28 Success Secrets of Learning English

28 Success Secrets of Learning English - ST
Hello, my name is Richard. You are about to learn the secrets that will allow you to become
fluent in one of the most amazing communication mediums on the planet, the English language.
You will learn the skills, hints and tips, but more importantly the way of thinking that will allow
you to speak English to whatever level you desire. If you wish to do business, converse with
friends, or simply to enjoy meeting other people, whatever your background or experience,
putting these simple steps into place will dramatically increase your English ability. They are the
exact same ways of thinking that I myself have used to study Physics in French at a French
university, and to speak in numerous TV shows and presentations in Japanese.
If you wish you could speak English better, or even if you know nothing at all and just want a
head start, this book is what you have been waiting for, the key to making English something
that you, yes you, can speak beyond your wildest dreams.
1. Realise that you can be good at English.
Anyone can become good at English. You can become good at English. Race does not matter.
Millions of Japanese Americans speak fluent English, but they are biologically exactly the same as
you. Where you were born does not matter. Most of the English speakers in the World today
learnt English as a second, or even third language. Even in Japan there are many, many highly
proficient English speakers. Where you live does not matter. Whilst going to live 5 years in
Hawaii may make you fluent more quickly, in this age of the internet, TV and travel it's quite
possible to get fluent at English simply by living in Japan. Just look at how many non-Japanese
speakers get along so well here without speaking Japanese at all! It's not where you live, it's how
you think.
2. Realise that English is easy.
Do you think English is difficult? If you do you will never learn to speak well. But what are you
comparing this to? If you think that English is more difficult than Japanese, then how can you
know if you don't speak English yet? The key to being good is to realise that English is easy. Is
English brain surgery or quantum mechanics? No. It's simply a foreign language, something
spoken effortlessly by millions of people everyday without a second thought. Truly great speakers
of English treat English as a secondary thing, not something to think about, and certainly not to
worry about, it's simply another skill, like riding a bicycle or driving a car. It is something you can
achieve. And you can achieve easily. All it takes is a little effort and the right way of thinking.

English is easy.
3. Do something you enjoy.
You must love to learn English. You don't see it as work, but as play. To achieve this the key is to
do what excites you, but do it in English. Do you have a passion for fishing, or fashion? The
latest stock prices or the hottest music? What about your family or children? What gets you
going? What's the one thing that if taken away from your life would have the biggest influence
on you? Now imagine reading, listening and talking passionately about that subject, but in
English.
4. Set a goal
How good do you want to be? Without a goal, however hard you try you will never achieve
anything. You need a decided, specific, written goal. Maybe you have one already? Maybe you
need a certain level of English for a promotion or pay rise? Maybe there is a special girl or boy
you want to speak to in English? Maybe you have a big business trip coming up? Set that as your
goal. See yourself with that promotion, with that pay rise, with that boy or girl or talking
effortlessly during that business meeting. Set the goal, work everyday towards it and you will
achieve it.
What if you don't have a goal already? Remember the previous point, talk about something you
love in English. Imagine how long you could talk about your hobby or passion in Japanese.
Imagine you are in a room with like minded people, all eager to hear everything you know about
your passion. Now imagine the exact same scene, but this time you are talking just as much
about your passion in English. This is your new goal. However much you can talk in Japanese
about your passion you can now do it in English.
5. See yourself in the future.
Or if you don't have a hobby or passion, try this idea. Close your eyes. See yourself in the future.
You are fluent in English. You are talking to someone. Can you see? Who is this person? The
American president? The president of your company? Britney Spears? David Beckham? You are
laughing and joking. You understand everything they say. They understand everything you say.
You are having a thoroughly enjoyable time. You are speaking fluent English. Look in the mirror.
This is you. Keep this image in mind; this is your new goal. Work everyday to make it come true.
6. Don't mind what other people think

In my first couple of days in Japan I was out drinking with some English friends. There were
some Japanese people in the bar, and naturally we were keen to meet some of the locals and
have a chat and maybe share a beer or two. We were quite lucky in that one of the guys in the
groups was not only really fun and friendly, he also spoke quite good English ( well, I think the
beer helped a little!). When we had finished it was decided we would go to karaoke. My friends
and I of course knew about this Japanese tradition and were eager to try it in its real country. So
we all got on the train. The shocking thing was that this fun, friendly, English speaking Japanese
salary man suddenly told us not to speak English to him on the train. He was embarrassed that
other people may hear him speaking English! Wow.
Now luckily things have changed a lot over the past few years. But some people still believe that
they should not speak English because other people think of them as being a "show off". There is
only one reason that people would think like that: they are jealous. Admittedly if you went
around saying "I'm great at English, look how bad you are!" then they probably have a point. But
people who say bad things about people who speak English are merely jealous that they cannot
speak themselves. Secretly, deep down they respect you for speaking English and they indeed
want to become like you themselves. Even the harshest critic really respects you for speaking
English and wishes to be like you. So don't hide your lantern under a bushel, if you have the
chance, use your English. This is your life and you alone decide how and when you speak and in
what language. Don't let what other people think stop you achieving your potential. Speak up
and be proud to speak English!
And don't think this is just about "being Japanese" and being shy is OK. It's not. In Japan we love
winners and people who have special skills. Look at the Olympics when Japanese athletes win
medals, everyone appreciates their special skillsmapplauds their success and wishes them well. Or
when Japanese scientists win Noble prizes, again everyone is proud of what they achieved, looks
up to them and feels inspired to become great themselves. It's the same with you and English. If
you can speak English and the people around you see this, then they will look up to you, admire
and respect you. They'll be proud to know you and the people around you will be inspired by
your abilities and want to become great speakers themselves. Be a role model, be an inspiration
for others.
7. Take responsibility

