfortable with the idea of making mistakes, it’s also important to deal with them well. Language learning takes time and it’s important to not become too frustrated with your progress.
3. Practice! Language learning involves a lot of repetition. Some language rules are logical, while others just need to be memorized. Classes are often not enough on their own. It’s extremely important to spend some time between classes practicing what you’ve learned and improving on your weaknesses. Practice also helps you stay prepared for the next class so you can make the most of your time.
4. Challenge yourself. Language skills can always be improved further, but that can only be done if you continue to take on new challenges. There are a few simple things you can do to help:
   • Read the news in English.
   • If you watch TV or movies, try turning off the subtitles for a little while.
   • Keep a journal in English.A lot of the time it’s so much easier to just do things in your own language. I do the same thing myself. I speak a few languages but most of the time I try to do things in English because it’s easiest. I always find it helpful and rewarding when I can break out of that and get some extra practice.
5. Enjoy the language! Learning any new language lets you enter a whole new world of books, movies, TV shows, poetry, and music. If you can find a bit of English language culture that you enjoy, you will find that you learn a lot more quickly. I’ve always found music to be very helpful and enjoyable, but there are many options. If you have the time for it, a language exchange partner is a great idea.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bart Chlebowski is a professional writer and TEFL teacher currently based in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia. He just came back from spending over 4 years in the South Korean TEFL industry both as a teacher and content creator. He has a degree in English with a minor in political science from the University of British Columbia, and plans to go on to get his MA in Europe later this year. His interests include current events, politics, history, literature, and travel. In his free time, he enjoys hitting the beach, having some drinks with his wife and friends, or taking in a good soccer match.