How to study English well (with Paul Nation) | 4 techniques to learn English faster

There is no doubt that this is the best time in history to learn a language, especially English. We are surrounded by content in English, English language learning apps, English teachers, English courses, information.
But one very important question remains: what do we do with all this information?
HOW do we study English well?
HOW do we learn a language?
One man who knows the answer to this question is Paul Nation.
He has been studying and writing about language acquisition and language teaching methodology for more than 50 years, and in this interview, he talks about the four strands of language learning, and how by following these 4 simple techniques to learn English, based on a lifetime of research, both teachers and students can have success at language teaching, and language learning.
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Listen to the full episode here: anchor.fm/canguro-english/epi...
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Visit Paul's website here: www.wgtn.ac.nz/lals/resources...
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[@Canguroenglish]

It’s impossible for me to reply to all your comments, but I read them all, and I am eternally grateful for your love and support. Become a patron and sponsor free English education here: bit.ly/CanguroPatreon Buy official Canguro English merchandise here: bit.ly/CanguroMerchandise

[@Ollivier10x56]

Hello, I'm Manuel from South America and I want to say *thank you so much* for all your content. It really helps me in order to improve my knowledge not only in English also the entire live. I love the channel's methodology (tricky word here) you using to teach this marvelous language, sorry if I mispelled but I nedeed to say this as clear as possible *THANK YOU*

[@sandramilazzo2607]

One day I'll be rich, e then I'll be your sponsor!!! But at the moment I can only thank you a lot for all you do for free.

[@ahmedboudarbala3648]

😊

[@rrvalverde]

It’s like learning to drive. Who takes the drivers’ seat? Who takes the passenger seat? The process of learning belongs to the learners. Teachers are there to guide them. Furthermore, to become a good driver, you must drive extensively. You can’t learn to drive by playing formula 1 video games. So, the same is learning a language. Forget the books and take action! Practice, and practice!! Very nice video, Cristian! (Sorry if I misspelled your name. lol)

[@romuloreyes8427]

1 meaning-focused input 2 meaning-focused output 3. Language focused learning 4 fluency development

[@Teachermehran]

✅

[@vefaramazanli5918]

I look at your explanations every day. I don't know a second teacher who explains the language as clearly as you do.

[@AmericanAccentMastery]

Oh my gosh! Watching a 42 minute YT video was not in my plans for tonight, but when I saw Paul Nation in the title, everything changed! I've read a lot of his research in the past few years, and I'm a huge fan! Thanks very much for this excellent interview!!!!

[@tothepointenglishwithben.]

Fascinating interview, lots of useful insights to take on board... and what an interesting house Mr Nation lives in!

[@25409019]

One of the most important channels about learning English ever. Thank you, Christian.

[@JudoHighlights2015]

I was once called a lazy teacher. Thanks Paul!

[@claufcost]

How good it was to hear this interview! Thank you!

[@stefanhansen5882]

Your interviews are great! And Nation is a legend. So thanks!

[@pliniomacieljr8557]

I liked too much of this interview. I have been studying English for so many years and still don´t feel comfortable when I need to speak with someone in English. I also am a Psychology graduation teacher and found out in this interview that I need urgently change my way of studying English and my teaching method in the disciplines that I teach. Thank you so much for this.

[@RodrigoSilva-uf8df]

I lreally liked the interview with prof. Paul. And I was happy to know that I'm going in the right way to learn English on my own. I'm Anki team.

[@OscarAndresPinto]

Thank you so much for bring this gentleman

[@learnenglishwithhamid]

The best time to learn English is the 21 century. I strongly agree.

[@blindbrazilianjustice]

The best teacher of all, you are the only one that I can understand for now.

[@signmeupruss]

Such a wonderful inspiration!

[@mauriziotruglia5994]

Very impressive. Thanks!

[@canalmusicaefutebol4587]

I am english teacher in Brazil and this guy is one of the best speaker about English in the whole internet universe. He speaks reality !

[@PhilippeNguerengbolo-ec3gk]

A highly inspiration video highlighting the four strands or techniques (systems, methods) necessary to teach a language successfully. A catchy sentence I keep as a reminder or golden rule is '"LEARNING COMES FROM TEACHING" in which. Teachers have influential roles to play as planners, organizers, trainers and teachers. Thank you Paul Nation for what you post for humanity because "KNOWLEDGE IS POWER", as language is primarily communication, and communication is human and humane.

