Is this the best way to learn English?

How do you learn English?

Is it the best way to learn?

Let's find out.

(lively upbeat music)

In today's video, I want to share with you an idea,

and it's an idea about the best way to learn English.

Oh, by the way, my name is Keith

from English Speaking Success and the Keith Speaking Academy

where you become a confident speaker of English.

Now, this idea today

is a bit unpopular.

It goes against the grain.

To go against the grain means it's the opposite

of what most people are doing.

And so actually, a lot of people disagree with me on this.

And so I know a lot of people won't watch this video

and you know, I think they will miss

a really important message.

Even you may disagree.

But I think when you hear this idea,

deep down you'll think, "Actually, that makes sense."

So if you keep watching today, you will find

(chest swoosh and sparkles) some treasure.

Now, let me tell you, in this video

I'll give you the idea,

I'll explain how it works,

and give you five practical tips

to make it work for you so that in the end

you'll understand a better way to learn English

so you can become a confident speaker of English.

(title swooshes in)

(title swooshes out) Okay, so here is my idea.

Learn English slowly.

You know, in today's society we're obsessed with speed.

Doing things quickly, learning quickly, fast,

getting the latest trick, hack, tips

to do something quickly.

We're on social media, scrolling for the next video,

finding the quickest way to become fluent

in three weeks or three months.

Now, social media, okay,

I mean, going on YouTube to look for a quick answer

sometimes is great.

But when it comes to learning a language,

it's not something you can do effectively quickly.

And trying to learn quickly isn't helping you.

It's a bit like planting a tree

and getting it to grow quickly.

It can't, nature doesn't work like that.

You just create the right environment

and it grows at its own pace,

as does your English.

It's exactly the same.

Learn English slowly.

A common question that students ask me is,

"Keith, how long for me to become fluent in English?"

And here is a very difficult truth.

So, I've often talked about Malcolm Gladwell.

In his seminal book, he says you need 10,000 hours

to master a skill.

To be a master of the violin, you need 10,000 hours.

To be a master of English, you need 10,000 hours

To get fluent, Band Nine, like a native speaker,

you need 10,000 hours.

The problem is a lot of students are trying to become

a Band Nine speaker of English in, like, two months.

You're studying three hours a day,

do the maths, that's about 180 hours.

That's less than 10,000 hours, right?

It takes years.

Think about it, how long does it take

to learn your own mother tongue?

But here's the really important part of the idea, right?

Speed is the wrong focus.

Learn English slowly.

If we change the focus from trying to learn

as fast as possible,

trying to arrive at some destination,

your Band Eight or Band Nine or C2 level,

and then when I arrive, I will be fluent and confident.

But you never arrive,

and the journey is just frustration all the time.

Change that focus to learning slowly,

to being present when you're learning.

Focused on the words in front of you,

on the video or the people in front of you right now

and focus on what you're studying now in the present.

And then, you'll actually learn more deeply.

What's more, you're not waiting, frustrated.

So, your confidence arrives now

in this moment,

not in some fictional future, right?

It is a bit of a cliche that,

you know, enjoying the journey, but it's true.

As well when you're present,

you're gonna enjoy your learning more.

And you don't have to wait the 10,000 hours

for the confidence and the enjoyment and the deep learning

'cause it's happening in every moment.

The most important thing is to focus

on the present and be present.

Focus on what you're studying right now

or what you're listening to right now.

(title swooshes in)

(title swooshes out) Right, here are five

practical tips for learning English slowly.

I suggest you start these

when you're practicing on your own

or like when you're listening to the radio,

podcasts, whatever,

especially when you're listening.

Later, you may want to try in a conversation,

but it's very difficult at first

so just try it when you're listening on your own.

Okay, number one is to listen

to the melody of English.

So, rather than listening to the words

and focusing on the meaning,

just listen to the melody, the music.

(Keith vocalizing)

I guess it's the intonation,

but I like the word melody

'cause I think language is a kind of music.

Focus on the melody.

Not all the time.

Of course, you must focus on meaning sometime,

but sometimes focus on the melody.

Number two is to really listen to the sound

of the words or the chunks.

So as you're listening, focus on the sound

rather than trying to see the written word in your head.

Focus on that sound.

Number three, listen to the silence

between the words.

Even as I'm speaking now,

listen to the silence in between the words.

Because when you're listening, there's sound

and there's silence

and both of them make the whole.

So if you listen to both,

you're getting everything.

I don't know why this works,

but it does and it really helps you focus

on the whole of the English.

And it helps you learn more slowly and more deeply.

Number four, and this one, I know,

I'm getting a little bit esoteric,

a little bit out there, but number four is,

as you listen or speak,

feel your feet.

What? Yeah, feel your feet.

And then what happens is when you feel your feet,

just try and feel your feet.

Your focus goes away from your thinking, your head,

into your body.

And again, I don't why, but it works.

Well, let me tell you what happened to me

'cause I've done it in my own experience.

I was walking down the street the other day.

I walk down this street every day.

There's cows and there's horses.

And every morning I past a horse

who's a bit crazy and runs around,

and very, very shy, doesn't like people.

And every morning I walk past,

I say hello.

And he just walks away.

Very nervous, doesn't like people.

The other day, I walked up to the edge

of the road, the field.

I just kind of closed my eyes and felt my feet.

And when I opened my eyes,

the horse had come right towards me.

I mean, its face was up here, really close.

And apparently, horses can sense your heartbeat

five meters away.

So when you're feeling your feet,

the energy goes from rushing in your head

into your body, your heart beat slows down,

everything slows down.

They notice, and they're more comfortable.

That slowing down can help you learn English more slowly

because you become focused on the now.

Okay, I know it's a bit of a strange one. (chuckles)

The last one, probably more familiar,

is close your eyes

when you're listening or speaking

if you're speaking on your own.

If you're practicing alone.

Don't close your eyes if you're in a conversation.

They'll think you're mad.

But close your eyes.

Again, it helps you get out of your head, into your body,

focus on the sound, the melody,

the silence, everything.

It's easier when you close your eyes.

And it helps you really be present with your English.

And all of these five tips can help you

learn English slowly.

Being present, taking your time, enjoying every moment,

and so your learning is deeper

and more effective.

I know, you're thinking these are a bit strange.

They are, but listen,

have a go, experiment with some of them

and tell me how it works for you.

So there you have it.

Today's idea, learn English slowly.

Change your focus from rushing and frustration

to being and enjoying

and being present with your English.

Take your time.

And try some of these tips.

I mean, you may think, "Well, it's not for me."

Of course, but have a go, right?

I know it's a bit going against the grain,

but we always need to try new things.

And if they work, stick with them.

If they don't, try something else, okay?

But don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

Have a go, see what works for you

and let me know in the comments down below.

If you've enjoyed this video,

do like it, subscribe,

and well, thank you so much

for being here today with me

and I will see you

in the next video.

Take care, my friend.

Bye-bye.

(lively upbeat music)