How to learn English when you retire

Online or face-to-face courses, mobile apps or conversational workshops, language for seniors: a list of concrete solutions.

Benefits of learning English in retirement

Learning a new language demands and stimulates all the skills of concentration, listening and reflection, recalls Jean-Francois Demonet, neuroscientist and research director at Inserm.

But starting or picking up a foreign language in retirement allows you to expand your cultural and social horizons. In fact, understanding and speaking English is an opportunity to read material not translated into French, understand the words of your favorite English-speaking translators, or develop a genuine friendship with a reporter.

Also, mastering even the basics of the English language will allow you to get by in many situations abroad, not just in officially English-speaking countries like the UK or the US.

In 2023, 1.348 billion people worldwide will speak English. According to statistics from Jio magazineThis language is purely and simply the most spoken language on the planet.

Different ways to learn English in retirement

you Have an elementary level in English Or, on the contrary, you have already reached an intermediate level, but you want to strengthen your achievements? There are solutions in various forms and with various budgets – and they are not reserved for the under 60s… the existence of the core.

Online courses

A computer and internet connection: You should be familiar with Shakespeare’s language and progress quickly in your learning.

Many websites give you access to reliable and completely free resources on grammar, conjugation, vocabulary and pronunciation in words or videos. You can ask a private tutor and take one lesson, two lessons per week or more lessons with him according to your budget. Big plus: flexibility.

Mobile applications

Do you have a smartphone? Use it to your English learning advantage. Many apps have made learning foreign languages ​​their specialty.

Among the main titles, we can mention Babbel, the most versatile, Duolingo, with its decidedly playful bias, or MosaLingua, which offers a method entirely dedicated to learning new vocabulary words. Note: Most offer some of their content for free.

Face-to-face courses

Digital not your thing? Fortunately, there are many ways to find face-to-face English lessons. Start by getting information from your municipality’s town hall; If she herself is not exempt from English lessons, she can direct you to the right institutions.

Enter the name of your municipality followed by the query “English course for adults” in Google: you might get some nice surprises.

Dialogue workshops

Increased social interactions and authentic and direct practice of language: Conversational workshops combine assets.

Always assess whether there are weekly language cafes near you in your town hall, on social networks, local cafes or bars with a foreign feel, or on sites like Meetup: perfect for practicing with more flexibility, more relaxation and helping you progress.

Language is reserved for seniors

It’s easy to associate language with adolescence – wrongly! While children and youth are the preferred targets of organizations such as EF, LEC and other market leaders, seniors are also entitled to consideration in this area.

Assets? The promise of total immersion and multicultural discovery. Before choosing your company, make sure that it has the recognized accreditations (Unosel, Afnor, NF Service, etc.).

Tips to facilitate learning and maintain motivation

No matter what solution you choose to study English in retirement, there are a few simple considerations to put every chance of success on your side.

Integrating English into your everyday life

Don’t confine the English language to your lessons: integrate it into your daily life and embrace it as a whole. Definitive translation? Set your mobile or computer language to English. Watch your English language movies and series exclusively in their original version. Find cooking recipes in Shakespeare’s language instead of Moliere’s.

Set clear and realistic goals

The best way to avoid demotivation is to set measurable and achievable goals for yourself. For example, learn 10 new words a day, read an article in English a week or watch a film in VO within 3 months without subtitles.

And generally, you can push yourself from A1 level (introductory) to A2 level (intermediate) in 60 days; Some sites offer you to do a self-assessment for free.

Practice regularly

Discipline is important in learning a foreign language as it allows you to consolidate what you have learned. Repeated exposure to language facilitates memorization and consolidation of linguistic structures.

Additionally, it is a way to maintain motivation and progress in a continuous and sustainable way. Depending on the firm and your schedule, half an hour to an hour a day is enough, why not even a one-day break in a week.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

Making written and spoken mistakes is an essential part of learning a foreign language. They allow you to understand and revise, which significantly promotes improvement. Fear of making mistakes can limit practice and free expression, two key components of mastering a new language.