[@carloshumbertocacaofiguero7556]

I've just discovered you awsome channel and I have to admit you're among the best teacher English by your useful lesson. Please, keep it on!! Thanks a lot!

[@juancgca]

Excellent video with high-value content!. Thanks

[@lewisbaker2947]

This is one of the best interviews I've come across on learning English - thanks Christian.

[@brandonvestra]

This is one of the best I've seen when it comes to learning any language in general. I was led to Paul Nation via Stephen Krashen and I'll put some of the things they've said into practice when I start learning a language.

[@mehrdad1753]

Very informative, valuable interview. Thanks for uploading it.

[@2010Tigresa]

Thank you very much Christian for this video. It's a wonderful oportunity to listen to a world renowned author and teacher, so as to have another point of view related to the learning process. Greetings from Uruguay!!!

[@brunoparedes2869]

Huge stuff !! Thanks

[@anv.4614]

Thank you Christian and Mr Paul Nation.

[@SeoulForeigner]

The English teacher is there is to facilitate and prompt production of conversation that is immediate and required of all learners in all necessities. A wonderful video as ever Canguro English.

[@allistairelliott]

Hello Christian, You look in fine health. Glad you are well. I'm enjoying these interviews and look forward to more.

[@vefaramazanli5918]

Thank you very much🙏🏻

[@missiassantiagosantiago2178]

It is very good. Thanks

[@markdonovan1540]

One of the first things we were told, on day one of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course in the UK, was that the main role of a good language teacher is to FACILITATE the learning process, not to TEACH AT PEOPLE.

[@Canguroenglish]

Exactly!

[@non-nativeenglishspeaker6052]

Thank you!

[@elissonsilvasantos9716]

Thanks for work really hard

[@pedroguerreiro7906]

Amazing, keep up on bringing first class content to us, thanks.

[@lucasmanso1]

Hello my friend! I just want to tell you that you are the only person in the world who can understand what you are talking about !! My problem in learning English is Listening ... always. But I can understand what you are talking about 70 percent! . I'm so happy! Greetings from Argentina.!

[@manoochehrghanbari822]

Excellent very useful

[@carolinareguerofullier6595]

I don't understand very well, but I like your pronuntiation and really appreciate your good advices. Thank you for sharing it. Congratulations!!

[@bozenaseremet1351]

This is realy meanigful material. Thank you, Christian :)

[@kentz2035]

it's a very nice conversation.

[@tagirtt8305]

Good interview 👍,,,☺️

[@ssarlak4849]

Tnx for sharing

[@justo9564]

how can i schedule my life to optimize my English learning? I mean, I'm already trying to do that by using apps to chat with people, trying to get books that I'm interested in in English and yesterday i used a voice chat on Discord to practice my speaking skills. The the harder things to me are speaking and reading (with complex writing or in an advance usage of the language) skills. I know it's a lot of practice and exposure, I still have a long way in the learning process but I think that something to keep in mind is "try to communicate things" instead of trying to sound cool or something like that. I'm enjoying this video, I'm just watched eight minutes but you are saying very important stuff and that's why the length of this comment!

[@vefaramazanli5918]

Greeting from Azerbaijan

[@aliaaslam5661]

A refreshing one that is.....

[@ebakutsu]

Hi teacher. Thank you for your video. I found it very helpful.

[@sofialexrush5646]

I always love your lessons you learn ideas, thoughts, advices beside English..never get bored of your lessons and when I knew that you become healthy and back again to lessons felt so happy for you 💖💝😊 thank you so much Christopher Canguro English

[@UnShredded]

A glorious recommendation, divine material you guys produced together. Where can I find recorded classes where his principles are incarnated?

[@anudev1993]

Interesting video. 😊

[@ejinjapan624]

Awesome. One of the first lectures i heard when i first came to Japan 10 years ago was by Paul Nation. At that time i had no idea who he was, i just chose a class at the ETJ (English Teachers in Japan) conference and went. BTW at that time i had pretty much zero hours of classroom experience under my belt. Anyway, to cut a long story short, he was just so ameniable and easy to underdstand. I think he did a simple demo lesson about learning numbers in Japanese, and he provided lots of C.I. ( i had no idea at the time what C.I. was). and it was really fun and delivered in a wonderful way. He is a scholar and an expert, but he delivers what he knows in such an easy going and understandable way. Great Interview! Thanks both of you!

