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Episode Seventeen:
Do You Want Easy,
Or English?
Do You Want Easy, Or English?
This week, I want to talk about a question that every English learner needs to ask themselves:
Do you want Easy or English? The truth is that you can’t have both. Learning English is hard and you will have to intentionally work at your English development if you want to speak English clearly.
Let me tell you a little story about what I mean. A couple of years ago, I was teaching an advanced English at a private university. In class, my students were supposed to be researching for a presentation that they will be giving soon. These students were advanced-level university students who were only a couple months away from entering their field of study. As I walked around the classroom to check on how everyone was doing, I noticed one student doing all of his research in his native language of Japanese.
This student and I have a good relationship, so I joked with him at first, “I see you’re doing some good research in English there…oh wait, that’s Japanese!”
He smiled at me and said, “Yes, it’s easier to research in Japanese.”
Then out of nowhere, a phrase popped in my mind: “Well, do you want easy or do you want English?”
Does Easy English Exist?
This student was in the United States to devote a year of his life to bettering his English before starting his program of study. His main goal for that year was to learn English. My point to him was that it may be easier in the short-term to research in Japanese, but it won’t help him achieve his long-term goal of learning English.
Some students get focused on passing a test or achieving high grades. When that happens, it’s likely that if there is a quicker way to get a higher grade, they will do it. However, dedicated language learners know that the quick way is not usually the way to become fluent in English. We need constant exposure to English in order to grow in proficiency.
The truth is that it’s easier to use Google translate. It’s easier to only use verb forms we are comfortable with. It’s easier to keep subtitles on. However, those easy paths don’t stimulate language growth. They encourage stagnation.
Learning English is a Journey
We don’t like to struggle with a language because it’s challenging. It can feel confusing, frustrating, and even humiliating at times – but the struggle is where growth happens! Have you ever watched a baby chick peck its way out of its shell? This newborn chick has to struggle in order to gain freedom from its egg shell. We know that in that struggle, though, the chicken gains the strength it needs to be strong outside the shell. If it never struggled to get out of the shell, it would never be able to experience life beyond the egg.
Remember the journey of a baby chick next time that you want and easy path to English. Easy will limit you in the long run, but the struggle will lead you to strength.
What do you think?
Comment below with the struggles you have faced to learn English and how you have overcome them. Do you usually take the easy route or do you challenge yourself even when no one else is watching?
If you’re ready for the next big challenge in your language learning, I invite you to join my course Clear English Pronunciation. People are seeing amazing changes in their English speaking skills from taking this course. When you’re ready to quit “easy” and start speaking English clearly, sign up for my course.
Happy learning!
P.S. If you want to dramatically improve your pronunciation skills, take my latest course Clear English Pronunciation. People are changing their lives by taking this course! The results have been dramatic. Simply visit StudyWithAndrea.com/speak to learn more.
The following is a TOEFL Reading practice test to help you prepare for the Reading section of the TOEFL test.
Instructions: Read the sample passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
TOEFL Reading Practice Passage
Gorillas are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forest of central Sub-Saharan Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas (both critically endangered), and either four or five subspecies. They are the largest living primates. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 95 to 99% depending on what is included, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the chimpanzees and bonobos.
Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Sub-Saharan Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200 to 4,300 metres (7,200 to 14,100 ft). Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.
(#1) Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking, although they sometimes walk upright for short distances, typically while carrying food or in defensive situations. (#2) A 2018 study investigating the hand posture of 77 mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (8% of the population) found that knuckle walking was done only 60% of the time, and they also supported their weight on their fists, the backs of their hands/feet, and on their palms/soles (with the digits flexed). (#3) Studies of gorilla handedness have yielded varying results, with some arguing for no preference for either hand, and others right-hand dominance for the general population. (#4)
The eastern gorilla is more darkly colored than the western gorilla, with the mountain gorilla being the darkest of all. The mountain gorilla also has the thickest hair. The western lowland gorilla can be brown or grayish with a reddish forehead. In addition, gorillas that live in lowland forest are more slender and agile than the more bulky mountain gorillas. The eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla. Like humans, gorillas have individual fingerprints. Their eye color is dark brown, framed by a black ring around the iris. Gorilla facial structure is described as mandibular prognathism, that is, the mandible protrudes farther out than the maxilla. Adult males also have a prominent sagittal crest.
A gorilla's lifespan is normally between 35 and 40 years, although zoo gorillas may live for 50 years or more. Colo, a female western gorilla at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was the oldest known gorilla at 60 years of age when she died on 17 January 2017.
Questions
1. According to the passage, gorillas can live in
a. a variety of altitudes.
b. several different countries in Africa.
c. thick forests.
d. lowland forests only.
2. All of the following is true about gorillas EXCEPT
a. they primarily eat smaller animals.
b. they live in a forest habitat.
c. their genetics are similar to humans.
d. their diet consists of vegetation.
3. Look at the word predominantly in paragraph 1. The word predominantly in this passage refers to
a. impulsively
b. unfortunately
c. mainly
d. lastly
4. Look at the word inhabits in paragraph 2. The word inhabits in this passage refers to
a. lives in
b. protects
c. goes
d. works
5. The author implies that
a. most gorillas prefer using their left hand over their right.
b. gorillas rarely walk on their knuckles.
c. gorillas regularly walk upright for long distances.
d. studies haven't solidly proven which hand gorillas prefer using.
6. Why does the writer mention that the eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla?
a. To validate the importance a broad chest in western gorillas
b. To define the meaning of "broad"
c. To highlight a physical difference between types of gorillas
d. To demonstrate that most gorillas are identical in physical build
7. Which of the following statements is true for BOTH eastern and western gorillas.
a. Both eastern and western gorrilas are brown with red foreheads.
b. Both eastern and western gorrilas have unique fingerprints.
c. Both eastern and western gorrilas have thin hair.
d. Both eastern and western gorrilas have light brown eyes.
8. In Paragraph 3, look at the four numbers (#1, #2, #3, #4) that indicate where the following sentence would be added to the passage.
Such a range of hand postures was previously thought to have been used by only orangutans.
Where would the sentence best fit?
(View all the correct answers below.)
Great job! If you're ready to take your TOEFL preparation to the next level, go to StudyWithAndrea.com/TOEFL.
Answers: 1. d 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. d 6. c 7. b 8. #3
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1) TOEFL MASTER CLASS
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About Andrea
Andrea Giordano is the founder of StudyWithAndrea.com and has taught more than 1,000,000 students from 180 countries. Andrea holds a Master of Education (TESOL) from Shenandoah University, and is the former Executive Director of TESOL and ESL programs at Campbellsville University. Andrea is a proven leader in online English teaching and is driven by her passion to help you speak English clearly.
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You are totally right, “no pain no gain.” I am an English teacher – giving language courses to help people improve their language skills in Cairo, Egypt. I highly respect you methodology, helping trainees with vocabulary and expressions within a context. You’re kindly supporting your English learners to be acquainted with not only meanings but also usage via actively listening and reading. I wounder if you can kindly help me with IELTS preparation advice. Thank you.
Hi Sherif! Thanks for your comments and for the work you do in Egypt. You’re right – I’m a big believer in context and authentic language. I think for IELTS prep, the key is creating authentic scenarios they might face in the time limits they would face them. If you have additional time, just working on overall English skills apart from test prep is key. The more they authentically learn English, the more they can face a new scenario on the test. Expose them to as many native speakers as you ca. Does that help answer your question?
Also, we offer group pricing for multiple students on our Clear English Pronunciation course, if you wanted to lead your students through it together. Feel free to reach out if you would find that helpful.