#1
#2
To gain a better understanding of what it takes to master this Germanic language, we reached out to teacher Georgie W. from English with Georgie.
"English can be difficult to learn for a number of reasons," she told Bored Panda. "The letters 'ough' can be pronounced in nine different ways, which can understandably cause confusion! Additionally, English grammar often has exceptions to its rules, making it tricky."
"Phrasal verbs and idioms are also widespread, and their meanings aren't always clear from the words themselves, which can add to the challenge."
#3
He literally thought saying the word "off" to someone was the same thing as *telling someone off*.
RIP Dida, you were the best.
#4
#5
That being said, Georgie highlighted that English also has some advantages.
"Unlike languages such as Thai and Vietnamese, English doesn't rely on tones, and nouns aren't gendered as they are in languages like French or Spanish," she explained.
"Learners also don't need to navigate non-phonetic scripts, like those used in Mandarin or Japanese."
#6
Some poor sod had to go and tell him he needs to stop asking everyone to f**k us, and instead to f-ohh-cus.
#7
So we get "hippoppo... popo...pop...pop.......pop??".
#8
On the flip side, she laughs every time I try to order beetroot juice in Vietnamese (we live there now). Because of the tonal language I manage to pronounce "beetroot juice" as "black penis".
Of course, there's no single answer to the question of how long it takes to learn English—it depends on your goals, determination, opportunities, and many other background factors.
However, according to Ben Knight, the director of ELT Research at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, who manages a team of researchers developing its courses and materials, motivated adults typically need between 100 and 200 hours of guided learning to progress from one CEFR level to the next.
As you move up the levels, more hours are required to advance: progressing from A1 to A2 typically requires 100-150 hours of guided learning, but moving from B1 to B2 can take 180-260 hours.
#9
I.e. You b*****k
It's now become my favourite insult.
#10
#11
"The most difficult aspects of English can vary depending on the learner's native language," teacher Georgie said. "However, after teaching over 5,000 online lessons, I've found that pronunciation, prepositions, and tenses consistently pose significant challenges for many learners."
"Another difficulty is understanding native speakers in casual conversation, where features like glottal stops and connected speech make it hard to follow natural speech patterns."
#12
English extremely good except for rarely used phrases.....such as bedroom talk.
"I'm your dirty little slug.".
#13
I looked confused. She repeated " I have chicken tights" whilst rubbing her legs. I was trying to imagine what this article of clothing looked like, and said "That doesn't help!". She then opened the fridge and showed me the chicken thighs. It became our first in-joke.
Many other things she says that I don't correct because they are cute, are just mispronounced or slightly wrong words.
I love the way she says "Daffodiles" (rhymes with crocodiles), "Bubbles" (bulbs), "Casserole" (any tupperware type container), "Jardiniere" (any flowerpot), "SAL-mon" (with the L), "Sheddle" (schedule), and many others.
She also does the he/she gender mixing, but only usually when she is talking excitedly about something, or is tired.
Conversely, I have been trying to learn Romanian for 3 years, and she laughs hysterically at me every time I try to start a conversation. I believe I sound like the Allo Allo policeman.
#14
Edit: I can't believe I forgot my favourite! He was trying to remember the word for 'walkie-talkie' and cycled through so many different variations like talkie-walkie, walkie-wiccy, walkie-walkie, wiccy-wiccy.
Luckily, with the right mindset and strategy, you can maximize your efforts. "Immersion is the most effective way to improve fluency and confidence, but if that's not feasible, it's important to take advantage of every opportunity to practice," Georgie W. explained.
"Listening to podcasts, watching English TV shows, and making the most of any opportunity to communicate with native speakers all help. With one-on-one online lessons and group classes widely available, it's more convenient than ever to get plenty of practice and boost your confidence."
#15
That was a treasure.
#16
#17
"A great tip is to record yourself speaking English, play it back, and repeat the exercise. This will help you identify areas to improve. One quick way to test your pronunciation is to speak to Google Translate, Siri/Alexa, or ChatGPT and see if they can understand you," the teacher added. "AI apps also make good language partners if you don't have anyone with whom you can practice."
At the same time, "be careful not to get caught in the trap of focusing too much on perfecting grammar, as this can hinder your progress. Instead, focus on fluency. Aim for small, gradual improvements, like getting 1% better every week. The key is to set realistic goals."
#18
But used to work with an Israeli lady, she pronounced cucumber as cockumber.
Being young(ish) it used to make us laugh.
#19
#20
Georgie W. mentioned that learners often get discouraged by aiming too high, such as wanting to sound like a native speaker or committing to studying for two hours a day, every day.
While it's good to challenge yourself, doing more than you can handle leads to frustration and failure, casting a shadow over the entire learning process. "Instead, keep it simple and consider using techniques like the Pomodoro method—short, focused study sessions," the teacher suggested.
"There's no one-size-fits-all method for learning English, but the most important thing is to find a way that you enjoy and will stick with. Consistency is key, and remember to be patient with yourself along the way and focus on what you do know. As Henry Ford said, 'Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right.'"