Rob's resource roadmap | How to learn English online (or any other language you want, really)

Learning languages (and techniques for learning them) has long been an interest of mine. Having personally learned five languages and taught English for over twenty years, I have come across a plethora of techniques, tools, resources, etc... for the best way to learn, speak, understand and "master" the art of language learning. It's one of the first questions I get during a consultation - "What's the best way to learn a language?" For me, the answer is simple: move to the country where they speak it. Unfortunately, for most students it's just not that easy to pick up and move to another country. That's where I come in - by leveraging contacts I have been collecting from thirty countries (and counting) over the past two decades I can, in most cases, make that dream a reality for many of our clients. For those with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, I tell them to start by streaming TV shows from their 'dream country'. Understandably TV won't work for everyone as most educators agree that learning styles are innate and students are typically - auditory, kinesthetic, reading and writing or visual - from birth. However, in my experience, nothing is more powerful than visual learning. When I tell people that by the time I got to kindergarten I had already learned everything a kid that age needs to know from Sesame Street and Bugs Bunny, they laugh. That is unless they grew up in the U.S. during the seventies, in which case they nod in agreement.

Seriously, though. What better way to learn the language, culture, habits of a given country than by watching them practiced by natives in their natural element?

Tip #1 - Videos, videos, videos

Honestly, if you're looking for the widest range of educational videos for free, YouTube is still your best bet. As I mentioned above, I grew up on this stuff and can attest to its advantages. Today, there are so many things to watch that your hardest decision might be "what"to watch. I'd advising sticking with the classics like Sesame Street https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sesame+street+full+episodes. The content is not only still relevant today, but maintains that "old-school"innocence lacking in some of today's programs. For older learners, Friends is available on YT and is still a timeless favorite that also provides glances into American culture. For other languages like Spanish, there is no better substitute then the classic telenovelas like Completa or Chiquititas. Whatever language you're interested in, you can be sure to find plenty of videos on YT. Just keep in mind, it is advised to couple video viewings with some formal language training to learn some grammar and sentence structure. That being said, a steady diet of videos and regular watching will go a long way in helping you reach your language goals.

Tip #2 - Newer TV shows

Break My Barriers has teamed with Amazon to provide all sorts of deals and discounts to support you on your language-learning journey. If you're looking for modern TV shows in English appropriate for all ages, click here https://amzn.to/38Pd08Q for a free 30-day trial and see for yourself all the program has to offer. This program is especially for students of English, however, you will find some quality Spanish content, too.

“Television, particularly for preschoolers and the early grades, is still king,” said Michael H. Levine, the executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, which promotes research and best practices about digital learning for young children. “But now everything needs to be developed for a range of different platforms.”

Tip #3 - Consult with a professional

Feel free to contact me for professional advice on what methods to use for learning depending on your individual skill level and personal goals. Watching videos and TV is a great way to supplement a more conventional learning program and once you've whet your language appetite with some fun alternatives, I can help you decide the best options for ensuring you get the most value for your efforts. Call me today for a free consultation at +41 76 673 6991, or Direct Message me @breakmybarriers.ch and find out how I've helped hundreds of language-learning students achieve their dreams.