How to Learn English On Your Own (for FREE) — Transcript

Full transcript

1. 0:00My name is Brian Wiles
2. 0:01and in this video
3. 0:02I’m going to show you the best way to learn English on your own.
4. 0:05Together, we're going to create
5. 0:06a daily learning routine that covers
6. 0:08all the major elements of learning English:
7. 0:10vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar,
8. 0:14listening, speaking, and reading and writing skills.
9. 0:16I'll show you the best resources for building each of these skills
10. 0:19based on your current level of English.
11. 0:21And then we'll create a learning plan
12. 0:23that meets your goals and needs as a student.
13. 0:25Let's get started.
14. 0:27Right now, you probably understand at least some English.
15. 0:30Maybe you studied it in school
16. 0:32or you've watched American movies
17. 0:34or you're currently learning as an adult.
18. 0:35And that's fantastic.
19. 0:37But in order to find the resources that will serve you best,
20. 0:40it’s helpful to have a clear understanding
21. 0:41of your current level of English.
22. 0:43And to do that, you can take this free English proficiency test.
23. 0:46And I'll put links to everything I'm talking about
24. 0:49in the video description box below.
25. 0:50After you take the test,
26. 0:52your results will be based on the CEFR scale
27. 0:55and you'll receive a score somewhere between A1, beginner level
28. 0:58and C2, which is close to a native level of fluency.
29. 1:02Keep your score in mind throughout this video
30. 1:04because I'll be recommending different materials
31. 1:06based on your current level of English.
32. 1:09Before you dive into watching TV shows
33. 1:11and listening to podcasts,
34. 1:12it's important that you have
35. 1:13a core understanding of how the English language works:
36. 1:17how to conjugate a verb,
37. 1:18how to build a sentence
38. 1:19how to ask a question, things like that.
39. 1:21And to build that understanding,
40. 1:23you should use one of these two courses.
41. 1:25They're both excellent and they're completely free
42. 1:27and they'll give you all the knowledge you need
43. 1:29to continue learning on your own.
44. 1:31The only question for you
45. 1:32is whether you want to study American English or British English.
46. 1:36And I'll talk more about that decision
47. 1:38in our next segment on pronunciation.
48. 1:40if your English is already at a B2 level or above,
49. 1:43you don't need to be using a course at all.
50. 1:45At that level, you'll learn faster
51. 1:47by focusing on your listening, reading and speaking skills.
52. 1:50And again, we'll talk about building the right
53. 1:52routine for your needs at the end of this video.
54. 1:56As you probably know, there are many different dialects of English:
55. 1:59American, British, Australian, etc.
56. 2:03And every dialect has a different pronunciation.
57. 2:05I parked my car across the street.
58. 2:12The good news is that no matter
59. 2:14what English dialect you learn,
60. 2:16it's pretty easy to understand the others.
61. 2:1899% of the vocabulary will be the same.
62. 2:21The bad news is that all English dialects have some pretty bizarre
63. 2:25spellings and pronunciations.
64. 2:26So you should study the dialect that you find most interesting or useful.
65. 2:30For many people, that's American English.
66. 2:33And the Youtube channel Rachel’s English
67. 2:35has a free course that I highly recommend
68. 2:37for anyone who wants to improve
69. 2:38their American English pronunciation.
70. 2:40As you'll see, Rachel gives clear and concise
71. 2:43explanations on how to create every sound in the English language.
72. 2:46Your job is to watch those guides
73. 2:48listen carefully, and then record yourself
74. 2:51pronouncing the various sounds.
75. 2:53Then ask yourself, How did I do?
76. 2:55If there's room for improvement, go back to the guides,
77. 2:57make an adjustment and try again.
78. 2:59once you have a solid understanding of basic English pronunciation,
79. 3:02you can start practicing a more advanced technique.
80. 3:05Vocal placement
81. 3:06Vocal placement refers to the way muscles in our mouths actually
82. 3:09shape sound, and it's an important part of English pronunciation.
83. 3:13You can use this playlist as a starting point, but eventually
84. 3:16you'll begin to hear English vocal placement on your own.
