Methods of Teaching English: A Struggler’s Guide to Mastering the Language

Welcome back, fellow Struggler. If you're here, it means you're just like me—a fighter, someone who refuses to settle for mediocrity, especially when it comes to self-improvement. Today, I want to dive deep into one of the most vital aspects of language learning: the methods of teaching English. But don’t expect the usual dry, theoretical talk. No, here we break things down practically, personally, and with a touch of that struggler spirit.

My Journey with English: From Zero to Fluent

Before we get into teaching methods, let me share a bit of my journey. I didn’t grow up speaking English. I had to claw my way through grammar books, stumble over pronunciation, and embarrass myself countless times in conversations. But through all that struggle, I found patterns, techniques, and methods that worked—and others that didn’t.

When I started learning English, the biggest problem was not having a structured way to absorb the language. I tried everything: memorizing words, watching movies, and even forcing myself to think in English. Some worked like magic; others were a waste of time. But in the end, I found a set of approaches that genuinely help learners, and now, I want to share them with you.

The Most Effective Methods of Teaching English

Let’s talk about how English should be taught. Whether you’re teaching yourself, a friend, or even thinking about becoming a teacher, these methods are tested, real, and most importantly, work for us Strugglers.

The Immersion Method: Live the Language

This is the most powerful way to learn English. When I say immersion, I don’t just mean watching Netflix with subtitles (though that helps). I mean living in English.

• Change your phone, laptop, and social media language settings to English.
• Narrate your daily activities in English. (Yes, talk to yourself—who cares?)
• Surround yourself with native English content: podcasts, YouTube, audiobooks.
• Join online communities where English is the only language spoken.

The biggest mistake people make is keeping English as a "side subject" rather than making it their main mode of communication.

TPR (Total Physical Response): Learning with Movement

This method is used in classrooms, especially for beginners, but you can apply it to yourself. The idea is simple: connect words to physical actions.

• If you’re learning verbs, act them out.
• When studying new vocabulary, write it on sticky notes and place them around your house.
• Associate words with real-life objects and experiences.

This method makes language memorable because your brain links words to movements.

The Communicative Approach: Speak First, Correct Later

One of my biggest mistakes was waiting until I "knew enough" before speaking. That was a lie I told myself. English is about communication, not perfection.

• Focus on getting your message across rather than worrying about mistakes.
• Engage in conversations, even if they are simple at first.
• Find a speaking partner, a language exchange buddy, or even an AI assistant.
• Use shadowing—listen to a sentence and repeat it right away to improve pronunciation.

Remember: language is meant to be spoken. The more you use it, the better you get.

Grammar-Translation Method: The Traditional Approach

Many language learners (especially from academic backgrounds) rely on this method. While it has its limits, it’s still useful:

• Read English texts and translate them into your native language.
• Learn sentence structures by comparing them with your first language.
• Keep a notebook where you translate words, sentences, and expressions.

This method works best when combined with others, especially for understanding difficult grammatical concepts.

The Lexical Approach: Learn Phrases, Not Just Words

Many learners struggle because they try to learn words in isolation. Instead, learn phrases and expressions:

• Study collocations (words that naturally go together like "make a decision" or "take a break").
• Learn idioms and common expressions.
• Memorize whole sentences that you can use in conversations.

Task-Based Learning: Learn by Doing

If you learn best by taking action, this method is for you.

• Set small challenges like writing a short story, recording a daily vlog, or giving a speech.
• Solve real-life problems using English, such as ordering food, writing emails, or booking a hotel.
• Use role-play exercises, even if you’re practicing alone.

Storytelling Method: Make It Personal

Our brains love stories. That’s why this method is so powerful.

• Instead of memorizing random sentences, create personal stories using new words.
• Rewrite stories you love in English.
• Share your experiences with a journal or blog (just like this one!).

Books to Help You on Your Journey

To reinforce these methods, here are some books that every English learner and teacher should check out:

1. "English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy – A must-have for grammar learners.
2. "Fluent English" by Barbara Raifsnider – A great book for mastering fluency.
3. "The Lexical Approach" by Michael Lewis – A deep dive into learning English through phrases.
4. "Effortless English" by A.J. Hoge – Focuses on natural learning methods.
5. "Word Power Made Easy" by Norman Lewis – An excellent book for vocabulary building.

Final Words from a Struggler to a Struggler

Learning English isn’t just about methods—it’s about mindset. You will make mistakes. You will feel frustrated. But you must keep going. You’ve already come this far, and I promise you, if you keep pushing, one day you’ll look back and realize how far you've come.

You are not alone in this. We are Strugglers, and we fight until we win.

So tell me, which method are you using? Have you tried any of these? Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear from you!