Being a Robot

Let’s get straight to the point. Here’s my question: What do you and a robot have in common? You may end up sounding or thinking like one if you try to learn by heart every grammar or syntax rule, every vocabulary term, and every phrasal expression.

Memorising, when it comes to learning, is not a very effective method and English is no exception. Here is why:

• retaining information and acquiring language skills takes time, and it involves your long-term memory
• producing written or oral sentences become tiresome if you only try and put together bits and pieces of linguistic information that aren’t clear to you

You actually invest time and money to improve your English, only to realise that after a while most of what you’ve learned is forgotten (if not used productively) and this is frustrating, to say the least.

It’s all about Awareness

The degree of how aware and focused you are when you are learning English is crucial. The key to learning anything, even a language, is how mindful you are, meaning the state of being present and aware of what you do, how you feel and where you are at the moment.

So how can you enter the mindfulness zone and improve your English, escaping the “robot“ mode?

Four tips on Mindful Learning

These tips are at the core of the ProEnglish personalised coaching and will help you improve your English language skills, understand what it takes to integrate English into your life in a beautiful way and retain the information for life.

1. While learning, focus on your learning activity and your learning activity only. You can think of anything else later.
2. Whatever language activity you are engaged with, try to immerse yourself in it and chase away “it’s too difficult” or “I don’t understand it” kind of thoughts. For every grammar, syntax or vocabulary obstacle you encounter, have an open mind to understand the concept or ask your English coach for clarification.
3. You can speak more fluently if you are mindful of the way you talk and the vocabulary you use, instead of focusing on what words to use or if your sentences make sense.
4. Listen before you speak or write. Listen to how your mind prompts you to construct sentences, written or oral.

Check this short Live Facebook video I created for you explaining

• • what is mindfulness
  • why mindfulness is closely related to the process of learning a foreign language
  • how the ProEnglish coaching method, inspired by your individual needs and goals, infuses mindfulness for every learner
  • why you need to start applying these four powerful yet easy to follow mindful learning tips

Bonus Tip!

You can start self-correcting yourself when you let your critical self on the side and focus on what you want to say rather how you should say it.

From my long English language coaching experience, I find that when you apply mindful learning you feel happier, you are more relaxed and therefore more receptive in improving your English in a way that is natural to you. Learning English becomes a pleasant, joyful and very creative experience for you and finding your unique voice and style in a second language can be very rewarding and satisfying.

If you feel that you would like help in getting into the mindful learning zone, then let’s get together and talk of your current linguistic challenges where I present you with a plan of action that will help you integrate English in your life for good via my complimentary, no-strings-attached consultation. Enter the mindful way of learning here!