85. 3:19When that happens, you can practice by listening to news broadcasts
86. 3:22and again recording yourself and trying to match what you hear.
87. 3:26If you're interested in learning British pronunciation,
88. 3:28I recommend using this playlist to study basic technique
89. 3:31and this one to master vocal placement.
90. 3:37if you want to speak fluent English,
91. 3:39It's essential that you build a wide vocabulary of words and phrases,
92. 3:43and the simplest way to do that is by using flashcards.
93. 3:46There are thousands of flashcard tools out there,
94. 3:48but I recommend that you use a program called Anki.
95. 3:51It's completely free on a PC or Mac,
96. 3:53and you can use a browser version for free on your phone.
97. 3:56Anki isn't particularly pretty,
98. 3:58but it uses something called spaced repetition,
99. 4:00which will let you learn
100. 4:01as many new words as possible in the shortest amount of time.
101. 4:04All you need to do is open up the app and practice every day.
102. 4:08If you're currently at the A1 or A2 level,
103. 4:11you should practice with this Anki deck.
104. 4:13As you can see, each card includes a native audio,
105. 4:16so you can also practice proper pronunciation
106. 4:18as you memorize new words.
107. 4:20Once you reach an intermediate level of English B one and above,
108. 4:23you can move on to this Anki deck, which includes more specific
109. 4:26and conversational language at the advanced level, C1 and C2.
110. 4:31It's a good idea to start
111. 4:32creating your own flashcards based on new words that you hear and see
112. 4:36in English language media, podcasts, books, TV shows, things like that.
113. 4:41I'll share my top recommendations for each of those categories
114. 4:43in just a moment.
115. 4:44But first, let's talk about how to master
116. 4:46one of the trickiest aspects of the English language: grammar.
117. 4:51English grammar is challenging and sometimes quite strange,
118. 4:54but with the right kind of practice,
119. 4:56I promise that it will start to feel natural over time
120. 4:58and I want to be clear that studying grammar rules
121. 5:00does not need to be a part of your language learning routine.
122. 5:03If you consistently use the other resources
123. 5:06that I talk about in this video,
124. 5:07you'll automatically build an understanding of English grammar.
125. 5:10but I know that it can be frustrating
126. 5:12when a phrase or a sentence just doesn't make sense.
127. 5:14So with that in mind,
128. 5:15here are my recommendations for learning about English grammar.
129. 5:18For beginners,
130. 5:19you should rely on one of the courses that I mentioned earlier.
131. 5:22They give clear explanations
132. 5:23about English grammar in over a dozen languages.
133. 5:25For intermediate students,
134. 5:27I recommend this free course from Shaw English Online.
135. 5:30The host Esther, covers every major topic in English grammar,
136. 5:34and each video includes subtitles in around ten languages.
137. 5:37and for advanced students who want to build
138. 5:39an in-depth understanding of English grammar.
139. 5:41You can explore this Khan Academy course,
140. 5:43which goes into significant detail.
141. 5:45It is, however, only available in English.
142. 5:48Finally, for students of any level
143. 5:49who want to learn more about English grammar via a book,
144. 5:52the infographic guide to Grammar is by far my favorite.
145. 5:56It uses pictures and graphics to explain English grammar,
146. 5:59which makes the concepts far more interesting
147. 6:02and easy to understand.
148. 6:04Listening is arguably the most important skill for any English learner
149. 6:08because it's the key
150. 6:09to understanding how English is used in the real world.
151. 6:12And if you can understand spoken English,
152. 6:14it will be much easier for you to read, write and speak English.
153. 6:17personally, I think that using podcasts is the best way
154. 6:21to practice listening in a new language.
155. 6:23For reasons that I talk about in this video.
156. 6:25So let's talk about the best podcasts
157. 6:27for building your listening skills in English.
158. 6:29if you're somewhere between the A1 and B1 level,
159. 6:32you should use one of these podcasts
160. 6:34based on the English dialect that you want to study:
161. 6:37American or British.
162. 6:39At this level, there aren't many high quality podcasts to choose from
163. 6:42and these two are far and away the best
164. 6:44once you reach an intermediate level of English,
165. 6:47however, you have hundreds of options.
