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Learning a foreign language is often easier when there aren’t any barriers hindering your progress. Many language learners struggle daily with the same issues; don’t be one of them! Read on to find out what you should try to avoid when learning English!

The Fear of Making Mistakes

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; fear can become a huge barrier, which makes it difficult to progress further. Mistakes are an unavoidable part of the learning process. Think about it; there’s no way that you can reach fluency without making lots and lots of mistakes!

When you were a child you were certainly a brave learner, saying your first words in your mother tongue language and jumping with enthusiasm at the experience of communicating with others. You learned without the fear of failure or embarrassment, so do the same thing now! Be confident and have an ‘I can do it’ attitude!

Old & Outdated Methods

Boring textbooks and the tedious memorization of words and are outdated and totally ineffective methods of learning a foreign language. You’ve certainly met students who have been learning English for years but still can’t communicate easily or respond to basic questions!

Whether you learn English on your own or in a classroom, focusing on functional language and using the right material is absolutely crucial.

Lack of Goals

Everyone learns at a different pace, but it is important for all students to set clear and achievable goals. Understanding the importance of this process and the techniques involved in setting achievable goals paves the way for success.

So, you can’t have a macro-goal without setting micro-goals. A macro-goal may be that you study the English language to get a specific score on IELTS. However, each time you reach a micro-goal, such as improving your listening skills, you have a reason to celebrate your accomplishment!

Unrealistic Expectations

Now that the new academic year has started, you may find yourself struggling with multiple commitments; your work and personal life, combined with your English studies, may feel overwhelming at times.

Be realistic and don’t expect to learn everything immediately. You simply cannot improve at lightning speed – nobody can! Just study effectively and set aside just half an hour each day to study English.

Too Much Focus on Grammar & Vocabulary

You started studying grammar and learning difficult structures at school – long after you became a fluent speaker in your mother tongue language. When you focus solely on learning grammar rules and lots of vocabulary, you potentially hinder learning how to communicate naturally.

Before enrolling on a course and studying for hours, take some time to find all the different options available to you. For example, if you feel the most important thing is to improve your listening and speaking skills, a conversation course could be the perfect choice for you.

Insufficient Practice

Have you ever marvelled at people who can speak a second language as fluently as their native language? Well, they certainly didn’t do it in one day!

Like every other thing in life such as driving a car or playing a musical instrument, learning the language is not enough. So, make practice a part of your everyday schedule. After all, practice makes perfect!

Negativity

You probably groan every time you hear the word ‘study’. Many language learners associate study and homework with something that is unpleasant and boring. Nothing kills the desire to learn, more than boredom!

Stop thinking of learning as a chore, and see the future school year in a positive light! Having a negative attitude doesn’t help improve your learning. Don’t forget that whatever your level of English is, E-planet is here to help!

Do you have anything you’d like to add to this list? Share your thoughts below!

Now that you know what to avoid, you are ready to learn English effectively, spread the word; give this article a quick share on your favourite social media site!