[@user-zy9kb5ui2f]

I was first introduced to Paul Nation's ideas and research a number of years ago by Catherine Walter at the launch of the course book 'Navigate'. Since then I constantly refer to his work. At the same time I am astonished that so many Teachers of ESOL and ESOL schools persist in using material and techniques that are in large part simply based on ideas rather than research grounded knowledge of language acquisition.

[@carolbonjour6613]

This interview wasn't good it's was amazing. Thanks a lot for this video

[@Khan_2025]

thank you very much. Output always seems to be a myth to me. The idea of connect input to output is really a enlightenment.

[@bobbysayasane3413]

I'm watching this discussion with 98% complete focus & comprehension.

[@EnglishArtsAcademy]

Ohhh excited to watch this, and share it with my students

[@markdonovan1540]

Me too

[@savkinaanna3748]

Thank you for this! I couldn't agree more. Although sometimes, especially with beginners, a teacher does serve as a source of information as well as a guide, but as long as one has learnt how to use the simplest tenses and constructions, they should start reading adapted literature and practise outside the classroom, preferably with different speakers of English - natives, non-nativers.:) And more and more teachers - at least here in Russia - are starting to use authentic sources in their classes (TED Talks, National Geographic etc.) More and more of them - and I mean tutors, not those who work under the stressful condions of the school curriculum - tend to use coursebooks as a frame, as a rough plan, so that Ss could see their progress, but authentic materials are becoming the main constituents of a decent English class.) Unfortunately, I think the root of the problem is not only in the way the language is taught. In many countries systems of education are teacher-centred, not student-centered, and marks (or we could call them grades) are etremely important, especially for parents. So, grades, not knowledge, become the main goal for kids, not the practical skills, not the contents. And no matter how hard tutors are trying, it's difficult to change that attitude. I keep repeating it to my students - you're the ones who have to work hard in the lesson, I'm here only to guide you. I show them how to practise listening skills, how to watch videos, how to read in the way so that to make it useful. I strongly believe that starting with the intermediate level Ss can literally learn on their own and they need much less guidance. I become more of an interlocutor for them then. not a mentor. And they definitely do need a teacher to help them prepare for the formats of various English tests if necessary, but as for the language itself - they and only they are responsible for the proper aquisition of the language at higher levels. BUT!!! not all of them are perfect learners, many are lazy, there're different kinds of age crisis. If our system of education was a bit different and taught children how to be independent and initiative learners in the first place, the situation with language learning would also be much better. It's just my humble opinion. I can't speak for all Russian teachers of English. What an oxymoron the last sentences is.:)) But I love my job.

[@pauld3327]

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on authentic content. I think graded readers with audio are a very great tool to learn a language.

[@ugomontanar2767]

If everyone of us had the right teachers and the right way of teaching, we would live in a very different world.

[@philipohmes9395]

A lot of technical concepts in language learning for any language. So I visited this site of the Professor in New Zealand and downloaded and English copy of this pdf for further study. I noticed that it was also available in a few other languages. The I went to do a survey of what the good professor had written as journal articles and other studies. Some time later I'll sort through that information. It is quite the treasure trove of information. Quite an academic approach in sorting through this concept of language learning. Yet I wonder if these studies will answer the questions of how a Human first acquires their language skills as an infant and child? Then later on acquires the language skills necessary for their 2nd or 3rd language? How are these techniques the same or different?

[@TheFiestyhick]

Mega cool

[@----zd1od]

Beautiful class, thank you professor Christian for bringing it to us! Greetings.

[@alessandroiacopini6261]

Grazie!

[@MidoriyaIzuku-hs6xy]

34:10 he talks about learning with retrieval and without retrieval and he is right about learning

[@mahmutokduman4050]

I have the same problem that Prof Paul said one of his trip. I Know lots of grammar but I’m not fluent. When I’m trying to say something I think should I use this pattern or this one so in the end I find myself lost beetween grammar and words :(

[@richardsonmoura593]

Hi Christian, thanks for all things you have been doing for us, it's help me a lot. So I have I big question, but I know it must be so easy for you as a native English speaker lol. Here it goes. When you have the chance, could you answer my questions please, what the differences in these words: Could you put them in a context? Thanks a lot for your time. Dent Mash Knead smash crush scrunch crumpled If you find in my text some that don't make sense, sorry I'm trying my best, my mother language is Portuguese but I really love the English language, I never went to the English school I just learn from youtube...

[@alessandrofacciani7209]

What about listening immersion with material meant for native speakers?

