3 Tips to Help you Enjoy English
Do you ever struggle to stay motivated when studying English? Applying the tips below will help you increase your motivation and make learning English more enjoyable and interesting.
- Tip 1: Get daily enjoyable input.
- Tip 2: Don’t focus on or worry about your grammar when you are having a conversation.
- Tip 3: Don’t be afraid of making mistakes!
One of the best ways to improve your English vocabulary and grammar is not by studying more but by getting more input in a natural way.
Tip 1: Get daily enjoyable input.
Notice that enjoyable is emphasized. If you are going to increase your English fluency, wouldn’t it be great to have fun doing it?
Be curious. Look for materials that capture your attention and keep you interested in learning. This will increase your motivation, and you will be more likely to stick with studying.
curious: eager to know or learn something
stick with: continue
Now, in case you’re wondering where to find quality English materials, don’t worry. Below, you will find a list to help you get started finding input you enjoy.
Use Authentic Materials
Finding enjoyable English materials usually means finding authentic materials. Authentic materials are created for native speakers of English and unlike materials created for language learners, they contain everyday English used naturally.
There are plenty of online resources for language learning, but using authentic (real) materials (and also some great materials created for language learners) is going to take your English to the next level and make it much more natural.
An authentic text is a stretch of real language, produced by a real speaker or writer for a real audience and designed to convey a real message of some sort. – K. Morrow
Morrow, K. (1977). Authentic texts and ESP. In S. Holden (Ed.), English for Specific Purposes (pp. 13-17). London: Modern English Publications.
By accessing authentic materials, you are gaining true exposure to the language you are learning. Authentic material is a lot different from what you have access to in traditional textbooks and language courses.
Authentic materials show you the language in use and is often much more interesting than most of the textbook material created for learners.
Of course, one drawback (disadvantage) is that until you reach a certain level, authentic materials may be too difficult. If you’re reading this and can understand 80%, you should be able to handle (understand) authentic materials. Of course, some will be easier and some more difficult. It’s up to you (your responsibility) to choose what works best for you.
To help you get started, I have created a list of recommendations. While many will help you find authentic input, I have also included some that are designed for language learners. Depending on your level, those might be a better place to begin.
To make progress and remain motivated, it’s important not to choose material that is too difficult.
10 Places to Find Enjoyable English Input
- YouTube – 10 YouTube recommendations. If these don’t float your boat (interest you), search for topics and YouTubers you like. There are many YouTubers who teach English well.
- TedTalks – 3,700+ choices with transcripts and subtitles (subtitles are available in over 100 languages)
- Podcasts – Check out the BBC’s 6 Minute English podcasts
- Books – Some advice from Jack at To Fluency (YouTube video)
- Blogs – Read blogs in English on any topic that interests you. It doesn’t need to be a language blog. It might be a blog about travel (Notes from the Road). Interested in something else? Simply type the topic + blogs into a search and voila! Lots of choices!
- The news – The BBC has some great options, including Lingohack. NPR (National Public Radio) is another great source of both news and other programs, including podcasts. It has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and has been around almost as long as I have ;-).
- Twitter – Follow me and other English language accounts for bite-sized lessons and lots of idioms, vocabulary, and grammar.
- Webcomics – 18 imaginative webcomics to inspire you by Creative Bloq.
- Language Learning Apps – My 5 recommendations
- Music – Vanessa has some great advice in her YouTube video.
With all the free resources available on the Internet, there really is no excuse for not getting daily enjoyable input.
Bonus Resources for Finding Input
Finding podcasts and other English resources can be difficult and overwhelming when English isn’t your first language. If you didn’t find anything you liked from the list above, check my recommendations and resources page. It includes podcast recommendations, a variety of excellent Twitter accounts you can follow, and more.
If none of those appeal to you, the ball is in your court (it is your responsibility to take action). Start surfing the web in English in search of resources that interest you.
My go-to search engine is Google.
go-to: relied on and regularly turned to for expert knowledge, skill, or performance
A Personal Example of Enjoyable Input
I’ve done yoga on and off for almost 18 years. However, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I was able to make yoga a daily practice.
on and off: occasionally, intermittently, sometimes but not regularly
What made the difference? I finally found an online yoga teacher that I loved and who kept me interested in yoga.
If you want to practice English daily, you need to find input that you love. There are tons of yoga teachers in the world, but I failed to stick with a regular yoga practice until I found input that I loved (in the form of videos by a teacher I loved). There are also tons of English teachers. We all have different tastes, so finding what works for you is key to sticking with any skill you are trying to improve.
This post is not about yoga, but if you are learning English AND you are also interested in yoga, Yoga with Adriene might just be the perfect way for you to make learning English more fun!
