How to learn English from personal experience. Personal experience of learning English with a tutor and in courses. Training at Tavistock
Good afternoon, dear readers! I’m fulfilling what I promised a long time ago: I’m sharing methods of learning English based on personal experience.
And I won’t start with theory, no! I'll start with such a concept as staging goals And motivation. These are the very things without which even the most capable student of foreign languages will not be able to wrap their head around even a couple of thousand words, and even if they can, it won’t be for long. I have tested all the presented methods on myself, so do not consider the article unfounded, but useful links after the useful text below, enjoy learning!
Where to start learning English (foreign) language
They tried to teach me English since childhood, starting with relatives and ending with courses “by mail” that were fashionable at that time (Eshko, for example). It would seem that a child learns material better than an adult, so why, after going through the same circle several times, did I still have nothing left in my head except a couple of simple phrases and a few words?
I wouldn’t say that I had absolutely no desire to learn English, on the contrary, I did, but these desires boiled down to something vague like “it would be nice to know English, Lena knows, but what am I, a redhead?” knowledge of a foreign language is fashionable,” or when I became older, “knowledge of English is required when applying for a job.” In fact, these are not goals, thoughts of this kind do not create intentions, and the initial fuse is only enough for a couple of activities, which you will exchange for something more attractive at the first opportunity (TV, favorite toys, walks with friends, etc.).
I’ve tried a lot of different methods and courses, and I can say one thing: if you don’t have a clear motivation/goal for why exactly you are going to learn a language, then even if you spend a lot of money on the best teachers, you won’t learn it. That is, you need to sit down, think and answer yourself clearly why I want to know a foreign language. Have you thought about it? And what thoughts came to mind? If it’s something similar to what’s described just above, then don’t waste your time. If it is something more serious, then we try.
Another question arises: how to understand whether it is serious or not. The answer is simple: think about whether you can do without a foreign language; if so, then the goals set are not serious; if not, you can work. It’s always clearer with examples, let’s talk about personal experience.
I started my trips with virtually no knowledge of English; in the first few days, it was enough to exchange basic phrases with the population to show them the way, find a roof over their head, or buy food. If it was really difficult, she explained herself with gestures. I wouldn’t say that the language barrier hindered me; in any case, I got what I needed without even knowing the language, so there was no strong need for it, but with each trip the desire to learn English grew.
The turning point for me was Myanmar; on the way there I met a fellow travel enthusiast, Andrei from Germany, who spoke “bourgeois” easily. While we were traveling around the country, he easily communicated with foreigners and locals, and I, as a lover of communication, was limited in this and could only be jealous. It was then that I finally decided that I would take studying English seriously. Initially I heard about Pimsleur, my present began with him education.
Methods of learning a foreign language
From everything that I “dug up” and “shoveled”, I concluded that there are 2 valid methods of learning any language. Which one to choose depends on your mindset and perseverance.
1 way. I would call him child method (or NLP method). Let's remember how exactly young children learn language? They do not memorize words and generally have no idea how to construct a sentence, which is something they are strenuously trying to “cram” into the heads of students in various schools.
A small child simply watches his mom and dad, the people around him, and tries to repeat what they do and say. In this case, live communication with a native speaker or an English tutor via Skype is very suitable.
By the way, a good offer from a personal training program without leaving home. Special for blog readers! And if pay for the package before November 2, 2018 then you will get discount up to 25%!
What if there is no opportunity to communicate with some foreigner? Then watching movies will do. Naturally, the film should not be popular science; cartoons are also not suitable, because there are no real human-type facial expressions and movements.
- it is advisable to choose one that you have already watched in Russian translation,
- good diction of the actors (translated films are not suitable, only the original),
- maximum emotionality of the characters.
When watching a film in a foreign language, we look at the emotions of the actors, and exactly repeat their dialogues along with facial expressions and movements, while it is advisable to turn off the brain altogether, just repeat everything, like children. Such training helps to bring phrases and words directly into the subconscious, and emotions in this case will serve as an anchor for restoring them in memory. After some time you will be able to speak without thinking.
