10 Things Every ESL Student Should Know

#1 – You can do this.

Virtually anyone can learn English with strong motivation and a lot of practice. Most people just stop learning when it gets difficult. Don’t be that person.

#2 – Native speakers want to talk with you.

It can be intimidating to start a conversation with a native speaker, because you might be insecure that they will be put off by your English level. Don’t be! Strike up that conversation with an English speaker. It will grow your English, and you may even make a friend in the process.

#3 – You are getting better at English, whether you realize it or not.

Every day that you spend interacting in English is a day that you’re getting better at it.

#4 – One bad day doesn’t mean that you’ll “never learn English.”

Your brain is just catching up with your mouth. Tomorrow will be better.

#5 – No one is going to learn English for you.

You have to put in the work in order to be a better English speaker. Your teachers and friends can only do so much for you. At the end of the day, you are responsible for your language growth.

#6 – Textbooks are not your greatest resource – people are.

Many people believe that if they just study, study, study, then they will get better at English. That’s not generally true. You need real-live English speakers to interact with in order to grow in English.

#7 – No one is a perfect English speaker, so don’t wait until you are ‘perfect’ to have conversations in English.

English is about communication, not perfection.

#8 – Learning a language takes time.

You won’t become fluent overnight, so don’t buy into any program that claims that you will be “fluent in one month”.

#9 – If you don’t use English, you will lose what you know.

If you go a long period without speaking a language, you will lose proficiency. It’s similar to a sport or musical instrument. Practice is necessary to stay strong.

#10 – Being an ESL student is something to be proud of.

Most people in the world only speak one language. You are brave enough to speak two. Be proud of who you are and what you are accomplishing.