Improving English - iDea 1: Break the Walls

Author's Note:This article is part of a sub-series called "Innovative Ideas to learn English faster and Better"


Everyone learns English between the four walls. It can be in the classroom or at home. I am not against this practice, we can gain wisdom from an expert faculty. But to learn English faster and better the four walls restrict you from the great potential which is waiting for you outside. 

All the great learners and leaders are the observers of the things happening around them. True learning happens outside the classroom. Abdul Kalam conceived the idea of becoming an aeronautical engineer by observing a butterfly in the fields. The above incident happened when he was studying primary school. His teacher took the entire class into the fields to observe nature. If his teacher wasn't innovative we would have missed a great citizen like Kalam. Learning is always just a few steps away. Forget few steps, it is just a thought away. Close your eyes and a whole new world opens in your imagination.

Opportunities are always around, It is just that we ignore them in the rush of our busy lives. The traditional system of learning is all about listening to the lecture, taking notes, doing home work etc. But in our new system there is no lecturer, no classroom. We simply break the walls to breath new life awaiting us. There is no need of going to the classroom. In short, the classroom travels with you; wherever you move. So let us understand how to break the walls of worries. 

There is an old Chinese proverb which says "When you are ready to learn, the teacher appears" This is absolutely true. The teacher here doesn't necessarily mean a human being. Whatever you seek, Whatever you observe, Whatever you focus everything under your keen observation becomes your teacher. If you want to study a tree, all the things related to it become your teachers. They provide all the material you need. Your surrounding environment becomes your university. 

Two Live Examples:




When you wait for a bus, don't just wait; instead observe the things happening in front of you. A vendor selling guavas, employees hurrying after the buses, students running to board a bus..whatever your eyes can see. Now try to construct the sentences for the things you observe with whatever grammar you know.
For example, "A vendor is selling guavas. He is surrounded by a bunch of customers. They are bargaining. But the vendor is headstrong. He is unwilling to minimize the price....." Remember that all this happens only in your mind while waiting for a bus on the road. 

Assume you went for shopping to a mall. It was crowded. Observe things around you. Describe them in English in your mind. For instance, "A boy is browsing the magazines in the bookstore. He is keenly engaged reading the 'stardust' magazine. A girl is looking around the mall. May be she is waiting for someone. A cute kid is playing with the toy. Now he saw another kid eating an ice cream. He started crying for it...." Did you get the picture? 

Remember some pointers that help you in this process:

• Small is Beautiful: Make short sentences. Observe the above examples again, you will understand how a short sentence looks like. Remember short is cute, either in written or spoken English. 
• Be Descriptive: Short, doesn't mean cutting out the details. Be as descriptive as possible in your imagination. After all, you are visualizing, which costs nothing. Be rich in your imagination. Start short, but as you progress, add more details to the drama. Instead of describing "A girl is waiting for the bus." Modify it as "A beautiful girl in orange dress is waiting curiously for her college bus." Or to cut it short and cute say "A beautiful girl is wearing an orange dress." "She is looking curiously towards the road." "May be she is waiting for her college bus."
  

•  Follow the Flow: While constructing sentences don't think of grammar. Forget the grammar and follow the flow. The sentence may not be correct, who cares. The point is you are practicing.
  

• Think in English: The greatest advantage of this innovative idea is that you will start thinking in English. Be super cautious about this idea. Sometimes we distract, but be on track again. When we are conscious about ourselves, digression dilutes. 
• Mobile Classroom: Whenever you are on the move take advantage of it. It may be shopping, a movie, travel, daily commuting etc. Observe the scenes in front of you and construct sentences. 
• Imagine: Even if you are not going anywhere and just sitting at home, put your imagination to work. Dream a situation and talk in English in the mind.   
  

Initially this may sound awkward, but you will see results within few days. Once you start, you will catch the rest easily. As you progress you will have lot of fun. In fact, you don't need any company, your mind becomes your closest friend. 
Apart from learning English, this technique has huge benefits associated with it indirectly. 

• You will realize the power of imagination
• Problem solving skills increase dramatically
• Boredom will be erased from your dictionary
• Creativity magnifies
• You will see the world in a new perspective
• Productivity and confidence increases

Believe in yourself. English is easy. It is yours, once you put these ideas into practice. Any doubts in the idea or about the implementation; Please do share with me in the comments. Feel free to mail me: myinterface@gmail.com -ajaY vegeSna  


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