Learning English takes hard work and consistency, but it’s also important to have fun. Although EF English Live learner Armando didn’t have access to English growing up, he has overcome every obstacle in his way to learn English, grow his career opportunities within the construction sector, and find joy in learning. Here is his story in his own words...
How I make learning English fun: Armando Torres
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Growing up, I had no access to English
I grew up in a small farming town in Mexico, with very few people and very little technology, so I had no opportunities to study English. Although my father moved us to the city when I was young, at school the only language taught was French. Only after leaving school did my English learning journey truly begin.
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At first I felt isolated, but learning English improved my confidence
My primary motivation for learning English was my career. I knew that to get a good job or work at an international company, I needed to speak English. But I also wanted to meet different people from all around the world.
I’ve worked at a few different companies, both national and international. But when I worked at Canadian and American companies, I felt like an outsider because of my low level of English. I didn’t have the confidence to speak it at work. It was very isolating.
I felt the same way when I first started learning English. Too scared to put my camera on, I used to just listen in group classes. But when I saw how the teacher helped the other learners to speak up, I started putting my camera on and participating. My confidence grew and I started to feel more comfortable. It was marvelous!
My top learning tip? Don't rush.
What I love about EF English Live is getting the chance to meet and study with people from different countries. I also like being able to see a record of each class after it finishes and learn from my mistakes using detailed feedback.
When I was looking for an online school, I needed flexibility. With EF English Live, I can book classes whenever I want and study on my cell phone using flash cards.
My top tip is to take it slow and go step by step. When I first started learning, I didn’t know what level I was, so I jumped ahead too quickly. Now, I tell myself there’s no hurry—it’s better to feel comfortable before moving on.
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My wife and I bond by singing English songs together
It’s important to make learning fun. When I get home from work, my wife and I often sing along to English songs together. We have so much fun. Sometimes we realize it’s two o’clock in the morning and we’re still singing! Anything from Carole King and Björk to Adele—we love it all. If everyone could have this experience, I’m sure that their English would improve fast.
My wife used to speak English very well, but she hasn’t worked for the last eight years, so she’s lost her fluency. But when we sing together, we can follow along with the words. When I study English, I feel amazing—especially when I’m learning with my wife and my son at home.
"You need to read and listen to everything you can."
I arrive early at work to fit English learning into my day
I spend four hours a day learning English. To make progress, you need to read and listen to everything you can, even if you’re in a non-English-speaking environment. I work in the construction sector and don’t often get to practice my English in the office. Instead, I practice by listening to English songs and podcasts while I work. If I don’t know a word, I look it up immediately. I also practice with my wife, on social media, and in my EF English Live classes.
Life is busy and there are a lot of distractions—home life, your family, your job. That’s why I try to arrive at work early, so I can practice English for an hour before I start working.
My new goal: To improve my fluency
My English has improved a lot, especially in the last six months, and I now feel confident in situations like job interviews. Of course, I still have lots of things I want to work on in the future. I want to improve my fluency, so that I can understand fast speech and the colloquial language used by the younger generations. Ultimately, I want to be able to join in any English conversation.
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