{"id":725,"date":"2021-07-27T17:24:41","date_gmt":"2021-07-27T17:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/?p=725"},"modified":"2021-08-02T15:29:03","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T15:29:03","slug":"use-your-interests-to-boost-your-english-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/study\/use-your-interests-to-boost-your-english-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Use Your Interests to Boost Your English Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever had to take a test that required you to write in English about some random topic you didn\u2019t care about? Or have you ever taken a class where you had to debate a topic you had zero interest in?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you did, you probably didn\u2019t enjoy it, nor learn much from it. After all, if you\u2019re not interested in something, your mind will wander and learning won\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, you might be surprised to learn that research validates these experiences. Today, we\u2019ll go into the science of learning to show you why you should bring your interests into your English studies and how you can do this, whether you\u2019re a beginner or an advanced learner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Interests Enhance Learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Studies have found that interest in a topic or a learning material lets students learn more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in a study in New Zealand<\/a>, classroom teachers read two picture books to 168 elementary school children and tested them to see how much vocabulary they learned. As it turned out, the children found one book more interesting than the other and learned 10% more vocabulary from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another study of South Korean students learning with American tutors<\/a> found that even if there were things that made them hesitant to talk (e.g. an intimidating tutor), they became more willing to speak when the conversation turned towards topics related to their interests or experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, bringing your interests into your learning can actually help you! Findings related to the brain help explain why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in her book, Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning<\/em>, neurologist and educator Judith Willis points out that any new information we learn first travels to the \u201camygdala,\u201d a part of the brain that responds to stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If students are stressed because they \u201cfeel alienated from their academic experiences \u2026 when a lesson is tedious, not relevant to their lives, confusing, or anxiety-provoking,\u201d the information won\u2019t make it past the amygdala to other parts of the brain for processing and storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, if you feel bored or disconnected from your studies, your brain actually gets stressed and stops absorbing information. This means that interests don\u2019t just enhance your learning, they\u2019re actually an important condition for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, how often do we consider our own interests when deciding how to study English? Most of us let our classes, textbooks, and apps decide how we learn. Well, it\u2019s time for us to take learning into our own hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Fuel Your Learning With Your Interests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Upper Intermediate and Advanced learners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higher-level learners can delve into interesting content made for native speakers. For example, if you like knitting, watch videos of people who teach it in English and join online forums where people discuss this hobby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might take some time to find content and communities you truly like, but they are definitely out there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just don\u2019t forget to be specific<\/a> about what aspects of English you want to work on. For example, many advanced learners<\/a> want to perfect their pronunciation or grammar or sound more sophisticated when they speak. Make sure to use your favorite English content and communities to help you achieve those goals!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginners and Lower Intermediate Learners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lower-level learners will need more support when learning, even with content they\u2019re interested in. This support can come in the form of translations or audiovisual cues. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n