And of course, don’t forget about the regularity of “training”, preferably at least an hour every day. Unfortunately, I have little patience, so this technique did not suit me.
Method 2. The second is not a method, but an integrated approach. That is, this is the use of techniques for different areas of perception, more specifically, it is self-study using a course or lesson that is suitable for you, plus parallel reading of books and watching films. We'll talk about this method in more detail.
Pimsleur courses
To begin with I was very pleased Pimsleur- This polyglot, who developed a system for learning various foreign languages. The course is suitable for learning a language from scratch. Those who already know something will be bored in the first stages, but do not underestimate the basics. I also wanted to skip over the basics as soon as possible, since I knew many of the words. However, I had problems with composing sentences; Pimsleur just teaches words from the basics and composing phrases when communicating.
The course consists of audio tracks - 90 lessons of 30 minutes each, the lessons are composed with a certain amount of pauses designed for proper memorization. Officially, only the first part of 30 lessons was released in Russia, but thanks to enthusiasts, the remaining 60 lessons can be used, even if not of the best quality.
You must study at least 1 time per day, and preferably 2 times (morning and evening), however, listening to 2 lessons in a row is strictly prohibited. Each lesson must be completed as many times as possible until you remember everything (at least twice). And don’t be lazy and skip what you “sort of” know.
After just 30 lessons, you will be able to at least somehow communicate with foreigners, and after the entire course you will feel even more confident. Unfortunately, this will not be enough to communicate fluently in English.
Educational videos
Plus to Pimsleur rate I found a simple series in English on the Internet. At first glance, the video looks like an ordinary youth series (like “Helen and the Guys,” if you remember that one), but in fact it is a training program designed in such a way that many words and phrases can be understood purely subconsciously, since the characters are very emotional and often point to the things they are talking about. The episodes are only 20 minutes long, you can watch them every day, besides, it’s very funny, I recommend it, it’s called ExtraEnglish.
To improve your grammar, I would recommend one more video course, aired on the “Culture” channel under the title "Polyglot. English in 16 hours”. The program is structured like a real lesson: the presenter, as a teacher, on the one hand, and little-known actors in the role of students, on the other.
Various grammar tasks are given right during the “lesson”, and if anything is unclear, it is immediately sorted out. The lessons are 40 minutes long, and since the teacher-leader gives 2-3 days to complete the tasks, they are easy to combine with films like the one described above.
A little about applications for Android systems
I understand that it is very difficult to force myself to do all this, especially if the teacher is “virtual” and cannot give me a “f”. Especially for “lazy people” like me, they created a cool application for smartphones and tablets on Android OS, called exactly the same "Polyglot". Each grammar lesson is based exactly on tasks video lessons, so everything should be clear.
Background: a little less than a year ago, an urgent need for knowledge of English arose in my life - I wanted to change my professional field, and a new job required a good level of English (Upper intermediate or higher). At that moment, my level was very low: the teaching at school and university was very weak and this discipline passed me by. A complete lack of understanding of English grammar, zero oral skills, only a small vocabulary (dog, family, etc. - that level).
I had a lot of free time and I got busy mastering a new language. On average, I devoted 4-6 hours a day to English, 7 days a week. What I was doing at that time will be discussed.
In learning a foreign language, as in any matter, the most important thing is regular practice, systematicity in acquiring the skill. It is very important to make the learning process itself as enjoyable as possible, then you won’t have to force yourself to start studying, but you will want to start quickly.
With this approach, you greatly increase your chances of achieving significant results over the long haul.
1)English courses
From the start, I took intensive English courses (3 classes of 3 academic hours per week + homework for an average of 1.5 hours each time). I was assigned to the pre-intermediate group, but in reality my skills did not reach this level and at first I was the lagging behind in the group.
In general, the classes were very lively and interesting. The course is structured in such a way that at each lesson you study a new topic (for example, “work”), learn new words from this area, set expressions, etc. + at each lesson a piece of grammar - one new rule or tense. Communication is in English only.
Advantages: the most important advantage is that you paid money for the courses and you will attend these classes (an excellent option for those who have problems with discipline). Another plus: a lot of practice, the teacher will help/prompt/correct. New acquaintances. Grammar will be constantly improved.