We all start from different points in life. Some of us are born rich, some are born poor. Some
have influential parents, some have no parents at all. Some have been seemingly been given
great chances on a plate, some have had to work extra hard for everything they have achieved.
This is life. And there's nothing to do but accept it. If we constantly say "yes, but he was born in
America so of course he can speak English", or "Yes, but he went to the best university and had
the best teachers" then we are blaming other people. Blaming other people is to make excuses,
and making excuses is to open the path to failure. First we must take responsibility ourselves.
How good you are at English is all up to you. There are millions of people in underdeveloped
countries who have no food, no education and no resources, but they simply decided to learn
English and did it. They took responsibility and took action. You are exactly the same, if you take
responsibility and take action you will succeed. Maybe you feel you have no time? That you are
too busy? But who decides how you spend your time? Don't blame other people. How you choose
to spend your time is entirely decided by you. So take responsibility and take control,
acknowledge that you control what, when and how you do things, and make the best use of your
time to achieve your goals. Take time where you can, five minutes after taking the kids to
school? A 20 minute commute to work? An extra 10 minutes while eating lunch? Your time is
yours. Five minutes before breakfast? Your time is yours. Everything starts with you. You are the
master of your destiny, only you can determine how good you wish to become. Decide today you
wish to be brilliant. Take responsibility. Make it happen. Become a brilliant speaker.
8. Only think positive thoughts.
Just like driving a car, our thoughts are self fulfilling, whatever direction we look at when driving,
or think about during the day, is the direction we will go. Successful language learners always
look on the positive side of things. They see a language as something that can be mastered, one
step at a time. If along the way we make mistakes, or lose faith, it does not matter as long as we
continually look forward. See the goal in your mind and head towards it. However, sadly many
people don't do this. Instead of focussing on the good things, they focus on the bad. They
continually think of mistakes they have made, they worry that they may embarrasses themselves,
they believe that English cannot be learnt, they believe they won't be understood. And true
enough if this is what they think of everyday then this is what happens. But you are different.
You think positive thoughts everyday and you head in the positive direction. When you make

mistakes, you learn from them and move on. When you see a new challenge, new people to
speak to, new words you don't know, you look forward to tackling them, you know that people
will respect you for trying, even if you do make mistakes. You know that English is something
you can do. You know that even if people don't understand what you say the first time, if you try
often enough they will indeed understand. New things to learn are a challenge to be relished.
You look forward to situations you cannot handle, so that you may learn how to make them your
own. Thinking only positive thoughts, brings about only positive results.
9. A little a day
Research in other countries shows that instead of a big study session once a week, a little
everyday is much more effective. Get in to a routine and don't allow your mind to forget what
you have learnt. See everyday as a chance to add something extra to your English potential.
Make it a routine. Like learning to play baseball or to ride a bike, or a little exercise, whatever
you do everyday, you get good at it. Do a little English everyday and you will get good at it.
9. Listen to CDs in your car.
Get as many English Language CDs as you can. Listen to them all the time. "But I'm too busy!"
you say, and I quite understand! That's why I recommend listening to them on your way to work
or school, either in the car or on a portable music player. It's your time, use it. Do it everyday
and you'll soon see how much you can learn.
Remember, if you listen to lots of CDs everyday, you'll get very good at listening. To get very
good at speaking, make sure you speak out loud with the CDs. Which do you want to be?
Someone who is good at listening to English? Or someone who is really good at both listening
and speaking?
10. Be careful of "Japlish"
When you buy your books or CDs, buy lots of different CDs from lots of different companies. The
reason is that many CDs in Japan are written by people who don't speak English and hence they
contain lots of mistakes, and lots of "Japlish". Japlish ( or "Waseieigo") are words that sound
English, but that native English speakers don't use and often can't understand. Japlish doesn't
sound cool, so try and avoid it. But if you buy lots of different CDs and books, you'll soon figure
out which bits of English are real, and which are not! Learn English that is cool, so that other
people are so impressed they say "wow!" when they hear you speak.