Self-Study: Why it’s Crucial When Learning a New Language

Language is the bridge that connects people, cultures, and ideas across the globe. Whether you want to travel, connect with people from different backgrounds, or advance your career, learning a new language is a valuable skill. While language classes and tutors are helpful, self-study is a crucial aspect of language learning that should not be overlooked. This blog post will explore why self-study is essential when learning a new language and provide practical tips to maximise your self-study journey.

This idea is something I stress to all my students, both old and new. Taking lessons will always yield excellent results, but your ultimate success will be determined by what you decide to do outside the classroom. My job as a teacher is to motivate and guide you on your language-learning journey, providing feedback, exercises, advice and encouragement. What you decide to do with these resources and how you apply them to your self-study program can lead to tremendous growth in your fluency and confidence.

Flexibility and Personalisation

One of the most significant advantages of self-study in language learning is its flexibility. Unlike structured classroom settings, self-study allows you to tailor your learning experience to your unique needs and goals. You can choose what, when, and how you want to study, adapting your approach to fit your learning style and preferences better.

For instance, if you grasp grammar concepts more effectively through written exercises, you can focus on grammar workbooks or even something as simple as keeping a daily journal. Writing can be an excellent way to improve your fluency, but many language learners overlook it. A simple journal reports your day, work, and everyday tasks. Writing is a deep learning activity. You have ample time to think about what you want to say, look up the necessary vocabulary, and understand the language and grammar required. Keeping a journal like this focuses almost exclusively on relevance: what is important to you and your daily life.

On the other hand, if you’re an auditory learner, prioritise listening to podcasts, songs, or language audio lessons. The ability to create a personalised study plan ensures that you’re engaged and motivated, making the learning process more enjoyable.

Continuous Learning

Language learning is an ongoing process. Expand your vocabulary to maintain and improve your skills even after completing formal language courses. Self-study empowers you to keep learning long after you’ve left the classroom.

Online resources such as language learning apps, websites, and social media communities provide material to support your self-study efforts. Many websites provide access to authentic videos, music, and news articles in your target language, helping you stay engaged and informed.

The internet has transformed language learning, providing access to many resources that cater to different learning styles and preferences. You can explore these resources through self-study and discover what works best.

Ownership of Your Progress

Self-study gives you complete ownership of your language-learning journey. You set goals, track progress, and decide when to push yourself further. This sense of ownership can be incredibly empowering and motivating.

When you’re accountable to yourself, you’re more likely to stay committed to your language learning goals. You can set achievable milestones and celebrate your accomplishments, boosting your confidence and motivation.

Adaptability to Your Schedule

Balancing language learning with other commitments can be challenging. Self-study offers the flexibility to integrate language learning into your existing schedule. You can choose when and how to study, whether you have a busy work life, family responsibilities, or other commitments.

You might dedicate a few minutes daily to practising vocabulary on your commute or make time for more extended weekend study sessions. The adaptability of self-study allows you to fit language learning into your life without disrupting your routine.

Immersion and Real-Life Application

Self-study encourages you to immerse yourself in the language in practical ways. It’s an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in real-life situations. This immersion is crucial for developing practical language skills and gaining confidence in your abilities.

Consider joining language exchange meetups, attending cultural events, or engaging in online language communities. These experiences can help you build conversational skills, cultural awareness, and a deeper understanding of the language’s nuances.

Cost-Effective Learning

While formal language classes and private tutors are always available, self-study is often a more cost-effective option. Many language learning resources are available for free or at a low cost, making them accessible to a broader audience.

Even if you invest in premium resources or hire a tutor for guidance, the overall cost of self-study is typically lower than enrolling in an extensive language course. This affordability allows you to allocate your budget to other aspects of your language-learning journey, such as travel or cultural experiences.

Overcoming Challenges and Building Resilience

Learning a new language can be challenging, and setbacks are inevitable. However, self-study equips you with valuable skills in problem-solving and resilience. When you encounter difficulties, you’re forced to find solutions, which can enhance your problem-solving abilities and build your confidence. Never be afraid to change your learning strategies and materials. Taking a short break and focusing on other hobbies is also a great way to recharge one’s batteries.

Increased Focus and Concentration

Self-study demands discipline and focus, which are invaluable in language learning and other aspects of life. When you take charge of your learning, you develop the ability to concentrate on tasks and maintain your motivation. Consistency is key.

This enhanced focus can benefit you beyond language learning, such as in your professional career and personal development. It’s a skill that can serve you well throughout your life.