Disadvantages: costs money, inflexible schedule. In general, everything that is given in the courses can be easily obtained for free.
2) Sites a la lingualeo.com
I don't like this format of teaching at all. You push buttons automatically and even get good points, but you get up from the computer and can’t say anything. In my opinion, this is the most ineffective method of learning a language.
3)Speaking clubs
Speaking clubs are communities of people who get together and just do ordinary things: communicate, play board games, drink tea, etc. At the same time, of course, you can only speak in English. For me, this is my favorite training format. There are a huge number of speaking clubs in any major city. Attending such events is usually free or very cheap. Usually the level of those present is very high. Lots of communication, a lot of interesting people, you can combine leisure time with learning English.
Advantages: constantly new people, a lot of interesting communication, flexibility, usually a high level of English among colleagues.
Disadvantages: in clubs it is not particularly common to “correct” you if you said something incorrectly, so your grammar may be poor (if you don’t specifically study it in your free time from speaking clubs). For complete beginners, this format may seem intimidating because beginners will not be able to fully participate in conversations at first.
I started visiting such places from the first week of my studies, it was a little hard at first, but I quickly joined the crowd.
4) Reading literature in English.
It's hard. There are a lot of unknown words and incomprehensible grammatical structures. I read children's books (Winnie the Pooh, etc.). It’s good if you read from an electronic device and can translate an unclear word in a couple of clicks. I don’t like this format because it’s quite boring (can be replaced by reading news in English), but if you suddenly have a free 10 minutes (you’re in line or on public transport), then why not spend your time usefully.
Pros: You can do this anytime, anywhere.
Disadvantages: boring (my opinion), very difficult at the initial level.
5) Watching films/series in English.
This is also hard. Sometimes you watch a film in Russian and can’t understand what’s going on there, let alone watching a film in a foreign language. Nevertheless, I believe that this training format is very important because it trains well to perceive English speech by ear. I recommend watching situational comedies - a lot of dialogue, a lot of episodes (you don’t need to choose a new film every time).
I watched the TV series Friends - first an episode in English without any subtitles, then the same episode in English with English subtitles. Another difficulty is that many actors speak the British version of English, which means that they swallow some sounds in the words and this makes it even more difficult to understand what is happening. My course teacher honestly admitted that she, too, doesn’t understand some phrases from Friends.
Advantages: it greatly improves your listening comprehension of English, flexibility.
Disadvantages: requires a lot of perseverance and patience, difficult for beginners.
6) Communication with native speakers (written, oral)
Perhaps this is the most effective training format (result / amount of time spent). The most difficult thing is to find a foreigner who won’t mind communicating with you regularly and helping you learn English (it’s very easy for girls to find a foreigner(s). I used the services interpals.net (written communication is mainly practiced here; penpals - (English) pen pals) and conversationexchange.com. I like the second service better. On the service, you choose that your native language is Russian, learn English, press search, and the system displays profiles of people whose native language is English and who are learning Russian (yes, there are such people). After that, you write off the person and offer to transfer the communication to Skype. There I met a man from London.
Throughout my training, I called him for 1 hour several times a week. We talked about everything in the world, sometimes I taught him Russian. I was very lucky in that, among other things, he is a linguist by profession, so he could explain to me the correct pronunciation of English sounds and all sorts of other subtleties. Communication with a native speaker develops pronunciation very well and helps to eliminate the accent.
Advantages: the most effective method, development of pronunciation, interesting (communication with a resident of another country).
Disadvantages: you need to spend time searching for a foreigner(s).
7) Expansion of vocabulary
I also consciously worked on expanding my vocabulary. I did this in a banal but effective way - I wrote an English word on one side (+ what parts of speech it can be), and its translations on the other. I made several dozen such cards, and then, for a week, every day I repeated the translation in one direction and the other 3-4 times. Next week => new batch of cards.
I replenished the database of words, which was then recorded on cards, as I went along - if I saw an unfamiliar word, I wrote it down in a separate place in my notebook. I also downloaded several thousand of the most used English words (sorted in descending order of frequency of use).
