《I Did Not Learn English In School - Simple Secrets to Learning English Fast》How I Read
Advertisement
Well, I guess everyone who has bought this book knows how to read. The thing is, I do my reading differently.
I'm not sure if I'm the only one doing this, but I read like I'm eating my favorite food. I don't stuff it down my throat. I break it down into the smallest bite. I pay attention to the look, smell, and taste of the food.
Have you seen Kobayashi eat? (Google him). In the world of competitive eating, he's the beast among the best. I can't eat as much food as he can in the least amount of time. I'm just one of his fans. But what I'm not sure about is if he truly enjoys the food at light speed.
My point is: I never do superficial reading. I do not read for the sake of mere information absorption alone. I savor every word. I make sure to dig down into the meaning and motivation behind the texts.
When I read, I keep a close lookout for interesting words, phrases, and sentences. I pay attention to how they are strung masterfully together in order to express ideas effectively. If a phrase or sentence intrigues me, I would pause and reflect on the author's choice of words. Yes, I would question it all.
If in the process I catch a word or carefully-worded expression I can relate to, I would give my brain time to reflect on it. After I have read the entire context or whole section, I would go back where the word or phrase is then re-live the experience.
For example, while reading the first chapter of The Pelican Brief I spotted the phrase, formal gathering. I continued reading to avoid disrupting the flow, but at the back of my head I could hear myself saying, "Hey, that is a useful phrase, isn't it?"
I could almost hear Arnold Schwarzenegger say, "I'll be back!"
After being reunited with the phrase, I spoke it in a low mumble like so: "formal gathering, formal gathering, formal gathering." At that same exact time, I created in all possible detail
a clear visualization of a memorable occasion I had been. I then came up with a simple sentence out of that imagination: A wedding is a formal gathering.
Advertisement
It doesn't take you a minute to do this with each word or phrase you find relatable, useful, and important. A friendly reminder though: Don't mumble out in the open!
My mother once caught me speaking words in a barely audible whisper. Imagine being so absorbed by your thoughts then all suddenly a slipper spinning like a boomerang hit you in the head, "ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
First of all, not all people enjoy reading. Now, imagine if the book is written in someone else's tongue. Would you find it dreadful? But since English is a power language, I have recognized the need to study it at all costs.
Reading English materials at the start wasn't fun at all. Even the mere sight of the book sapped my energy. I know most of you behave like this. You feel tired even before you open the book.
But don't forget. Your ultimate goal is to conquer English. If reading is something you must do to get to that goal, then you have to deal with it. Need the motivation to get it done? Check out these tricks that have worked for me:
Challenge yourself to read. Trick yourself into it until it becomes a habit. Developing a new habit does take effort but given proper time you will make headway.
"But I hate to read and I don't find reading enjoyable!"
What if you go ahead and start doing the thing you hate doing? Go ahead and see if you have the ability to do it. You hate it. I get it. But just do it without thinking you hate it. Do you get it?
Do not let thinking or hating get in the way. Just fuckin' do it. Just read. And it's not all about doing what you like. It's doing whatever it takes.
By the way, what do you expect? Do you think learning English is all fun and games? Let me remind you. You are not doing the act of reading for the fun of it.
I hate to say this but this hype about making learning simple, fun, and effective somehow creates a lazy mindset. Students in some way demand they get the best results while having fun.
Advertisement
In reality, when you are learning something, the experience is not at all fun-filled. You have to go through some sort of shit. You have to pay some price. You have to sacrifice. My piece of advice: If you want to learn English super-fast, fun must never be the first thing that comes to your mind.
Every first thing you do is hard before it becomes easy. When you start learning English, when you start reading English stuff, when you start hunting down for useful expressions and all, the experience will never be a pleasant one. Not ever. Remember.
But what if? What if you are able to make it on the other side? What if you are able to pull it off, pull it off getting to point B from point A? And what if you find out that point B is way much better than point A? Will you go back to point A?
In this case, you are not reading just to learn. You are reading to conquer yourself. You are reading to achieve that sense of fulfillment that you can actually do it despite you thinking it wasn't possible.
Okay, let's get down to business. To make it easier for you, start with 1 minute each day of uninterrupted reading. Make it 2 minutes each day after a week. Make it 15 minutes each day after a month. Begin reading anything written in simple, standardized English.
It doesn't matter if you decide to read one sentence at first. All that matters is you BEGIN to read. Your first hardest goal, your point B right now is to read (tons of struggles, sacrifices, embarrassment, boredom, nothingness)—read one sentence.
Go, just do it! Get to point B fast! Oh, you are faster than I thought. You are almost done reading my book. Brilliant job!
Find a book that interests you. Books might look dull, terrible, or even unreadable to you. But give a book a chance. What is it that matters to you? What is it you like? Do you like swimming? Do you like dancing? Read up on it. If you like cooking, read up on it.
Remembering useful phrases and sentences becomes easier if what you read matters to you. Find the genre you truly enjoy and care about.
What I do most often when I am at a library is I randomly pick up books. I would read the introduction, skim the first chapter, and check out the back blurb. If one book stays longer in my hands, chances are it's the one I am looking for.