[@yolandapatino87]

"Language Learning is a long job,there is no doubt about it "

[@julianpatino6622]

I believe that the true challenge in the process of learning English lies not in speaking, but rather in understanding. Allow me to explain my reasoning. Without a proper understanding of a language, one cannot speak it fluently. Speaking is a byproduct of comprehension, and in this sense, the most critical skill to develop is listening. This process is similar to that of a young child, who spends their first years actively listening to their parents, relatives, and others. Only after a period of active listening do they begin to speak, once they have grasped the contextual nuances of the language

[@PhilippeNguerengbolo-ec3gk]

I do agree with you Julian, since communication is human, therefore understanding should be the content or ingredient of teachers-learners' interactions either explicitly or implicitly.

[@erzsebetbekes7073]

To get Nation for an interview is a scoop...

[@markhunter1]

like your PC Cris

[@michaelsamazingenglish8580]

We teach Chinese students from zero-basis to conversational fluency. We prepare students with the goal of them being able to sit in a native English-speaking teacher's/professor's classroom and understand to the same level as a native English-speaking student. Our average student has scored 110 on TOEFL and 1530 on the American SAT exam. Our average IELTS student will score 7.5 or better. Most of our students will go to American colleges. We've taught thousands of students over the past decade. We are the envy of many training centers and some teachers because of the results we've seen our students achieve. I was on a news show on the English television network, CGTN, recently. They asked me, 'What is the primary difference between you and others?' They were trying to ascertain why we've been so successful. I told them and I tell everyone that the difference between us and others is not because we are native English-speaking teachers. The difference is that we teach skills. This is where 'training' comes in that Mr. Nation is talking about.

[@modoeasyarcade]

Deviating a bit from the subject, I bought a necklace very similar to yours.

[@PhilippeNguerengbolo-ec3gk]

I have read the chapter 1 of the book 'What Should Every EFL Teacher Know? by Paul Nation and watched the video, too. Both sources highlight implication of teachers of language teaching. The chapter one points out some significant differences between ESL and EFL. In this Chapter I have learnt that an ESL learner is much more environmentally close to the use of the language in daily activities and opportunities, while the EFL learner is an unfamiliar background. To sum up, teachers should identify the weaknesses and strengths of their learners and adapt or negotiate contents to the needs, the motivation, the opportunities as well as the cultural backgrounds and levels or their leaners to encourage them and practice the language efficiently and accurately. In the video, focus is put on the four strands or techniques including Meaning-focused Input (MFI), Meaning-focused Output (MFO), Language-focused Learning (LFL) and Fluency Development (FD). These learning principles should be learners before teaching because they should identify their learners' needs and adapt lessons using various ingredients in lesson planning and adapt or balance the four strands to interest their learners get involved in the learning process. The MFI strands focuses on listening and reading, the FFO strand highlights learning process through speaking and writing, the LFL strand focuses on language focus or structure, vocabulary and structural features, the FD is like the implementation of the three first ones. What is more important is that at the end of the video, it is recommended that the learning must be done more by the learners rather than the teacher because the teacher already knows the language, therefore he or she should not work more than the learners. The learner ought to be the epicenter of the learning process. Philippe Nguerengbolo, PLI in Bangui, CAR.

[@MidoriyaIzuku-hs6xy]

38:00 he talks about how to keep motivate when we try to learn any language.

[@williambudd2850]

Faster is NOT better ! The faster you learn, the faster you will forget.

[@michaelsamazingenglish8580]

We do extensive usage of mnemonics. Even when we are teaching from Paul Nation's '4000 words' series of books. We teach students to do this so that they can retrieve words from their brains themselves. If we have to cue them, we do so with the mere mention of the mnemonic. One of the small tools that we put in the students arsenal of learning is to find an associative word link that sounds the same in their own language. For example, in Chinese, the word for tree sounds exactly like the English word 'shoe.' We connect a link between 'shoe' and a tree. Just see a tree with shoes handing all over it. The student gets it right away. In fact, they can't forget. The English word 'paper' is another example. The 'pa' sounds like the Chinese word for 'fear' or 'afraid'. The 'er' ending for the word 'paper' is easy to teach Chinese students because, in the Northern Mandarin dialects, many words end in the 'er' sound. I took a piece of paper, wadded it up and threw it towards a student. He was startled and tried to catch it. We made the connection with 'pa-per' and the fear of not catching it. This tool along with them seeing the word in contexts of stories has been very effective for us. It isn't that hard to come up with creative mnemonics though some words can be more difficult. Because my Mandarin is limited, I often ask for the students to come up with 'sound-alike' words. They come up with them quickly and they are far more likely to remember something that they created. This is one skill that we teach students and have had great success with it.