Tips for Effective Self-Study in Language Learning

Now that we’ve explored the importance of self-study in language learning, here are some practical tips to help you make the most of your self-study efforts:

  1. Set Clear Goals: Define your language learning objectives, whether passing a proficiency exam such as the IELTS, conversing fluently in social settings, or reading literature in your target language. Clear goals will guide your self-study journey.
  2. Create a Study Plan: Develop a structured study plan with specific activities, resources, and timeframes. Having a plan in place will help you stay organised and motivated.
  3. Diversify Your Resources: Explore resources such as textbooks, online courses, language learning apps, podcasts, and videos. Mix and match to keep your learning engaging. When looking for material, always remember comprehensible input. Never feel like you have to stick with one resource “to the end”. If something isn’t working, stop and try something else.
  4. Consistency: Dedicate consistent time to language learning each day or week. Even short, regular practice sessions can yield significant results over time. Focus on material related to topics that you find interesting and exciting. Language learning should always be an enjoyable experience. The moment it starts to feel like work is the moment we feel unmotivated and disinterested. Staying consistent is something I have written briefly about before.
  5. Practice Speaking: Don’t shy away from speaking. Engage in conversations with a tutor, native speakers or language partners in person or through language exchange platforms.
  6. Keep a Language Journal: Maintain a journal where you jot down new words, phrases, and concepts you’ve learned. This practice reinforces your memory and helps track your progress. Avoid learning vocabulary and terms in isolation; learn these English devices in context. When learning new vocabulary, you may start to feel overwhelmed. One reason is that the vocabulary you are learning needs to be more organised. The words you are learning are not based on a specific topic/period, resulting in a lack of focus. Organising new vocabulary will allow you to think clearer and grasp new concepts or ideas more quickly. Create sentences or short dialogues with new vocabulary. Try to relate new words, phrases, expressions, idioms, etc., to different aspects of your life. 
  7. Embrace Mistakes: Understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Embrace them as opportunities to improve and grow.
  8. Join Language Communities: Participate in online forums, social media groups, and local language meetups to connect with fellow language learners and native speakers.
  9. Stay Motivated: Find sources of inspiration and motivation, such as watching movies or reading books in your target language, setting rewards for reaching milestones or tracking your progress with language learning apps.
  10. Be Patient and Persistent: Language learning is a journey that takes time. Be patient with yourself and stay persistent, even when facing challenges. If something isn’t working or enjoyable, change it. And remember, there is nothing wrong with taking breaks when learning a new language. Some time away enjoying other hobbies can help refocus you when you return to the language-learning process.

Self-study is an indispensable component of language learning. It empowers you to take control of your journey, adapt it to your unique needs, and build valuable skills. By combining structured resources, authentic experiences, and a commitment to continuous improvement, you can unlock the full potential of self-study and embark on a rewarding language-learning adventure. So, set your goals, create a plan, and embrace the world of self-study to achieve linguistic fluency and cultural enrichment.

Good luck with your English studies!

If you are a student preparing for the IELTS, please see this article.

Writing to help achieve Fluency – Part 2

Part 1: Writing a Text about your Life

Keeping a Journal

This journal is essentially a report of your day, work, and everyday tasks.

Having a normal conversation is usually incredibly fast, requiring you to do many things simultaneously. You are listening, processing information, thinking about how to react and respond to what you have just heard, creating a response/sentence, and finally, speaking. As a beginner, this process can feel challenging and stressful. However, you set the pace with writing, and everything is much more relaxed.

Writing is a deep learning activity. You have ample time to think about what you want to say, look up the necessary vocabulary, and understand the language and grammar required.

Keeping a journal like this focuses almost exclusively on RELEVANCE: what is important to you and your daily life.

Once you have written a journal entry, correct it with your teacher so that you can learn from your mistakes. Correcting and understanding your mistakes helps create confidence and prepare you for when that situation happens again in your life. You have the general vocabulary, grammar, and phrases needed to have a conversation/talk about it.

This approach to writing is very similar to the first method discussed previously but on a more ongoing basis. You are gradually improving your language skills to respond quickly and accurately to any situation
in your life. You are slowly writing about and adding on more and more situations in which you will feel more at ease expressing yourself.

Writing to help achieve Fluency – Part 1

Part 2: Keeping a Journal

Writing can be a great way to improve your fluency and confidence in English. Writing is, unfortunately, a skill that a person tends to neglect.

When you practice speaking (by yourself or with a tutor), you recycle the same phrases, grammar, and words in various combinations. Your goal as an English learner is to take all these different English devices (phrases, grammar, vocabulary) you know and become very familiar with each one. You want to be able to use these devices independently and without overthinking. Once you achieve this, you will be fluent or near-fluent.

