how I learned English by myself in a lazy way without studying (advice from a polyglot)

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares how they learned English in a fun and relaxed way without attending an international school or living in an English-speaking country. They provide practical steps, such as watching videos without subtitles, mimicking speakers with emotion, and incorporating reading and self-talk. The speaker emphasizes the importance of enjoying the learning process and involving emotions for faster improvement. They also discuss how putting oneself in an English-speaking environment can significantly boost fluency. The video concludes with a personal story of their motivation to learn English, inspired by a desire to sound 'cool' speaking the language.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker learned English independently, without attending an international school or living in an English-speaking country.
• 📚 They completed both their bachelor's and master's degrees in English-taught programs.
• 🎥 The first step is watching YouTube videos or other media for 30 minutes a day without subtitles to develop a sense of the language.
• 🔤 Watching videos without subtitles helps reduce stress and encourages focusing on how the language is spoken.
• 📺 In the second step, after a week, the speaker recommends watching videos with English subtitles, focusing on familiar topics like travel vlogs.
• 🗣️ The third step involves mimicking short video clips with emotion, including facial expressions and gestures, to improve speaking skills.
• 💭 The speaker suggests talking to oneself about anything, especially during emotional moments, as this helps enhance fluency.
• 📖 The fifth step is to start reading English novels after six months, focusing on fiction for better engagement and understanding.
• 🏫 Immersing oneself in English-speaking environments, like taking courses or interacting with English-speaking clients, can accelerate improvement.
• 💡 The speaker’s motivation to learn English started when they admired people speaking it fluently on the streets, which drove them to become fluent.

Q & A

What was the speaker's primary method of learning English?

The speaker primarily learned English by watching YouTube videos and other media without subtitles, focusing on how the language is spoken, and mimicking tones, rhythms, and expressions.

Why does the speaker recommend watching videos without subtitles in the first week?

The speaker believes watching videos without subtitles helps reduce the overwhelm from too many new words and allows learners to focus on how English is spoken naturally, including tone, rhythm, and body language.

How does the speaker suggest learners involve emotion in their English practice?

The speaker suggests mimicking the speaker's emotion, tone, facial expressions, and gestures when repeating sentences from videos. This makes the learning process more engaging and improves speaking skills.

What type of videos does the speaker recommend for beginners, and why?

The speaker recommends watching travel vlogs that are under 10 minutes long because they are entertaining, easy to follow, and offer changing scenes, which help beginners guess the meaning of sentences.

Does the speaker recommend looking up every new word encountered while learning English?

No, the speaker advises only looking up words when curious and not stressing over memorizing vocabulary or following strict rules for learning new words.

What does the speaker mean by developing 'language sense'?

Developing 'language sense' refers to understanding how the language works by observing how people speak, including their tone, rhythm, and body language, rather than focusing solely on vocabulary and grammar.

How does the speaker recommend practicing speaking English alone?

The speaker recommends talking to yourself about anything, especially when experiencing strong emotions, as this can help improve fluency. They found that emotional expression helps with speaking English more naturally.

When does the speaker suggest learners start incorporating reading English novels?

The speaker suggests starting to read English novels after consistently practicing English for at least six months, choosing books where the learner can understand around 60% to stay engaged and motivated.

What was the speaker’s initial motivation for learning English?

The speaker was motivated to learn English at the age of 12 after seeing two strangers speaking fluent English. They thought it was 'cool' and decided to become just as fluent to feel confident and impressive.

How does the speaker suggest immersing oneself in an English-speaking environment?

The speaker suggests joining English-speaking programs, online courses, language exchanges, or even making videos in English. Immersing yourself in situations where you must use English can accelerate language improvement.