I can say that this way of learning new words works, the words are really remembered and then you can use them in conversation.
I studied in this mode for 4 months. During this time, my level has increased significantly, I rate it as intermediate or something like that. Although I made some mistakes in my speech, in general it was not difficult to communicate with a foreigner; immediately after finishing the course I had a vacation, which I spent in Europe. I felt comfortable communicating in English with local residents.
When studying, I advise you to distribute your time as follows:
a) Option with courses. Studying in courses, the rest of the time focusing on speaking practice (speaking clubs or communication with native speakers) + a little watching of sitcoms + expanding your vocabulary. The rest is optional.
B) Option without courses (if you don’t want to spend money and you have very good discipline). Emphasis on conversational practice, be sure to study grammar in a specially allotted time (for example, according to the textbook English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy - this book was recommended to me by a friend from London, I did not study it myself) + a little watching of sitcoms + vocabulary expansion. The rest is optional.
You can focus on watching films in English if, like me, you have problems with listening comprehension.
Long-promised post :) Let's start with November 2009. At this time I came to Goa for 6 months to live and work. For 6 years at school and 5 years at the university I studied German (or rather, I tried to do it), as a result, in my English vocabulary there were only a few words: ok, good, bad, fuck off and once one of my friends before... how to send me to a meeting with a virtual friend who now lives in the USA, taught me the word satisfaction:) That was the end of my English dictionary...
Before flying to Goa, on the recommendation of friends, I bought a pocket phrasebook, put an English tutorial in my suitcase, downloaded audio and other books on the English language, and learned a phrase for annoying Indians at the airport: I don"t understand English! The word don"t I I successfully forgot already in Mumbai, so when Indians pestered me with something (who knows what now?), I proudly answered: I understand English! Then it was a mystery to me why they continued to talk to me, but I chalked it up to their cultural characteristics :)
Once upon a time, back in Minsk, I acquired (yes, I had such unusual acquisitions) a self-instruction book on the English language. I don’t even remember the authors, but it was the most ordinary self-instruction manual in a hard cover with exercises inside. It was from him that I began to study English. I must admit honestly: I tried to do this every day, but sometimes I just fell asleep over a book and gave up on it. Nevertheless, I acquired a certain base in the form of pronouns, the most common verbs and sentence construction.
Tip 1
You need a foundation that will help you understand how English works in general. By the way, English, in comparison with Russian, is structured very simply - I responsibly declare this to you as a Philologist of higher education! :)
In addition, thanks to torrent files, I downloaded audio-English using Dr. Pimsleur’s method. I want to tell you that I was able to listen to him to the end only a few weeks ago - the doctor’s audio lessons seemed too complicated to me then... However, I just switched to Dragunkin and his Reader - everything was much simpler! Now I continue to listen to audio English every day, and I do this while cleaning the house and caring for animals (my daily routine), I spend 30 minutes on it every day and am very proud of myself! :)
Tip 2
Choose an audio course that suits you - there are now a great many of them on the Internet - and listen if possible every day (or at least 5 times a week). To make it easier to devote time to this activity, think: by doing what (around the house, at work, or...) mechanically, can you keep your ears occupied with English?
The most important advantage of learning English in Goa was that almost everyone here spoke English, so I tried to use every opportunity to talk: I went to the store on my own, having previously memorized how to say “flour-eggs-vinegar, etc.” in English. "; spoke to foreigners on the topics “Ha-var-yu” and “Du-yu-like-Goa”; I answered on Facebook and Vkontakte to all Indians who wanted friendship and corresponded with them in English.