Here is one writing method you as a student can use to achieve this.

Writing a speech/text about your life (hobbies, work, friends, etc.)

The topic you choose for this method can be anything relevant to you. You aim to try and use a conversational tone – as if you were speaking about the chosen topic.

Simple examples could include writing about your professional background and the skills you need to learn to become successful at your job or why you decided to learn English.

The main point to remember here is you want to write about something that you would speak about in your native language to friends, family, or colleagues. Take your time when doing this activity. Look up words you are unfamiliar with in an English-to-English dictionary. Then, if possible, correct the writing with a tutor to make it sound as natural as possible. Have your tutor read the text aloud so that you can be sure about pronunciation. Once you are certain about pronouncing difficult words, learn and practice this “speech.” You want to rehearse this “speech” until you get to a point where you feel confident talking about the topic freely.

Following this type of method results in multiple benefits:

  • You gain confidence because you will be able to express yourself, and you have the certainty that what you are saying is correct English because you and your tutor have worked through your writing to ensure there are no mistakes.
  • Because what you are practicing is correct, you won’t need to think a lot while speaking. You won’t be asking yourself questions such as “is this a grammatically correct sentence?” or “is this the right word I should be using here?.” You focus on what you are saying and thus speak more fluently.
  • You are also learning relevant vocabulary, which is SPECIFIC FOR YOU.
  • You will also have better pronunciation because you have heard your tutor’s pronunciation of your “speech.”

Common Part 1 IELTS Speaking Topics – Part 2

Part 1 on common IELTS speaking topics can be found here.

If you are new to the IELTS, please see this post.

Here are some additional common IELTS Speaking topics with questions and example answers.

Food

6) Do you think children should learn to cook at school?

Possible Answer: Well. . . let me think. Should children be taught how to cook at school? That’s an interesting question. I don’t think I have ever thought about such an idea before. Cooking lessons could help educate children about nutrition, which is very important. Knowing and understanding what goes into the food you eat is always a great idea.

The speaker bought themselves some time by repeating the question. Don’t use this technique too much in your answers. But if you are asked a difficult question, there is nothing wrong with using phrases such as “That’s an interesting question.” or “I have honestly never thought about X before.” to give yourself a little bit more time to think about your answer.

Other Questions about Food:

  • Did you learn to cook as a child?
  • What is your favourite food?
  • Is there any food you don’t like?

Family

7) Do you have a small or a big family?

Possible Answer: My family is relatively small, I guess. I only have. . . mmm. . . One uncle, one aunt, and two cousins.

Other Questions about Family:

  • Do you think you will see your family more or less in the future?
  • What activities do you enjoy doing with your family?
  • Have you ever been on holiday with your family?

Environment

8) Are there natural places where you live?

Possible Answer: I grew up in the countryside and was surrounded by natural beauty. There was a crystal clear river near my house. I live in the city now; there are a few public gardens with water features, but nothing will ever compare to that beautiful river.

In this answer, the speaker drew upon their childhood, a rich source of language and experience.

Other Questions about the Environment:

  • Would you like to spend more time in nature?
  • How often do you spend time in nature?
  • What types of activities do you enjoy when spending time in nature?

Entertainment

9) Do you like going to the cinema?

Possible Answer: If I really want to watch something, I might go to the cinema with my friends. In general, though, I don’t go to the cinema often. I watch most movies on Netflix.

Other Questions about Entertainment:

  • Do you think older or younger people prefer going to the cinema?
  • Why do you think some people like watching movies at home?
  • Would you like to watch movies at the cinema more often in the future?

Education

10) What subjects did you enjoy when you were in high school?

Possible Answer: When I first started high school, I was very interested in Humanities subjects such as English and Literature because I loved reading as a child. However, as I got older, I found myself steering more towards Science and Biology.

Where possible, try and use complex sentences to express yourself. In this particular answer, a complex idea is being naturally expressed with the help of more sophisticated grammar.

Other Questions about Education:

  • Since finishing high school, have you ever gone back to visit?
  • Was there anything you disliked about high school?
  • Are you still friends with anyone you met in high school?

I have recently joined Instagram. If any of the content in this blog has helped you in any way, please consider following me. I would greatly appreciate it. See you all in part 3!

Common Part 1 IELTS Speaking Topics – Part 1

Here are some common IELTS Speaking topics with questions and example answers. If you are new to the IELTS, please see this post.

Aim to speak for around 10-15 seconds on each question. Remember: don’t rush. Focus as much as you can on your delivery (how someone speaks in public). When answering these questions, answer from your personal opinion. Use your thoughts. Avoid using vocabulary and phrases that you think will impress the examiner or something the examiner wants to hear. There are no wrong or right answers – it is all about language. The examiner is not focusing on your opinions; they care about how varied and accurate your vocabulary and grammar are and how well you can deliver your answers.

