Hi everyone,
today I have something I want to talk about with you. Sure, we all are here to talk about things... 😎
I'm from Germany, so my native language is German. One of my biggest dreams is to emigrate to Canada. So, it is more than necessary to speak English. And that's something that was a big problem my whole life. Yes, we have English at school in Germany, but to be honest, the German school system is garbage. Worse than garbage. I ended up with a grade 5 (E) my whole school time.
Everything was always so illogical for me (and yes, most of the things in the English language are still illogical for me 🙈). But as it is so important for me, to speak English fluently, I had to do something. Not that I had tried it all my life... Many years ago I visited the community college. This wasn't better as school either. Everything I tried failed. But now there was my big dream. So, what should I do???
And then I had a flash of inspiration and MY way started...
I visited the library in my town. As my town is very multiculti, so our library has lots of books in foreign languages. English has the biggest selection. But I didn't go to the adult department, no, I made a beeline to the children's book department. There is where I started. I borrowed my first English books. OK, most people wouldn't call them books, because they had more pictures than words in them, but for me they were perfect. I read them all to my hubby. First, to also train my pronunciation, and second to help me with words I didn't know. I visited the library nearly every week and borrowed bit by bit every children's book. Luckily my library is part of the German "Onleihe", so I could also borrow ebooks.
The reason, why I started with children's books is very simple. The books don't have difficult words. They are written very simply. So you can start with the basics. If you miss the basics, you will always have problems. And hey, they are cute and funny 😁
After a while, I also started watching children's TV series. OK, children may be saying too much, it was "Baby TV" on Amazon prime video. So it was for the youngest, like my books.
Here are some examples of the books and TV series:
I knew that only reading isn't enough. So, as I saw in a local Facebook group that there is a monthly English round table I contacted the organizer, and my hubby and I visited it. The first time I was really excited. I didn't talk much. But I understood more than I would have years ago. So we visited it every month. The organizer is the owner of the "Peacock School of English" (a local language school). She also invited us to the Christmas party where they performed a play. Surely everything in English 😉
Meanwhile, I've read all the children's books for small children and I went over to the books for teens. The German publisher "Langenscheidt" (known for dictionaries in many languages) has wonderful bilingual ones.
They have different series: "Girls in Love", "BoyZone, and "Krimis für Kids". But they also have a few for adults with different levels of difficulty (A1 - C2). And I've read all they were available in the Onleihe (around 100).
I really loved them. The story is written in German, but every conversation is in English. So it's also possible for beginners to follow the story and it hasn't been too simple. The books for adults are the same as the ones for children, except for the C level, because they are only in English.
Oh and meanwhile, I also watched TV series for "older" children. OK, not too old, but I loved "Peppa Pig" 😍 I also watched "Pete the Cat". OOOh, and not to forget "Dora, the explorer" 😍😍
The Gunpowder Plot by Allan Brouder
A book in the series "Lernschmöker" by Langenscheidt, Niveau C2.
As you can see the book is written in English only. And the words are more difficult because it's a C2. But they still have blue words...
Sure, with an ebook, you can translate every word, but the books are also available as a paperback.
The book isn't a classical historical book, it's a historical novel. The chronological facts are right, but there is more in the books. Here there is also a love story. And it's a time travel book too.
If you click on a blue word, you jump to the vocabulary list.
At the English round table in July, I talked with one of the teachers of the language school. Of course, I often talked with the owner, but this round table was the one, where I decided I want to go to the school. This school is different. They have such a special concept. The most important part is TALKING. You don't just learn blunt grammar. You always talk. The classes are small, a maximum of 5 people, and the topics were always interesting.
In March 2020 they switched from personal classes to virtual, because of Covid. But for me, it was better. I didn't have to spend the time going to school... So I saved 20-30 minutes. And yes, my hubby followed the lessons too 😎 (but only in the background). The class was once a week for 90 minutes.
