5 Essential Study Guides to Learn English Faster

Paul Huber

Nowadays, it’s evident that everyone is in a constant state of hurry. We want to be able to communicate, travel, and even talk at a faster rate. However, there are times when we simply cannot move quickly. It’s common knowledge, for instance, that mastering an unfamiliar language requires considerable effort and time.

Although it can be challenging, learning a new language is not impossible. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking are the four components of learning any language. If you want to maximize your chances of learning effectively, you must understand how to learn quickly and remember what you’ve learned.

Learning English is almost necessary in the modern world since it is the language of international trade, higher education, and popular culture. Despite its reputation as one of the hardest languages to pick up, anybody can do so with the correct mindset and dedication to follow through.

That is why Poly Languages has laid out a plan for you. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the methods to deliver results quickly as well as an explanation of their efficacy. Let’s find out how:

  1. Spending a lot of time listening is essential for learning English, both from the start and later on.

Improving one’s ability to communicate in English is greatly aided by listening. Skill-wise, yes, listening comes first, but it’s not the easiest to do. In order to speak fluently, naturally, and effectively in English, it is essential that we be exposed to a wide variety of English sounds. It is innate in us humans to pick up on verbal cues by emulating others around us. The more often we hear a word or phrase, the more likely we are to remember it.

  1. Be very familiar with the sounds used in English.

If you don’t know how to pronounce all the sounds in English, you aren’t hearing words in English the way a native speaker does. You’re interpreting what they say through the lens of your first language. That is why it is vital to learn or even re-learn these English sounds.

Have fun exploring the English phonetic chart. Compare and contrast the recordings by listening to them. Having all the possible English sounds laid out in front of you at once helps you create a mental folder for each one.

  1. Think of patterns, not rules.

Pattern recognition helps our minds decide what to store for later and what to discard. It prepares the brain for better memory, which is crucial while learning a language since it facilitates the recollection of similarities between rules established by repetition.

And for sure, you have already invested some time in studying proper English grammar and spelling. Recall them as patterns rather than rules. These patterns of English grammar are a means of characterizing the language’s vocabulary and syntax. A grammar pattern reveals what clauses or phrases go with a particular adjective, noun, or verb. 

  1. Get in the habit of writing regularly.

One of the most useful ways to turn passive vocabulary into active language is through the habit of writing. It should be a regular part of your study habits if you want to see actual results. Journaling your daily activities is one of the most recommended options. It’s a fun and rewarding way to unleash your creative side. Writing can greatly help you improve your grammar and spelling, especially if you have the chance to have your work edited. 

  1. Talk to someone who speaks English well, whether it’s a teacher or a friend.

The best technique to improve one’s communication abilities is through engaging in conversation. Making friends with individuals who also want to improve their English is a great way to do just that. The convenience of modern technology makes this possible even when at home, through different apps online, connecting to millions around the world.

Another method is to enroll in an English course. It could be any set-up, either online or in person. But if you want the best of both worlds while learning English, opt for an online English teacher. In addition to the flexibility of studying from any location, you also benefit from personalized attention and assistance during your lessons. 

By studying English online, you may connect with individuals from all over the globe, stay on track with your studies, avoid going overboard financially, and make tremendous gains. 
No matter what you decide, Poly Languages Institute has you covered. If you would like to take synchronous English classes in person, we offer locations in both Los Angeles and Irvine. We also provide synchronous online programs and private lessons. For more information, contact us here.

Author:

Kate N. Sarador

Poly Languages Institute

Downtown Los Angeles Tour

Jenny Park

Explore DTLA with POLY!

Are you a new ESL student in Los Angeles? Or maybe you’ve been here a while and have always wanted to embark on a Downtown Los Angeles Tour, but didn’t know where to start. There is so much to see and learn in Los Angeles. However, as a new resident to Los Angeles, this can be a difficult challenge. Many students attending language schools in the U.S. for the first time do not know where to go and where to stay away from.

Fear no more. This upcoming April 20th, you can join our Explore Downtown LA Tour with POLY Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Irvine ESL students and staff. On Saturday afternoon from 12PM to 5PM, we will be taking you through interesting places for you to check-out and see.

The Tour

The Downtown LA Tour will begin in the Little Tokyo/Arts District area where we will check out local shops, bakeries, and more. Afterwards, we will head over to the historic Grand Central Market. Here you can buy your lunch from various restaurants from different cultures, styles, and cuisines. Next, we will take our lunch to Grand Park for a relaxing, cozy picnic in Downtown’s most beloved park. Then, we will head over to The Last Bookstore, an iconic shop in the heart of Downtown. At the bookstore, you can browse for something new to read or simply sit and enjoy the quiet atmosphere. You can also tour the shop, and browse their beautiful book arrangements.

