Living in a foreign country is probably the best way to learn a new language quickly. I’ve spent more than 12 years to trying to learn English, but as soon as I arrived in the United States, I really started to learn it. For real. Now I understand the lyrics of my favorites English songs, I can order a coffee (and it’s not easy here, there are so many things to ask for) and I can survive meetings at work. I think that I speak English. I won’t say I’m bilingual, it takes more time, but now I’m more confident. I remember how I couldn’t even order a not spicy burrito 10 months ago…. But I still have some work to do…. The ugly French accent, trying not to speak a hybrid French-English with Manu, and to properly use work-related English bizarre way of speaking…
Everything is much easier now, but I think I’ve hit a plateau, you see… this time when you speak English good enough to be understood…. far from perfect though. I read a lot, watch movies and TV shows, keep working with my conversation partner, write tons of English words in my notebook and I’ve recently started listening to the podcast This American Life. Whatever. I’m on a “plateau”.
What are your ideas for how I can speak a better English? How do or did you do to learn a foreign language?
