I learned English to a C1 level: just COPY me and get fluent!

Summary

In this video, Veronica, a self-taught C1-level English learner from Poland, shares her unique system for learning languages without relying on traditional methods. She emphasizes the importance of speaking every day, even if it’s with yourself, and introduces techniques like shadowing, reading with context, and full immersion. Veronica also discusses how to make language learning emotional and personal, connecting English to your life experiences. The video encourages viewers to stop memorizing grammar and instead integrate language into daily routines and emotional contexts for faster, more natural learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 Speaking every day is crucial for language learning, even if it's just talking to yourself or in front of a mirror.
• 😀 Traditional language learning methods, like grammar exercises and memorization, are less effective for developing fluency.
• 😀 Focus on speaking and practicing with real people to improve your language skills more quickly.
• 😀 Shadowing native speakers, by repeating what you hear in shows or audios, is an effective technique for improving pronunciation and fluency.
• 😀 Reading is essential for building vocabulary and understanding context; it's better than memorizing words in isolation.
• 😀 Use tools like Loof AI to translate and read in another language, helping you improve your understanding without interrupting your reading flow.
• 😀 Full immersion, like changing your phone settings or following English content creators, helps you live in the language.
• 😀 Engaging with the language on social media or connecting with international friends supports your language learning.
• 😀 Make language learning emotional by connecting it with personal topics or situations, which makes it easier to remember.
• 😀 Developing an emotional connection to English, such as writing in a journal or researching topics you care about, enhances language retention and fluency.
• 😀 Language learning should become part of your identity. When it feels personal, it sticks much faster.

Q & A

Why did the speaker feel that traditional language classes were not effective?

The speaker felt that traditional language classes were not effective because they mainly involved passive learning, such as listening to outdated audio and memorizing vocabulary lists, which did not allow for real practice or speaking with native speakers.

What was the key shift the speaker made in their language learning journey?

The key shift the speaker made was to start speaking every day, even if it felt weird or was just talking to themselves. This helped them move away from just memorizing grammar and vocabulary and start using the language actively.

How did the speaker use self-talk as a language learning tool?

The speaker used self-talk by describing what they were doing at the moment, such as describing actions while drinking coffee. This helped build the habit of thinking in English and practicing speaking regularly.

What is the 'shadowing technique' and how did it help the speaker?

The shadowing technique involves listening to native speakers and repeating what they say. The speaker used this technique while watching American shows, which helped improve their speaking skills by mimicking native pronunciation and fluency.

Why is reading important in language learning, according to the speaker?

Reading is important because it allows learners to analyze sentence structures, understand words in context, and avoid translating word-by-word. This helps with grasping the meaning and natural flow of the language.

How did the speaker deal with the frustration of translating words while reading?

The speaker used a tool called Loof AI, a Chrome extension that provides real-time translations and context while reading, preventing the need to stop and search for words on Google Translate.

What is the 'full immersion' method in language learning?

Full immersion involves surrounding yourself with the language as much as possible, such as changing phone settings, following English-speaking social media accounts, and speaking to oneself in English. The goal is to live in the language, not just study it.

How did the speaker immerse themselves in the English language without leaving their home?

The speaker immersed themselves by watching English shows, changing their phone settings, following English content creators, and even engaging in international language exchange groups. This helped them surround themselves with English in daily life.

Why does the speaker emphasize making English emotional in the learning process?

The speaker emphasizes making English emotional because connecting the language with personal, emotional experiences helps learners relate to it more deeply, making it a natural part of their identity and facilitating quicker and more authentic speaking.

How did the speaker use their interest in psychology to make English emotional?

The speaker used their interest in psychology, trauma healing, and self-development to find English resources in these fields, which helped them connect emotionally to the language. By learning related vocabulary in English, they were able to speak about these topics more naturally in English than in their native language.