Over the last two years, I've researched a lot about how not to waste time on unnatural techniques, and the result is the list of mistakes below. The goal is for you to read it, reflect, and gradually eliminate the items on the list—and then forget about them. Remember that your focus should be on what you need to do. So don't keep ruminating on this article. It's just here to clarify things, give you freedom, and remove obstacles. As I always like to say, this isn't absolute truth. I suggest you try things out and choose what works for you.

Your goal is to listen to interesting, comprehensible audio over and over!

The image in this post is meant to convey a sense of freedom: read the negative points, but remember that your focus should be on the positive. Here is the list of ten mistakes to avoid so that your English learning can flow naturally:

credits: www.flickr.com/photos/pat1921/

1. Focusing on grammar

This is the biggest, most common, and worst mistake. Research shows that focusing on grammar harms your ability to speak. The reason is that grammar is very complex and far removed from real conversations, which are incredibly fast. There isn’t enough time to think through and recall hundreds of grammar rules, choose the right one, and then use it.

Grammar should be learned unconsciously and intuitively, the way a child learns their native language. By listening repeatedly to correct grammar, the brain gradually and automatically learns to use English grammar correctly.

2. Forcing yourself to speak too soon

At first, it’s best to focus only on listening to audio with easy vocabulary, preferably entertaining material, and to be patient. Practice speaking when you feel ready; it should happen easily and naturally, not be forced. If you force it, you may pick up bad habits, such as speaking slowly because you lack fluency and confidence.

3. Learning only from formal English books

Unfortunately, most English students learn only from formal English books. But native speakers don’t use formal terms in most situations. They talk with friends, family, and coworkers using idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang. To speak with native speakers, you need to read and listen primarily to everyday, casual English.

4. Trying to be perfect

Don’t focus on the student’s mistakes. There’s no need to worry about correcting pronunciation, verb tenses, writing, and so on. Instead of focusing on the negative, focus on communication. The goal isn’t to speak perfectly. The goal is to communicate ideas, information, and feelings clearly and understandably. Focus on the positive—communication. Mistakes will be worked out automatically at the right time.

5. Relying too much on English schools

Most students imagine that their teacher and school are responsible for their success. The only truth is that each person is responsible for their own success.

A good teacher can help, but each of us must take responsibility for our own learning. You should look for effective lessons and materials. You should work with your emotions and stay motivated and energetic. You should be positive and optimistic. No teacher can make you learn. Only you can do that!

6. Listening to and reading large quantities of podcasts and texts at different levels

For learning to be effective, you need repetition: listening to and reading (input) simple, easy-to-understand texts or audio, preferably entertaining ones.

Another important point is to avoid varying your materials too much at the beginning. The more you focus on and repeat the work of one author in particular, the better your mind will adapt and the more effective your learning will be.

So choose easy-to-understand texts and audio from a single author, spoken more slowly so the material can be absorbed easily.

7. Thinking that translating texts will improve your fluency

Translation is an additional step for someone who is already fluent. It’s a slower activity that involves analysis and deliberate reasoning to make the text fit the new context.

Analysis creates bad habits and makes fluency impossible. From the beginning, students should become familiar with English terms—for example, by associating them with objects. If translation is necessary, keep it to a minimum to avoid forming bad habits.

8. Thinking that writing texts will improve your fluency

Writing is one way of using a language, and it is improved through reading. To become fluent, the main thing is to listen to a lot of simple, entertaining English.

9. Thinking that learning English means forcing yourself to study as if solving a math problem

The more relaxed you are, and the closer the experience is to having fun, the more you’ll absorb. Read texts as though you were reading a letter or email from a friend or someone you know. You shouldn’t study and try to understand every word in the text. The main thing is to grasp the general ideas. By repeatedly listening and reading without pressure, you’ll gradually learn the vocabulary without forcing it.

10. Thinking that trying to memorize vocabulary will produce effective results

We’ve already seen that worrying about studying the details isn’t important. In this case, it’s even more complicated because there’s no context. Vocabulary will be learned indirectly by repeatedly reading and listening to texts and audio about exciting, entertaining subjects. There’s nothing wrong with looking something up now and then, but it should be the exception, not the rule.

These mistakes are common, but the good news is that you can correct them. When you stop making them, you change the way you learn English. You learn faster. You improve your fluency. You enjoy learning!

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