1. WORD ORDER IN A SENTENCE
The English language has a stricter word order in a sentence than the Slovene language.
We have to keep that in mind when we form sentences. That is why we should follow this
sentence structure:
SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT + MANNER + PLACE + TIME
WHO DO WHAT HOW WHERE WHEN
The nightingale was singing his song beautifully in the garden last night.
And above all, we should make our sentences SHORT
2. SMALL TALK
Here are some most frequently used topics which you can use to start a conversation:
WEATHER, TRAFFIC, HOBBIES, NEWS, CHILDREN, PETS, HOLIDAY, SPORTS …
These topics are neutral, not very personal and most people like talking about them. Avoid uncomfortable topics such as politics, religion and money. You can also talk about topics that you and the person / people you’re talking to have in common.
But above all, be sure to make eye contact with the other person and listen. Be interested in what they have to say.
3. AVOID FILLER WORDS
When you don’t know what to say or you can’t remember a word or you need some time to think or you are just nervous, DON’T USE FILLER WORDS (mašila po slovensko). They are words that are used to fill in the gaps in our talk, because we presume being quiet for a moment isn’t OK. But it is and our listeners can find filler words, especially if we repeat them, more distracting than a short silence. Here are some examples of the words we should avoid: SO, YOU KNOW, YES, I MEAN, LIKE, WELL, OK, RIGHT, UM, AH, ER, HMM, OH …
4. KEEP A DIY GLOSSARY
Whenever you hear or read a new word that is of interest to you, write it down in your DIY (do-it-yourself) glossary. The glossary can be only English-Slovenian one or both, English-Slovenian and Slovenian-English one. A glossary is a list of words that are written in the alphabetical order with their translations. All you need is a notebook and a pen (or you can have a digital glossary, it’s up to you). Make sure you have a few pages for each letter, because your glossary will grow with time. If you decide to have both, an English-Slovenian and a Slovenian-English glossary, I suggest you dedicate the first half of the notebook to the English-Slovenian glossary and the second half to the Slovenian-English one.
Here’s an example: A I
ALLEN KEY – imbusni vijak (ključ) IMBUSNI VIJAK (KLJUČ) – Allen key
5. UNROOTING MISTAKES
This process demands a lot of discipline and self-criticism. It should be done in three steps: IDENTIFICATION of a mistake, AWARENESS of making and repeating the same mistake and CONSCIOUS CORRECTING or AVOIDING of the rooted mistake. The most common mistakes are usually basic grammar mistakes (ending –s, using singular instead of plural, incorrect verb form in negative sentences or questions, word order, especially in reported speech …) and incorrect vocabulary (spelling mistakes, direct translation from Slovenian …). If you have difficulties with the first step (identification), then you need help (you can ask me :)).
6. LEARNING ENGLISH WITH THE LYRICS OF YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS
Lyrics (the words of a song) are very educative and can expand your vocabulary. While listening to your favourite songs, you can read the lyrics and sing along. Thus, you’ll learn new words and improve your pronunciation. Never mind if you’re not a singing expert, just enjoy singing and learning simultaneously.
7. WRITING A (LANGUAGE) JOURNAL
If you want to improve your writing skills, start writing a (language) journal. You can either write down a few sentences about the manners you practise and use English daily or just write a normal diary but in English. When writing in English, always use spell check.
8. PRACTISING AND IMPROVING PRONUNCIATION
Have you ever heard of phonetic transcription? It’s the conversion of spoken words the way they are pronounced instead of how they are written. For example, ENOUGH is pronounced /ɪˈnʌf/. The pronunciation of English words is very different from the pronunciation of Slovenian words. So, my advice is to check the pronunciation online, where we can see the phonetic transcription and usually we can also hear the pronunciation (British and American). The next step might also be the recording of your pronouncing or reading and then listening to it.
9. THE USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
The passive (a nice Slovenian word is ‘TRPNIK’) is more common in English than in Slovenian language. We use it when we want to put the stress on the action or the receiver of the action, not the agent of the action. For example: Longevity can be increased by hanging out with friends instead of We can increase longevity by hanging out with friends. Make a shift in your mind and use the passive more often when you communicate in English.
