How to become fluent in English?
Tip: I know your time is precious, so I highlighted (in several colors) the passages I like that you may also like. And bolded, underlined, or italicized those I think are the important words or phrases.
Note: I am not sure if I'm considered fluent in English. I still use tools to correct my English grammar and usage. I just want to share my experience. Maybe this can help those children who aspire to become good writers/content creators.
Note: I am not sure if I'm considered fluent in English. I still use tools to correct my English grammar and usage. I just want to share my experience. Maybe this can help those children who aspire to become good writers/content creators.
My English Learning Story
If you think I am from a rich family and I studied in a school with an “English Only” policy, you are completely wrong. I went to a public school from grade school to college. I don’t have a (human) tutor either. This means that you can also be good in English writing and speaking even if you are poor. Most people assume that only the rich can speak and write well in English, but that’s a myth.
I am from a poor family. If my parents did not work hard, we might still be living in a squatters area (but I think the land was donated years after we left). Probably my leverage from other kids with the same status as mine is that I do my best to be good at everything. Learning and exploring are like playing mobile games for me. I absolutely enjoy discovering my potential and enhancing them. I often sleep late at night to understand my subjects and finish my assignments. I was very competitive back then and I often ignore my comfort. I skip lunch and get less sleep to finish a project. I cannot explain how to have such a trait (that I don't know how to change) because I believe it’s in my nature. Maybe it’s in my genes. Sometimes I hate being like this because it ruins me and makes my family angry, but I hope one day they'll understand and adjust to who I am.
The Beginning
As the youngest and ugliest in the family, I am often bullied. My childhood life is absolutely traumatic, but I have creative getaways. I had a lot of imagination when I was a kid. I have imagined myself achieving my dreams and doing the things I love to do. Sometimes, when I watch a movie, I put myself in that movie and think like I was really in that situation. I often get so immersed with what I watch that my family often teases me by doing some crazy actions that make me nervous.
When I watch English movies, I often repeat the lines of the artists and mimic them. I was teased every time I did them, so I did the reenactment in my head. Even today, I still have that habit. English movies and documentaries helped a lot in my English writing and speaking journey. The school helped me, but I think I’ll give most of the credits to the movies/documentaries I watched, books/articles I read and music I listen to.
The Lucky Generation
Today's generation is very lucky because the information is easily accessible and is free. When I was a kid, I sought so much information, but I cannot get them because books are expensive. We got a computer when I was in my 6th grade (or 1st year in high school), but we did not have the internet at that time, so my only source of information was Microsoft Encarta. That tool (or app) woke up my interest in the tech world. I treated it as my tutor. Every time I am curious about something, I open it and do my research, but it was not that easy because my siblings want to use it too to play games. The phone we have during those days cannot connect to the internet, so my only choice is to wait. As they said, “Patience is a virtue.”
Be patient and persevere. One day you will be good in English writing and speaking without realizing it.
Useful Tips
1. Ignore the thoughts like “ Is my grammar correct?”, “Am I using the right word?”, and other thoughts that may hinder your ideas from smoothly flowing. Let your hand type what you are thinking and do the editing when nothing comes out from your brain.
2. Stop thinking about what people will say about your outputs. Think freely as you write and let your imagination go beyond the horizon. You can think of so many possibilities, and it doesn’t matter if they do not coincide with the result you want. Just write them down. Do the selection (and editing) process when you have written down everything that is in your head and your brain is exhausted.
My brain stopped giving tips, and I think it’s already drained because it’s 1:32 pm (but I haven’t eaten lunch). Oh, another tip pop out ( :
3. As your brain starts producing ideas, do not ignore them. Write them down immediately because it will be forgotten (based on my experience). When your brain starts working (on giving ideas), it's a sign that you must get your pen, phone or computer (whatever device you usually use in expressing your thoughts). Then begin writing or typing what your mind is dictating.
My head is saying “food” so I’ll grab some food to feed my hungry brain and end this article with this sentence.
