The journey on how to improve English level from the practical perspectives

Preface

For learning English or how to apply English as an effective tool in daily life or the work environment, this topic for some groups has been a hot topic and will continue to be a hot topic. Some people emphasize the importance of grasping English and are very eager to find out short-cut ways to help them achieve this goal; some people take learning English as a way to embrace current social challenges, such as the changing economic structure, or go for personal opportunities. Some teachers or educational institutions introduce their courses by marketing their advanced methods, and of course, some of them will push attendance forward a lot; on the contrary, some people think it's not necessary to learn English as the AI tools can help them translate all the materials they want. There is no need to expand on this topic during this article; straight forward to my conclusions, Each teacher just pushes the learner forward one step, and the ultimate effects depend on the learners themself. The necessity of learning English hasn't dropped; on the contrary, It will become more and more important. To some degree, the English level contributes a lot to the use of AI.

For me, I am still in the way truely grasping English, What I guess my current English level is around beyond B1 or around B2, still exsit the gaps comparing C1. But whatever, comparing three years ago, I would more efficiently express my thoughts in English, and can communicate in English in more and more scenarios.

Aslo I can easily pick out my current issues relate with English in many aspects, such as for phonetic: /i/, /æ/,/aɪ/. can't speak them probably.

For the sentences, I have always made some grammar mistakes and spelling errors.

For some content no matter audio or video, as the content I am not familiar or hoster's speak style I am not accustomed to, I also can't grasp the whole meaning accurately.

The necessary to engage in some activities in a meaning full way in the pure English environment for a more long time, specially for the speaking and disucssing.

I don't think above as the pure issues, on the contrary, these will guide me on the following journey, some just for fixing the tiny issues, just as the phonetic, some as the more complex social acitivities , such as the last one.

For this article, I will write about the journey of how I developed or optimized my ways of improving my English level in the following order.

Outline

1. The beginning
2. Analyzing my issues from time to time during the first stage
3. Switch movement(The second stage)
   1. The change for proactive and passive ways
   2. Try more ways
4. Pure English environment again
   1. Create the environment for me
   2. Analyzing my issues from time to time during the pure English environment stage
5. The systematical approach to grasping English
6. Why is truly grasping a second language difficult for many people?
7. Closing

The beginning

Since the awareness of needing more higher English level bcome more and more stronger and emergency for me, and this feeling or mind not only touch me once, maybe one hundred times is still a conservative number. I have been always looking for ways and thinking the possible ways on how to achieve the goal for many years.

Sometimes, the more willing want to get, the more depression will receive. Two years ago, One afternoon, the deepest depression occurred to me as I thought about how long and the possibilities for achieving the expected level while bicycling. But whatever, I just talked to myself, just keep on practicing; if I don't keep on practicing and optimizing, the possibilities will be zero, and all potential opportunities will lose their foundation.

So the first principle is just keep on doing, no matter the learning and the practicing seems stupid or ineffienciency, or the contrary.

Based on this principle, I have completely executed learning and using English consistently. As the accumative times become more and more longer, the more thoughts and feedbacks I get, all these help me develop my own personal insights during this long journey.

For example. in the beginning. So many methods and things I think I should do, such as reading one book https://github.com/ZuodaoTech/everyone-can-use-english/tree/main/book. Or reciting 93 TOEFL sample articles. While executing these things, I haven't thought of other things. Maybe the method I applied hasn't helped me effectively, or maybe this is a stupid way. However, I just keep on doing it.

What I do is very simple, each day allocate one hour doing these things that I think are beneficial for my English level. I thought it's enough for me in the beginning as the boring feeling and boring memories orginated from the classic classes that prevent me from doing more.