166. 6:49So let's start with American English.
167. 6:50Starting at the B1 level,
168. 6:52I recommend using the American English podcast.
169. 6:55The hosts speak slowly and clearly
170. 6:57and this podcast covers all kinds of useful topics
171. 7:00for English learners
172. 7:01common expressions, slang words, cultural notes, etc.
173. 7:05at the B2 level you can try the past and the curious.
174. 7:09This is actually a podcast for older kids,
175. 7:11but the content is interesting and it's very well-produced
176. 7:14At the sea level, your choices are almost endless.
177. 7:17But I would recommend starting
178. 7:18with The Moth Story Hour or Radiolab,
179. 7:22both of which will help you develop a native level of English
180. 7:24and a deeper understanding of American culture.
181. 7:27Likewise for British English.
182. 7:29You can listen to these podcasts
183. 7:30based on your current level, now,
184. 7:32no matter what your level or which dialect you're learning,
185. 7:35you want to make sure that you're using podcasts effectively.
186. 7:38That means when you hear a word or phrase, you don't understand.
187. 7:41Use Google Translate to get a definition in your native language,
188. 7:45and then later on
189. 7:46you can review any new words
190. 7:48by looking through your translation history.
191. 7:50And as I mentioned earlier,
192. 7:51making your own flashcards in Anki is always a good idea
193. 7:55Now, maybe you’re wondering:
194. 7:57can watching movies and TV
195. 7:58in English be part of my learning routine?
196. 8:00Absolutely.
197. 8:01Although I wouldn't recommend relying on TV
198. 8:04or movies to boost your English
199. 8:05until you reach a relatively advanced level B2 or above.
200. 8:09The key, however, is that while you're watching,
201. 8:11you should only use English subtitles,
202. 8:14not subtitles in your native language.
203. 8:16With that in mind, feel free to find shows or movies
204. 8:19you like and make watching them a part of your daily routine.
205. 8:21Just remember to look up
206. 8:22new words and phrases whenever you hear them.
207. 8:25What's the best way to improve your English speaking skills?
208. 8:29Practice.
209. 8:29Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts.
210. 8:32But let's talk about a few different methods
211. 8:34that you can use every day to become a fluent English speaker.
212. 8:37Method one: ChatGPT.
213. 8:39It's now possible to have complete voice chats with ChatGPT.
214. 8:43And they're easy to set up.
215. 8:44Simply open up the app,
216. 8:45click on this headphone icon and start making conversation.
217. 8:49you can have an everyday conversation
218. 8:51or ask the system to correct your mistakes.
219. 8:53In fact, you can use this feature to practice any number of languages,
220. 8:56but it's a great way to start
221. 8:57building your confidence with spoken English.
222. 8:59Method number two: Self-Talk.
223. 9:02You can also improve your speaking skills
224. 9:04by narrating your thoughts out loud.
225. 9:06For example:
226. 9:08Right now I am filming a video
227. 9:10about how to learn English,
228. 9:11and when I'm done, I am going to go have lunch.
229. 9:14It doesn't need to be complicated.
230. 9:16You just want experience putting sentences together out loud.
231. 9:20And this method will also develop your ability to think in English
232. 9:23instead of translating in your head.
233. 9:25It's very useful for learners at every level.
234. 9:27Method number three: Chatting with online Conversation Partners.
235. 9:31Ultimately, the best way to practice speaking English is by talking with other people,
236. 9:35and it's easy to find conversation partners online.
237. 9:38And finally, method number four, immersion.
238. 9:41If you have the opportunity
239. 9:43to speak English with someone in the real world, go for it.
240. 9:46Whatever your level, As I've talked about in other videos,
241. 9:49one of the biggest obstacles to learning
242. 9:50a new language is overcoming your fear of saying the wrong thing.
243. 9:54But the truth is, if you're waiting
244. 9:56until you can speak perfect English
245. 9:58before you start talking to strangers, well,
246. 10:00that day may never come.
247. 10:02So embrace your discomfort and go for it.
