U-Utilize your time

Success as a concept and English as a language have become synonymous in many Eastern European countries, where the formal schooling doesn’t always adopt a qualitative approach toward learning foreign languages. Apart from the general awe of admiration, fluency in English is a direct path to better jobs and higher salaries. Every job application has a question about English proficiency, while every company favors an applicant who can converse in English on day one. More than 61% of information on the Internet is written in English. For centuries, English has maintained the status of the international language thanks to the British Empire and their geopolitical dominance. It is English schools that benefit from the rise of globalization, which, in turn, forces more and more people around the world to communicate with each other on a daily basis. In other words, you need to know English to become successful in whatever career path you choose. But then, what if you’ve already going 180 miles an hour down your path and have no time for an English learning detour?

To keep up with the demands of capitalism you must dedicate your time to surviving. You have work. A lot of work. Jobs, tasks, errands— all in plural; kids, friends, hobbies — in plural if you’re lucky. The little time you have left to unwind, you spend it on anything that doesn’t require thinking (Video games? Sports? Reality shows?), while the desire to learn a foreign language hibernates, waiting for a better timing. What you might not realize is that Future Simple is dependent on Present Continuous, and the word “will” is incompatible with an if-clause. If your English level prevented you from understanding this metaphor, don’t panic—the point is, you have to start using that app you downloaded months ago now; you have to begin watching the movies with subtitles now; you have to disturb the book mites living in your dusty English textbooks now. Unfortunately, Saturday afternoons are not enough of a time frame for learning a new language, considering the proverbial statement of repetition being the key to success. But where do you find the time for this seemingly easy process of repeating what you’ve already learned when sacrificing your carefully-structured schedule to squeeze an hour or two of daily English learning is not an option? Instead of lamenting about the nature of time and its relentless pace, you need to optimize the time you have, inserting English in the most trivial activities. How? Here are a few tips.

1) Stick 10 new English words to your mirror, so when you’re brushing your teeth in the morning, your gaze would know what to fall upon. Change the words every week and you’ll see how quickly your vocabulary begins to grow.

2) Commute smartly. If you’re driving—turn that English audiobook on and hope for a heavy traffic to get through the chapter; if you’re taking the subway—open that list of phrasal verbs that you’re still struggling with; if you’re on a bus—turn that TV-show on (insert link) and don’t be embarrassed to occasionally burst into laughter in a public place.

3) Despite Keith Ferrazzi's suggestion to never eat alone, we urge you to try. Instead of chatting with your coworkers or group mates during the meals, listen to your favorite podcast led by your favorite celebrity. You can even treat yourself with cheesy YouTube videos, as long as they are in English.

If you can attend one or two evening classes at an English school to boost your progress (especially if you’re anywhere below B1 level), then by any means, do it. But remember, English classes on their own, without independent learning, is a waste of energy. Learning English happens through understanding, usage, and repetition—constant, unending, dizzying repetition. Accept that challenge like 743 million non-native speakers did before you, set your priorities, and utilize your time like a champ.

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