Real ESL

What have you done to improve your English?

Some of my students have watched a lot of American TV. Some of my students decided they wanted to study five hours a day after going to class for six hours. Some of my students partied with Americans (to party with s.o. = to go out with s.o., to have a party with s.o., to go to bars with s.o.) Some of my students found an American boyfriend or girlfriend.

I have some experience learning languages (to have experience ___ing s.t.). In my life, I’ve learned French, Spanish and Korean. My French is very rusty (rusty = not strong anymore because it hasn’t been used) and so is my Korean (so is __ = ___ is also …). If you don’t use it, you lose it! I think I could pick them up again (to pick up a language = to learn a language naturally), though, if I tried. My Spanish is decent (decent = not bad, not perfect, just okay) because I use it a lot.

Today I want to talk about how I learned Korean. Most of my students have not done what worked for me when I learned Korean. I went to Korea to teach English, but I didn’t speak a word of Korean. I wanted to learn, but all of the Koreans who befriended me (to befriend s.o. = to become friends with s.o.) wanted to practice speaking English and my job required me to speak English all day. Even though I lived in Korea, I didn’t have many opportunities to practice speaking Korean.

After a couple weeks of this, I decided I had to do something. I started taking a Korean class a couple times a week, but it wasn’t enough. Mostly, I learned how to write and read, but speaking was a challenge. (a challenge = a difficulty, something to be overcome)

The big thing that helped me was taking personal-interest classes. I could have taken gardening classes or photography classes, but I happen to enjoy exercise and sports (I happen to enjoy s.t. = I enjoy s.t.), so that’s what I chose to focus on.

I started one-on-one Taekwondo lessons (one-on-one = private) with an instructor who spoke only Korean. I trained with him for an hour and a half a day, five days a week. Not only did I get in great shape, (to get in great shape = to get a strong body) but I also started speaking Korean (not only did I …, but I also…. = both ____ and _____ happened). I did this for the entire year and I got my black belt at the end of it. This helped me the most.

I also took an aerobics class for a month, which was very confusing because everyone knew the moves (to know the moves = to know the movements, the actions, the steps), but I didn’t. On top of that, (on top of that = in addition, also) I didn’t speak the language. When the teacher said “Turn,” everyone crashed into me (to crash into s.o. = to fall into s.o., to hit s.o.). That lasted (lasted = continued) one month.

Then, I started a Dahn Hak class, which is a Korean form of yoga and meditation. After the class, everyone sat around, drank tea and chatted. (to chat = to talk casually) I didn’t understand much, but I sat with them and listened. I really liked that part of the class. However, one woman always brought her kids to the class. During the meditation, they ran around around our still bodies (still = no moving). It could have been a time for me to find that peaceful place inside me, despite my environment. But I didn’t reach this blissful state (blissful state = happy way of thinking). Instead, it freaked me out (to freak s.o. out = to scare s.o.). I thought one of them was going to fall on my head. I could never relax. I finished this class after three months.

I think it’s great to date someone (to date = to go out with s.o., to become a girlfriend or boyfriend with s.o.) from the country where you are trying to learn the language. However, I didn’t find a Korean boyfriend because about two weeks after I arrived, I met a very good-looking American guy who made me laugh. He ended up becoming my husband! (to end up ___ing = in the end, ____ happened)

I would love to hear from you today.

What is the best thing you’ve done to improve your English?