248. 10:06Learning to read English is a hugely valuable life skill,
249. 10:10especially if you plan to work or study
250. 10:12in an English speaking country.
251. 10:14And once you reach an advanced level of English, reading
252. 10:16can help you develop a native level understanding of the language.
253. 10:20luckily there are several websites that offer free reading
254. 10:23material in English for students at various levels.
255. 10:25beginners and intermediate learners
256. 10:28should check out FreeKidsBooks.org.
257. 10:30Once you're on the site, you can search by age or English level
258. 10:33and find free ebooks to download onto your phone or laptop.
259. 10:36advanced learners can also look into Project Gutenberg.
260. 10:40This is a massive online database of free English ebooks,
261. 10:43including classic literature from writers like Shakespeare and Mark Twain.
262. 10:47these books aren't easy, but they're unbelievably rich.
263. 10:51And if your ultimate goal is to speak English not just fluently,
264. 10:54but in fact eloquently, reading this kind of material is essential.
265. 10:58As with reading.
266. 10:59Learning to write effectively in English
267. 11:01is extremely important for both students and professionals
268. 11:04and A.I. has made it
269. 11:06very easy for anyone around the world
270. 11:08to practice and improve their writing any time.
271. 11:10simply open up chat GPT, start typing and when you're ready,
272. 11:14ask the software to correct any mistakes
273. 11:17or improve your overall style.
274. 11:18You can also ask GPT to give you writing prompts
275. 11:22on a specific topic, say personal health
276. 11:25to refine your understanding in a given area.
277. 11:27Beyond that, it's really up to you
278. 11:29just keep writing and asking the system for feedback
279. 11:32with time and consistent practice,
280. 11:34you'll get a little better every day.
281. 11:37Now let's talk about how to use the resources in this video
282. 11:40to build a daily learning routine that focuses on the skills
283. 11:43you want to develop.
284. 11:43First of all, set aside
285. 11:45a fixed amount of time every day for learning English.
286. 11:48Ideally, it should be at least one hour,
287. 11:50but you can adjust the timing to suit your needs.
288. 11:52If you're a total beginner, you'll want to spend most of your time
289. 11:55developing your core understanding of English
290. 11:58by using one of the free courses that I mentioned.
291. 12:00In addition, you should be working on your English pronunciation
292. 12:03and growing your vocabulary with flashcards.
293. 12:05Once you reach the A2 level,
294. 12:07you should also start to develop your listening skills
295. 12:10by using one of the beginner level podcasts that I mentioned.
296. 12:13At the intermediate level,
297. 12:14you can start to follow your own instincts
298. 12:16about what's working best.
299. 12:18If you like, you can continue to follow your course
300. 12:20or you can make listening the main engine
301. 12:22for your ongoing learning.
302. 12:24you'll also want to keep building your vocabulary
303. 12:26and you should start to develop your speaking skills
304. 12:28via the various methods that we discussed earlier.
305. 12:31If you're interested in using English for work or at school,
306. 12:34this is also a good time to start
307. 12:35developing your reading and writing skills.
308. 12:37As an advanced learner,
309. 12:38your daily learning routine should follow your needs and interests.
310. 12:42Courses are not effective at this level, so you should use
311. 12:46both listening and reading resources to make consistent progress.
312. 12:49In addition, you should be speaking English every day
313. 12:52and seeking out opportunities to make conversation
314. 12:54as much as possible.
315. 12:55As an advanced learner, it's also a good idea
316. 12:58to work on your English writing skills.
317. 13:00No matter what your goals.
318. 13:01Writing will help you
319. 13:02see your weaknesses when it comes to English proficiency,
320. 13:05which you can then address
321. 13:06by making them a part of your daily routine.
322. 13:08And of course, all of this can be adjusted
323. 13:10based on your interests and goals.
324. 13:12Ultimately, the most important thing is
325. 13:14that you just keep learning.
326. 13:16So do what works for you and keep going.
327. 13:18With time and practice,
328. 13:19you can absolutely become a fluent English speaker.
329. 13:22Thanks for watching and I hope this video is useful.
330. 13:25If you have any questions, please let me know. Bye bye.