It’s no secret that when it comes to a universal language, the closest thing we have is English. So it’s also no wonder that millions of people born in non-English speaking countries dedicate thousands of hours to studying it. However, analyzing books and grammar is not the only way to learn a language. In fact, I would argue that it’s one of the worst ways to do so.

Forget this!

Throughout my years of studying languages, I have learned that the absolute best way to master any language is through experience rather than traditional study methods. Forget about textbooks and taking notes. Rather, get outside and talk to someone who speaks English fluently. If that’s still a bit too daunting, try eavesdropping on some conversations (we promise it’s not as sketchy as it sounds) or watch TV shows that aren’t dubbed in your native language. There are plenty more ways that you can be creative in your learning, and here are a few suggestions:

Consuming English media

In a country as large as China, most of the media that teens consume such as music, videogames, and TV shows are readily available in Chinese. However, a dependence on local media can also slow down the process of language acquisition. Coming from a relatively small state in the Balkans, most of my friends and I had no choice but to rely on English media given the dearth of Macedonian music and TV. This, along with courses we were taking at school, helped speed up the process of language learning and made us more fluent English speakers in the process. Who knew watching TV and listening to music could be so beneficial to our future?

Converse in English

With the number of English speakers increasing by the day, there is no excuse for not partaking in, or at least trying to understand, English conversations. While it may seem strange at first to people who did not grow up speaking the language, conversing in English is a surefire way to learn it faster, and integrate it into your native vocabulary. At home, my friends and I spent so much time talking to each other in English that by the time we had finished elementary school we had our own language, a hybrid between our native Macedonian and popular US slang.

Keep trying

Arguably the most important part of the entire process – trying to understand what you encounter – is the entire point of this learning method. Learning any language is going to be tricky at first, however, only by forcing ourselves to keep going can we truly become fluent speakers. The next time you see a sign in English or hear a news broadcast from an English-language media outlet, or even visit an English speaking country, try to comprehend what is going on around you. Even with the lowest level of language comprehension, you might discover something you didn’t know before. Likewise, even if you make mistakes don’t be afraid to go back and examine them. After all, correcting mistakes is the lifeblood of the learning process.

As someone who has spent countless hours studying multiple languages in different ways, I can confidently say that the only way to truly learn any language is by living as though that language was your mother tongue. So the next time you think about studying English, try putting away your notebooks and textbooks and try acting like you live outside of China. I can guarantee that it will not only make you a better learner but also clear your head and give you a fresh view of the language you are learning.

Do you have any tips or tricks for learning a language? Share them with us in the comments!

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Spend the May 1 holiday with Beijing’s brightest English language talents, at Kids Intelligence Development Academy’s (KIDA) first ever “Little English Talents” language competition. The competition is open to kids ages 3 to 12, broken down into three competitive groups based on age. Currently, there are over one hundred kids signed up to compete, and registration is still open to all kids so long as their native language is not English. Competition entry fees are RMB 80 for KIDA members and RMB 200 for non-members.

We connected with Linda Liu from KIDA who stated that in launching this competition, KIDA hoped that they could help to increase awareness of the importance of English speaking, and to allow kids a platform to practice and take that next step in perfecting their English skills.

Kids are welcome to engage in five types of talents – singing, singing with dance, poetry readings, public speaking, and chants. The three age categories will be: 3 to 5 (kids group), 6 to 9 (childrens group), and 10 to 12 (youth group). The youth group competitors will be asked to prepare a self-introduction, English recitation, and a talent portion, while the kids and childrens categories will only do self-introduction and a talent performance.

Prizes for the competition include several KIDA English RMB 1,000 scholarships to be allocated to students who make it to the final round. The grand prize winner will earn a $10,000 KDIA English scholarship and the title of “Perfect Little English Talent.” The competition will also be broadcast on CETV during the summer, likely in July or August.

Those interested in registering for the competition can do so online at this link https://weidian.com/item.html?itemID=2063788298, by calling 010-67859599, or at the registration desk the day of the competition.