Tip 3
Take advantage of every opportunity to speak English: whether it's a live or virtual conversation! And get that language barrier nonsense out of your head! Just talk! Because many foreigners really like new interlocutors and they will do everything in their power to understand your story about corruption in Russia, food in Belarus and life in the Soviet Union. And if you forgot this or that word, tell your interlocutor about it, describe the forgotten word - and he will remind you of it! And then he will also say that your English is excellent! :) And don't despair when meeting Scots, Irish or other people who like to speak unclear English! I remember once a friend from England came to our friends, from a conversation with him I understood only the geographical name (and that’s not all!), I was very upset about this, complained to Brian, to which he said that he himself, as a native speaker , understands only 70% of what Nigel (friend from England) is talking about :)
Then I decided that it was time for me to read in English (otherwise!) So I went to our large supermarket and bought children's fairy tales in English. Honestly, I only read a couple then... But I just recently finished reading my first book in English, 150 pages long! I'm very proud of this! As I realized later, the problem with my NOT reading was this: I really didn’t like the slow process of looking up a word in a paper dictionary! As a result, Brian from the Nokia website downloaded an English-Russian dictionary for free onto his new phone, which really inspired me to read books in English! Now I have started reading my second, already “adult” book in English!
Tip 4
Read books in English! Start with children's ones and then move on to more complex ones - adults! :) In addition, I recently found this thing on the Internet: you download a book-program, open the book and read it from the laptop screen, and if a word is not clear, you point your mouse at it, and its translation immediately pops up! Brilliantly simple! :)
The famous Murphy didn’t work for me then, at the beginning of my English career. Therefore, in Moscow, my friend gave me the second part of the Happy English textbook; I discovered the first in Minsk in a second-hand bookstore. So I started learning Happy English with my notebook. The first part of the textbook went to someone in Kathmandu (I left it there because I finished studying), the second part will go to someone in Goa (Dasha, I’d better buy you a new textbook, because I completely scribbled out yours with a pencil!) - so welcome! I'm exchanging it for a fiction book of Russian classical literature in Russian! :)
Tip 5
Choose your favorite textbook (not a self-instruction manual, but a textbook!) and go through it from beginning to end, despite the fact that it will seem to you that you are already familiar with this grammatical topic. Just be consistent! :)
Then I decided that it was time to watch films in English! :) I started with English films with subtitles. It is much easier to read the subtitles and understand the film than to try to understand the English, Scottish, Irish or American accent of each actor :) In addition, friends, I must tell you that if you do not understand this or that phrase in the film, you will certainly guess from the plot , what they meant: to execute or pardon :) I also highly recommend watching all kinds of programs. Personally, I’m stuck on culinary and tourism. Especially in the first ones, the presenters try to pronounce the words separately and they do not speak so quickly, because this is important for the recipe!
Tip 6
Watch movies, TV series and programs in English. Start watching them with subtitles, then switch to purely English viewing! I don’t know about you, but many satellite TV channels have options for setting subtitles when watching a particular channel.
The most difficult thing for me was learning words. That is, I already had a certain supply, thanks to their frequent use in communication, textbooks, books, films, but I would like to operate not only with “everyday” words. I tried several ways to learn words: at first I stupidly learned them, covering the Russian translation with a piece of paper; then I decided that I needed to learn words “by doing something in parallel,” so in Stolin I took a bath and studied new words from a piece of paper. Now I have chosen the following two methods, which I really like: I downloaded the audio for learning new words - I listen to it while doing my chores around the house + I installed the BX Language acquisition program, devoting 30 minutes a day to it at breakfast, which I am very pleased with!
Tip 7
Learn new words in your favorite ways, but never stop there!
So, now I"m thinking sometimes on English...
The last time I spoke Russian “live” was on June 12, 2011... Not counting conversations with my mother on the phone :) And I continue to learn English on my own, using the tips listed above :)
I wish you patience, perseverance and desire! After this, knowledge of English will come! :) If you have any questions, welcome!
Learning languages on your own is quite possible, especially if you are interested in English. I started using it a little after about 8 months of home lessons without a teacher. Now my experience in English is more than two years, and evening fiddling with books gives me quite appetizing results: what’s worth at least the opportunity to read Shakespeare in the original!
I’ll share my experience (I learned something during this period).
What sources should you use?
First of all, you need to find the material. There are a lot of convenient services on the Internet that help you learn English online through game exercises. I'll name it offhand Puzzle English and LinguaLeo.
