Maximize your Time

I have stressed before how important it is to pay attention to different aspects of learning. Yes, it's good to do something you really enjoy, but make sure you're not neglecting other areas. If you enjoy speaking so much, and notice that you've made great progress, make sure that you're equally good in other areas like grammar and writing or reading. Knowing your priorities and allotting enough time for them regularly is important.

It's easy to make some excuses when we're too busy. But in fact, we can squeeze them in if we really want.

I have heard many English learners who complain that they don't have enough time to study English like other people. So what they do is allot a couple of hours for studying English once a week.

While they're thinking that a long time of studying will compensate for the other days they weren't able to study, they're mistaken. Learning a language is like exercising. It's never going to work effectively if you only do it once a week, even for a long time. It's more important to do it more often, even for just a short time.

To maximize your time, try listening to English audio lessons or podcasts while commuting on the train or while you get ready for work in the morning. While listening to it, you can do other things, so it will not make you late for work. You can also do it when you're having lunch or dinner, unless of course, you're eating with someone.

It's also easier to put certain things into your long-term memory if you study in the morning and then before you go to sleep.

Well, I hope you find these tips helpful. Remember that it's not just about studying hard,but studying wisely. See you again next time!

Listen Up!

As linguists and language teachers keep pointing out, one has to be exposed to the language (i.e. speak or hear it) regularly for him to become fluent. Babies grow up hearing the language that he's later to learn. But for us who are not in English-speaking countries, there has got to be another way.

Most of you might already be listening to English audio files regularly, while commuting to work or while taking your lunch. That's commendable! It's actually the second-best thing to being surrounded by English teachers. So what are you listening to? Maybe you can share with others.

It can be a challenge to maintain your interest when you're listening to the same thing over and over again. Man, I'll get bored then. But you don't have to be. With the millions of podcasts you can choose from, why settle with just a few?

You don't have to spend anything. Just go to www.podbean.com and register for free. Then you can start searching for different podcasts. Now, it may be hard to determine which podcast is good. And I have some recommendations for you.

Try searching for "Joyce Meyer" or "Joel Osteen." I like listening to these two popular speakers as their messages are very inspiring and motivational. It's good to start your day listening to one or two of their speeches. Their messages are full of hope and encouragement that will surely uplift your day. They will also help you excel in the workplace and in whatever you do.

These people have also written and sold millions of books worldwide. I myself have read a few books by Joyce and they open my eyes to a lot of things. Joel Osteen also has a lot of best-sellers. And another person you might want to look up is Myles Munroe.

I like the practical and wise advice they give. It's a wonderful way to get better at English while attaining personal growth. So listen up!

How to Find the Right English Teacher for You

If you're really serious about learning English, it's important to carefully choose the right teacher for you. Studying English is an investment, so it's better to choose your English teacher wisely.

We'll talk about certain things you need to considering when looking for the right teacher. Remember that different students have different needs, so there might not be one perfect teacher for everyone.

Keep in mind though that "you get what you pay for." So while you should not go out looking for the most expensive education, try to achieve a balance and don't aim for the cheapest. Usually, the teachers who offer the cheapest services have little confidence over their ability and would just like to break into the industry. I'm not saying that teachers offering a low rate are not competent enough, but a teacher who's compensated fairly enough is more likely to take care of your needs and keep your goals in mind.

Some teachers specialize in teaching beginners while some are very good in pleasing advanced students. It's always best to try out a teacher's services before deciding once and for all. Some teachers offer free trial lesson, so don't hesitate to sign up, esp. when you're not really required to sign up for his/her lessons after the trial. If there is no trial lesson, ask if the teacher would accept payment for only one lesson, and then see from there whether you'll be better off studying with that teacher in the long run.

First of all, the teacher must be competent enough in the subject matter. If you're just beginning to study English, it might be hard to determine a teacher's competence. In this case, try to ask a friend to help you or ask others what they think about this particular teacher.

Just because a person is a native English speaker doesn't automatically mean he'll be a good English teacher. In fact, some of the native speakers/teachers I've encountered don't know the difference between 'it's' and 'its' or when to use 'loose' or 'lose.' Certainly, a lot of them are qualified to teach, but not all. Remember that a person who's good in a particular subject isn't automatically the best person to teach that subject. For example, not all computer programmers can teach computer programming.

Teaching is a gift, and not all are gifted to teach. Teaching involves imparting one's knowledge the best and easiest way he could. A teacher has to have good communication skills, as well as good people skills. A good teacher can make a very difficult subject seem easy. He/She has an uncanny ability to identify the logic behind something.

A teacher has to be sensitive to the student's needs and should be determined to monitor and ensure his progress. After all, the teacher's main goal should be for you to improve in English. Make sure that you and your teacher know what your goals are.

Look for the English teacher who pays attention to the different areas of learning: grammar, speaking, writing, pronunciation, etc. To be good in a language, one has to work on several areas, not just one. So make sure that you're not neglecting a specific area.