Adriene has a plethora (large amount) of free videos where she talks you through all the poses, giving you listening practice while creating more balance, strength and flexibility. Who could ask for more?!
Okay, not everyone likes yoga. I get that (understand). If yoga isn’t your thing, find what is!
Don’t get me wrong (don’t misunderstand); learning isn’t all fun and games. It takes hard work and persistence (ability to continue) to become good at something. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t add more enjoyment to your learning.
What I want you to take away (remember, gain, understand) from this post is this:
It is possible to find and add enjoyable input to your English learning toolkit.
toolkit: personal set of resources
Special note for beginners
Don’t worry about not being able to speak when you are a beginner. It takes time. Just like (similar to) learning your first language, listening is the first step.
For those ready to start exercising their speaking muscles, check out How to Practise Speaking a New Language… Without the Anxiety Rush! by Shannon Kennedy at Fluent in 3 Months.
The recommendations below contain affiliate links. I only recommended products I love.
If you decide to make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Input is the first step
You need to put some English in before you can put it out.
It’s important to find interesting and easy things to read and listen to.
As you get more and more input, your vocabulary and comprehension will grow. Little by little, you will start to understand more. As your vocabulary grows and you start understanding how the language is used, you can start to speak.
Tip 2: Don’t focus on or worry about your grammar when you are having a conversation.
There is a time and place for grammar work, but it is not during conversations.
While I enjoy teaching grammar, too much focus on grammar can be detrimental (damaging). Becoming hyper-focused on grammar can lead to fear and hesitation when speaking.
When having a conversation, the most important thing is understanding and being understood. Focus on communication and expressing your ideas. Focus on the other person. For more about this concept, I recommend the following TEDx talk:
Learning a language? Speak it like you’re playing a video game | Marianna Pascal | TEDxPenangRoad
If you are getting lots of natural and enjoyable input regularly, in an active and engaged way, you will be getting good exposure to grammar at the same time.
Reading for pleasure in English is a great way to see grammar patterns in use.
Recommendations for Learning Grammar
If you enjoy learning about grammar and/or want an excellent grammar book, I highly recommend the following 2 books:
Understanding and Using English Grammar by Betty Azar (*Be sure you get the one with the answer key!) – This textbook is for Intermediate and Advanced students.
Practical English Usage by Michael Swan – This book is for Intermediate and Advanced students and is a great reference for teachers too. It is a reference book with over 600 explanations of English language use that regularly cause problems for students studying English. The writing is not too complicated. True to its title, it gives practical answers with examples of correct usage and also typical mistakes. From abbreviations and acronyms to the subjunctive and yes/no questions, this book is extremely comprehensive in scope and is also well-organized.
Another tip for improving your grammar is to get a grammar coach. I hope to make these services available in the future. A grammar coach is someone who is able to assess your grammar issues and help you target areas for improvement. This is helpful in cases where errors may have become fossilized (incorrect language that has become a habit and is not easily corrected).
If you write a lot and want your grammar checked, I highly recommend Grammarly. Even the free version will catch many of your grammar mistakes in documents, emails, on Facebook, and other places you want to write accurately.
Another useful tool is ChatGPT, which can both correct and explain your grammar mistakes. It’s pretty impressive! I’ll show you some examples in an upcoming post.
Related post: 5 Reasons to Use Grammarly
Tip 3: Don’t be afraid of making mistakes!
You are going to make a lot of mistakes. It’s totally okay and normal. Were you perfect the first time you played your favorite video game, musical instrument, or sport? Of course not!
You practiced and you got better. Speaking English is like playing a game. Hang in there! You can do it! We all make mistakes. Learn to treat mistakes as no big deal. Recognize them for the gifts they are.
Related post: Embrace Mistakes in Language Learning
It’s up to you (your responsibility, your decision) to put these resources to use. It’s up to you to take my advice and realize the value of mistakes. If you focus on being perfect, you won’t be able to have a conversation. Mistakes are a good thing! They are opportunities to learn and improve. Welcome them (happily accept them). If you need more evidence, you might enjoy my story.
Remember: Communication is the most important thing. Mistakes are not important, understanding is. Mistakes are great learning opportunities!
How to Speak Fluent English: Top 10 Tips
If you are thinking, but I want to be fluent!
Of course we all want to speak well, but that is a different type of practice. It is a separate activity from having a conversation. If you have the opportunity to have a conversation in English, focus on your ideas first. Focus on the person you are speaking with. Ask them questions. Be a good listener. Find the gaps and fill them.
Let me know if you have any questions. If there is any way I can help you on your English journey, feel free to send me a message on Facebook or Twitter.
Ready to jump-start your English?
Why not have fun doing it? Check out these Video Clips for Fun and Improving English.
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Never stop learning.
~ Trey
