The importance of consistency for English study
Studying for 20 minutes every day is much better than studying for 2 hours and 20 minutes once a week. Your brain can only take in a certain amount of information at one time. If you study for longer than that at one time then you will forget much of what you have learned. Also, if you study for a short time each day, your brain has a chance to think about what you just learned, and then practice it before you study again the next day. Make studying a habit. Don’t have an all or nothing attitude. 10 minutes is still better than nothing. Always remember that.
Listen to a podcast, write a comment, read a blog. Just make sure you do something every day. If you can spend more time that is great, but make sure you can do something every single day. I challenge you to study English for 20 min every day for the next 30 days. You can’t do nothing one day and then 40 minutes the next. That doesn’t count. The challenge is that you must do it every single day for 30 days. Do you think you can do it? I know you can.
Here on the discussion forum, please tell us about what your English study habits have been like over the past 3 months. Then tell me how you plan to change them. Be clear about how you are going to use the 20 minutes. ie. how much time listening to podcasts, how much time reading, how much writing. If you want to do more that is ok too. Just write down how exactly you plan to spend your 20 minutes a day. At the end of the 30 days, I hope you write back and tell us your results. Was it easy? Did you learn and remember more than you usually do?
Good luck
Andrew
Learning and Improving English
October 9th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
I can’t agree with you more. I am exactly the kind of people you talk about in your blog entry. I study English a lot for one day, and do nothing for a few days just because I am so busy. I guess I need to “change this pattern” starting from today.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I had done this for six month and my english improve a lot. Every day i listen about 20min of podcasts and always reading something in blogs.
But i can´t improve my level in speaking, its so weak, i think right, but when i try say, ‘er’, ‘hum’, nothing come out. I don’t know, maybe i have some problem.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Hello Andrew, hello Addison, hello everybody,
I used to learn English in the school but it wasn’t serious, because the teacher can’t grabs me… and of course it was “a long time ago in a galaxy far far away”, and I was too young and stupid (now I am only stupid - joke of course). So, I start to learn English almost 4 years ago (again, but this time more seriously) in the Institute of foreign students here in Sofia (Bulgaria) and I achieve some results. After that I start to listen everyday radio BBC, which help me to improve my listening skills. A few months ago I found your podcasts and now I’m listening it everyday, almost a 30 minutes before I reach my work place… and I thing that it is very usefully… so thank you so much Andrew and Addison and keeping forward to do that - you are so funny (and humorous as you say)… thanks for your job again.
*REGARDS*
October 15th, 2007 at 9:48 am
How do I need to learn English?
What the system is prefer ?
How can I remember whatI learn by heart.
November 25th, 2007 at 1:49 am
You are absolutely right!!!
December 12th, 2007 at 4:28 am
i m working as a customer support but my english is so weak when i cal my customer i cant catch the words tht time i forget the words and i feel nervous plz remove my hesitation
December 20th, 2007 at 12:36 am
Hello guys,
i beginned to listen the podcasts on china 232 about 3 months ago. i need to improve my english to get a job. The podcasts are a good way to learn. That’s it.
See u later.
January 4th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
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R56ma87de
February 19th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Hello Andy, Hello Addison,
I just came in to youd web-site a few days ago. I downloaded 4 of your recent podcasts and listened to these everday for 3 - 4 hours. I found that some of your dialogues explaining about the phrases I didn’t really understand at the very beginnig. Though it was like that, I still keep it listening carefully in a quiet place. Eventually, I am able to understand more or more. But in fact, not surely what I heard if correct because I feel some of words pronunciated is too fast to follow up. ( cos some words are spoken together, especial at the end of sentence ) I am wondering if you could provide us a subtitle, publishing it in a few days later. ( I think it is better to read the subtitle after listening practice for a few days ) It could definitely assist us living in non-english speaking countries to be more undstandable what you are explaining about.
Very sorry for asking for this. I know the establishment could bother you so much and more of your time be taken. But It is very helpful to learners.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
hello guys
Actually, I study English listening lessons for just 10 minutes in the day & trying to learn a new vocabularies, which take 20 to 30 minutes.
Well, that’s just for the vacations But when I have to go to the college I don’t do any exercises..
Thanx a lot for your efforts