One common mistake that learners of the English language think is that only native English speakers can teach English. Sometimes, non-native speakers of English might be the right teacher for you. Why? Excellence can be achieved by any nationality, given the right talents and opportunities. More often, English teachers whose native language is not English might be more patient with those trying to learn English because they have also experienced learning it at one point in their lives.

Like you, there was a point when they didn't know anything and had to start learning the most basic things. Like you, they didn't grow up with everyone around them speaking in English. They had to work hard and determine which methods and ways are effective for learning English. That is why, they can understand when you find a certain lesson difficult, and when you make mistakes.

But, don't be fooled. Just because the teacher praises your improvement or gives you compliment everytime doesn't mean he/she is the best teacher for you. At the end of the day, what matters is what or how much you learned. It's better to stick to the teacher who gives an honest (although sometimes painful) assessment than to the one who merely does lip service but doesn't deliver.

Learning another language certainly helps a language teacher become better. He/She becomes more familiar with different patterns in languages and their nuances. It's even better if the teacher is familiar with the native language of the student as he/she can compare and or state the differences.

But when you look for an English teacher whose first language is not English, you have to be very careful and to pay attention to the details. As much as possible, choose one who has a neutral or native-like accent. As we often say, it's hard to correct mistakes that you got used to. So try to learn the right way from the start.

It's better to find an English teacher who loves to read as reading is one of the most effective ways to improve grammar. In fact, non-native speakers can beat the native speakers in grammar if the latter hardly read. Aside from that, it'd be easier for bookworms to teach writing. Since they are familiar with different kinds of writing styles and techniques, they're more likely to know how to write well.

These are just some pointers to remember when looking for the right English teacher. There could be many other points to consider. When in doubt, review the basics, or you can ask me a question or two.

Happy hunting!

How to Improve your Pronunciation

Sorry everyone, it's been a while!

One of the obvious ways of mastering English is acquiring proper pronunciation and a neutral accent. By neutral, we mean that there is hardly no trace of a heavy accent (usu. of the speaker's native language).

It's often harder for older people to achieve this because their tongue has been familiar with their native language all along. It's hard to change its ways after so many years of talking in the native language. So, it's always advisable to learn a different language while you're younger. My classmate mentioned about a study in the UP Linguistics department asserting that people can only speak a different language (not their native tongue) like a native speaker when they're exposed to it from childhood until the age 21.

So what does this mean? Does this mean older people, including me (I'm 22) should give up on ever speaking another language like a native speaker? I guess not. As they say, as long as one's alive, there's hope. Haha.. So maybe we couldn't learn a language as fast as younger people can, but we can employ smarter methods.

Of course, we already know that there are many aspects of learning a language, and that we need to do different exercises to improve areas like grammar, writing, speaking, etc. At this point, we'll focus on pronunciation and neutralizing accent. Here are some points to remember:

1. Pay attention to the details. Train your ears and listen carefully at how native English speakers (or those who speak like them) pronounce words. And it doesn't stop there. When you can already distinguish between the right and wrong pronunciation, make sure you make an effort to correct yours.

2. Make sure you're pronouncing the words clearly. While it maybe attractive for some to speak slang or to make short cuts, nothing beats proper enunciation. Most Americans or English speakers tend to eat some words, but you shouldn't always imitate them.

As we often say in writing, you should "know the rules before you break them." In this case, you should learn to pronounce correctly, before you try to speak like native speakers. It's not enough to know the grammar rules and to have a wide vocabulary. As my American business partner used to say, "people respect you if you speak intelligently." And part of speaking intelligently is being clearly understood and enunciating words properly.

3. Learn to imitate. This is very easy. We've been doing this all our lives, imitating our parents, friends, teachers and many other people. How else did babies learn to speak a language? Observe the way English speakers open their mouth and talk. Then, imitate them. You may not get it right the first time, but the good thing is, you can always try again.

4. Read some tips about how to pronounce difficult vowels, letters and words. For sure, it's useful to learn how to utilize your vocal chords and use our mouth and facial parts to speak well. English has been around for a long time, and if you'll make time, you can certainly find guide books on how to pronounce your 'f's, p's, v's, b's, etc. I've given you some tips earlier and for sure you can read other useful tips in comprehensive books.

Maybe I'll give you more next time. But I guess I should say goodbye for now. I'm getting sleepy (it's 1:46 am) and I still have to finish enlisting my subjects tomorrow.

2nd Question: Reading

I hope everyone's enjoying the weekend so far!

We have our next letter. Let's hear what our reader had to ask..

Question: Sarah先生 Only a few successful learners of English in Japan say that the best way to master English is to read aloud English texts until we memorize them. Being skeptical and lazy, I did not apply this method . I volunteer myself to read aloud in front of my English tutors. What is your view on reading books aloud?

Answer: Thanks for asking! There is no one surefire way of mastering English. To be proficient in all areas like speaking, reading comprehension, listening skills and writing, English learners should pay attention to different approaches in studying English.

For sure, reading English texts aloud is helpful, particularly for improving pronunciation and speaking. When you read texts aloud, you will know what your weaknesses are when it comes to pronunciation and intonation. But for you to determine the correct pronunciation in the first place, you must listen to and be familiar with (proper) spoken English. Because if your native language is not English, you don't automatically know the correct pronunciation.

