6 Minute English – How quickly can you learn English?

Rob
Hello I’m Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m joined today by Finn. Hi Finn.

Finn
Hello Rob.

Rob
Today we’re talking about something we have some expertise in or knowledge about. That’s teaching English.

Finn
That’s right Rob. We work on the BBC’s Learning English website – hopefully giving people around the world a helping hand in learning a language that isn’t the one they usually use.

Rob
Well hopefully we’re about to make that learning journey a bit easier as we launch a brand new online course. But how long does it take someone to become a fluent speaker of English?

Finn
A good question Rob and one we’ll try to answer today. We’ll also be discussing some general ways to make learning English easier and explaining some learning-related vocabulary along the way. So let’s get started Rob.

Rob
Hold your horses Finn – not so fast! I have a question to ask you first. According the last UK census taken in 2011, what percentage of the British population speaks a first language that is not English?

a)    1.7%

b)    7.7%

c)    14.7%

Finn
That’s an interesting one. My first guess is c) 14.7%.

Rob
We’ll find out if you are right or wrong later. So now we can discuss how learning English is getting easier. Of course there are a huge number of publications – books, leaflets and magazines – that can help teach you but there are those people who say that you can’t beat the real thing – a teacher. Someone who can explain a language to you face-to-face.

Finn
Yes but that comes at a cost and isn’t always practical – you might not have a school nearby. That’s why in the 21st Century, online seems to be the main method of learning. Technology is allowing the English language to come to you!

Rob
That’s true and that’s why we’ve launched a brand new English course that’s available on a computer, tablet or mobile phone. It’s aimed at intermediate learners and charts a pathway through the various aspects of the language.

Finn
We hope that by committing around 15 minutes a day to using it, a learner will see a real improvement in their English knowledge and skill. But as well as using the resources available online, how else can someone help themselves to get a better grasp – a better understanding – of English?

Rob
Well if someone wants to become a confident speaker of English, trainer Richard Hallows has some tips. Have a listen and see if you can hear what are the two main aspects of English that you need.

INSERT
Richard Hallows – trainer in speaking English 
Most importantly, you’ve got to have a a good range of vocabulary and grammar. You need to know lots of words, the more words you know the better, obviously. And similarly with grammar, the more grammar you have the better you can explain yourself. We also need to think about pronunciation – learners of English often worry about speaking like a native speaker… it’s not necessary to have a native accent. 

Rob
OK, so Richard says you need a good range – or a wide variety – of vocabulary and grammar. The more words you know the more you can say – and the more grammar you know, the better you can say it…

Finn
Or even write it! One other tip is don’t try to sound like a native – so someone who speaks English as a first language. All these are things we aim to cover in our new course.

Rob
Our new course might be a big help to you if you need English for your work, or if you’re studying in English, or if you’re planning to visit or even live in the UK. The British government expects immigrants to reach ESOL Entry 3 or B1 level, before they can be granted citizenship. It’s equivalent to being able to hold a reasonably confident basic conversation.

Finn
Well in the UK it’s estimated that you need around 360 hours of study to get to that stage from not knowing any English at all.  But this depends on a number of factors such as motivation – how much you want to learn.

Rob
And age can be a factor. Some experts say it’s common for children under the age of 11 to be very immersed and be fluent in English in about six months. But why should someone choose to learn English? This is something we’ve been asking you on our Facebook page.

Finn              
Oussama says: “It’s like my passport. You need it wherever you go.”

Rob            
Suzuki says: “It is an international communication tool.”

Finn               
Ha thinks it’s: “The key to getting a good job with a high salary.”

Rob               
And Denis says: “It’s the language that opens doors overseas.” Thanks for all of your messages.

Finn
But now Rob, I need to know if I got today’s question right.

Rob
Yes. I asked you, according the last UK census taken in 2011, what percentage of the British population speaks a first language that is not English?

Finn               
I said 14.7%.

Rob
You were wrong. The census found 7.7% per cent of people in the UK have a first language that is not English. That’s 4.2 million people.

Well, that’s it for today. Don’t forget to check our new website at bbclearningenglish.com. Happy learning!

Both
Bye.