We all make mistakes, every one of us. These mistakes reveal themselves in all areas of our lives, no matter what language we speak or what country we come from.
Translating languages is the natural tendency when we are learning a new language. It gives us some understanding, a feeling of safety and comprehension. When we cannot comprehend what another person is saying, because we do not understand their language, it can leave us feeling instantaneously powerless and inferior. That feeling of failure infects our motivation and when we lose motivation, we give up easily. We must train ourselves to remain motivated – that takes effort.
As someone who has taught foreigners for over 8 years now, there are specific, common mistakes that learners make when studying English. Many of these are made because of over-reliance on translating between English and one’s native language. Most of my students have been and still are Europeans – predominantly French and Spanish. Due to this, I decided to write a short article on the most common errors I see repeated by learner from these two countries. Even the most advanced students still revert to some of these incorrect ways of using English.
We all know it is important to understand our mistakes so that we can improve our English, I do not need to waste your time talking about that. So, why am I telling you this? The reason is that, depending on what level of English you have when you begin classes, these common mistakes will threaten your advancement in English differently.
When an A1 or A2 level student begins formal English classes the benefit is that you can learn correct grammar immediately because it is the very first time your brain is working with this new information – there is no previous, incorrectly stored knowledge that you have to fix. The difficulty is that, because you have not spoken much English, your confidence will need a lot of work; you have to push yourself past your fears and begin speaking. That takes courage and humility.
When a B1 or B2 level student begins formal English classes the situation is quite different, and a little more complicated. The benefit here is that your confidence has largely already developed. Having a higher intermediate level, you have spent a lot of time in English conversations and the fear of speaking no longer petrifies you.
The difficulty is that all the speaking you have done has engrained some profoundly serious grammar mistakes into your brain. These mistakes are tough to rectify because they are like song lyrics you have learned incorrectly and unlearning them requires alertness, intense concentration and dealing with frustration.
As a foreigner, when you have the general ability to express yourself in English, your speech often moves faster than your actual awareness of how you are using the language you are speaking. So, to train yourself to notice and correct these deeply established, faulty grammar structures is not easy to do.
Learning English online with Foreign friend will help you address these common mistakes before they become a habit. We learn together through creating a fun, interactive space that is free of pressure or judgement.
In the next article, we will delve deeper into these mistakes and explain what they are and how to correct them.
If you would like to find out more about learning English online with Foreign Friend, or if you have any questions about our offering, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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