10 Things to Avoid While Studying English in the US
A lot has been written about what to do when you’re abroad and trying to learn a language. There isn’t much material on what not to do when you want to make the most out of your stay. What to do or what to avoid go actually hand in hand, so here’s ten things to avoid when taking your ESL class in the US:
1. Thinking it’s too hard and that it will take an eternity.
Learning a language in its entirety is practically impossible even for natives. Learning it so that you can speak and read fluently is hard and will take time, but it’s neither impossible nor it will take up a lifetime to learn it.
2. Believing, on the contrary, that a couple of months are enough.
As much as you will learn on your ESL class in the US, reality is you will need more than two months to learn English. It will probably take years. Learning abroad, though, has proven to be a lot more effective than in your homeland.
3. Translating from your language.
That’s a very common mistake. To learn a language, you need to think in that language. When you translate, you are thinking in your own language, and that’s not effective.
4. Memorizing vocabulary.
Studying from the dictionary is absurd. Some people think they can learn more by doing that, but it’s just a waste of time.
5. Learning lists of verbs or grammar rules with no relation.
Learning, for instance, phrasal verbs, can only come from practice. After using them, you’ll really grasp their meaning, so don’t expect to learn them by heart.
6. Reading very complex texts.
Some people think that by reading long, complex texts, they will end up learning the language in the end. This is just nonsense: you’ll end up confused and frustrated.
7. Trying to analyze everything logically.
Grammar knowledge is useful, but it takes time to really learn it. When starting, try not to get too deep into the details, it can get a bit messy and upsetting. The best way to learn grammar is by slowly grasping the concepts, so this is only achieved through patience and hard work.
8. Ignoring the textbooks.
When you’re learning abroad, you tend to think that’s just enough to learn the language, when it’s really not. Studying from the textbooks and doing the exercises is essential to understand English.
9. Getting frustrated.
This is actually hard to avoid, because it’s a feeling. Try to avoid the reason why you’re getting this feeling in the first place. If you are frustrated because you don’t understand something, just ask your teacher. Don’t be afraid to ask, that’s why you’re taking the ESL class.
10. Not practicing.
The exercises are the core of the study process. You may think you’ve understood something in theory, but if you don’t apply it in practice, you’ll forget everything from one ESL class to the next.
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