Go to the gym and you will get fit and sexy.
Yes or no?
Yes.
But….
The gym will not fix everything.
You’ve still got to make other changes.
For example, what about that slice of pizza you had for breakfast?
If you want a flat stomach, you’ve got to exercise AND eat right.
It’s the same with your English.
An English classroom — or better — a private teacher can help…
But to get fluent fast, you’ll need more…
The Best Classrooms Are Not Classrooms
In my experience as an English teacher since 2004…
In my experience studying polyglots…
In my experience learning Czech and French and watching what my many bi-lingual friends do…
Fluent English speakers are not made in the classroom…
Or even during private lessons…
Fluent English speakers are made in the time between lessons.
Just like you get sexy abs in the kitchen…
You get fluent English by reading BBC Six Minute English on the toilet.
Unusual?
Maybe.
But it works.
Here’s my list of Top 5 Unusual Places To Get Fluent:
Unusual English Classroom #5 – Your Bed
“I’m too tired to do homework after dinner.”
That’s a popular excuse.
My students told me that all the time.
Then I started to give them a new type of homework — watching TV in bed.
Unusual English Classroom #4 – Your Car
Did you know, according to my memory, the average American spends 1.2 million billion hours in his/her car?
Wow. That’s a lot!
Even if your office is only ten minutes from your home, that’s twenty minutes a day, 100 minutes a week, and six and a half hours a month.
Even if you don’t have a car and travel to work on the metro or the bus…
Spend that time productively, listening to a podcast or audio book instead of worrying and having the same thoughts you had yesterday.
Do that, and as we say in English, it will add up quickly.
Unusual English Classroom #3 – Your Neighborhood
If you have a dog, and if you live in the city, you’ve got to walk it.
Until Amazon starts selling dog-walking drones, it’s going to be on your daily to-do list.
What else is on your daily to-do list?
The dishes?
The store?
Making coffee?
Each of your daily tasks may take only a few minutes or a few seconds.
But when you add all the minutes and seconds together…
At the end of the month, it equals several hourse.
Now spend those hours enjoying a podcast in English and you’ll feel the difference.
(Get my top two English podcast recommendations here.)
Unusual English Classroom #2 – Your Dinner Table
This tip is from a member of School of Speaking.
He says that he and his wife agreed to speak only English during dinner.
So when they all sit down with the kids, they get an extra 30 minutes of practice every day.
That’s creative!
Unusual English Classroom #1 – Your Bathroom
It’s quiet.
No one will disturb you.
It’s daily.
And you’re relaxed.
A perfect mix for improving your English!
Summary
A private teacher is great — but to master English you’ll need more — you’ll need to do English daily.
Be prepared: Bring a book, your phone and earbuds wherever you go.
Then when you have minute here or there…
Read the news in English… watch a video in English.. listen to a podcast or audio book in English…
These daily minutes will soon become hours.
And your English will soon become more and more fluent!
What About You?
Have you discovered a “classroom” that’s not on this list?
Please share in the comments below!
Awesome! Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
I had been very impressed by this concept with some techniques. Which is really based on self practice.
That’s right – you can learn with a teacher and you can learn by yourself…self-practice!
you sir my Hero in English
Thank you!
Thank you . This is the best motivation. I haven’t motivated for a long time.
Glad to hear it!
Great. I following almost all of your advices and the results are amazing. Thanks.
That’s great! Thanks for sharing.
That’s very true, everything I read and listen to in English, even for a short time a day and no matter the place, is adding up along the way to get used to and master this beautiful language called English!
Excellent! It really does add up, doesn’t it?
That is true, I read every email in English at short time period, not specials place.
Good idea. Thank you.
You’re welcome!
You are right every day i’m trying to read ,listen and practice i feel improved day after day i wish to be fluent one day.
If you keep up your daily routine, you will!
You are right I’m trying to learn every day by reading,listening and talking every time I really felt the improvement day after day
Great!