Stuck in a rut in improving my English

[Pusinsky]

I have English as my second language, but despite currently using it even more than my own native language I just couldn't seem to improve it beyond the intermediate level I had now. I still struggle to write essays or craft beautiful poems. I tried reading many of the self-help books out there (i.e, Reader's Digest's How to Speak and Write Better) but none of these seemed to help. Is this as how many people say it "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"?

[Tanja]

What do you want to improve, vocabulary and/or grammar? What do you use it for currently?
Try to learn something every day. Find listening and reading materials that relate to what you are interested in; online newspapers, TV, books, forums, radio.etc about the subjects you'd like to write about.
Choose new vocabulary and use it (forums, emails, write something yourself, speak with someone etc).
Be consistent.
Be patient.

You say you struggle with essays, is it only in terms of English vocabulary and grammar or the structures of essays as such?
Either way, practice, practice, practice!

[Michelle]

I learned German as a second language ten years ago, and noticed my progress came in jumps as my brain acclimated to the new language.

When I first went to Germany I couldn't speak a word. After about 3 months of living there I could formulate basic sentences and had a rudimentary vocabulary. After one year I could converse intelligently and semi-fluently, albeit with mistakes.

Now, after ten years I am almost better in German than English.

In general, there has to be some willingness to become intimate and form a love relationship with a language. It is really somewhat like a love affair. You literally need to taste each word as it passes through your lips, be passionate about spending your moments listening to it spoken and about practicing it.

And, by the way, if you can manage to learn one language by having an affair with it each one you learn after that becomes easier. I am currently learning my fourth.

That said, there is the possibility that your brain is having difficulty forming some connections concerning the new language. I suggest reading up on simple movements you can do while studying or reading in English which facilitate the creation of new neural pathways.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Pusinsky

I have English as my second language, but despite currently using it even more than my own native language I just couldn't seem to improve it beyond the intermediate level I had now. I still struggle to write essays or craft beautiful poems. I tried reading many of the self-help books out there (i.e, Reader's Digest's How to Speak and Write Better) but none of these seemed to help. Is this as how many people say it "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"?

Who are the people you are communicating with in English? Who you communicate with when learning a new language has a tremendous impact with how well you can communicate yourself. If you're communicating constantly with people who are at an intermediate level of English, then you're going to be stuck in that level of English. I would suggest reaching out and connecting with people who can communicate at a higher level of English.

[Scipio]

Antimoon.com: How to learn English effectively

I recommend you do absolutely everything in English. If you are not doing everything in English (except for things you absolutely MUST do in your native language) then you aren't immersing yourself enough. Instead of reading pleasure novels in your own language, read them in English. Instead of visiting websites in your own language, find the English equivalent. Do not watch tv shows or movies in your own language, watch English ones only. If you chat online, speak to native English speaking friends. Put English music in your MP3 player. Etc

[alekseykravtsun]

try to think in english, or quitly talk to each other and discuss any things in english, or imagine some one who is near with you and talk to him, regarding writing, try to pass IELTS, 3 months preparation really pop up my knowledge.

[Pusinsky]

Thanks for the advice guys!

Antimoon.com is such a fantastic site. After reading it I realize why I am making no progress. It it because I use a lot of English that I am unable to improve my language proficiency since I keep on reinforcing the same errors over and over again. Looks like I need to , as you call it, shut the hell up and listen LOL

BTW, do you guys think my English is good? I am careful with wording my sentences now.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Scipio

Antimoon.com: How to learn English effectively

I recommend you do absolutely everything in English. If you are not doing everything in English (except for things you absolutely MUST do in your native language) then you aren't immersing yourself enough. Instead of reading pleasure novels in your own language, read them in English. Instead of visiting websites in your own language, find the English equivalent. Do not watch tv shows or movies in your own language, watch English ones only. If you chat online, speak to native English speaking friends. Put English music in your MP3 player. Etc

Great advice. I'd suggest that once you are doing all that, the next step is to read classic litterature in its original language (start by more recent classics, keep Chaucer and Beowulf for later!) and practice creative writing of your own. It will be hard at first, just like reading the classics of your native language usually is as a kid. There is a real gap in language proficiency between mastering daily written material and litterature, and not even all native speakers overcome it.

[Scipio]

Originally Posted by Pusinsky

Thanks for the advice guys!

Antimoon.com is such a fantastic site. After reading it I realize why I am making no progress. It it because I use a lot of English that I am unable to improve my language proficiency since I keep on reinforcing the same errors over and over again. Looks like I need to , as you call it, shut the hell up and listen LOL

A lot of what the guys at Anti-Moon talk about is reinforced by the linguistic theories of Stephen Krashen. He argues that a massive amount of input is generally what allows people to become excellent in their first language, and a massive amount of input is needed to become very good at a second language in a similar way (knowing how to "just say it" without consulting a grammar rule). In fact, many people who subscribe to his language theory learn languages to college educated native proficiency or higher without ever learning a grammar rule. If you want to read of more examples I suggest All Japanese All The Time Dot Com: How to learn Japanese. On your own, having fun and to fluency.

Both these sites recommend using a spaced repetition system. Anki and Mnemosyne are free programs that you can download.

I think your English is already pretty good. Just focus on exposing yourself to a lot of English now and it will come out more naturally without having to think.