[@horacioredigonda5949]

Si yo entenderia todo lo que dijo el señor no necesitaria estudiar ingles por que ya sabria hablarlo ja ja. Solo agarre algo de lo que dijo

[@uruguayespenarol]

:´D Yo entiendo prácticamente todo pero al hablar me tranco porque no lo tengo mucho en práctica. Ánimo que siempre hay algo para aprender, lo importante es seguir y más con los idiomas!

[@Crochetirlandes]

No te creas, entiendo el 100 % de lo que dice pero soy incapaz de pedirle un vaso de agua a alguien. Las habilidades lingüísticas pueden ser muy desiguales.

[@pasternacco]

I would like to see the chat with Lucy

[@BeyondMediocreMandarin]

The phenomenon Prof. Nation mentions in relation to the Osaka lady is called "Mute English".

[@fatememoghaddam9118]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@user-hs4en3gi2m]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@joepiekl]

I'm only five minutes in so apologies if he answers this later, but does it follow that because there are 4 strands that we've identified as important, that they are therefore equally important and should each get 25% of our time?

[@Canguroenglish]

YES!

[@animetx9381]

I'll start learn English with children's audiobooks and movies etc, it's works?

[@karogod]

21:04 I don't think there is any sense to spend the time of the lesson on extensive reading/listening that students can do at home without the teacher. Paul Nation mentioned teaching autonomy, so it comes right here.

[@yigitcanbaysal824]

Hi Karo I'm looking for a speaking partner to practice and improve my English speaking skills I wonder if you are interested in the

[@karogod]

@@yigitcanbaysal824 Hi, I'm afraid I'm not. I teach English for work. But I have some students who could be interested. How can I contact you?

[@yigitcanbaysal824]

@@karogod I have my Email address on my channel's description part. You can send me an email

[@user-dr8ne9wi4u]

What about movies ? Some people say they are fluent because of just watching movies or vlogs. They don't say anything about reading novels they just read subtitle of movies. I can't learn from a movie unless i write it in my notebook first.

[@SAkbar-fb4jv]

Hi teacher please can you give me spoken English online class....? I am a girl and student...?

[@markdonovan1540]

If you don't use it, you will lose it. This is what I say to all my students. My job is to get them to learn autonomously, with my input becoming less and less. If they are required to pass exams then I focus on exam technique as much as the language content. Exams are very artificial, it's not a natural use of language, so it needs a specific focus.

[@cabococarlos1936]

Hi I am an atheist as well I understand 5 languages but I don't pray I'm watching from Alaska

[@SARALLYROD]

11

[@soloenglish5153]

it would be useful that you put music on your video

[@aulia-ts7up]

i'm here because of my phonetic analysis task

[@LettyMaria1]

I think as teachers we aren't free to do what we would like to teach in our classroom. We are pressured to teach our students to pass their school exams. which is sad. I dont use books. I am English who has lived in Spain for 30 years. Do you ever forget how to say things in your mother tongue?

[@EXANIX]

I live in my mother country and I use only my first language and sometimes I forget some word and just I point a finger on it. ))) Everything does not use our brain, it will get rid of, the same happend with a dog. A dog will foget many the commands if it doesn't hear long time (6-12 months)

[@allistairelliott]

Yes Letty, this needs to be discussed more. Much as I am enjoying these interviews and admire Christian's determination to take on the EFL industry, teachers are hardly as powerful or as autonomous as is implied.

[@javiermantilla8606]

very true. I teach in the US public schools. Same story here. Goal, to pass an ESL test created by a company,

[@user-gg7vx2mx4c]

What are the four things in a nutshell? Is it worth watching 42 mins video for 4 tips :)

[@pauld3327]

I don't think speaking skills should be practised in the classroom. A 1 hour class should be 5 minutes writing and 55 minutes listening/reading graded readers.

[@earledge]

His speaking isn't understood for biginers.

[@sadunthilina1180]

Wye you wander

[@marcoantoniogalecki1824]

Can not teach how to learn a language, someone who did not learn it as a second language

[@martinezrk7979]

¡Hagamos una campaña! ¡Aquí alguien está insultando los métodos de estudio de los demás! ¡Eso es ofensivo, grosero, es discriminador!

[@gregmakov2680]

stupid techniques :D:D

[@AdirsonLeal]

His way of speaking is so boring.