10. PROVERBS
Every cloud has a silver lining – this is an English proverb that can not and should not be translated literally in Slovenian language. We have to find an equivalent in our language: ‘Za vsakim dežjem posije sonce.’ Proverbs express popular wisdom and every language has its own proverbs originating in its culture and customs. Versions of some proverbs can be found in both languages: Better late than never. – ‘Bolje pozno kot nikoli’, others are unique: A stitch in time saves nine. – ‘Kar lahko storiš danes, ne odlašaj na jutri’. My advice is to use proverbs when you speak in English, but use them wisely and accurately. Thus, you show great knowledge of the language.
11. WATCHING ENGLISH FILMS, SERIES, DOCUMENTARIES, YT VIDEOS WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
Why not do something useful while enjoying your time watching a film, a series, a documentary, a yt video in English? Especially if your day is very busy and you can’t find time to work on your English. With such an activity you can learn new words and improve your pronunciation (and also learn to distinguish British from American pronunciation). It gets even more efficient if you read the English subtitles as well. And you can watch at your own pace and stop whenever you need to. I recommend Netflix docuseries Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. It’s very inspiring and educative.
12. FALSE FRIENDS
Have you ever heard of FALSE FRIENDS? These are words in different languages that look or sound similar but have different meanings. They can lead to confusion for language learners, as they may mistakenly assume that a word with a similar appearance or sound in their mother tongue has the same meaning in a foreign language. For example, the English word ‘photograph’ and the Slovenian word ‘fotograf’ look similar but they have different meanings. In English ‘photograph’ refers to a picture produced using a camera, while in Slovenian, ‘fotograf’ means a person who takes photographs, either as a job or hobby. Being aware of false friends is important to avoid misunderstandings and use the words accurately. I’ve got some more for you. Can you tell the difference: ‘ambulance’ – ‘ambulanta’, ‘billion’ – ‘bilijon’, ‘flipper’ – ‘fliper’, ‘actual’ – ‘aktualen’?
13. REPORTED SPEECH
The Slovenian expression for REPORTED SPEECH is ‘ODVISNI GOVOR’. It’s used when we want to report what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. We have to take into consideration the following key changes that occur in reported speech: PRONOUNS (they may change to match the perspective of the person reporting), VERB TENSES (they often shift back one tense), TIME EXPRESSIONS (may need to be adjusted to reflect the time perspective of the reporting speaker) and WORD ORDER (questions become positive sentences). Special attention should be paid to IMPERATIVES. Let’s look at some examples of reported speech:
She told me she had seen an angel the previous day.
He asked me how long I was going to stay in their hotel.
She warned me not to go near the cave.
14. THE ‘ENGLISH-ONLY’ DAY
“Practice makes perfect!” Give life to this saying by dedicating a day each week to speaking only English, both at work and at home, excluding Slovenian. I hope your colleagues and family members will embrace this challenge with goodwill, joy, and a sense of fun. I guarantee that you will derive significant benefits from this form of communication, ultimately leading you to start thinking in English as well. Be bold and give it a try!
15. REPEATING VOCABULARY
‘Repetition is the mother of all learning.’ I’m aware that you’re familiar with this saying; perhaps it even seems a bit worn out. Nevertheless, it contains an enduring truth: nothing can take root in our memory without consistent practise and repetition. You just have to determine the optimal intervals for repeating and proceed at your own pace. This is more easily achieved by adults than children because we can learn more deliberately.
16. DELAYING SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA WITH LEARNING ENGLISH?
Dementia is a general term for a loss of thinking functions and memory which interfere with day-to-day life. Dementia is not a normal part of aging. It’s caused by damage to brain cells. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease and it’s the most common cause for dementia – 60 – 80%.
Numerous studies suggest that learning a new language can delay developing of dementia symptoms for 4 to 5 years. Speaking a foreign language exercises the brain and provides the mental stimulation needed to prevent cognitive decline. The longer and more fluent someone is in a second language, the better the protection (forming ‘cognitive reserve’).
Despite some disputes about this hypothesis, I suggest keeping it in our mind when seeking motivation for learning English. One thing is certain – learning a foreign language definitely can’t harm anyone.
