In an age where you can learn alone, why still learn with someone else?

Hello.
I am Natural Stone & Word Creator
Aya.

With over 20 years of experience as an English instructor, I also write about English on note from time to time.

In this "English Instructor's Note," I write tips for learning English for adult beginners.

Last time, I wrote about an experience where I felt that even if you can speak English, that alone is not enough.

This time, it is about the benefits of learning with someone else.

English is a language you can learn alone in this day and age.

Videos, apps, AI.
As long as you have the motivation, the environment is set up for you to learn English even by yourself.

However, there are things that are hard to build up alone.

That is,

the successful experience of having a conversation flow.

I want to be able to speak English.

Even though you think that, when it comes time to actually speak,

"Is this correct?"
"What if I can't say it well?"

Those feelings come first.

What is important is not speaking for a long time or saying difficult things.

It is about accumulating experiences where you feel that, even if it is short, the conversation flowed.

In my lessons, I practice repeating short dialogues like this.

It is very simple, but this is a proper, flowing conversation.

Let's add just one more bit of emotion here.

It's just one phrase, but it instantly becomes "your own words."

And what I always tell them is,

Say it with style.

Instead of wondering, "Is this right?", try saying it with the aura of someone who says, "I can speak English."

Just by doing that, the same words sound completely different.

Things that are born because you are with someone else

When I have classmates do this exercise together, it naturally gets lively.

Because,

they can experience the joy of a conversation flowing together.

A joy you cannot feel when practicing alone.

And as we continued the lessons, I noticed one more thing.

The moment a person's "likes" turn into English

Many different people come to my lessons.

People who love traveling.
People who are knowledgeable about beauty.
People who are obsessed with K-pop.
People who are good at cooking.
People who make jogging a daily morning routine.

The moment the topic turns to travel, the eyes of the travel lovers light up.

The moment the topic turns to K-pop, they can't stop talking.

The moment the topic turns to cooking, they find themselves teaching everyone else.

Even if you aren't good at English, the moment it becomes 'something you love' or 'something you are knowledgeable about,' you are the one leading the conversation.

You come here to learn English, but it becomes a place where your true self shines.

Something more than just English is born.

And even after the lesson ends, everyone stays to chat instead of going home.

They get excited about shared hobbies, teach each other things they are good at, and before you know it, connections deeper than English have been formed.

Through learning English, life feels a little richer, that is the feeling I get.

Once I witness that, I think to myself that I just can't quit this yet...

You can learn with apps. You can practice with AI. You can study with videos.

You can learn English even on your own.

But,

Building the successful experience of connecting through conversation with someone else, experiencing the moment your 'likes' and 'strengths' shine,


these are things you cannot experience alone.

Precisely because we live in an age where you can learn alone, I think the joy of learning with others is hard to give up.

Small talk, Big bonds

~ARYA~

💎 Please check out my other articles too 💎

English Teacher's Notes #008: How to enjoy English through quizzes

English Teacher's Notes #007: Don't you think those Katakana words are English?

English Teacher's Notes #006: 90% of Japanese people can't even speak broken English. But what about you?

#EnglishConversationTeacherNotes #ARYA