After one year (in July 2020) they decided to go back to personal classes. That was when I canceled the course. But I subscribed to ESL Library (now Ellii). That is the same website "my" language school got their lessons from. Luckily I had my hubby, so I wasn't alone with the lessons. It's definitely better to do these lessons with more than one person. But the lessons are soo good. So if you have a language school that works with these lessons, you are a very lucky one 😁
I heard about a weekly webinar from my English teacher. It was a collaboration between "Peartree Languages" (a British language school, located in Cardiff Wales) and the University of South Wales.
It was very funny. And it was during the whole lockdown.
Then there was an 8-week webinar where we all got a certificate 😁 Nothing official for jobs or anything, but it's still cool and funny.
But as I saw a special offer in July 2021 for Kindle Unlimited (3 months for the price of one), I got it. I looked for every book that was written for English learners. And I read them all.
On my birthday (July 30th) I made myself a present by reading my 1st book for adult native English speakers from a native English author. "The Oil Prince" by Kate Goldman. I loved it and yes, I understood it 😍
The best part with ebooks is, you always have the possibility to translate words or a whole sentence with one click. It really helps with learning. This book was the start for me, to read more adult books. I still love and read children's books. And I also found my love for comics and mangas 😁
Because I know that reading and talking (at the round table, but since Covid "only" virtual, but still fun), isn't enough, I created an Instagram account.
I wrote a review about all the books I've read. Of cause in English. But Insta sucks, so I don't do it anymore.
I still write a review about every book, but only for myself. And now I post a few things here on HIVE 😁
So if you find a few mistakes, it's because I'm still learning. It's only 4.5 years, and nobody is perfect in this short time, but I never had thought I could ever write a blog in English 😎
On the right side is my funny certificate from Peacock School of English for my participation in the online pub quizzes 😁
After I've read all books of the Twilight Saga, I watched the movies. My first English movies. OK, my first real movies, except for the children's TV series... It wasn't that easy, and luckily I know the books. They all mumble so much 🙈 But they won't be the only movies. I know I'll read the "Shades of Grey" series in July and after reading it, I'll also watch the movies. And I'm so excited. Yes, I already read the books 10 years ago, but in German.
During the whole time, I also used (and still use) the "Duolingo" app. It's not that you really can learn a language with it, but it can support you.
I use it every day for more than 5 years 😱
I don't spend hours in it every day. Some days I only make one small lesson, and other days I make more. I always repeat and repeat the lessons. So, I'm still on the English course and haven't finished it. It's ok for me. I have the other things I always do to practice...
If you want to try it out, here is my ref-link (the app is free, but they offer a payed description):
https://invite.duolingo.com/BDHTZTB5CWWKSLL32BOFIW3WS4
Screenshots from the Duolingo app:
Another app I found last year is Grammarly.
You can have it on your phone but also on your PC. It helps you with writing. I really love it.
Since I use it, I'm so much more confident with writing. I know grammar is still a weakness of mine. But with Grammarly, I learned so much. And for only private use the "free" version is more than enough 😁
The most important thing about MY way is, that I have fun with it. It never felt like learning.
Start small! Don't overwhelm yourself. I read so often, that people tell others they should start with books like Harry Potter. Sorry, but I'm still afraid to read this. Why? Because of all the made-up words.
If you read something like this in your native language, you recognize a made-up word, but if it's a foreign language, you can't be sure of this and it will confuse you. The same with movies. Many people told me, I should use subtitles, but I HATE subtitles. I can either watch the movie or read the subtitles, PLUS they are sooo fast, I can't read the half. and they are horrible. Most of the words aren't the words they are saying. So, NO subtitles for me.
I started with the easy things and now it's easier for me to understand the more difficult ones 😎
Yes, I know, this posting is very long, but I had to say soo much. I hope you could learn a few things from my way of learning.
❓❓❓ Question ❓❓❓
Did you ever read books in a foreign language?
