Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description.
Experience is the best teacher
My 9 year old daughter has just left on a week’s camping trip with her scout group. It’s the first time she has gone away from home for a week without us. And it’s made me think about the importance of experience.
I’m pleased to say that when we left her she was full of enthusiasm and in good spirits, thanks to the good friends and great leaders. A few days before leaving, she did voice some concerns but we were able to reassure her. Obviously she is bound to face some moments of difficulty at camp, but as we say ‘it’s all good’.
Life, like anything, can’t be taught, it has to be lived, experienced. Albert Einstein said “The only source of knowledge is experience”, whether that means our personal experience or other people’s, it’s true. We learn by doing.
Experience is our way of making sense of the world around us and there is no substitute for it. At an early age we are told that fire will burn us, or a knife can cut us, but until we have experienced it, hopefully not too seriously, the information doesn’t really sink in.
It’s no surprise then that learning by doing is the most effective and simple way to learn a new language. It’s how you learnt your first language! Ask anyone who has become proficient in English how they did it, and they will always say something along the lines of, ‘I stopped studying and I started using the language’: work, travel, relationships, life experiences. So if you really want English as your second language then you need to live it. That’s why I’m an English coach not a teacher and I always offer and encourage real English moments for my students.
If you physically do the things you need and want to do in your life, you will easily memorise the associated words and phrases because they are directly connected with your actions and emotions. Later you will be able to reflect on your experiences and mentally retrace the steps in the new language. Just like the time you found the courage to speak English on holiday to order a drink or chat with someone. It was a real experience.
With experiences come mistakes. Now, some mistakes can be life threatening involving fire or knives, but speaking English has no such dangers. The worst thing that can happen to you is that you can’t remember the word or you simply don’t understand. At school we learn that mistakes are bad and to be avoided, but mistakes should be celebrated with positivity, because if you’re not making any errors it means you’re not learning.
So, just like the young scout who courageously heads off on camp for the first time, I invite you to jump into English learning. Trust your instincts. Know that you can. Get active and live your life with the language, accept and embrace your mistakes, and learn through meaningful experiences.
A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description.You can find out more about me on my website - speakwithnick.it
Ciao for now!
