How I learned English at home by myself *for free* | No boring language learning tips

Summary

In this video, the South Asian creator shares her inspiring journey of learning English as a non-native speaker. Initially struggling with basic communication, she credits her improvement to watching English-dubbed animes and dramas with subtitles, which she read voraciously. She emphasizes the importance of enjoying the learning process, speaking English even when alone, and setting personal goals rather than focusing on traditional grammar and vocabulary. She advises viewers to learn English for practical reasons and to avoid using it as a status symbol, encouraging pride in one's native language and culture.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker is South Asian and learned English despite English not being their first language.
• 🏫 They attended an international school in Saudi Arabia during their elementary years but struggled with speaking English.
• 📺 The speaker's English improved by watching anime with English subtitles and later without them.
• 🎬 They also watched English-dubbed series and movies, which helped in understanding different accents and speech speeds.
• 🗣️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of enjoying the learning process and not just focusing on grammar and vocabulary.
• 🤔 Talking to oneself in English was a method that helped the speaker practice and become more comfortable with the language.
• 🌟 Having role models like Keira Knightley and Emma Watson inspired the speaker to improve their English.
• 💡 The speaker suggests that language learning should be effortless and enjoyable rather than forced or枯燥.
• 🧭 They advise against learning English just to show off or for the wrong reasons, but rather to genuinely benefit from it.
• 🌐 Upon relocating to South Asia, the speaker experienced a cultural shock where English was seen as a status symbol, which they discourage.
• 🏵️ The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to be proud of their native language and culture and to learn English for the right reasons.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial struggle with the English language?

The speaker initially struggled with speaking and listening in English, to the extent that they could not even form basic sentences, which led to bullying in school.

Why did the speaker stop attending school?

The speaker does not explicitly state the reason for stopping school in the script, but mentions that they will discuss it in a future video.

How did watching animes with subtitles help the speaker improve their English?

Watching animes with subtitles allowed the speaker to read and understand English text daily, which over time improved their language skills, particularly in reading and eventually speaking.

What was the speaker's strategy for moving from reading subtitles to understanding spoken English?

The speaker started by watching English dubbed animes with subtitles and gradually transitioned to watching without subtitles, forcing their brain to understand spoken English.

Why did the speaker choose to watch the Twilight series and Harry Potter movies?

The speaker chose these series and movies because they enjoyed them, which made the language learning process more enjoyable and less of a chore.

How does the speaker feel about the traditional way of learning a language?

The speaker believes that the traditional way of learning a language, which focuses on grammar and vocabulary, is not effective and can be boring.

What role did talking to oneself play in the speaker's language learning process?

Talking to oneself in English helped the speaker practice speaking and become more comfortable with the language, even without an immediate conversation partner.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of enjoying the language learning journey?

The speaker believes that enjoying the process is crucial for reaching the destination of language proficiency, as it makes the learning experience less forced and more natural.

What cultural shock did the speaker experience upon relocating to South Asia?

In South Asia, the speaker found that English was considered a status symbol, which was a shock because they viewed English primarily as a means of communication.

What advice does the speaker give about learning English?

The speaker advises that one should learn English for practical reasons, such as communication or business, rather than to prove oneself or gain social status.

How does the speaker feel about the importance of one's native language and culture?

The speaker encourages pride in one's native language and culture, suggesting that not knowing English should not diminish one's self-esteem, and that cultural identity is valuable in itself.