Edited by Rivermore Academy
English, being an international language, is widely used in most countries around the world. In Malaysia and neighboring Singapore, English is one of the most commonly used languages in the workplace. If you still struggle with English, don't worry. Take a look at how this 40-year-old woman mastered English with her unique approach!
Meet Lois Kim, who, before the age of 40, was a Korean with absolutely no knowledge of English.
When she first set foot on American soil, a neighbour greeted her with a simple "Hi, I’m Mryam/Marjo." She was completely dumbfounded, not because she couldn't figure out how to respond or lacked the courage to reply but because the English textbooks in Korea didn't cover the word "Hi," leaving her unable to understand the meaning.
Despite her initial struggles with English, she eventually became the Global Communication Team Director at Google, where precision in every English letter, sentence, and expression was imperative.
Secret 1: Create a Learning Environment
Regardless of the language you're learning, the learning environment is always crucial.
According to Lois Kim, creating an environment that compels you to learn English is the best. For example, since arriving in the U.S., she forced herself into conversation practice with a foreign language teacher four times a week, including one hour of English lessons and half an hour of preparation time.
Simultaneously, she compelled herself to join the Toastmasters International to deliver speeches and posted daily expressions on her social media. These "compulsory" learning environments allowed her to develop a unique English-speaking ability, enabling her to attract and persuade others effectively.
Secret 2: Find Your Preferred Learning Method
There are many ways to learn a language, but Lois Kim believes that finding your favourite learning method is crucial.
She enjoys watching American dramas, listening to podcasts, and lately, she has developed a liking for audiobooks. By immersing herself in the English world through her headphones, she gains additional insights from dramas or podcasts. Additionally, she has started to enjoy audiobooks as an alternative to reading, allowing her to absorb formal English expressions more effectively.
Secret 3: Practice What You Learn
Whenever Lois Kim learns a new English vocabulary word, she practices it over 100 times to ensure she truly masters it. Of course, achieving this repetition isn't something that can be done in a single day.
Writing or speaking—both are excellent practice methods. Every time she writes a letter, she incorporates newly learned words or phrases. In meetings or casual conversations, she tries to incorporate recently learned English words into her dialogue.
Through countless repetitions, she continually improves her language and expressive abilities, moving beyond using the same sentence structures in her responses.
Secret 4: Let Others Know You're Learning English
Lois Kim advises everyone not to be afraid of admitting they are just starting to learn English and are not familiar with it yet. On the contrary, she believes it's essential to tell others that you are learning English from the beginning and occasionally ask if your English has improved.
Don't be afraid or feel awkward. If someone says something negative like, "Your English is bad," treat it as motivation to work harder. If someone compliments you with, "Your English has improved," consider it a boost.
In the process of learning English, Lois Kim admits that she didn't progress at a fast pace, but she doesn't consider learning English at this age late. As long as you are willing to start, it's never too late. Lois Kim started learning English at the age of 40 and, by the age of 50, became the Global Communication Team Director at Google.
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