The Death of the Traditional English Language School
When Spoken English Practice launched in 2008, we started with a very simple observation about English language schools that operate all over the world. There are few hundred thousand recognized English language schools and ESL Programs around the world. There are more than a million English language teachers who conduct private lesson either in person or over Skype. On top of all these, there are tons of English language courses operated through e-newsletters, software and audio files.
With a plethora of resources available, one would think learning English would be easy?
Nope. Not at all!
Learning English, specially learning to speak English fluently and naturally was still one of the most difficult tasks for English language learners. With English language schools you gained diplomas, certificates, tons of tutorials and textbooks but NOT the ability to speak English fluently.
If you have learned English at any traditional English Language School, you will agree with me. You can’t be fluent in the English Language just by learning grammar and vocabulary. It is an outdated model of learning the English language. It is a dying practice.
The Traditional English Language School – why it fails
There are a few key factors why traditional English language schools fail:
1.) Traditional English Language Schools overlook the way humans fundamentally learn to speak languages
Think of how you learned to speak your native language? Did you study textbooks and grammar rules before actually speaking? Or did you just started speaking from the vocabulary you had?
Learning to speak English is NOT like learning Biology or History. When you learn theory based subjects like Biology or History, you can learn concepts and transfer that to application and usage easily. Speaking English fluently is much more a real time process. Like Salsa dancing or biking, you have to transfer theory in to practice naturally and effortlessly. The only way to do this is learn by doing.
Want to try our unique learn by doing approach? Sign up for a trial lesson with a Native English Teacher below.
2.) Traditional English Language Schools focus on fancy methods that are NOT logical
Have you seen English language schools that advertise about methods such as Pimsleur Method and Underhill’s approach.
The truth is that most of these English Language learning methods are only beneficial for beginner level English students. Once you have a vocabulary of about 200 words and know basic grammar structures, you need to start practicing with Native English speakers to get to the next level. Practicing English Speaking regularly with Native Speakers is the only way until your muscle memory kicks in and you just speak without thinking is the ONLY way to become an advanced English language user.
So if you are a beginner just learning the A, B, C’s, use a traditional English language school to learn the basics. But once you have learned basic grammar rules and built a vocabulary of around 200 words, start Conversational English Practice with a Native speaker.
3.) Traditional English Language Schools focus on paper qualifications
FACT #1: Unfortunately we live in a time when titles such as “teacher” and “expert” are misused a lot.
FACT #2: Certifications such as TESOL are not regulated. There are ESL Teacher training shops that give these with 1 days training.
FACT #3: Students can also very easily get certificates and diplomas for Spoken English, Business English, Professional English when they can hardly speak any English.
Traditional English Language Schools focus on paper qualifications. They hire teachers with fake certificates and give their students fake certificates.
Stay away from these at all costs
Our advice to you is to pick a English teacher or tutor who is 1.) a Native English Speaker 2.) Someone who let’s you actually speak English in class 3.) And someone who spends more time in class on having real conversations than teaching theory.
The Non Traditional English Language School
English language schools like Spoken English Practice, are called non traditional English Language schools. They use modern Conversational practice methods that allow students to have real conversations with Native English Speakers.
Let’s go back to that example of learning to ride a bike. Think of how you learned to ride a bike when you were a kid.
Did you go to bicycle school? Did you memorize parts of a bike? Did you cram biking rules? Or watched videos of other bikers?
Surely NOT!
You don’t learn how to ride a bike by learning theory. You learn to ride a bike by doing.
Learning to speak English fluently and naturally is very similar. You will only learn by speaking the language – by having real conversations with Native English Speakers .
So stop memorizing English and start learning by DOING