The best answers are those where your ideas lead, and your language explains, meaning you have something interesting to say, and then you can express yourself clearly.

Animals

1) Do you like animals?

Possible Answer: Yea, in general, I like animals. I feel I have become more discerning as I’ve gotten older regarding which types of animals I like. For example, I don’t really like incredibly playful dogs anymore; I prefer quiet, placid dogs.

Other Questions about Animals:

  • Are animals used in farming in your country?
  • What animals can you see in your city/country?
  • What animal would you like to see in the wild?

Art – If you do not know much about art (maybe it was a subject you did not study in school or university), do not worry. What is most important is that you have opinions.

2) When you were a child, did you enjoy drawing and painting?

Possible Answer: Well. . . thinking back to when I was in primary school and high school, honestly, I didn’t really enjoy art all that much. I wasn’t particularly good at drawing and painting, and that’s probably why
I am not all that interested in the subject. Maybe if I had more artistic ability, I would have enjoyed art more.

Other Questions about Art:

  • Do you ever paint or draw now?
  • Do you think adults should draw or paint more?
  • Do you think drawing and painting are important activities for children?

Communication

3) Do you prefer to write letters or emails?

Possible Answer: I think handwritten letters can be very beautiful and on special occasions, such as a birthday, they can be a great choice. But, email is so much more efficient – both writing and sending.

Other Questions about Communication:

  • When did you last receive a handwritten letter?
  • Do you think people will still send letters in the future?
  • How often do you send letters or emails?

Crime

4) What are some common rules in your country? For example, driving rules or public transport rules…

Possible Answer: Mmm, interesting question. Let me think. . . Well, my country is often criticized for being a Nanny state – we have far too many rules concerning traffic and even minor infringements. But. . . I think I’ve gone a little off-topic.

The speaker in this example HAS gone off-topic. But it is not an issue. The speaker was asked about different TYPES of rules, and they ended up speaking about his country having TOO MANY rules. The speaker is still speaking generally about the topic, and there is nothing in the IELTS scoring criteria that directly addresses the concept of staying on topic.
In general, while it CAN be okay to deviate slightly from the question, answer the question that you are asked.

Other Questions about Crime:

  • Do you think older people or younger people follow the rules more?
  • Do you usually follow the rules?
  • Is it important for people to follow rules?

Culture – an incredibly broad topic

5) What are the important festivals from where you come from?

Possible Answer: Well. . . when I think of festivals, I mainly think of music festivals. There are a lot of different music festivals in my country, such as weekend festivals where you can camp, jazz, rock and sometimes reggae festivals.

Other Questions about Culture:

  • Do you think people will still celebrate these festivals in the future?
  • Do older people or younger people enjoy these festivals more?
  • How do people celebrate these festivals?

In part 2, we will discuss some more common topics.

WHAT I DO: I help non-native English speakers and IELTS Students achieve their English speaking goals by providing 1-on-1 tutoring.

How to THINK in English

For tips on preparing for the IELTS, please see this post.

Translating from your mother tongue to English is a frustrating feeling when it comes to learning English. Here are some tips and strategies to help you stop translating in your head and start thinking in English.

Name Objects around you in English in your Head

As you are thinking about some simple objects you encounter during your day, really focus on the pronunciation. Having effective pronunciation from the very beginning can boost one’s confidence when it comes to language acquisition.

If you are unsure about the pronunciation of a particular word: listen to native speakers, use an online dictionary (Merriam-Webster and Cambridge), or try using this website.

Think in basic/simple Sentences

Take a simple sentence starting phrase, for example: “I am/I’m . . .” and make a few sentences:
“I’m studying English.”
“I’m working on my computer.”
“I’m walking down the street.”

After creating a few sentences, look around you: can you talk about anything in your immediate environment?
“This meal tastes delicious.”
“This couch/sofa is very comfortable.”
“There are scissors in the drawer.”

If you are having difficulty describing something, make use of an online dictionary. Memorize the word(s)/phrase(s). Learning how a word or phrase is used in context is incredibly beneficial.

Have small Conversations with yourself in English

Some significant advantages of using this technique are that you will not feel pressured to speak quickly, come up with the next thing to say, and keep the pace slow and relaxed.

If this step is proving challenging for you: do not give up! Practice, practice, practice! Set aside just two minutes a day to practice. Remember, the conversation does not need to be complicated. It can be as simple as you need it to be.