Above is the proactive way; meanwhile, I have gradually transferred my way of absorbing knowledge from my native Language to English. Like watching so many YouTube videos. As the curious of knowing how blockchain work, began to think about the possible ways how can I enter this world, this motivated me so much as learning all the related things by English. Consequently, my English level has improved a lot without awareness. To be honest, during this stage. I feel the passive way has played a more critical role in improving my English level. At least that training my ear and develop my feeling. With more content, I can catch up what others say no matter whether I am listening or watching, which improved my confidence, although for most scenarios, with the help of subtitles.

Analyzing my issues from time to time during the first stage

As executing the above plan, sometimes, I thought my possible issues, but I can't have 100% to confirm how to solve these maybe issues.

1. Even I can recite these 93 TOELF sample articles, what I applied is my old pronunciaiton. How can I ensure my pronunciation is right? One feeling for this issue during this phase is my pronunciaiton for so many words are wrong, but I don't know which one is wrong, even don't know how to fix this problem quickly. I almost lost of my control at that time when I realized the huge words or phrases builtIn in this way.
2. Don't build the correct relationships between the words and pronunciation when speaking and listening. This extra effort originated from the old learning experiences. My feeling is this confused so many people, and the lack of solving this problem leads to the inability to develop the positive loop cycle, aka flywheel effects. Such as more reading, more understanding while listening or speaking. If these connections are not solid, more reading can't push forward more understanding during listening or watching.

To be honset, above maybe issues I can come up with, but don't know how to deal with them during this stage. But no matter whatever, I just keep on doing.

Switch movement

As I have said, The curious on how to blockchain work which motivated me to find all the related articles to read. Then found one training camp for solidity. What I want is very simple, learning the solidity and confirm my performance in the pure English Environment.

This is the criticial moment for me, make me realized I can understand what others said in the pure English environment by the subtitiles. Even this leve I thought I can achieve should thanks to the previous stage that have watched and read so many English materials. Although during this stage, also can't express my thoughts wholely and clearly.

Then, I got a remote job. During this stage, still faced the challenge issues. Some of them as below

Can't express my thoughts in time,

How to defend my opinions in time.

Can't pick more potential options as the limited English level.

All these motivated me to improve my English level both from the rational and emotional aspects.

Until there, It seems a long time since the inception of my jounery. but when I acually check my level and the market expected level, the gap seems still big. So sometimes the low possiblities for achieving expected English level also came into my mind. But once again I told myself, just keep on practicing, if don't keep on doing, the possibilities will be zero.

So for now, just like one person had been finishing climbing one mountain but suddendly realized he should continue to climb another mountain that is more higer than the previous one.

The changes for proactive and passive ways

The regular practice that allocates 1 hour each day continues to execute, I Also changed my original life habit during my spare time, such as walking, and eating; what I see almost are English content. Meanwhile, I have begun to read more English books comparing the previous passive ways. Such as "autom habit", "Fluent Forever". Some books seem easily understood, some books seem more difficulty. Such as "individual sovereign." I also continue to read many technical materials, for example, rare skills blogs, some protocol's whitepapers, and all other materials I am interested in.

Sometimes I also have thought my current issues. such as the wrong pronunciation issues with some known words or phrases. So if I find some content related this, will put more attention on it, maybe some teachers teacher the phonetics in a system way, or some individual phonetic I think related my problem. I will check them out and do some practice.

Try more ways

1. Listening and writing.

   For some content, sometimes even I can catch up the most meanings while listening. But still feel I have missed some things. So, I want to use listening and writing to check the missing parts. Finally, I found it was okay while reading, but I couldn't catch up quickly while listening. One a time, It's very weird for me. Why can't my pronunciation memory can't 100% percent match the listening? Sometimes, I even think, do my ears have some problems? Ultimately, I realized this is related to specific patterns, such as the connected patterns while native English speakers speak. So when I find the connected patterns content or courses, just change my plan. Put more time into this issue.

2. Considering all my issues as mentioned above, Sometimes when I scroll on youtube or the TikTok, and entered related content, I will put more attention to it. Some works for me, some seems don't work for me. One principle I think I have used very well, which is as the beginning of learning English. I haven't translated native language into English in my mind before speaking or writing expect I can't find the ways expressing my thoughts in English. I find many people emphasize this.

