My experience and practices of learning English.

Today, I want to share my personal experience of learning English and the practices that helped me personally to speak and understand practically anyone who speaks English. It's worth noting that I started learning English back in school, then continued in university and during my first job at an outsourcing company. Over 10 years ago, I had a very weak conversational level but a decent understanding level of English. At that time, my general level of English was assessed as B1 (wikipedia ), although I personally feel that this assessment is quite conditional, and I recommend you to evaluate your level personally using these 5 categories:

1. Written English
2. Spoken English
3. Language comprehension level
4. Text comprehension level
5. Vocabulary

As is the case in most outsourcing companies, English courses were offered to everyone and were encouraged. That's how my journey of learning English with professional teachers began. Obviously, this text wouldn't exist if they helped me :) So, I'll say right away that in my case, the courses were super ineffective. Even though I tried to do my homework and attend all the classes. Nevertheless, over 2-3 years, the corporate courses took me from B1 to B2, where I remained for about 5 years. There were moments when my English improved and moments when it declined. Naturally, this was related to my work and specifically to the clients on the project. If I had the opportunity to communicate with English-speaking clients through emails and calls, my level would improve, but if not, I would revert to my previous level within 2-3 months.

However, at some point, I realized that I couldn't rely on teachers and ongoing projects, and I needed to take matters into my own hands. That's when I started to figure out what worked specifically for me and what helped me in language learning. Through trial and error, I developed the 5 categories I mentioned earlier and understood that each category needed to be approached and developed purposefully.

What I did to boost my English language learning:

1. For written spoken English: I started by keeping a journal, then progressed to writing articles and managing a Twitter account. Now, LinkedIn provides me with enough practice, and over time, I increasingly want to write in English for an English-speaking audience. Additionally, it's important to note that writing practice has a limited impact on your grammar. Parallel to this, you should memorize grammar rules and try to apply them in your practice.

2. Spoken English: Improving spoken English proved to be the trickiest, as there isn't always someone to talk to in English, especially a native speaker. Nonetheless, here are a few practices I would recommend:

a. Try having an inner dialogue in English. Switch to English for at least an hour each day and try to verbalize all your thoughts in English.

b. Use apps for communication with English speakers. This allows you to have more flexibility in finding a practice partner.

c. Consider joining a conversation club with native speakers. There are plenty of online groups available, but I believe that the main value of conversation clubs, as opposed to apps for communication with native speakers, lies in personal face-to-face interaction.

3. Language comprehension level: Watching movies and TV shows significantly improves language comprehension. I highly recommend starting with animated TV shows like The Simpsons, Futurama, etc. Initially, you might find it challenging, and you may not catch all the nuances, so I'd recommend starting with your native language subtitles, then switching to English subtitles, and finally, watching without subtitles. However, don't approach watching films and TV shows solely as a learning process. Embrace the fact that you're watching everything in English from now on and immerse yourself in it. As an alternative to movies and TV shows, you can listen to podcasts or "educational" shows. But from my personal experience, overloading your brain with content in English when it wants to relax can be counterproductive.

4. Text comprehension level: Developing text comprehension is probably one of the easiest tasks, as most internet content is in English. Therefore, gradually or immediately, find alternatives in English for all your internet activities and entertainment. It's also very helpful to switch your phone and PC operating system to English. You need to create an English-speaking "environment" and immerse yourself in it so that English truly becomes a second native language for you.

5. Vocabulary: Building vocabulary has been the most difficult challenge for me. However, besides using apps that help you systematically memorize new words and incorporate them into your daily practice, I haven't found a better solution.

By adhering to these practices, I became proficient in speaking English, understanding practically anyone who speaks English, and generally feeling comfortable in an English-speaking environment. Now I can confidently say that English has become a second language for me and doesn't cause me any discomfort. Although my learning journey is ongoing, I continue to identify my weak points and work on them.

I'd be happy if you share your techniques and what helps you maintain or improve your English level.