Vital words for understanding
harsh /harš/ – unpleasantly rough
acquire /ekuájr/ – learn, develop
surround /suraund/ – be all round
immerse /imrrs/ – invoice deeply
womb /wum/ – the organ in the body of a woman in which the baby develops
eavesdrop /ívsdrop/ – listen in secret
dedicate /dedykejt/ – devote
takeaway /tejkevej/ – a key fact
foundation /fandejšn/ – the basis
bilingual /bájlingl/ – speaking two languages fluently
The reason is quite simple: you’re not doing enough. Please hear me out before you stop reading and think I’m being harsh. There’s a reason I’m saying this.
To acquire a second language, you must do more than one thing. Reading alone isn’t enough. Grammar alone doesn’t mean much. Vocabulary won’t save you. And just speaking won’t get you anywhere. Do you see where I’m going with this? Can you?
Learning a language is complex. You need all aspects of the language. You need to read, write, study grammar, learn vocabulary, speak, and listen—especially listen. Surround yourself with the language. It would be best if you immersed yourself in it. Do you remember learning your native language? No? Exactly!
You were born into your native language and gradually introduced to it. You listened to your mother’s voice in the womb and all the voices around you. You were spoken to from the moment you arrived, observing and absorbing everything like a sponge. You were exposed to your native language and spent thousands of hours interacting with it—listening, eavesdropping, being read to, watching TV, singing, and learning poems. If you were awake for ten to twelve hours a day, you were probably in contact with the language for more than 20,000 hours before you even started school.
Can you say you’ve interacted with English for more than 20,000 hours? If so, your abilities are likely comparable to a child starting the first grade. And yet, some people are faster and more skilled. Yes, they are probably more dedicated and push themselves harder. You can do it too. The most efficient and natural way to acquire a language is to accept it and let it consume you. Do everything in the language:
- Talk to yourself (plan what you want to say).
- Set your phone to English.
- Listen to podcasts, songs, audiobooks, articles, and poems.
- Watch videos, films, clips, and series.
- Play games.
- Use vocabulary apps.
- Read in English.
Do everything in English, and I promise it will work. It’s not about talent—that’s an excuse lazy people use. Sure, some people have a predisposition that helps them learn languages, but that doesn’t mean you’re not capable of learning. You just need to work a little harder. Of course, age plays a role. We learn differently as children and as adults. „The sooner the better“ is a saying that can be misleading. Did you know that if children are immersed in a different language for long periods in preschool or daycare, their development in their family language may slow down or stall? They might even stop speaking their family language, which can lead to significant social and psychological problems.
What’s the takeaway? If you’re an adult learning English, dive into the language. Do everything in it. If you’re a parent struggling with English and concerned about your child, introduce English only after your child has a strong foundation in your native language. Don’t confuse your child—they can become bilingual after they’ve learned their first language. I’m living proof of that.