3. For using some English apps. I have tried many, but ultimately realized the time and energy limitation, I should prioritize the important things and content whch has a more higer ROI. For the app, just picked one. And rearrange the important things for the routine one hour, such as learning and practicing the basic verb phrases, picking one topic(such as manifest)and practicing it from differnt ways(watching, listening, writing, imitating), practicing the connected patterns, the list can goes on. Generally, if I think something is more important, then I will execute it first, Can take it as a priority queue.

4. More writing. As more content is absorbed, sometimes new thoughts emerge in my mind. So share them on my website. But not limited to this, I also have written many in other communities.

Pure English environment again

From the practical perspective, The leading goal is to speak with people fluently while expressing my thoughts clearly and catching up with what others say. So, having an actual English environment is very beneficial for me. Then, I joined RareSkills, to enhance my solidity language level while wanting to boost my English level. To be honest, during the first conversation. I don't know how to spell others's names, practiced many times. And be afraid of not understanding what others say. So just guess the possible topics we will talk about and write them in case I can't understand. Based on my guess, I also practiced for thirty minutes to ensure that what I said could be understood. As a guy lived in a Chinese environment, suddenly enter a different environment people all speaking English online, I still remember the feeling in the first time. Wired? Exciting? The new world Feeling? But as more and more conversations, the unfamiliar feeling becomes less and less, gradually not being concerned with English itself, just focusing on the materials or the conversation itself.

Create the environment for me

Considering that my actual English level during this stage is still not enough, I think I should put myself into a more pure English environment. It's unrealistic to a new country just for a pure English environment, but at least should maintain my current expressed feelings, so I have learned from private teachers to maintain the necessary conversations each week. For now, just at least two hours each week. Until now, the teachers I have communicated with include The United Kingdom, America, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Brazil.

I also joined the pure English conference to check my level; what impressed me a lot was the conversation with a guy from America who was also attending the same activity. I came across him while he was walking along the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. This is my first time having a casual conversation with a native English speaker. Also is a very strange and exciting experience. It was the first time I could talk with native speakers about more things other than technical stuff. We walked along the Victoria Harbour, and help him take a photo with the Bruce Lee statue and more casual conversations.

Another impressive experience was the discussion during one hackathon project; I deeply remembered the tired feeling after communicating for 6 hours, even though most of the time, I hadn't talked so much. For native language, the long period also makes me feel tired, but for the English pure Environment makes me feel more tired, So just as running, should let me gradually accustomed to the longer distances as the running distances become longer and longer.

Analyzing my issues from time to time during the pure English environment stage

proactive ways

1. list my potential issues and continue to practice them one by one
2. Expand more topics I can express in English, not limited to technical aspects
3. Increased the more common and advanced words to facilitate my expressions and writing.

passive ways

Mostly as before, but If some books are interesting, I will read them or listen to them. Such as "how to make money in crypto liquidity pools". just curious other guys how to think about these problems.

The systematical approach to grasping English

Until then, It's time to describe my ways of grasping English systematically.

There are two components from a higher level, one is the rountine which guarantee the enough activities either from the passive or the proactive ways. another is how to execute the rountine activities consistently.

For the rountine, Can take the proactive ways as a priority queue, which based on my current analyze, ordering my issues by importance or emergency. for example, I find accustomed to the connected pattern is very benefical for me, so I will add this task to the priority queue and execute it firstly.

And for the passive ways, as much as possible exposing me in different English materials no matter listening or reading. I Always have generated new thoughts or ways, just took the valid to the priority queue.

It's common to face the resistances either from inner psychology or unexpected events, so try to keep current habits continue, such as get more pleasure, more achievements, other random harvest... the list can goes on.

During this journey, one diagram has always come to mind.

