Six Myths About Learning English: What We're Doing Wrong

Is it really necessary to memorize as many words as possible for good English? What about specific topics? What are the popular myths about learning English? Happy Monday.

Photo: IStock

Myth #1. The more words I know, the better I speak

True: You can have B2 vocabulary and not be able to express your opinion. You can have an Elementary vocabulary and still be able to communicate.

Language acquisition is a more complex process than rote memorization. It is necessary to study not only the translation of words, but also their meanings, listen to how these words are pronounced and used by native speakers (in English-language videos, podcasts, etc.), and learn how to use them in practice, in real communication.

On the subject: How did 10 most popular English idioms

Therefore, a large number of memorized words does not guarantee fluency in the language. Conversely, you may have a limited vocabulary, but you can understand the meaning of all words and phrases, be able to use them and communicate freely in everyday situations.

Myth #2. To learn pronunciation, you need to write English words in Russian letters

True: so you immediately learn the wrong pronunciation, because in Russian there are no letters to denote most of the English sounds.

Take, for example, the famous th sound in the words “then” and “that”. In Russian, there are not only identical sounds, but even similar ones. Therefore, learning English pronunciation using non-English sounds is the same as rolling pizza dough with a hammer.

Myth #3. Translating texts is a great way to learn a language

True: translation of texts from English into Russian is an outdated and inefficient method.

To master English, you need to expand your vocabulary, learn how to build sentences correctly, understand English by ear and practice communication. Translation of texts is an ineffective way for both the first and second goals, and even more so for the third and fourth.

Myth number 4. It is important to learn words, but grammar is not needed

True: it is impossible to speak English confidently without knowledge of grammar, otherwise your language will be primitive.

One gets the impression that there are only rules in grammar, which aim to teach us to speak like deputies: correctly, decorously, no one smiles. And we think: why speak correctly, you just need to speak at least somehow.

First, it would be strange if we were taught to speak incorrectly. Secondly, speaking correctly is like a cherry on the cake, a small bonus, a nice application, nothing more. In fact, grammar is about how to speak in another language in general, according to what principles to combine words in a sentence and express your opinion. Think of it not as classical rules, but rather as a deciphered code, a formula, a means for expressing opinions in a foreign language.

Myth number 5. You need to learn vocabulary according to the principle of "word - translation"

True: The translation method is suitable for language learning only at the initial level. Further, it ceases to be effective, because one translation is no longer enough.

We speak in sentences, not single words. Offers are different: short, long, full, dangling. But next to one word there is always another. And for some reason we are used to learning words in isolation from each other. Remember the ancient way of writing words in a dictionary with three columns - word, transcription, translation? Perhaps before we had no alternative to this method, but now we can learn words more effectively.

To do this, you need to look at how the new word works in the context, that is, in the sentence. This way you can see the word in action - how it works in practice, along with other words. When words are taught in context, they are no longer just letters and can be remembered more easily.

Myth number 6. Topics are another great way to learn a language

True: this is an outdated and ineffective method of the past, which is rapidly losing relevance in the modern world.

The so-called topics are 10-12 sentences memorized on a specific topic. It was with the help of topics that we mostly studied English at school: everyone remembers the classic “London is the capital of Great Britain” with a set of various facts about London and its attractions.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

But memorizing word for word ready-made texts on various topics does not contribute to high-quality mastery of the language. After all, in this way you do not learn to build a sentence yourself and freely express an opinion. Add to this the fact that you probably do not know the meanings of half of the words from this topic (at best, only the translation), and also hardly check the pronunciation of native speakers, which means that you also pronounce the words incorrectly.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Madicare can pay for your mattress and home medical equipment: unexpected things covered by insurance

How to save on groceries: 6 apps that sell surplus food for cheap at restaurants, bakeries and other businesses

Frontier Airlines opens 10 new routes from Phoenix: ticket can be purchased for $19

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.