By Robby
If you are new here please read this first.
I was browsing YouTube the other day, and I came across some video where an English teacher talks about common English errors made by foreign English speakers.
It wasn’t that teacher’s only video – not by a long shot. As a matter of fact, there were LOADS of videos of this nature on that particular YouTube channel – let alone other channels where different teachers are talking about pretty much the same things:
- Most commonly made English mistakes;
- Things not to say when speaking in English;
- English mistakes made by Spanish people;
- English mistakes made by Russians…
… and so on and so forth.
And you know what?
I think this illustrates a terrible trend in the English teaching community! 😡
Everyone is focused on the aspect of making mistakes. Mistakes this, mistakes that, you can’t say this, you can’t say that…
The only thing that these videos achieve is the following: THEY FREAK ENGLISH STUDENTS OUT!
Imagine now for a second that you’re trying to learn some other practical skill, let’s say – dancing.
Now, your dancing lesson begins, and your teacher starts telling you how NOT to dance – “Don’t place your foot like that… don’t turn that direction…don’t hold your partner this way… Don’t… Don’t… DON’T… DON’T!!!”
What do you think are the chances of you learning to dance successfully if you’re constantly BOMBARDED WITH NEGATIVITY?
That’s right – next to none!
Then why are all these teachers hell-bent on talking about mistakes non-stop? To be honest with you, I haven’t got a clue!
The only thing I can say in relation to this is that they haven’t been learning to speak in English themselves for the simple reason that they’re all native English speakers and they’ve learned to speak their native language within their family setting as children.
I, on the other hand, struggled with my English fluency for a long, long time before I realized what I was doing wrong and I strongly believe it gives me an edge over any native English speaking teacher.
I have a first-hand experience in what it feels like when you’re dealing with negativity as an English student, and I know for a fact that the only way to fluency is by focusing on what you CAN say in English instead of being so focused on MISTAKES!
Robby
P.S. Would you like to find out why I’m highlighting some of the text in red? Read this article and you’ll learn why it’s so important to learn idiomatic expressions and how it will help you to improve your spoken English!
P.S.S. Are you serious about your spoken English improvement? Check out my English Harmony System HERE!
English mistakes, common English mistakes, commonly made English mistakes, mistakes in English, English Harmony
P.S. Are you serious about your spoken English improvement? Check out the English Harmony System HERE!