5 Simple Habits to Boost Your English Fluency

Introduction

Learning English can seem daunting, especially if you don't have the opportunity to immerse yourself in an English-speaking environment. However, with the power of the internet and some strategic habits, you can significantly improve your English skills from anywhere in the world. In this blog post, I'll share five simple habits that have helped me become a fluent English speaker.

Background or Problem Statement

Context

I'm originally from Russia, and for the last two years, I've been living in Mexico. Coming from a simple Russian family, we never traveled abroad together. Despite this, many people on YouTube have shown that you can learn English independently, even without traveling to an English-speaking country.

Problem

Often, we create hurdles for ourselves, thinking we need to live in an English-speaking country to become fluent. However, the internet and platforms like YouTube offer a plethora of opportunities to learn and practice English. This article addresses how you can leverage these resources to improve your English skills.

Main Content

Start Your Day with English Listening

When I was a college student in Russia, I had to wake up early and catch a train to college. During my hour-long commute, I would listen to English podcasts or watch YouTube videos. This habit didn't take extra time out of my day because I used the principle of habit stacking. I tied my new habit of listening to English to my existing routine of commuting.

Now, even though I'm no longer a college student, I continue this habit. Whenever I'm in an Uber or heading to the gym, I listen to something in English. This helps me work on my listening skills consistently.

Revise Vocabulary Cards Daily

I started creating online flashcards in 2020, and the spaced repetition technology has been incredibly beneficial. Initially, I used paper flashcards, but I found them less effective because I wanted to add pictures. That's when I discovered the spaced repetition system, which I've been using ever since.

I dedicate one day a week to adding new flashcards and spend the rest of the week reviewing them. This habit has significantly improved my vocabulary, which is crucial when I need to speak English, record YouTube videos, or journal in English.

Journal About Your Life

Journaling in English has dual benefits: it improves your language skills and has a therapeutic effect. Writing about your thoughts and feelings in English helps you practice the language while also providing a sense of relief from pent-up emotions.

Consistent journaling allows you to track your progress. You can look back at your old entries and see how much you've improved. This can be incredibly motivating and help you see tangible progress in your language learning journey.

Work on Your Accent Weekly

At the end of 2019, my English university professor advised me to work on my accent. I chose to focus on the American accent and watched numerous YouTube videos and read books to nail down specific sounds.

For many Russian speakers, differentiating between sounds like "live" and "leave" can be challenging. It took a lot of practice, but it was worth it. While I still have a slight accent, my primary focus is on fluency. If you want to improve your accent, choose one and practice consistently.

Speak Even If You Feel Shy

As an introvert, speaking in a foreign language in front of new people was challenging. However, I knew I had to improve my speaking skills, so I joined speaking clubs and practiced with native speakers.

Attending speaking clubs, both in-person and online, helped me gain confidence. Speaking with native speakers, especially teachers, provided valuable feedback. Remember, the only way to achieve greatness is by embracing discomfort and stepping outside your comfort zone.

Actionable Advice

• Start your day with English listening: Tie this habit to an existing routine.
• Use spaced repetition for vocabulary: Dedicate time weekly to add new flashcards and review them daily.
• Journal in English: Track your progress and express your thoughts and feelings.
• Work on your accent: Choose one accent and practice consistently.
• Join speaking clubs: Practice speaking with native speakers to gain confidence.

Summary

• Start your day with English listening.
• Use spaced repetition for vocabulary.
• Journal in English to track progress and express emotions.
• Work on your accent consistently.
• Join speaking clubs to practice speaking skills.
• "The only way to achieve greatness is by embracing discomfort and stepping outside your comfort zone." - Anonymous