How to Learn Grammar · Study Every day · “10 minute reference rule” · Study on a sentence level · learn the irregular verbs · Listening § Songs § Audio-books § Television/Youtube/Netflix · Reading § Kids books § Comic books · Writing § Keep a journal § Television/Youtube/Netflix (with English subtitles) · Review grammar as you watch or read · Use different learning methods · Find some friends · Choose topics that interest you · Concentrate on the grammar points that you find the most difficult · Take advantage of new apps dedicated to grammar Practice English Grammar for iOS (Free) | Android (Free) Grammaropolis Complete for iOS ($12.99) | Android ($9.99). Also Demo: iOS l Android Grammar App HD for iOS ($0.99) | Android (Free) English Grammar Book for Android (Free) Grammar Girl App for iOS ($1.99) Grammar Phone for iOS ($0.99) How Modern Language Learners Dodge 3 Obstacles to Learning Grammar 1. We avoid getting overwhelmed with textbooks Textbooks are excellent resources. They provide a wealth of information on many different aspects of a language. And with so much information in front of one’s face, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like learning the language is next to impossible. Modern language learners breathe. We use textbooks and other valuable resources. But we never let them overwhelm us. 2. We avoid focusing too much on grammar It’s important to learn grammar but not study it too much. Vocabulary, conversation and comprehension are essential along with grammar. A good metric is to use about 25% of your study time to learn grammar. The other 75% should emphasize fun audio listening and engaging conversations with people who speak the language. Language in its natural form is never learned from grammar charts and vocabulary lists. Not that those are bad. But consider that language is naturally learned in context. It’s developed in relaxed, conversational settings. Children make plenty of grammar mistakes but continue to learn the language by emphasizing natural, real-life conversation. They relax and learn it naturally without getting too focused on mastering grammar. Modern language learners take the same approach. 3. We avoid get-fluent-quick schemes Life is a series of give-and-take. You get out what you put in. The reason get-rich-quick schemes don’t work is because they promise something for nothing. Language learning is just the same. When we say “modern,” we don’t mean quick or effortless. We simply mean different than before. Language learning requires effort, and it takes time. Anything promising to have you master grammar in 10 days or less can leave you discouraged. You didn’t even learn to tie your shoes in 10 days or less—that took your entire kindergarten year to figure out! Modern language learners avoid the three-week-guarantee propaganda and focus on conversational skills in a relaxed, but consistent manner. We push day-in and day-out towards the goal and eventually achieve the results we’re after. So, how do we learn grammar the modern way? We can’t ignore grammar altogether and pretend it isn’t at all important. So, what can we do to learn it in ways that differ from traditional approaches? There are in fact three things modern language learners do when learning grammar. Let’s look at each one together. 3 Ways Modern Learners Approach Grammar 1. We read what we enjoy, not what we’re “supposed” to read Reading exposes us to grammar in its natural context. And yes, reading in a foreign language is difficult. But it’s easier when you read what you love. The key is to read what you would normally read in your mother tongue. For example, if you like cooking, you can read food magazines in your target language. A relaxed approach is best. So, open the umbrella, stretch out on the lawn chair, get the lemonade and read what you love with the breeze blowing around you. 2. We study in short, frequent intervals, not long and random spurts Six 10-minute sessions of grammar practice is better than one hour straight through. We learn best in short segments. And language is learned by frequent repetition. Good language learners study in small, frequent intervals for optimal results. 3. We use the grammar we learn in real conversations The best way to learn something is to do it. We learn better by using what we learn than by letting our new information collect dust in our brain cells. A good approach to learning (and remembering grammar) is to use the one grammar concept you last learned in a conversation five times within the next day. Then learn the next concept. Then use it five times in conversation. Keep repeating this process and you’ll program grammatical patterns into your use of the language. This is better than memorizing five concepts, using one, then forgetting four. Instead of learning five then using one, try to learn one then use it five times. It may be only one. But one concept remembered is better than ten concepts forgotten. The key is to relax. Modern language learning takes the pressure off, focuses on conversation and makes learning languages fun. Modern linguists understand that grammar is important, but it isn’t everything. We don’t have to know it all. And conversational grammar is still grammar. We don’t get overwhelmed with good resources, we don’t focus too much on grammar, and we avoid the get-fluent-in-a-week claims that discourage some learners. As modern language learners, we read what we enjoy, study in short intervals and use what we learn in real conversation.