Как эффективно изучать английский язык по коммуникативной методике

Изучать иностранный язык, и в частности, изучать английский язык, - задача непростая. Ваши успехи на курсах английского языка зависят от выбранной методики, от профессионализма учителей, от Вашей мотивации. Но есть еще один существенный момент - для того, чтобы учиться эффективно, важно знать, как это делать, нужно уметь правильно изучать язык. Наш координатор Марк Даннетт делится с Вами секретами изучения английского языка. Как сделать так, чтобы Ваши усилия находили максимальную отдачу?

Learning English
The first thing to remember is that a foreign language, English, for example, is a skill not simply knowledge. Being told that white keys make this note, and black keys make that note doesn't make you a great pianist; similarly, remembering that this auxiliary verb and that form of the verb make such and such a tense doesn't lead naturally to polyglottal genius.

So, practice, then is needed? Actually, a lot of practice. Fluency isn't something you learn: it's something you acquire, over time. You cannot be given fluency - languages do not, sadly, come in handy pill form and it can't be injected; our teachers can teach you grammar, vocab, style, register, idioms but these are the pieces that only practice can put together.

What about translation? Well we all need a little bit to begin with but English isn't just Russian with different words and, so, some things can't be translated: for example, compare:

If I stole it, I would go to prison - Если я украду, меня посадят в тюрьму.

If I had stolen it, I would have gone to prison - Если бы я украл, меня бы посадили в тюрьму.

Not the same in English.

Even Beginners should not relay on translation: they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and it can even be worth one, or two. Pictures illustrate nouns, verbs and tenses and there is a context for everything.

Learners have different needs and find reaching different levels enough. A secretary might complete intermediate level and feel she can comfortably use English at work, but the post graduate student hoping to go to Cambridge or Princeton should keep going a bit longer.

In the end, your progress depends on you. A piano has 88 keys, only 88, and yet thousands of new tunes, melodies are composed every day in Luxembourg alone.

So with a language, the possible combinations are endless. You can't be taught them all in the classroom. Your teachers can present and explain, give you material and provide opportunities for practice, correct your mistakes… many things, but they can't learn English for you. One of the most painful things I've ever heard is when a student asked me, quiet and concerned, "Why didn't you tell us to do page 29 in the workbook?" When I had stopped crying, I managed to respond "I didn't tell you NOT to do it…"

The learner must be able to study independently. This doesn't have to mean sitting with a grammar book and doing exercises until you bleed. Reading magazines, books, whatever is useful; watching films is perfect, enjoyable practice, and even listening to music helps (though I'd advise against The Backstreet Boys).

Lastly SPEAK - no one learned a language just by listening.