Are you considering taking the leap into starting to learn English, but aren’t sure where to begin?
Let me start by saying that I understand the concern you feel being an older person learning English. I was 30 years old when I started studying for my degree. I did this part time and graduated at the age of 36. I can remember all the doubts I felt as an older learner until I succeeded and then I realized that they were myths.
Many of you may think that learning English is only for young people.
This isn’t true! With belief in yourself and practice you can do it. So let’s look at some common myths and see what the truth is. I will be using English Conditionals to explain this.
What are 'English Conditionals'?
Before we begin we need to understand what Conditionals are – Put simply they are sentences that describe situations and their possible result and they usually use “if”. Here are three main kinds I will use some of these:
Zero Conditional, used in a situation that is always true, for example; “If you heat water it boils”.
First Conditional, used in a situation where the future is real, for example; “If you study hard, you will improve”.
Second Conditional, used in situations which are imaginary or far less likely to happen for example; “If I won the lottery, I would buy a castle to live in”.
So that’s the basic grammar explained. You can also look out for some idioms and phrasal verbs.
The conditionals will “look like this”, and the phrasal verbs or idioms will look like this. I will explain them at the end!
Myth #1: I'm Too Old to Learn English
The first myth I want to look at is that you are too old to learn English effectively. One of the things that often worries adult English learners is that it’s too late to start learning a new language, in other words “If I were younger, I would learn faster”.
Whilst it’s true that children and young adults tend to absorb and learn languages more easily, research has shown that adults can also achieve fluency in a second language with commitment, dedicated practice, and a good conversational English tutor.
Life experience gives you good habits. You will be motivated and you will be disciplined with your study schedule. So don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
In fact, many successful people from all walks of life – businesspeople, start-up founders, politicians, and entrepreneurs – are adult learners who have got their English up to a good conversational level. With the right resources and support, you can too.
Myth #2: I Must Live in an English-Speaking Country
The next myth that many people believe is that you must live in an English-speaking country or “If I lived in the UK, I would speak English more fluently”. While it is a fact that living in an English-speaking country is a benefit because you are immersed in or surrounded by the language. You should not let this put you off.
You can still improve your English with online classes, podcasts, videos, books and watching English TV. The most important thing is practice.
Myth #3: My English Must be Perfect
Another myth that I find is commonly held by my students is that they should speak English perfectly. “If I spoke perfect English, people would understand me”. This really affects their confidence and makes them steer clear of English conversations whenever possible. So my recommendation to you is you don’t need perfect grammar to speak clearly.
People will understand you even if you make small errors. Focus on getting your point across not being perfect.
Myth #4: People Will Laugh at me if I make Mistakes
This is that people will laugh at you when you make mistakes. Remember an important fact about learning is “If people make mistakes, they learn”.
Most people that you are communicating with will know this and will be kind and happy that you are trying to speak their language. So always keep in mind practice makes perfect and use every opportunity to talk and talk again.
Myth #5: I'll Struggle to Understand Native Speakers
Another common myth is “if I talk to native speakers, I’ll struggle to understand them” due to pronunciation, talking speed and accent differences. You may worry that the conversation will go over your head.
Although understanding different accents can be challenging for non-native listeners, this can be overcome with practice and regular exposure. Even adult learners can improve their ability to comprehend English spoken by both native speakers, and speakers who have learned English as a second language.
At the end of the day, people speak English with thousands of different accents, so learning to understand even some of them really is a key piece of the learning English puzzle.
Conversational English lessons online can absolutely help in developing your ear for accents and although I speak in a neutral British English accent, we can explore different accents as part of your study, helping to build your confidence and fluency.
Myth #6: Learning English Won't Help My Career
Many people assume that learning English is only necessary if they’re looking to travel or move overseas to an English speaking country or “if I learn English, it won’t help my career”.
You may think it won’t do me any good to learn English. However, the truth is that knowing a second language like English can be a valuable asset in so many different situations.
In today’s fast moving globalized economy, speaking multiple languages can give you a significant competitive edge when it comes to job opportunities and networking. Plus, being able to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients, and partners from different countries can lead to developing new business relationships and partnerships.
More and more people work remotely now, perhaps improving your English ability could open up new avenues you have never even thought of.
Myth #7: Learning English Will Be Boring
Some people assume that “if you learn English, it’s boring”.
Language learning can be a fun and rewarding experience if you learn in an engaging and interactive way.
A good tutor will use a range of activities and exercises to make language learning enjoyable and relevant so the session won’t drag on.
For example, we might play games like “Conversational Charades”, explore real-world scenarios relevant to your life, or just chat about a topic or news item that really interests you.
Conditionals Used in this Article
Myth #1 “If I were younger, I would learn faster”. This is an example of the second conditional used for situations which are imaginary or far less likely to happen.
Myth #2 “If I lived in the UK, I would speak English more fluently”. This is again an example of the second conditional.
Myth #3 “If I spoke perfect English, people would understand me”. Once again this is the second conditional.
Myth #4 “If people make mistakes, they learn”. This is an example of the zero conditional which is used in a situation that is always true.
Myth #5 “If I talk to native speakers, I’ll struggle to understand them”. This is an example of the first conditional used in a situation where the future is real.
Myth #6 “If I learn English, it won’t help my career”. This is again an example of the first conditional.
Myth #7 “If you learn English, it’s boring”. This is another example of the zero conditional.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs Used in this Article
So did you understand the idioms and phrasal verbs? Don’t worry if you didn’t, I’ll now define them for you.
Idioms
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” This idiom means people think old people cannot learn new things – It’s not true.
“Practice makes Perfect” This idiom means if you practice something many times you will become good at it.
“It will go over my head”. This idiom means to not understand something because it is too complex.
“It won’t do me any good”. This idiom describes something that is not helpful or beneficial.
Phrasal Verbs
“Put you off”. This phrasal verb means to stop you from doing something.
“Steer clear of” This phrasal verb means to avoid doing something.
“Get your point across” This phrasal verb means to make yourself understood.
“Drag on” This phrasal verb means something is dull or takes longer than expected.
Wrap Up
I hope this article has gone some way to dispelling some myths surrounding adult learners of English.
At Lifelong English with Tim, I’m here to support and guide you every step of the way.
Whether you’re looking to improve your job prospects, communicate with colleagues from different countries, or simply enjoy speaking a new language, learning English can be an empowering experience.
Ready to take the first step towards becoming more confident in your English? You can book a 40 minute intro session below.
If you find me to be a good tutor, I’ll work with you to create a personalized learning plan that suits your schedule, goals, and learning style. Let’s get started on this exciting journey of language discovery together.
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