Learning English as an Adult

Learning English vocabulary as an adult isn’t exactly like riding a bike. If anything, it’s more like trying to ride a camel

through New York City—awkward, uncomfortable, surprising, and utterly [completely] unforgettable [impossible to forget]. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back!

As an ESL teacher, I’ve seen it all—from nervous beginners to confident [sure of themselves] speakers mixing up [confusing] “chicken” and “kitchen” in the most unfortunate [unlucky or regrettable] situations.

The Remarkable [extraordinary or notable] but Stubborn [not easily changed] Adult Brain

First, let’s give your brain some credit. It’s amazing at storing information; it’s just a bit more stubborn now than when you were a kid. Children can soak up new words faster than you can say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” But as adults, transitioning [changing] from “coffee” in your native language—whether it’s “кава,” “قهوة,” or anything else—to “coffee” in English requires a bit more effort.

Oksana’s Unforgettable Umbrella Moment

Take Oksana, one of my Ukrainian students. She couldn’t remember the word “umbrella” until she got caught in a sudden Florida thunderstorm [a storm with thunder and heavy rain]. As the rain poured down [rained heavily], she dashed [ran quickly] into a store, shouting,”I need a big something for the rain!” The shop assistant, calm as ever, replied,”You mean an umbrella?” Bam! Just like that, the word stuck. Now, Oksana will never forget it. Why? Because that awkward, soaked-to-the-bone [completely wet] moment etched [made a lasting impression on]“umbrella” into her memory forever.

Why the Quirky [unusual or strange] Moments Stick

Here’s where things get interesting: as adults, we remember better when we’re in unusual or humorous situations. Our brains latch onto [hold tightly to] those awkward moments, making vocabulary stick [stay in your memory]. So next time you mix up”pants”and”plants,”embrace [accept willingly] the embarrassment [feeling of awkwardness or shame]. That’s your brain doing its thing!

Embrace the Journey

Learning a new language is a wild ride filled with ups and downs, laughs and blushes. So saddle up that camel and enjoy the journey through the bustling [busy and lively] streets of language learning. After all, every misstep [mistake] is just another story waiting to be told.

Written By Anastasiia June