Such resources should not be ignored. It even makes sense to pay for additional functions that help train the knowledge of new words. You will have to constantly expand your vocabulary, but memorizing words while staring blankly at a piece of paper is a thing of the past. By collecting letters and solving crosswords, you will remember much more (and at the same time - most importantly! - you will not hate English after the first attempts to understand it).
You will also be offered grammar trainers with explanations of the rules. They are also useful, but I would not recommend choosing them as a starting point when learning English grammar from scratch.
At first, a clear system is needed - you need to follow the rules, not at random, but sequentially, from simple to complex. A good textbook will help you decide on the system.
Textbooks for self-studying English
After reading the forums, you will come across at least a couple of confident recommendations to immediately study using 100% English textbooks - that is, understand the rules in a foreign language adapted for a beginner. Such a recommendation is appropriate if you already have strong basic knowledge - for example, you once took an English exam and still remember the basics.
For a person who was a poor student at school or studied another language, it is better to start with grammar in Russian.
My top 3 textbooks for beginners looks like that:
- Anastasia Petrova, “The New English Language Tutorial” (excellent presentation of rules in terms of accessibility, clear structure of lessons, informal selection of phrases and texts for practicing the material);
- Natalya Bonk, “English step by step” (wide coverage of topics, the textbook gives you a chance to gradually get from scratch to Intermediate and even a little higher);
- Raymond Murphy, Essential Grammar in Use (a classic Cambridge textbook written by a native speaker; grammar is taught through examples and practiced through a block of exercises).
The only serious drawback of Petrova's textbook is the lack of a disk. Learning pronunciation only from descriptions and transcriptions is not the best solution. The textbook is ideal for people who dream of reading specialized literature in English.
The disadvantages of the classic Bonk tutorial are the presentation of material in large, heterogeneous blocks and the lifelessness of individual examples: sometimes you read the text and feel that it is deliberately modeled for learning. The disk with the textbook comes with all the words from the rules professionally read.
Manuals whose authors promise to load English into your head in 15, 10 or 5 hours are more suitable for refreshing your memory than for primary self-study. Sometimes they are good for tourists who just need to remember basic phrases for traveling without understanding their construction.
Alas, it is impossible to truly learn English from scratch in a matter of days.
Suitable audio and video materials
Whether you will take audio courses in parallel with the textbook is up to you.
For a general introduction to English, I can recommend "Small Jump" by Dragunkin— a Russian-speaking author presents his teaching methodology for advertising purposes, but at the same time gives the listener an idea of the principles of the language, its very essence.
Convenient to listen to in parallel with grammar Pimsleur courses. They do not contain much theory; all training is based on dialogues that the listener remembers and repeats after the speaker.
You can stock up on audiobooks almost immediately. The sooner you start listening to simple stories in correct pronunciation, the better. Wonderful libraries for beginners prepared Oxford Bookworms Library and Penguin Readers.
I am sharing my own find.
Your smartphone most likely has a voice recorder function. Read on it for lists of exceptions, indigestible rules, and generally any complex cases. The player will provide you with the time to study that adults so lack. You probably go and drive somewhere. Let English become your constant travel companion.
When it comes to video materials, at first you will be satisfied with short children's cartoons with subtitles. Translating entire films, constantly clicking on pause and flipping through the dictionary, is quite a job.
If you wish, you can also watch video courses. I don't particularly strongly recommend them because you can't watch them on the go. At home, if you have free time and energy, it is more useful to study from a textbook.
I’ll immediately answer your most frequently asked questions: is it possible to learn a language without a tutor?
CAN!
Is it realistic, without knowing English, to learn a language in a year with a teacher - no, it’s not realistic.
I don’t know a single person who has learned a language with the help of a teacher. It's a waste of money and nothing more. Now is the time of the Internet. You can find all the materials in huge quantities online, all of them will help you learn English without a tutor.
Finding a living American or British person is not a problem now.
Learn the language through communication with native speakers who will give you pronunciation and advice on live real English, not the academic one that tutors teach us and which is NOT used at all in life by Americans, British and Australians.
What can you do in 45 minutes with an English tutor?
Specific example.
A friend of mine goes to a private tutor for six months.
