How to Practice English for Less Than 10 minutes a day

Introduction:

With everyday responsibilities such as work, school, and cooking occupying most of your day, do you feel like you don’t have enough time to learn anything? It’s hard to dedicate prolonged periods of time to one specific activity; however, ten minutes of different techniques, approaches, and thinking styles will help drastically improve your English speaking.

How to make listening to music help with learning a new language.

Typically, most people would listen to songs, podcasts, or watch TV shows to help improve their reading and listening comprehension. This is an effective way of learning a new language, such as English; however, this style is mostly ineffective due to the brain’s inability to properly recall after a couple of minutes. Instead of just listening, try to recall and practice what you just heard. What does this mean?

Essentially, the premise is to force the brain to recollect information it had just been given. Try to listen to a song fully without rewinds or stoppages, then try to listen to the song with pauses at sections that you can’t perceive. The goal is to understand phrases rather than every single word in the song. Other techniques include:

• Write down unfamiliar lyrics

• Say the lyrics out loud

•  Focus on phrases rather than words.

Writing Journal: 

A simple yet effective strategy to help learn English more efficiently is to use a writing journal. Luckily, you do not need to worry about spending a lengthy amount of time on the journal. Roughly 3 - 5 sentences a day should be enough for noticeable improvement within a few weeks.

Why does this work?

A writing journal allows the application of grammar and vocabulary rather than hearing it. This form of active recall significantly improves the brain’s ability to understand English. Over time, the brain will adapt to writing more and more sentences, which will also greatly improve the writer’s ability to share their thoughts in English. Try to start writing a sentence or two in the morning and repeat in the evening. 

What should I write?

Since it is your journal, you can write anything you want. You could write about a TV show you’ve watched or things that happened at school. Try to focus on the topic so you can fully explain all of your thoughts. The repetition will strengthen your vocabulary and grammar skills. Aim for one to three new words a day and try to implement them into your writing. It is okay if mistakes occur; it is important to grow from them and try to experiment with different phrases.

Speaking Outloud When Doing Tasks:

For dozens of English speakers, and especially new ones, speaking out loud can be discouraging and frightening. But in reality, you start to realize the more you practice, the better you pronounce words, talk with confidence, and express your thoughts more clearly. Speaking out loud helps build muscle memory and allows your brain to get into a rhythm and flow. The repetition of saying words constantly allows for optimal growth and strengthens word pronunciation. 

How to start: There are numerous ways to add speaking throughout your day; some examples include narrating your daily tasks, like cooking or cleaning. Try to say a couple of sentences whenever you can speak on something. Some examples include

• “I am cleaning the house.”

• “I am going to go on a walk.”

Simple and concise statements. Try to also record yourself for a minute or two, reading a book or an article out loud, and understand how you speak. Focus on the positives and try to speak slowly.

Speaking out loud can help decrease anxiety and build confidence. Saying words out loud makes you realize it isn’t as embarrassing as you thought it was going to be.

Fun vocabulary games:

Games are a fun way to spend your time. They help build critical thinking skills and problem-solving. A way to improve your English, as well as have an enjoyable time, is playing vocabulary games such as Wordle, crossword puzzles, and many other word-based games. Try to play the daily Wordle as it can help your brain think, and the best part is that it only takes around 5 minutes to do. Building a good habit through playing Wordle helps discipline, creativity, and abstract thinking. Not just language speaking. It is a good way to boost your brain in numerous different fields, and the experience is fun. Crosswords are also a good way to test your creativity. You can try different combinations of Wordle and crosswords. Also, try not to overstress yourself; it can be harmful to overload your brain, so try to play diligently.

Games are a fun way to de-stress and laugh, mixing in English can impose numerous benefits, and mixing the two can make your English journey fun along the way.

What to take away: 

Learning English should never be stressful. It is important to balance it, as with every other activity in daily life. Spending short times learning and improving on mistakes is as vital as spending several hours reading a textbook. Consistent practice builds confidence in individuals and builds critical thinking skills. Next time you wake up in the morning, try playing the daily Wordle!