How I Went from B1 to C2 in English in 1 Year without Living Abroad (Not for Everyone)

Summary

The speaker shares their journey of mastering English from B1 to C2 level in a year, emphasizing that this fast-track approach is not for everyone. They attribute their success to discipline, self-improvement, and specific techniques like 'Eat the Frog' and 'The Compound Effect.' The speaker details how waking up early, focusing on output skills like writing and speaking, and consistently practicing led to significant progress. They highlight the importance of having clear goals, such as financial freedom, and how small, daily efforts can compound into major results. The video encourages viewers to adopt similar methods for faster progress.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Learning English is a difficult journey that requires dedication and discipline, but taking even a small percentage of these methods can significantly speed up progress.
• 💼 The speaker started learning English as an adult and without living in an English-speaking country, proving that strong motivation and hard work can overcome these barriers.
• 📉 A significant life event, like the speaker's moment of humiliation at work, can serve as a powerful catalyst for change and motivation to learn English.
• 🐸 The 'Eat the Frog' method was a key strategy, where the speaker prioritized difficult tasks like writing and speaking first thing in the morning to avoid procrastination.
• ⏰ Waking up at 3 a.m. to practice English for 3 hours daily, including writing, speaking, listening, and reading, helped the speaker progress rapidly.
• 🔁 Consistency is crucial, as small daily actions compound over time, leading to big results in English fluency (The Compound Effect).
• 💡 Having a clear, larger goal—such as financial freedom, entrepreneurship, or career advancement—keeps you motivated to persist in learning English.
• 📚 Active listening and context-based reading (like chunking and using context clues) are essential techniques for improving input skills such as listening and reading.
• 🎯 Aligning English learning with broader life goals like career success, entrepreneurship, or better education increases the likelihood of success.
• 🤝 Learning English for superficial reasons like making friends or watching TV is not motivating enough; stronger goals are necessary to remain consistent and committed.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the speaker in this video?

The speaker's main goal is to share his unique approach to mastering English, aiming to help others improve their English skills more efficiently by applying strategies that focus on discipline, consistent effort, and a strong mindset.

What does the speaker mean by the 'FTE moment'?

The 'FTE moment' stands for a life event or realization that causes a person to reassess their life decisions and take immediate action to make a change. For the speaker, this moment occurred when he was humiliated by a boss, leading him to prioritize learning English as a way to improve his life.

Why does the speaker say learning English is tied to self-improvement?

The speaker believes that learning English is part of a self-improvement journey because mastering a new language requires discipline, persistence, and a strong mindset. He experienced personal growth through the process of learning English, which also helped him achieve his broader life goals.

What method did the speaker use to balance English study with a full-time job?

The speaker implemented the 'Eat the Frog' method, where he prioritized the most challenging tasks, like studying English, first thing in the morning. He woke up at 3:00 a.m. to work on his writing, speaking, reading, and listening skills before starting his day.

What are the 'output' and 'input' skills the speaker refers to, and how did he practice them?

The 'output' skills are writing and speaking, which the speaker practiced for two hours in the morning. 'Input' skills are listening and reading, which he practiced for one hour, focusing on active listening and reading comprehension using context clues.

How did the speaker use his time during work hours to continue improving his English?

During work hours, the speaker took advantage of time outside of his control, such as commuting and breaks, to listen to English podcasts, take notes, and read. This allowed him to continue practicing English even while working a full-time job.

What is 'The Compound Effect,' and how does it apply to learning English?

The Compound Effect refers to the idea that small, consistent actions over time lead to significant results. The speaker applied this principle to his English learning by dedicating small amounts of time each day to practice, which eventually led to fluency.

Why does the speaker believe that having a big goal is essential for learning English?

The speaker believes that having a significant goal, like financial freedom or starting a business, is essential because it provides motivation and purpose. Small goals, like making friends or understanding TV shows, are not strong enough to sustain long-term commitment and effort.

What role did English play in the speaker achieving his larger life goals?

English was a crucial step for the speaker in achieving his larger goals, such as gaining scholarships to U.S. universities, becoming an entrepreneur, and building a network of like-minded people. Mastering English enabled him to access new opportunities and resources.

What advice does the speaker give to people who struggle with consistency in learning English?

The speaker advises people to clearly define their goals and ensure that English learning aligns with those goals. A lack of consistency often stems from not having a meaningful purpose behind learning. By linking English learning to larger life goals, it becomes a vital part of one’s identity and daily routine.