Imagine a more open world(as I go through the changing point); I think all the sacrifice will be worth, not limited to double, maybe unlimited. Since 2021, Seeing the Messari 2021 crypto market report. At that time I think if I can achieve the level of absorbing the content at an expected speed and communicating with other people more fluently. That's a new world, more opportunities, more interesting, more exciting.

Why is truly grasping a second language difficult for many people?

So based on above my personal experience and methodalogies, one question came into my mind. Why truely grasp a second language is diffcult for most people?

The diffculities not not only means passing the exams, which means use English as a native language, can absorb new info or knowledge and communicating with people all over the world with no problems.

1. Consistency: As my own personal experience, all my new ways and tries are based on my consistency. If don't matain this habit, there are no conditions coming up with more methods and tries.
2. Grasping a new language is a systematic process. For the classic categories, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking, from my own perspectives, which include physical and intelligence components, the physical parts, like joining a sports activity, should also keep on practicing, can enhance muscle memory, such as the smoother feeling along with more speaking and accustomed to different sounds. Intelligence involves many complex activities, such as how to express some concepts in a clear and persuasive way or catch up with what others say in different scenarios. Behind these activities, not only the language itself we learned but also the abilities and experiences of the native language contribute a lot, such as the mindset and the commonly used thinking frameworks.
3. There are different relative advantages and disadvantages for each person, especially for adults. Some people are good at pronunciation but bad at reading; Some people are good at writing, and Some people are good at reading.

​For me, I know I should put more efforts in pronunciaiton and keep on checking the actual effects during the real conversations. Meanwhile should try to build the positive loop cycle along with other components such as reading and writing. That means what I absorbed by reading and listening, can easily converted into speaking or writing, and for speaking, I don't want to my pronunicaiton become the issues during the conversation.

4. The system is huge, but each component will also cost so much time and energy. I had spend about 3 months practicing prounciaiton and accustomed to the specific speaking patterns(connected pattern), each day keep on speaking and developing the feeling , aslo make some necessary adjustments based on the effective feedbacks. So it's obvious, even for one component, maybe it seems very little. but also need enough patience and time.

5. As human nature and unexpections in real life, sometimes it's hard to keep on. So how to guarantee the routine? For me, the morning is my energetic time, so after exercising, the first thing I execute is the proactive ways. If I put this thing in the evening, maybe other unexpected things can prevent this plan from executing. If I feel tired, the performance will drop a lot. Also, sometimes, I feel very bored doing this, but I just tell myself it's just for 1 hour. I complete it, then do other things I want to do. Actually, most of the time, it's not a boring feeling if it's on the right track.

Closing

My ultimate goal is to take English as a tool for absorbing new info or knowledge and dealing with daily tasks or related work. And finally when language become the default processor, don't aware the language itself.

The journey to achieving the expected goal is like a marathon, even more marathons. However, the ultimate results will be worth all the investment. From the utility perspective, which means more opportunities in a job or business, and from personal development, which expands one's mindset. Considering English dominates about 55% of internet materials, as Warren Buffett said: "Life is like a snowball. The important thing is finding wet snow and a really long hill." So, the English-related content fits this condition.

During the journey, some findings or experiences give me a deep impression. During my first pure English training, one guy from Argentina who shared his experience, one of her quotes attracted my attention, which picked the Antifragile concept originated from Nassim Nicholas Taleb as his guide. This is my first time encountering other guys who mentioned the Antifragile concept in English, inspiring me to think of wisdom across the world no matter the different cultures or regions. Also the book The Concise 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, there are many places that mention the ancient Chinese books such as Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Also, Sometimes come across some excellent guys who share their own experiences, which inspire many people and give more valuable guidance, such as when I check smart contract auditing-related materials. https://cmichel.io/how-to-become-a-smart-contract-auditor/.

Seems I have written many contents in this section no relationships with English learning, What I want to say just like native language as a tool in our native language environment, English as a tool can open a new world help us explore more things not only limited the utility perpespectives, but also more pleasure, more meaningful connections, more inspriing thoughts.