Why people fail to learn English

Lack of self-study

Many people try to learn languages using a similar approach to that of a school student who only attends classes and doesn’t study outside of the classroom. Although this can be effective for ‘beating the system’ or ‘beating an exam’, it is not an effective approach to language learning. A certain level of immersion is necessary to master a foreign language, this does not have to be in a native-speaking country …although this is extremely beneficial. It can also be in the form of reading a book or blog in the target language, watching TV or YouTube videos.

 

Self-study but no conversation

Some people are very comfortable with self-study, perhaps as a result of spending several years in higher education. However, without sufficient ‘in-field’ practice (that is to say, conversation with native speakers) they will not be able to fully apply what they have learned. This often results in a gap between reading/writing ability and speaking/listening ability. You don’t have to be at any specific level before you put yourself out there and try to converse. You just need a willingness to learn. Spend just as much time listening as you do speaking.

 

Failure to learn from/take correction

It is so important to feel free and comfortable when learning a language. A child-like ability to take correction positively will go a long way. You should expect to get a lot of things wrong and you should expect to feel uncomfortable with some of the phonetics, especially if your native tongue is not from Germanic roots. This is actually a positive sign that you are being challenged with new information as opposed to trying to make it fit into the phonetics that you are accustomed to in your native language.

 

Lack of Focus/unclear goals.

You may have a clear goal, but if you lack focus or try to take on too much, you will likely become overwhelmed or frustrated and fall short of it. Break you larger goal up into ‘bite-size’ chunks that you can work on daily or even weekly. This way, you can experience regular and measurable success. Limit yourself to no more than 2 or 3 smaller goals at any time. A good example would be a set amount of reading time each day or a certain number of vocabulary words that you practice using in sentences. Make sure your goals are realistic based on the amount of free time you have and your ability to absorb new information. Don’t try to learn fifty new words each day for example if you struggle to remember things.

 

Poor motivation/discipline

Often in life, we have competing issues vying for our focus or unexpected circumstances beyond our control force us to change our focus. Life happens. There are also times when we allow ourselves to be distracted by less significant issues. Regardless of the cause, success in learning a language requires discipline and dedication, the fuel of which is motivation. If you have strong enough reasons, you can accomplish anything you desire. Significant success demands passion. Your desire will sustain you when the challenges and obstacles come your way.

 

Low Energy

Most of us have to work to support ourselves, maybe even to support other family members too. Our jobs and the mental stress they create can be very taxing on our energy and leave us feeling drained at the end of the day. Getting quality rest time and eating healthy foods that support the brain and cell recovery is vital. Here is an obvious, but somewhat neglected fact; if you don’t take care of your mind and body, it will not perform to its potential.

 

Procrastination

We can sometimes delay our own progress by over-analyzing our situation. We want to make sure we have thought of everything first. However, no matter how long and hard you prepare, you will never have all the answers to the questions you ask. Studies show that the best time to take action on a decision is when it first occurs to us, and that every moment after that, the will to execute on it diminishes. If you don’t get started, you’ll never achieve your goal. One of the most dangerous phrases is “I’ll do it later.”

What to do

So, here is an easy-to-follow summary of how to avoid the most common pitfalls…

• Keep your goals simple 
• Set realistic, measurable targets
• Be resilient
• Take action!

At Speakeasy, you receive personalized classes from native-speaking teachers who work with you to achieve your goals and stay motivated. Learn from the comfort of your own home with a native speaking teacher who makes you feel relaxed and confident. Take lessons from your office at lunch time or even while travelling abroad. As long as you have a Skype account and internet access, you can attend classes and study in an environment most convenient for you.

Visit our website for more information on our one-to-one courses www.speakeasy121.com

visit our video tutorial course on Udemy to learn more about the most commonly used idioms in English-speaking countries, as well as tips for business English.

Idioms and their origins

Every language uses sayings for giving advice or summarizing the principles and values of the associated culture. These sayings are called ‘idioms’. The English language is filled with idioms. Native English speakers love to use idioms to express themselves and add emphasis to their speech. 

Idioms can be a single word, a phrase or clause, or even a complete sentence. The figurative meaning of these expressions is separate from the literal meaning of the words they consist of. Although the literal meaning of many idioms may seem far removed from the situations they are used to describe, their origins are a lot more practical than they may appear.

Idioms are almost always colloquial or cultural. This article looks at the origins of some of the most common idioms in the English language today. As you will see, the origins are sometimes quite literal.

The navy

The saying ‘show your true colours’ refers to reveal who you really are, your true character. At one time, naval ships used to be identified solely by the colours on their flags to show which country or group they belonged to. Pirates would sail under false flags to trick other ships and then use the element of surprise to attack them. The saying ‘stick to your guns’ was a command given to sailors manning the guns on naval boats. It meant to stand firm and hold to your position, despite what the enemy was doing. They were expected to stay at their posts even when the boat was being attacked. Now, it use used to refer to standing up for your rights and beliefs under any circumstances.

Sports

Sports idioms are perhaps the most popular in society today. ‘The ball is in your court’ derives from the game of tennis, meaning ‘it’s your decision or responsibility to do something now’. The idiom ‘step up to the plate’ has its origins, perhaps quite predictably, in the sport of baseball and refers to taking responsibility. A politician, for example, that has done something wrong or is faced with a complicated problem might be expected to step up to the plate. ‘To get a head start’ means to start before everyone else. This idiom comes from horse racing.

Farming

Despite the fact that most people don’t live or work on farms anymore, many idioms have survived from an age when it accounted for a much larger slice of the economy. ‘Until the cows come home’ is commonly used refer to doing something for a very long time. Its advent is said to come from the fact that cows can stay out grazing for months on end since the fields are covered with grass until the season starts to change in autumn. This idiom is often (but not exclusively) used to imply an undesirably long wait, or even a pointlessly one. ‘We could talk about this problem until the cows come home’. 

