For Demonstration Purposes Only
There is an entity inside of you about which you are not too much aware. I will call it (using the terminology of Don Miguel Ruiz) “the parasite”. Do not be afraid, do not panic – this entity is in all of us and it directs (more or less, usually more, some would say from 90%) our life.
Don Miguel Ruiz divides this parasite to three parts – judge, victim and value system (for more). For us at this moment will be enough to know that HE (I will use HE, but it could be appropriate IT or SHE too – it makes no difference) influences very strongly our ability to learn, especially to learn foreign languages. HE is very conservative and learning in its essence means a change, HE has its own value system, HIS own judgment and - on top of it - the older we are (6,7,10 years … 40 goes without saying) the stronger HE is. Maybe you have already heard the term „thinking out of the box“. HE is that BOX. HE will sabotage to some extent your effort (without HIM there would not be actually any effort) to learn any new language. Why? Because HE has the language of its own already, the mother one.
It doesn't sound very positive, does it? So, why I write about it. I am positive from my nature. Yes, to be positive, really positive, does not mean to avoid negative aspects of live. For me to be positive means to search for solutions. And I have a solution for you, maybe even bombastic;-) solution – we will turn this sabotaging parasite into our best language teacher. HE will be the best one not because of HIS education, methods... but because HE is ALWAYS PRESENT with you, HE works „instead“ of you, for you, without rest, without forcing HIM to do it, all the time, even at night, even if you do not care about your English at that moment. HE can perform several tasks at the same time easily, HE is tireless... But enough was the superlatives. How to do it?
First – we need to let HIM to learn the new language. Actually HE CAN learn several languages (but somehow HE is reluctant to do it. At least from the beginning) HE lives by HABITS. HIS current habit is (for majority of us) to use just one language. HE resists bigger changes, and the new language is quite a big change. So, what we can do? We cannot persuade HIM, force HIM... Why? Because HE DOES NOT LISTEN. Yes, HE does not listen at the moment YOU (your conscious mind) is in charge. Yes, HE is your UNCONSCIOUS (or SUBCONSIOUS) mind. HE is your so called „autopilot“. And we need to reprogram HIM. How to do it? It is rather easy, but there is here one little obstacle, something which will try to prevent you to do it – it is HE! HE will tell YOU – it is all nonsense, it is bull-shit, do not do it! Or things like that. In other words – he would like you to stay “in the box” you have always been and everything will be OK. Yes, it will be OK, OK for HIM. But there will be no English improvement, at least not very significant one. So, do not listen HIM (NOW) and PUT INTO YOUR EAR HEAD-PHONE WITH ENGLISH AND LISTEN! LISTEN HOURS AND HOURS, LISTEN SUCH WAY THAT YOU DO NOT PAY ALMOST ANY ATTENTION TO IT, LISTEN OVER AND OVER THE SAME STUFF, LISTEN KNOWN MATERIAL. And this is important – listen most of the time the KNOW material, prepared before. Sometimes you can listen unknown too, but your parasite would not be willing to „digest it“ and could be rebellious. HE likes repetition, HE listens when YOU are engaged in other activities (consciously engaged) and HE learns:-) So, at the beginning he will resist, after while he will like it, and then he will even demand it! It becomes HIS HABIT.
Second - let yourself to be taught by HIM. After some time he will speak English rather well. You will notice that you can now chose what language will be in your head – your native language or English. No big difference anymore. Maybe only smaller vocabulary, but it is just a question of time to build it. This thinking, this voice it your head, is HE. HE does not resist the new language anymore, for HIM it is not any NEW language after all, and HE is willing to help you, to learn you and to assist you. You will notice also for example such phenomenon like this – you will say a sentence and „HE listens“ and „HE says“ It is wrong, reformulate it! And he will say you how, or better to say, HE will say it. After all HE and YOU are ONE. You will have much bigger ability of self-correction, you will be able to understand and speak better and the both immediately without mixing languages. You will enjoy the language learning process. It will not be so big effort. Much of that effort was just fighting with HIM after all. Just try it and try OUR METHOD too.
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