Explore Downtown Los Angeles Tour sights that will be visited
Explore Downtown Los Angeles Event Flyer

Detour

After that, our Explore Downtown Los Angeles Tour will take a detour to Little Damage. This place is famous for their fancy charcoal ice cream. Also, they have a selfie wall where you can strike your best pose.

Final Destination

Finally, we will make one final stop at Pershing Square before making our way to Spire 73, the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Pershing Square has some of the most interesting architecture and colors of the area. To end the day, we will enjoy a gorgeous sunset view of LA from one of the most cool spots in Downtown – Spire 73.

If you ever feared exploring Los Angeles on your own, this POLY event will be a great experience for you. Join Poly Languages Institute’s Explore Downtown Los Angeles Tour for a fun and adventurous day with ESL students and staff! Don’t forget to bring your comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a bag, and a camera to capture long-lasting memories.

Women in White State of the Union

Paul Huber
Written by: Susan Massoudnia
On Tuesday, February 5th, the President of the United States (POTUS), Donald Trump, addressed the nation in a speech famously known as the State of the Union Address.

This historic speech dates back to the 1920’s, when for the very first time, the U.S. president of the time, spoke before the congress and addressed the nation about the country’s state of affairs.

Since then, all U.S. presidents have followed the practice and it has become a presidential convention. The purpose of this important speech is to make the nation aware of the accomplishments thus far in the presidency and to unfold the future expectations of the remaining years of the presidential term. The speech can potentially reaffirm the support of voters and increase the president’s chance to win another four-year term, if the president chooses to run again.

The main reason I started to write about this is not to speak about the speech, but to mention something very unique about this year’s address that I observed on TV.
As I was in the kitchen, getting some things done with my head down and half-listening to the speech on TV in the other room, I glanced over and the camera moved from the president to the congressional floor.

The image showed Donald trump in Capitol Hill on the floor of the Congress, behind the podium, before the hundreds of elected representatives in the joint session of Congress. As I glanced up at the TV, suddenly something caught my eye. I noticed a sea of white amid all the mostly dark-suited men and women. At first I couldn’t make out the patch of white. I curiously looked closer and realized that the white were all the newly elected women representatives dressed head-to-toe in stark white clothes. I quickly realized that this was an intended act for media visibility. It was a show of power and a display of women’s new stronghold in leadership, government and lawmaking.

Women in the government has dressed in white throughout history to represent their struggle.

It was awe-inspiring to see such an inspirational gesture right in the heart of our nation. It was an “in your face,” bold and courageous display of support of women in the aftermath of the recently publicized injudicious acts by powerful men in all sectors of our society. As a woman, witnessing this solidarity among women lawmakers, instantly empowered me.

As exuberant as I felt, a question lingered in my mind about the significance of the color white. After researching it, I found out that wearing white in protest goes back to the 1920’s and the suffrage movement. The suffrage movement is a significant event in U.S. history. Women flocked to the streets dressed in white demanding equality and protesting their inability to vote. Women were able to successfully adopt the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution shortly after, which gives citizens of the U.S. the right to vote, regardless of sex (men or women). It’s quite interesting that almost a century (100 years) later, women lawmakers in Congress are again dressed in white, publicly voicing their interests, showing their influence and still fighting for equal rights.

Karaoke Day in Irvine, California

Paul Huber

Valentine’s day is approaching.  Love is in the air, but birds aren’t the only ones singing. 

 

For February’s inter-campus event, POLY Languages at Irvine is hosting a Karaoke day followed by dinner at Diamond Jamboree in Irvine! Karaoke will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will carry on until 5:30 p.m. 

 

Karaoke – an interactive form of entertainment where amateur singers sing lyrics off a television screen into a microphone, while a music recording plays in the background. It is a favorite pastime that’s enjoyed by people all over the world. According to Wikipedia, “Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice and augments regular speech by the use of sustained tonality, rhythm, and a variety of vocal techniques.” Like learning to speak a new language, singing requires one to focus on tone (intonation), rhythm (flow), and other techniques (such as stress, etc.). 

 

Singing is a part of everyone’s culture and Karaoke is an essential social activity in many countries, especially countries in Asia. Bryan Singer wrote in USA-Karaoke that “Japan and the Philippines are two huge karaoke spots” furthermore, he explains that in the Philippines and Korea, “it isn’t unusual for them to grow up with a karaoke machine in their living room.” He lists several reasons as to why Karaoke is more popular in Asian countries, these reasons include: cultural differences, price, setting, and song choice (Asian countries have over 30,000 songs to choose from).

 

The special thing about this inter-campus event for our students from abroad is that students and faculty from all three campuses (Pasadena, Irvine, Los Angeles) will be joining in. This will be a great opportunity to meet and befriend other international students. After karaoke, we’ll most likely be going to BCD, a Soon Tofu restaurant located in the same complex. Fellow ESL students will be able to share and compare their experiences from different parts of Southern California! We especially encourage students to sharpen their pronunciation and really try out their new skills on KARAOKE DAY!