| Most people believe that to learn to speak a foreign | | | | become fluent in English or whatever the foreign |
| language like English well, they need to spend hundreds | | | | language you're studying is? |
| or thousands of dollars and pass through years | | | | Think about that. Then answer the question for |
| learning grammar, vocabulary and practicing before | | | | yourself. |
| they can develop any fluency. | | | | Integrating into an English or |
| People think they need to struggle with long | | | | Foreign-Language-Speaking Society |
| vocabulary lists, grammar rules and irregularities and | | | | NEVER in my nearly 20 years of English language |
| memorization of irregular verb lists and language forms | | | | teaching experience have I had a student more than |
| that only tend to distort, twist and confuse you. You | | | | 10 months to one year. After that they really don't |
| are sheepishly led to believe that only after all this can | | | | need me any more! They have the skills to continue, |
| you hope to "speak" any English, French, Spanish or | | | | grow and develop their English language speaking skills |
| whatever other foreign language you may wish to | | | | for the rest of their life - for whatever reason they |
| learn. | | | | might need. |
| THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. | | | | Many of my students don't even need ten months or |
| Unfortunately, in many societies, many "institutions" use | | | | a year. They're off - integrated into American or |
| English or foreign language teaching only as a vehicle | | | | Canadian society after a much shorter time. Not with |
| to make more and more money. Their interest is NOT | | | | "perfect" English mind you, but with solidly-based |
| in you learning English or a foreign language as quickly, | | | | English language acquisition skills that will enable them |
| fluently and easily as possible. Their interest is primarily | | | | to continue on their own at their own pace for as long |
| in getting more and more of your tuition money for | | | | as they need. |
| English language classes. They may not have native | | | | Consider This |
| language speaking teachers or their teachers (native | | | | In much of Europe, many parts of Asia and on the |
| English speakers or not) may not be trained as English | | | | African continent, many "ordinary people" like you can |
| or foreign language teaching professionals. | | | | fluently speak three, four or more languages quite |
| This may help to explain why many people can "study | | | | easily. They don't need or take years of "studying" |
| English" or Spanish, French or another foreign language | | | | each language to develop conversational fluency |
| for two, three, five or more YEARS without any | | | | either. If they did, it could be years before they could |
| substantial progress. Why? Because if you ever do | | | | even "chat with the neighbors"! Even children in many |
| "learn English" or the foreign language you're studying | | | | parts of Europe laugh, talk and play together in two or |
| you won't need to pay them any more money. They | | | | three different languages while still being as young as |
| won't make another peso or cent off of you. | | | | five, six or seven years old. Are they any smarter or |
| So what? | | | | better than you? |
| Well ... | | | | Most certainly not! |
| They have bills to pay. | | | | If you truly want to learn and effectively communicate |
| They have teachers who need a weekly paycheck. | | | | in English or another foreign language in the shortest |
| They have company expenses. | | | | possible amount of effort and time, you must be |
| They need profits to stay in business. | | | | selective in how you go about it. |
| So then, what's their incentive to have you quickly | | | | |