When Did You Start Learning English?

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Intermediate

Learning Objectives

In this lesson you will:

Improve your ability to talk about language learning.

Exercise 1

Warm-up

Have a short conversation based on these questions. Make sure you ask your tutor some questions too!

Why did you decide to learn English?

Do most people in your country speak more than one language?

Exercise 2

Vocabulary

Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor.

talk with English speakers
watch TV shows in English
practice consistently
keep track of my progress
set clear goals
reward myself

Let's Practice

Fill in the blanks using "do" or "do not" to make these sentences true for you.

I often talk with native English speakers.

I watch TV shows in English.

I practice English consistently.

I keep track of my language learning progress.

I set clear language learning goals.

I reward myself when I meet my language learning goals.

Exercise 3

Useful Language

Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor.

master English grammar
become completely fluent
use English in my professional life
find the time
live and work abroad
keep up the motivation
get my pronunciation right
find good materials

Let's Practice

Tell your tutor if each pair of words or phrases has a similar or different meaning.

master English grammar / never make spelling mistakes

become completely fluent / talk like a native speaker

use English in my professional life / use English at work

find the time / save time

work abroad / have a job overseas

keep up the motivation / stay motivated

get my pronunciation right / make no grammatical mistakes

find good materials / find good teachers

Exercise 4

Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor, then answer the questions.

	Nina How long have you been learning English?
	Akio Adachi I think about 11 years now.
	Nina Oh wow! How do you stay motivated to learn?
	Akio Adachi I set really clear goals and keep track of my progress. I also share my goals with others because it helps with keeping me motivated.
	Nina What have you struggled with the most as a language learner?
	Akio Adachi Just finding the time can be really challenging! For me, getting my pronunciation right has always been tricky, so I try to watch a lot of shows in English to help with this.
	Nina Sounds like a good strategy.
	Akio Adachi It is! It's much less tedious than practicing grammar, that's for sure!
	Nina Definitely. Which of your language skills are you focusing on improving?
	Akio Adachi Various things, but mostly I want to be able to express myself more freely and feel more confident speaking.
	Nina Yeah, I'm focusing on the same things with my Spanish. But like you said, just finding the time can be the hardest thing! What are your long-term language learning goals?
	Akio Adachi I'm hoping to reach a level of proficiency where I can use English in my professional life. I eventually want to live abroad and work abroad — maybe in the UK.

Check Your Understanding

What does Akio do to stay motivated?

What does Akio do to improve his pronunciation?

How proficient does Akio want to be in English?

Exercise 5

Find the Mistake

Find and correct the mistake in each sentence. Be careful — not all sentences have a mistake!

What are you struggled with the most as a language learner?

I eventually want to live in abroad.

Finding the time to practice English consistent can be challenging.

I want to be completely fluent.

Which of your language skill are you focusing on improving?

It can be hard to find good materials.

What do your long-term language learning goals?

It's much less tedious than practice grammar.

Exercise 6

Fill in the Blanks

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor and fill in the blanks. You will be Ling. Use the Answer Pool below to help you.

	Zach How long have you been learning English?
	Ling About seven years now.
	Zach You always seem pretty busy with work and stuff. How do you keep up the motivation?
	Ling I try to talk with native English speakers as often as I can, and treating myself with (1) when I achieve my goals helps a lot with (2).
	Zach What have you struggled with the most as a language learner?
	Ling Understanding fast speech and getting my (3) right — they have always been really tough for me. Sometimes I can only (4) about 70% of what native speakers are saying.
	Zach It's not easy! Which of your language skills are you focusing on improving?
	Ling I've been (5) on my reading and comprehension skills. I want to become a (6), so these skills are crucial!
	Zach Yeah, it's a whole different skill set than simply being able to read and write in two languages, isn't it? What are your long-term language learning goals?
	Ling I want to be completely (7) and also be able to write without making errors. And of course, continuing to (8) my understanding of English grammar is a priority.

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 8

Answer Pool (Questions 1-8)

fluent
catch
translator
rewards
improve
working
pronunciation
motivation

Exercise 7

Conversation

Have a conversation based on these questions. Don't forget to ask your tutor some questions too!

How long have you been learning English?

How do you stay motivated to study English?

What have you struggled with the most as a language learner?

Which of your language skills are you focusing on improving?

What are your long-term language learning goals?