Change an item you use every day to English

  • Switch your calendar to English – if you use a calendar to plan your days, start planning in English.
  • Make To-Do Lists in English.
  • When going shopping, write down your grocery list in English.
  • Try using search engines in English.
  • Read a blog post in English.
  • Listen to a news broadcast in English.
  • Consider learning a simple skill in English. For example, how to make French Toast.

Keep track of your Progress.

Once you decide to start thinking in English and stop translating in your head, write down every day what you do.
A simple example: “Today, I listened to a fascinating podcast about The Civil War.”

Recap your day in English

Before going to bed, think about everything you did (and didn’t do) in English. Remember, you want to shift your mindset from “translation-mode” to “English-thinking mode.”

English studies: staying consistent

Here are some quick tips to help you stay focused on your English studies.

  1. Figure out what days of the week you have the most energy.
    Figure out what time of the day you have the most energy.
    Realize that your body goes through a natural ebb and flow.
    You want to study English when you have the most energy.

  2. Declutter the English in your brain.
    When something is cluttered, it is challenging to determine what is essential and what isn’t. When learning new vocabulary, you may start to feel overwhelmed. One reason for this is that the vocabulary you are learning lacks organization. The words you are learning are not based on a specific topic/period, resulting in a lack of focus.
    Organizing new vocabulary will allow you to think clearer and grasp new concepts or ideas more quickly. Try and connect new vocabulary to different aspects of your own life.

  3. Have a designated place to study.
    Environments encourage specific tasks. They serve as a trigger to let your brain know it is time to do a particular task. Find an environment that triggers your brain to say: “It’s time to study English!” Having a designated “study zone” removes unnecessary distractions and interruptions. Designating a specific location for an activity will allow you to focus more on what you are currently working on.

Good luck with your English studies!

If you are a student preparing for the IELTS, please see this article.

Tips for Practicing Speaking English Alone

If you are entirely new to IELTS and how to prepare, please see this post.

Speak in front of the mirror.

The key to learning and preparing for IELTS is habits!

Try attaching your English learning to an existing habit (something you do almost every day/evening).

In the morning: talk about your plans for the day. Things you are going to do.

In the evening: talk about what you did.

This form of practice will expose you to various tenses which you use in English.

Benefits of talking in front of the mirror:

  •  you can see your mouth movement
  • you can see your body language
  •  it feels like you are speaking to someone

If you are focusing on your IELTS writing skills, you can use this tip as a “diary entry” exercise.

Collocations (In English, you will see the phrase “heavy rain” NOT “big rain”)

  • Prepare the words (collocations): pick a topic you find interesting/enjoyable. Get some vocabulary and collocations associated with your chosen subject. Create as many sentences as you can using this vocabulary and collocations.
  • Practice speaking these sentences in front of the mirror.
  • Prepare a short presentation: take a question related to the topic you have chosen and perform a “short presentation” in front of the mirror. Try and use the collocations you have learned.

Practice with short audios

Short audios give you bite-sized chunks of language to learn and use.

A simple process to follow when using audios:

  • listen and pick out the stressed words
  • repeat the stressed words
  • pick out and repeat interesting chunks or phrases
  • try and replicate the audio/text using your own words

Shadowing

Find a short audio clip that you enjoy/find interesting.

Listen carefully to the audio.

Play the audio again and repeat what is being said simultaneously or a fraction of a second after the original speaker.

This technique will help you build word stress and intonation.

What are you currently doing?

Wherever you are, describe what you see. Focus on creating collocations and short phrases first, then create longer sentences.

Sing a song

Find a song you enjoy that is in English – find the lyrics and practice singing along.

Singing helps you learn the following pronunciation features:

  • melody
  • intonation
  • connected speech
  • contractions
  • weak sounds

Difficult things to say

Tongue twisters help you focus on specific sounds.

A very famous example: “She sells seashells on the seashore.“

Idioms

This site is excellent for learning and practicing idioms.

Here is an example using the well-known idiom “throw caution to the wind.”

YouGlish is great because you hear the idiom in context.

English immersion

Ask yourself: “How is English used in my daily life?”

“Where do I use English?” “Where do I use my mother tongue?”

Do I use English when _____?

  • using my phone
  • using my computer/laptop
  • sending texts/messages
  • listening to podcasts
  • watching films
  • listening to songs/music
  • reading books/articles/the news

Which of the above could be switched to English to help immerse yourself in English?

Set realistic speaking goals that you can measure

A simple example you could set: “For the next two weeks, I am going to speak English every day for at least five minutes.”

Achieving a goal you have defined is incredibly motivating.

Make learning English a habit

If possible: study in the same place and at the same time every day.