To learn English most effectively, students must focus first on English conversation. In other words, students should first master the spoken language before they attempt to master the written language.

Too many learners attempt to do the opposite. They learn English with their eyes, using textbooks, grammar books, and classroom lectures as their primary means of study.

The key to fluency, to speak like a native speaker and to develop a clear accent is listening to easy and understandable English conversation. In order to master the spoken English students must spend more than 80% of their study time on listening activities.

What kind of listening is best? Firstly, it must be “easy” English. Most students listen to English that is much too difficult. They should listen to easier English, this means that they should understand 95% of the material they use. If they learn this way their speaking will improve faster!

Understanding is not enough. Students must also have a lot of repetitions. If they hear a new word only once, they will soon forget it. If they hear it 5 times, they will still probably forget it! They must hear new words and new grammar many times before they will understand them instantly and absorbs the language into his or her subconscious. In most cases two hours a day of listening is sufficient to achieve English fluency in short time.

Lastly, before attempting formal speech or written English students should first focus on casual “real English conversation”. This kind of English varies from language textbooks and classrooms. Studying this way, students have an opportunity to learn components of real English speech such as slang, idioms, filler words, sentence fragments, and interruptions. These components are very common and necessary for understanding native speakers and for having proper conversations with them.

I came to the conclusion that learning with natural English conversations is the most effective way to achieve language fluency.

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