Mastery of English has become essential in today's world: to succeed in higher education, to progress both professionally and personally, to access content on social networks... Many online platforms, free or paid , guarantee rapid results for independent learning. But is it really possible to learn English on your own?
A challenge: independent learning of English
Ranked 34th out of 111 countries in terms of proficiency in English, France has some catching up to do, particularly in the fundamental learning which constitutes the basis: speaking. Learning to speak English on your own takes time, patience and language skills. It's better to understand how the language works if you want to tame it, one-on-one...
Reading the press, listening to the media, watching series or films in the original version constitute good automatisms and learning reflexes to progress alone. If you understand perfectly with or without (English) subtitles, congratulations! Always take note of expressions, idioms and new vocabulary words. The useful context (the images, the general situation, the lexical field): it’s up to you to make this new lexicon your own .
The expressions are full of cultural references. An example: “Bite the bullet” is an English expression that could be translated word for word as “bite the bullet”. You must have sufficient cultural background to understand its full meaning. Because without context, it's difficult to imagine exactly what we're talking about.
With the subtext, everything becomes clearer: the expression takes its origins on the battlefield where a wounded man, without anesthesia, had to bite a bullet to control his suffering... Hence the finer translation: "squeeze teeth" or "take the bull by the horns"
There are many ways to learn English, and the best method depends on your personal preferences, learning style, and goals.
Learning English on your own for fun or to improve your skills is possible but difficult. As with all learning, academic support, a coach, a teacher, a bilingual or native English-speaking expert allows you to take a step back from your way of learning, to challenge yourself and to provide you with a general culture that goes beyond the academic framework. .
Remember, the key to success is constant practice and perseverance. Good luck in your English learning!