Hey friends! I’m Herman, and today I want to share my English learning journey with you. No rose-tinted glasses, no “learn it in a month” promises—just real experience, mistakes, and proven methods that got me results.
School Years: “Why Do I Even Need English?”
I started learning English in 4th grade. And you know what? I couldn’t care less. In my “village” (yes, I called it that), English felt as abstract as advanced math to a humanities student. I skipped classes, ignored homework, and daydreamed about anything but verb tenses.
Do I regret it now? Absolutely! Because:
A child’s brain is a sponge. The younger you are, the easier languages stick.
Basic English is like literacy. Without it, you’re functionally illiterate in the 2020s.
2017: The Wake-Up Call
Everything changed when I decided to become a programmer. In IT, English isn’t optional—it’s your lifeline (documentation, forums, courses). I started with reading. Just reading.
Mistake #1: I ignored listening and speaking.
The result? At a Turkish airport, I couldn’t ask if an e-ticket was enough. I had vocabulary, but my ears refused to process speech, and my tongue couldn’t form sentences. Humiliating? Yes. Motivating? Hell yes!
What Actually Worked
1. Podcasts (Thanks, Vitya!)
My friend (a C2-level wizard) said: “Listen to podcasts for an hour daily. For a month. No breaks.”
I chose Joe Rogan (the Elon Musk episode—why not?). First 3 days: zero comprehension. After a month: I caught the gist. Two months: 70-80% understanding.
Why it works:
You train your ear for connected speech (how words blend in real talk).
You learn natural phrases, not textbook templates.
2. Music + Emotions
I’m obsessed with music. Instead of memorizing word lists, I translated songs.
The word “inequity” stuck not from a textbook but from Bob Marley—because it was wrapped in a story, emotion, and context.
Science backs this: Studies prove emotionally tagged information is memorized faster (research link).
3. Grammar (Without Dogma)
Yes, it’s necessary. But not the school way.
Golden rule: Learn by doing. Write, speak, mess up.
Where to Practice (Free/Low-Cost)
Speaking buddies:
Tandem (language exchange): https://www.tandem.net Chatruletka (random chats): https://chatruletka.comReading: Simple method (Eroshin’s guide):
Top 3000 words (learn these to understand 90% of texts): https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-vocabulary/top-3000-words/Tutors:
How to choose (Marina Gorskaya’s guide):
If broke → ChatGPT (teaches, corrects, explains).
The Ultimate Secret
English isn’t a goal. It’s a tool.
You’re not “learning a language.” You’re:
- Watching favorite shows in original audio.
- Reading manga before official translations.
- Earning 2-3x more (especially in IT).
Starter Checklist
Pick 1 podcast → listen 20 mins/day.
Choose 3 English songs → translate them.
Join Tandem → start with 1 chat/week.
How long until progress?
To “click”: 3-6 months.
To fluency: 1-2 years.
P.S. If this was helpful, share it with that friend who’s “been meaning to” learn English. Or bookmark it to keep the links handy.