サイトへ戻る

What should you start off with when it comes to the English language?

2021年12月28日

G'day, how are things going mate? Have you already started studying English? Or although you'd like to, you're not quite sure what to study? Well, if so, then please read today's blog aloud from the beginning to the end. Let's get started, shall we?

First and foremost, pronunciation is of paramount importance. Pronunciation is the linchpin of everything associated with the English language, or even every existing languages in the world. But for the mastery of proper pronunciation, people wouldn't be able to understand you clearly, which leads to causing some troubles in the end. As for English pronunciation per se, there are only 44 patterns consisting of 20 vowels and 24 consonants, which I reckon it's not so hard to get them right. Most importantly, you've got to make sure that you find and analyse your typical mispronunciations via recording yourself. In particular, key consonants and consonant clusters have to be mastered, because English is, so to speak, a consonant-oriented language, and so consonants hold the keys to be successful in obtaining more effective communication skills.

Next up, grammar. Grammar is also not too difficult to be mastered. I do understand how annoying and complicated it is. However, you might be thinking too much. For communication, you don't have to memorise everything. Instead of everything, this is also the same as pronunciation, or you just memorise some key grammar rules and get used to them as you practise speaking. I will talk about grammar in greater detail next time. So please stay tuned. In the meantime, I am just saying and emphasising the importance of getting basic grammar rules right. At least, proper pronunciation and grammar rules make your English learning so much easier. Once you got accustomed to them, the situation where there will be a less likelihood of forgetting them unless you stop practising.

Having got the above two right, then you can start learning vocabulary including etymology. By the time you've learnt both pronunciation and grammar, learning vocabulary is so much easier than you were supposed to feel, simply because you know how to pronounce words, how the words should be arranged into a simple sentence structure, right? So, even if you are not trying to memorise them forcefully, you will naturally pick up as practice progresses, and time elapses. In a sense, I don't understand how to get used to new vocabulary without knowing of how they should be pronounced accurately. By spelling only? Well, too hard, isn't it? I'm sure you won't be able to speak properly. That's why you should start off with pronunciation, followed by grammar and finally vocabulary. There's no compelling evidence I can offer you, but I am firmly confident that you will be able to speak English impeccably in the foreseeable future as you mastered both pronunciation and grammar.

Thanks for reading my blog. Chao.