Effortless English: Learn To Speak English Like a native

Babies Know Best

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In fact, babies and small children are the best English learners in the world! They
easily learn to speak as a native speaker, with excellent grammar, vocabulary,
fluency and pronunciation. Instead of studying textbooks, perhaps we should look at
babies and how they learn English.
When a baby first starts to learn English, or any language, it mostly just listens. In
fact, for many months, the baby or child will only listen without any real speaking.
This period of listening is called the “silent period” by linguists. During the silent
period, the baby is learning to understand the language. Of course, when a baby is
silently learning the parents do not get worried. They don’t teach the baby grammar.
They don’t get angry if the baby doesn’t speak.
What do the parents do? They simply talk to the baby using very simple English.
They use actions while they talk. For example, they point to Mom and say, “mama,
mama,” over and over again every day. Eventually the baby realizes that “mama” is
the word for his or her mother.
Eventually, the baby will begin to speak. Perhaps one day they finally say
“mama.” What happens? Do the parents correct the baby’s pronunciation? Do they
try to teach the baby grammar? Of course not. Rather, everyone goes crazy with
happiness because the baby said one correct word (usually with bad pronunciation).
Everyone is smiling and laughing. Speaking English is a very happy time for the
baby!
During the next few years, the baby will continue focusing on listening. Its speech
will gradually become better. The baby will use more words. Its grammar will
improve, even though it never studies grammar rules! The baby’s pronunciation
will improve. And yet, for many years, its listening will still be better than its
speaking. The baby will understand more than it can say.
This is the natural way of learning English. As you can see, it is very different
than the way you learned in school. In school you focused on reading textbooks
from the beginning. Perhaps you were forced to speak very soon, even though you
were not ready. You focused on studying grammar rules. When you made a mistake,
the teacher corrected you.
Unlike the baby, you did not improve quickly. You didn’t improve your grammar
naturally and effortlessly. Your pronunciation never seemed to get much better. And
your speaking always seemed too slow. For you, English probably was not a joyful
experience. English was not a playful and natural experience that you loved.
Clearly there is something wrong with the traditional way of teaching English in
school. Clearly we need a better method, a method that closely follows the natural
way that humans are designed to learn a language.

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The truth is, your brain is an incredible language-learning machine. When you
have strong psychology and an effective method, you learn English quickly. Even
better, when you follow a natural approach, you enjoy the process of learning
because you are no longer fighting against nature and your own brain.
You have learned Effortless English™ psychology. Now it is time to learn the
engine, the method, of Effortless English™. Each of the seven rules is an important
part of this method. Each rule is a new way to “play English.” As you learn and use
the seven rules, be sure to maintain a playful attitude. Be flexible. Have fun. Enjoy
this new process of learning.
The seven rules are interconnected and work synergistically. “Synergistic” means
the rules are more powerful when used together than they are individually. Each rule
makes the other rules stronger. Together they form a powerful method for
achieving fluency and skill with English.