KEY 5. LEARN PHRASES – NOT WORDS.

Hey, what's Up? We hope you have a good day today.

When we meet our friends, that's what we say: "What's Up?" Of course, this phrase means "Hello, how are you?"

"What's Up" is a very common and very easy idiom. An idiom is a phrase that has a different meaning than the words in it. You cannot understand an idiom by knowing each word in it. You must understand it as a whole phrase.

Always study the phrases but not the words themselves. You will remember constructions better than separate words. You will use them in everyday speech. It’s necessary to learn the phrases because native English speakers always use phrases. Keep in mind that there is no chance to speak well if you just learn some words.

Language is a construction. You build it with phrases. English is a phrasal language. In order to start speaking it is enough to learn some basic phrases. Speaking with phrases is a quick start. Don’t focus too much on grammar rules at the beginning!

By using set expressions you’ll be able to communicate easily and understandably. It’s much better to use common phrases instead of “hem and haw”. It’s the most effective way of communication with natives from the very beginning.

KEY 6. TRANSLATE.

Translate everything you see. Both ways.

Translate labels from cosmetics, clothes, food, manuals... Everything! It is easy to have always next to you an electronic dictionary at your mobile or any other device but a paper dictionary is much better. You will see and read more words before you will find the one you are looking for.

Also try to find synonyms and antonyms to the English words. For example fast – slow, fast – rapid, quick etc. You will remember them like in Russian – automatically. They will pop up in your mind later. That’s for sure.

You can ask what to translate in order to achieve maximum productivity. It is simple. Translate what you are fond of. Or what is important to your job. Especially if it is related to your Goal. If you are a doctor, translate medical topics both ways.

And most important – translate your thoughts from Russian to English. Use only words and phrases you use in Russian. These are words you use every day. It makes no sense to translate something you don’t need and will never use. It is useless to translate somebody else’s thoughts. It is useless to remember words which you will never use, for example “windvane”.

In order to speak you need to translate words which come to your Russian mind into English speech. This is the only way to start speaking easily. Use your own Russian vocabulary to speak English. Also you will be able to understand others easily when you have your own vocabulary.

The more you translate, the more vocabulary you have. You start to understand English better, you start to understand foreign culture. In time you will start to think in English. It will come naturally – don’t force yourself. It will happen at some point. Don’t worry – just work for it.

KEY 7. SPEAK!

You have to speak!

The feeling of it gives you a confidence, freedom and independence. If you speak English then the whole World is in your pocket.

The English language is a language of business and information. If you speak and understand it, you can get whatever you want. You have the opportunity to make more money and stuff. If you want to reach all of your goals, if you dream to be more successful – you need to speak English and speak English well. It means you don’t have to waste your time on its studying but you have to be hard-working: listening, speaking, reading, writing etc.

The English language is not a luxury anymore. It is a mandatory skill for everybody in the 21st Century.

Nowadays the main goal of any language is to get and transfer the information. Any information is possible to transfer using easy words and simple grammatical constructions. You don’t have to know all grammar rules, rare words and all exceptions in order to speak. All you need is using your knowledge and skills by practice.

You can replace some Russian words in your speech with English ones. Start with simple ones like “Сегодня я приду домой late”. So you will replace Russian words with English ones. And finally after that you will remember more and more words you can say for example: “I have computer дома”. Because you still have no idea how you can say “дома” in English :) Sometimes it’s funny. Of course you can choose your own way which is more suitable and easy for you.

There are lots of websites with “very important” information, too many “teachers” who give us the jokes, proverbs, idioms or so on... Everyone tries to convince you that before speaking with native speakers you must know all grammar. You must pronounce like a native. English is extremely difficult and you need to study it at least two years in an English speaking country. So no chances – they are focused on the Process of studying but not for the result – Speaking!

That’s why your brain is so confused about all this “very important information”. You feel lost, overwhelmed, lonely and absolutely helpless. Most of the time nobody even answers your questions on the forums. Nobody talks to you and you face the whole world of English alone. It is not a surprise it seems so complicated!

The Solution is simple: study basic grammar and start to speak with natives. The foreign language is just a skill. Like cooking, skiing, driving. There is no difference! Any skill develops and improves only with practice. The more you speak the better your English becomes.

If you decide it is really necessary for you to speak English, and you want to understand it then the English language should become part of your life. It means that not only 15 minutes a day will you try but all your day should pass step by step into English. You should read the short news; listen to English audio books; translate your thoughts into English and Speak. But it is useless if you don’t have The Final Goal. The Goal which requires English.

THE FINAL KEY

We can’t teach you more than you can learn in your life by yourself. We cannot give you more than you can get from your own experience. We can only help to direct you in a right appropriate way how to study with more efficiency.

We are not your teachers anymore; we are just a support team for you. Yes, you might have some problems with using grammar or using words. Or you might be confused which word is better to use in a sentence. It’s OK, keep going, keep thinking, try to remember all the lessons you already have, all the ways you have learned, all the advice you remembered and you see it is so natural to speak English easily now.

You have learned enough.

First of all this is your achievement, this is your big time!

We thank you so much from deep in our hearts for your time, patience and insistence! We hope to hear from you soon after you achieve your Final Goal!