It is not advisable to memorize texts because mere memorization would not be helpful if the student doesn't understand the logic behind the sentence. What is more important is to understand the pattern and the words that make up the sentences. It would be more helpful to read different texts because in so doing, you'll pick up a lot of patterns and learn different expressions. In fact, you can also learn how to express one idea in different ways. As they say, if you want to write well, you have to read a lot of well-written texts.

Reading silently also has its own advantages. Some students have mentioned that they couldn't understand the text when reading aloud because they tend to concentrate on pronunciation. It's true that in some ways reading aloud can minimize your concentration. I think English learners should both learn to read silently and read aloud. In comparison, I think students should allot more time in reading silently than in reading aloud, unless they're in a hurry to improve their speaking skills.

Reading silently gives the brain time to digest what is being read. It gives the brain freedom to imagine and to associate meanings with certain words and expressions. This is good for developing logic and reasoning. While this maybe hard work, it pays well in the long run because students will have a deeper learning of English. This is the more scholarly and intellectual way of learning.

See you next time!

1st Question

Hello everyone!

Today, one of our readers sent in a question. Let's see what he posted:

Question: Hello Sarah 先生
May I ask?
What do you recomend or　what is important?　for beginner　to study English？
Vocabulary, grammar, conversation？

Answer: Thank you very much for asking! You know you're always welcome here.

I think it's important first to know basic or simple words. As we know, language is symbol. The words & letters (alphabet) represent an idea. The word mother, when we analyze it, is just a combination of the letters 'm-o-t-h-e-r.' But English speakers have chosen to use that word to mean the person who has given birth to us and takes care of us. So before we study the structure or the form (grammar), we need to know the basic words that make up the language to help us study more complicated topics.

Without knowing the words, we wouldn't be able to tell which is the subject, the verb or the predicate. And essentially, those elements (subject, verb, predicate) are parts of grammar.

Let's take, for example, the case of a baby. The baby doesn't understand anything at first. Do you think it's reasonable if we immediately teach him the grammar? We couldn't tell the baby: "Oh baby, in constructing sentences, you have to include the subject, verb and predicate. The subject has to agree with the verb." Oh no!

In the natural order of things, the baby first learns the basic words that he often hears. Most babies learn to speak 'Papa' or 'Mama.' These words mean or represent something and the human brain learns it faster. Only when the brain learns to attach a meaning to the word, is it ok for it to move on to more difficult tasks, one of which is grammar. So this means that we need to memorize or remember simple words first.

Grammar and conversation can be studied at the same time. But ideally, grammar should be studied ahead. Because if we went straight to conversation, we might be able to speak, but the grammar might end up wrong. And, I think it's very hard to correct a mistake if you are already used to it.

So, try to study simple grammar first, and then be brave enough to practice speaking. As much as possible, try to talk to someone who has good command of English because if you hear grammatically incorrect sentences, you'll learn them. And, as I've said before, it's better to learn the correct things at first than to correct mistakes later when you are already used to them.

Did I answer your question? I hope it helped. Just keep the questions coming...

My Adventures with English 1

For starters, let me share with you my adventures with the English language. My parents told me that I really like studying. Proof of that is when I was three years old, I begged them to let me go to school. Because of my persistence, they let me attend nursery even if I was a year younger than my peers.

Mom said that I couldn't even pronounce all the letters of the alphabet correctly. My 's' became a 't.' At that time, I think we were just being taught the basics of English - the alphabet and numbers. The Philippine alphabet doesn't differ much from the English alphabet. But if we trace it back to history, we had our own system of writing which was called 'Alibata.' It basically look like simple drawings and had a lot of curves.

However, the Spanish, American and Japanese occupation have driven it out of existence.

I wasn't a fast-learner when I was young. My Mom got disappointed many times teaching me how to read (even Tagalog). Hehe.. Up until I was in Grade 1, I wasn't very interested in English. It was just a subject taught in class. In fact, we often got irritated when Dad would switch channels and watch American movies. I couldn't understand them and they were foreign to me.

But I guess overtime, I got used to it. Thanks to Dad, I got more familiar with English/American films. I think I even know more than he does nowadays.

Send in Your Questions About Learning English

Hey everyone! Once again, I'm up and blogging. I thought it would be better for those of you who are learning English to post your questions here and to get answers as from me as quickly as possible.

You can read about what's going on in my life at: http://asksarahsensei.blogspot.com. I also have another blog about writing well in English. I'm currently conducting English classes online and privately. I've been doing it for years, and loving it. So I've decided to help those of you who are really eager to learn the language. This site is all about you and your questions regarding learning English. Everyone is welcome!

So, what are you waiting for? Feel free to ask anything you want about learning English. This is a site dedicated to English learners. As I might have told most of you, I've been studying English since I could barely talk. Haha.. I think I've gone a long way from then. I'm sure you can too!

I would like to do my best and use my expertise to help you. So go ahead. Don't hesitate. No question is too simple. When you post comments, you can choose to include your name and contact info or you can choose to be anonymous. Either way, you can be sure that I'll provide you with answers.