The expression ‘to make hay while the sun shines’ was first used by mediaeval farmers to refer to taking the opportunity to do something when the time and conditions are right. It wasn’t possible to predict the weather for a long period of time, so activities like cutting, gathering and preparing hay had to be done while the conditions were suitable. The expression ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’ comes from the idea that if all your eggs are in one basket and the basket is dropped, all the eggs are lost. The expression was extended to life in general to mean ‘don’t make everything dependent on one thing’.

Hunting

Although hunting historically played a key role in the development of civilisation, it is now somewhat frowned upon by civilized society. However, its transition from necessity to sport to distasteful hasn’t impaired the widespread use of its idioms.

If you are ‘barking up the wrong tree’, then you've got the wrong idea about something or you are blaming the wrong person for something. If something or someone is ‘fair game’, then it is acceptable to target, criticize or attack them. A ‘shot in the dark’ is a guess at something that leans more towards hopeful than calculated.

Gambling

Idioms that derive from gambling arguably warrant their own extensive blog. They are as popular and pervasive as the activity itself. ‘Having the upper hand’ comes from card games and refer to having a more valuable combination of cards than the other players at the table. It is now more commonly used to mean having a better chance of winning or succeeding at anything than your opponents. The idiom ‘all bets are off’ is used to refer to agreements that no longer apply. ‘To win hands down’ refers to an easy victory. 

Post-renaissance

‘To get the sack’ means to be dismissed from your job. It comes from a time when tradesmen carried their tools around in a sack. If their employer was not happy with their productivity at the end of the day, he would literally ‘give them their sack’.

The ‘upper crust’ refers to the social or financial elite within society. At that time, bread was baked in stone ovens. The lower crust was inedible because it had been in contact with the oven floor and was too hard and dirty to eat. It was given to the servants to eat, while the upper crust was given to the lord of the manor and his family to eat, so they became known as the upper crusts.

‘Red tape’ refers to any trivial and needless delay caused by unnecessarily complex and time consuming activities. Red ribbon was once used by the civil service and legal profession to tie up bundles of legal documents. Before any official business could be done, the red tape had to be cut.

At Speakeasy, we use native-speaking teachers who have a very natural familiarity with the everyday expressions in the English language. Learn from the comfort of your own home with a native speaking teacher who makes you feel relaxed and confident. Take lessons from your office at lunch time or even while travelling abroad. As long as you have a Skype account and internet access, you can attend classes and study in an environment most convenient for you.

Visit our website for more information on our one-to-one courses www.speakeasy121.com

visit our video tutorial course on Udemy to learn more about the most commonly used idioms in English-speaking countries, as well as tips for business English.

All About IELTS

How IELTS works

The IELTS exam is the world’s leading English test for higher education and migration. 'IELTS' stands for 'International English Language Testing System' and is recognised by more than 9,000 universities, government bodies and professional organisations around the world. There are two versions - Academic and General Training. The Academic IELTS exam acts as an entrance test for non-native English speakers wishing to attend university in predominantly English-speaking countries. The General Training exam is for professionals seeking to work in English-speaking countries or for visa requirements.

There are four separate tests in the IELTS exam - reading, writing, listening and speaking. 

 

Reading: The Academic exam includes three long texts; ranging from the descriptive, factual texts to more analytical ones. The General Training version requires test takers to read extracts from newspapers, advertisements, instruction manuals and books.

Writing:  Both versions includes two tasks. For task 1 of the Academic exam, test takers are presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in their own words. For task 1 of the General Training exam, test takers are presented with a situation and are asked to write a letter that may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style. Task 2 is similar for both versions. Test takers are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Put a few minutes aside to plan the structure of your answer before you begin writing. 

The listening and speaking sections are the same for both exams.

Listening: This is a 30 minute test consisting of four recordings. You will be required to answer questions based on what you have heard. Since you only get one chance to hear each recording, it is crucial to stay focused.

Speaking:  The speaking test takes a little under 15 minutes to complete. The first part involves answering general questions about yourself. You are asked to speak at length about a specific topic in the second part, which is then followed by more questions on the same topic in the third part.
 

The IELTS 9-band scale

IELTS scores have a recommended validity period of two years. There is no pass or fail in IELTS. Candidates are graded on their performance, using scores from 1 to 9 for each part of the test, which then produce an Overall Band Score. Here is a breakdown of the main bands as stated on the official IELTS website.

Band 9: Expert user: has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

Band 8: Very good user: has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

Band 7: Good user: has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

Band 6: Competent user: has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

Band 5: Modest user: has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.

Band 4: Limited user: basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.

The General Medical Council in the UK announced in June 2014, that the minimum IELTS scores they accept when registering doctors to work in the UK will be at least 7.0 in each of the four areas tested, and an overall score of at least 7.5.

Whether it’s for medicine, visa requirements or any other purpose; an overall score of 7.5 is very demanding. Intensive preparation can help to raise your score in a short period of time, but there is no substitute for really learning a language.

At Speakeasy, our teachers have a thorough understanding of the IELTS exam and experience preparing students from all corners of the globe. We use practical  strategies and activities to help our students approach the test tasks with confidence. Learn from the comfort of your own home with a native speaking teacher who makes you feel relaxed and confident. Take lessons from home, from your office at lunch time or even while travelling abroad. As long as you have a Skype account and internet access, you can attend classes and study in an environment most convenient for you.

Visit our website for more information on our one-to-one courses www.speakeasy121.com

visit our video tutorial course on Udemy to learn more about the most commonly used idioms in English-speaking countries, as well as tips for business English.