How to Use the Learning Guide: Part 1

Well, it’s finally here.

Welcome to the very first newsletter in the history of ESL Podcast!

First, I want to THANK YOU for being a member and supporting our podcast. Without you, there would be no ESLPod.com.

Okay, let’s get started…

In this first newsletter, and in the three that follow, I am going to help you improve your English faster than you thought possible by explain exactly HOW (and why) you should use the Learning Guides.

I want to tell you some “secrets” that may surprise you, even if you’ve been a member for a long time.

To understand how to use our podcast episodes the most effective way, you have to understand at least one BIG thing about language learning. Once you understand this one “big thing,” you’ll begin to understand how the Learning Guide can help you.

So here’s that one big, important idea. Are you ready?

**To pick up or “acquire” a language, to really KNOW a language, you have to understand it.**

To pick up a language, all you really need to do is understand it. If you can’t understand it, you can’t acquire it.

You may be thinking to yourself now, “Well, that’s obvious, Jeff!”

But it isn’t obvious at all. In fact, many people spend YEARS doing lots of things instead of just trying to understand English. They “study” grammar, “memorize” vocabulary, make lists and flashcards, try to repeat everything, take tests and examinations – all things they *think* might help them improve their English.

None of those things is necessary. (And some of them may make things worse!)

The ONLY thing you have to do to improve your English is find things you can understand in English, then read or listen to them. Your brain will take care of the rest.

No “memorizing.” Just read or listen, understand, and you will acquire it.

Here’s another way of saying this: If you read or listen to things you mostly canNOT understand, then you will NOT learn anything from them.

The purpose of our Learning Guides is very simple: to help you UNDERSTAND the audio file you listen to. They’re not for studying, memorizing, playing Sodoku, or making little paper basketballs to throw at your neighbor’s cat. Their only purpose is to help you comprehend (understand) English.

If you understand this one important point, you’ll understand what I’m going to tell you about how to use each part of the Guide.

Now, if you have been listening to our episodes for a long time, you probably already know that we have two kinds of episodes:

1. Monday & Friday: These are our “dialog” or “regular” ESL Podcast episodes, where we read a dialog slowly, talk about the words in the dialog, then read the dialog at a “normal” speed; and

2. Wednesday: This is our English Cafe, where we discuss one or two interesting cultural topics about the United States, and answer questions from you, our listeners.

The Learning Guides are pretty similar for both the dialog and Cafe episodes, although there are a few small differences.  In Part 2 of this email course, we’ll examine each part of the Guide and show you how best to use it.

Wow? Do you see what time it is? I’d better stop here.

Look for Part 2 in your inbox the next few days.

Until next time,

Jeff