Read to learn and unlearn. Never limit yourself to books or articles that you only like. If you find food interesting, you don't fix yourself to reading books or blogs about food alone. You do not talk about food stuff all the time, do you?
Boost your vocabulary skills by exploring other topics. Read about astronomy. Read about cryptocurrency. Read about Steve Jobs biography. Your goal is to be able to express yourself well in any subject.
I open a book like I'm opening a gift. There is always something to get excited about. I always expect to learn something new, something epic. It could be a new expression. It could be a historical fact. It could be a whole new idea.
Reading is the most efficient way to access and learn new information. It expands your horizons and pushes your imagination. Perhaps another coolest thing about reading is it brings you to places, emotionally and imaginatively, places you never otherwise would have visited.
Before you close a book, I promise, you will be different. No, you're not going to have supernatural powers! What I mean is reading will turn you into a talking and walking encyclopedia.
Imagine bumping into a group of friends having a conversation about the latest scientific discovery or a medical breakthrough, will you be able to relate? How about this? Imagine yourself being able to explain your cool ideas in impeccable English.
Seriously, hear and feel your sense of confidence as you talk to your friends. Really see yourself being confident, irresistible, and having fun. See yourself being able to impress your friends, your boyfriend, or your girlfriend.
This is one of the strategies I use to keep myself constantly motivated to read. I always keep a clear vision of where I am going and who I want to be.
Advertisement
- In Serial46 Chapters
Dream of the Abyss
Elisa Mary Grant died in a hospital bed after being stuck in it for six months, and like any other, her soul drifted away from her husk when she passed. For her, death was a release. It merely meant that she no longer have to wake up in pain, breathing through tubes and have doctors flood her veins with dubious chemicals for “experimental treatment”. Free from her mortal constraints and useless body, she felt… at peace, serene, even. Death is bliss, after all, when objectively living sucked to the point of extreme. Therefore, there was no reason to mourn at all and she knew she definitely didn't. ... That was until, on her way for a proper reincarnation, she found herself rudely interrupted and left stranded in the great NoWhere. “Wonderful,” she remarked as she floated in the [Beyond], “Just when I thought that suicide is the answer.” Author's note: Updates every Tuesday-Wednesday, probably some time in between. ... P.S Notes: Contains existential questions and nihilistic themes, rather philosophical. Will be rather sluggish until the MC gets her shit together. P.SS Notes: Story takes time to develop. And maybe uncomfortable. It's not gonna be action-packed or filled with battles, I think. Anyway, it is kinda unusual. P. SSS Notes: It is not LitRpg. Don't be fooled.
8 132 - In Serial19 Chapters
Funny Shades of Grey
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Wait, that's another story.
8 117 - In Serial50 Chapters
Reigner’s Reincarnation
How would I describe my life so far? Born on Earth and grew up to become a salaryman. Working a dead-end job as a helpdesk service rep. The good news? I was run over while taking a shortcut home. Not really. I mean, I died but my life was not over. Or my life was over, but now I have another life. Anyway, I woke from darkness and found myself in a new world. Classes, levels, and magic, is real here… Only I can’t use it... at all. Magic has no impact on me. It all just looks like a bunch of visual effects through my eyes. Everyone else is having fun playing with mana while I’m stuck poking things with a stick. The world constantly rubs it in my face, showing off its magic. People around me are always flying, summoning creatures, or casting massive displays of magical fire, ice, and other elements. Honestly if you can’t tell, it was starting to get to me. This is my story of gaining access to mana, learning new spells, and exploring a magical world.
8 151 - In Serial58 Chapters
I Like You a Latte {Complete}
"You're my favorite thing." He croaked. "You're all I have left . . . I don't know what I would do if you left me." ***A story built on coffee, awkward glances, dark pasts, too many puns, and one girl's uncanny ability to find trouble.Oh, and love. ***Beverly had always loved local coffee shops. When she stumbles upon Cynthia's, she enjoys a mocha and the adorable, awkward giant of a barista, who is covered in tattoos and would be terrifying, if not for the fact that he can hardly look her in the eye. As they grow closer, Beverly works to unravel his tricky past, whilst trying not to get involved in her roommate's suspicious antics and the sudden uprising of drugs and alcohol at her university.***Highest Rankings:#1 in Sweet 5/14/22 -- 5/18/22#5 in Chicklit 7/23/22#1 in shyboy 8/7/22
8 137 - In Serial15 Chapters
Inanimate insanity Headcanons
why does this have the views that it does. guys i wanna delete it bc it's embarrassing i wrote this but 11k reads ??
8 190 - In Serial9 Chapters
Road to ninja reacciona A su futuro
En una sala de cine aparece todos los personajes de Road to ninja, lo que ellos no saben es que van reaccionar a su futuro .¿Qué pasará?¿Cómo reaccionatan?"Nota la historia será igual a la de Naruto la única diferencia es que se van a cambiar las personalidades pero no por mucho jijiji"Pues no se hablé más ,y vengan a ver está historia sin más que decir hasta luego Konekos
8 166