Tell me what to give money for if they:
“We haven’t even passed the simplest times yet.”
— They don’t read even the simplest texts.
— Don’t listen to English?
When I asked how your classes are going, I received the following answer: we study from a textbook, read, and go through exercises. But time passes very quickly, and you don’t even notice 2 x 45 minutes.
Everyone who is trying to teach a language is interested in only one thing - getting money, and not in your results. They have a clear time: 45 minutes, and a clear fee - from 500 rubles. per academic hour up to 3000 rubles. and higher.
And why do you think they should promote you a step higher in English if they can give you material in which you “swim”? After all, when you are a beginner, you don’t understand the essence of the matter at all. You learn what the tutor gives you. And only over time do you understand the level of this tutor and see what he actually taught you. In fact - nothing.
Personal experience of learning English with a tutor and courses
There is an opinion that you need to start learning English with a tutor or, at least, in courses. The main argument: there is someone to correct your mistakes.
I'll tell you from personal experience.
I learned the language from scratch, because... school base - French.
I took courses and went to see a tutor. Moscow.
During the course, there were 12 of us in the group.
2 lessons of 45 minutes, 2 times a week.
The classes were based on the Headway book: “Open page number 5, read what is written here. Do your homework in your workbook."
Over the entire period of 2 months, I was asked twice to answer something orally in English.
Like: “Yes I do, No I don’t.” All.
Do you think the teacher even has the motivation and time to teach you the language and correct your mistakes? Of course not. She has a clear task: 2 paid academic hours that fly by. You will go to courses and just have fun, but learn something there - ask anyone who took a course, is he fluent in English or not?
What did I know after such courses?
Vocabulary - about 100 words.
I could say what I had learned: “I live in Moscow, what’s my name, and where I work.”
Recognize English speech - zero.
From grammar we knew the simple present tense and numerals.
All!
Now, about classes with a tutor.
Duration: 8 months, 2 times a week. The same 2 academic hours.
What did I know after classes with a tutor?
The tutor left phonetics and pronunciation behind; they taught me grammar.
I went through most of Galitsinsky's exercises.
There was no trace of speaking or listening.
We didn't write anything.
No one controlled or corrected me.
And if you consider that after six months I had safely forgotten most of the grammar, then answer the question for yourself: “why do you need a tutor and spend a considerable amount of money, when you can sit down and learn English on your own together with living native speakers, WITHOUT going too deep into all the grammar rules that are not needed at the initial stage? If you're just starting out, you need a basic grammar that provides a basic level for conversation and understanding the other person. All.
And another very good question: Have you ever wondered why all tutors consider it their duty to pump you up with grammar?
I will tell you.
A. Grammar-only classes are very simple and do not require special expenses from the teacher. He gave the exercises and the student did them himself. Your time and money flow smoothly from your pocket to someone else’s, just like that. Moreover, all your results will be very unstable.
B. A huge number of tutors themselves cannot speak and themselves cannot perceive English speech by ear. This is true! Even those who lived and worked abroad, it would seem, could give you living English, which is used by native speakers in real life, but no. It's easier for them to follow a grammar book and give you bookish English.
Below, I will answer a couple more frequently asked questions.
Do the British correct your mistakes?
No.
They don't do this for two reasons:
First, out of politeness and education.
They see that you are just learning the language and making mistakes is quite normal. They treat incorrect English very correctly, adequately and condescendingly. And they try not to interfere with their corrections in conversation or writing.
The second reason: banal laziness.
At first you may be corrected, but all the excitement of “teaching” disappears very quickly.
Test yourself: will you be able to point out mistakes in the Russian language every time if a foreigner asks you to? No, it's very boring and tedious.
Therefore, answering the main question
Who will correct my mistakes when learning English on my own?
You will do it yourself!
Just take my word for it.
At first, I wrote and spoke clumsily, slowly, without articles and was grammatically incorrect.
This is a normal process.
Now, after a certain amount of time, I see my mistakes myself, I correct myself, and I don’t feel the need for a tutor.
Is it possible to learn English on your own without a tutor?
I wrote a whole opus for beginners to learn the language, if you only know the English alphabet