17. POLITENESS
Addressing people formally in English language differs from addressing them in Slovenian language. The Slovenian personal pronouns ‘TI’ and ‘VI’ are both translated into English as the pronoun ‘YOU’. It is important to be aware of this difference if we wish to convey politeness and avoid coming across as rude. To achieve this, we should use alternative titles, such as Mrs + surname, Miss + surname, Ms + surname, Mr + surname, Sir, Madam. Additionally, it is advisable to use the phrases ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ more frequently than they would be used in Slovenian.
18. LIFE-LONG LEARNING & LONGEVITY
If you keep learning (a new language, a new skill, a new hobby), regardless of the age, it can help you boost your memory. Life-long learning impacts your future and keeps you away from sedentary, stagnant life with declining health. The principle of »USE IT OR LOSE IT« is fundamental for maintaining brain health and cognitive abilities. Life-long learning is one of several factors that can have an important impact on your quality of life, rate of ageing, risk of disease and lifespan.
19. RESPECT LANGUAGES
Languages are alive. They are like organisms that evolve constantly. Well, except for the old Greek and Latin. The internet and globalisation have opened a way for languages to intermingle. Particularly, the influence of English and the incorporation of English words into other languages have become very common and widespread. This is not accepted and approved by quite a few teachers of mother tongues who want to protect and preserve them from the powerful influence of foreign languages, especially among teenagers. In my opinion, we should be careful not to use too many foreign words in our mother tongue, at least when speaking formally.
20. THE PARETO PRINCIPLE OR THE 80/20 RULE (DO MORE BY DOING LESS)
In language learning, it suggests that roughly 20% of the effort yields 80% of the results. The Pareto principle serves as a reminder to focus on what truly matters in language learning to prioritize your efforts accordingly for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Here are some ways to master language learning with the Pareto principle:
- Focus on the most frequent words and phrases.
- Make the most of what you know.
- Don’t try to learn everything.
- Pay attention to your experiences and results.
- Optimize your learning habits.
- Set measurable short-term goals.
- Confront your fears.
- Be honest with yourself.
- Practise and have fun.
21. THE USE OF THE PRESENT PERFECT
This is a tense that we, Slovenians, have sometimes problems with. It can be translated into Slovene as the Present Tense or the Past Tense. When it’s translated as the Present Tense, it describes an action that started in the past and is still going on: Mojca has lived in Bled for all her life. → Mojca že vse življenje živi na Bledu. And here comes the problem when doing vice versa. Lots of Slovenians find it difficult to use the Present Perfect in this example and they tend to use the Present Simple, which isn’t correct: Mojca lives in Bled for all her life. Here’s a tip to remember: Present Perfect is the bridge that connects the past and the present.
22. TONGUE TWISTERS
They are very good and funny language tutors, designed to be difficult to articulate quickly and accurately. They often result in humorous mistakes due to similar sounds and sequences of words. They can be used as a form of speech exercise or a source of entertainment. Have a go with these ones:
I SAW A KITTEN EATING A CHICKEN IN THE KITCHEN.
IF A DOG CHEWS SHOES, WHOSE SHOES DOES HE CHOOSE?
LESSER LEATHER NEVER WEATHERED WETTER WEATHER BETTER.
23. IDIOMS
Idioms are expressions that convey a figurative meaning different from the literal interpretation of the individual words. They often reflect cultural insights and historical contexts. For example, “break the ice” means to initiate a conversation in a social setting, not literally breaking frozen water. Idioms are useful for several reasons:
- They often pack a lot of meaning into a few words, making communication more efficient and clear.
- They can add colour and depth to the language and they are deeply rooted in the culture they originate from.
- Mastery of idiomatic expressions can demonstrate proficiency and fluency in a language.
Here are some more examples. Can you guess their meanings?
COLD SHOULDER / HIT THE SACK / ONCE IN A BLUE MOON / RED TAPE / STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
If not, here are the answers:
Pay no attention to. / Go to bed. / Happens very rarely or once in a lifetime. / Set of rules and/or regulations that slow or stop progress. / From the authoritative source.