Learning a new language isn’t just about memorizing words– it’s about learning how to think in another culture. I’ve always found that fascinating.
Over the years, I’ve learned English, Spanish, Italian, and I’m hoping to add an Asian language soon. People often ask me how I do it– what apps I use, where I find teachers, how to stay motivated.
I can’t give a single, straightforward answer– it really depends on which language I’m talking about. So, to make it easier, I’ll start by sharing how I learned English.
Growing Up With English
I learned English at a young age. My parents filled our home with English books. In school, it was the main medium of instruction. In my home country, TV shows, music and all other forms of media were mostly in English. Our local movies–with all its local actors–have snippets of dialogues in the said language. Foreign movies are not translated (unlike in other non-English speaking countries) and are kept in its original form. It naturally became a second language for most of us.
Because everyone around me used the language, I naturally absorbed it like a sponge.
You can say that I learned English through a lived experience.
Tip: Watch your local favorite shows in English. It sounds minor, but constant exposure builds instinct faster than you think.
Read, Read And Read Some More
As a teen, I devoured novels– sometimes ones way above my level. By high school, I was reading classics just for fun.
A nice little trick I learned from my cousin was to always have a dictionary next to me when I read. That way, when I encounter a word I don’t know yet, I can look it up in the dictionary. This trick widened my range of vocabulary.
The more I read, the more I trained my brain to recognize grammar patterns and new vocabulary effortlessly.
Tip: Read what you love, not what feels “correct” or “academic”. Even comic books, blogs, or recipes count as long as they keep you reading in English
Learning By Doing
I was fortunate to learn English in the Philippines where it’s the country’s second language. As such, almost 80% of my interactions during my younger years were conducted in English. However, that is not to say that I spoke it perfectly immediately.
I practiced—both intentionally and unintentionally. In school, we were required to speak it, so I had to communicate in English lest I fail my courses.
As an adult, my patient documentation and other work-related interactions were in English, so it was a no-brainer for me to use the language almost everyday.
And when I moved to the UK and the United States, survival required English. Ordering food, paying bills, meeting friends — all daily immersion. My fluency came from mistakes, laughter, and repetition.
Eventually, I became very confident at English that I achieved my Certification to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
Tip: Don’t reserve English for “special occasions”. Speak even if you fumble. Write whenever you can. Real-world use teaches faster than perfectionism ever will.
Key Takeaway
Immersion requires consistency. Surround yourself with English every day, even in small ways. With technology just at your fingertips, curating an environment conducive to learning English is no longer impossible.
Remember: Fluency isn’t built overnight — it’s built through living, listening, and daring to speak.