How to Apply the Principle of Compounding to Learn English.

As a tutor and coach, one of the most important things I emphasize is the power of compounding when learning. 

• Compounding is a word taken from the financial world and comes from the idea of compound interest. 
• Compound interest is the interest you earn on interest. 
• Interest is extra money that you receive if you have invested a sum of money. Interest is also the extra money that you pay if you have borrowed money or are buying something on credit.

The idea is that small, sustainable progress over a long period of time leads to big improvements and mastery over the years.

Read on to learn more about compounding and some things you can do to apply the principle of compounding to your study plan.

"The Warren Buffett Example: Consistent Effort Over Time"

A great example of the power of compounding is the investor Warren Buffett. One of Buffett's remarkable achievements is that he has generated over 90% of his wealth since turning 65 years old. 

At 65, Buffett was worth $3 billion, but today at 92 he is worth over $120 billion. 

How did he achieve this? Through the magic of compounding - by earning a consistent return on his investments over a very long time period.

Language Learning Takes Time: The Importance of a Long-Term View

Learning a new language is similar. You must take a long-term view and focus on consistent, sustainable progress. Some important things to think about:

• Don't expect to become fluent in a few months. 
• Change your mindset, see learning as an ongoing process measured in years. 
• Focus on small improvements each and every day, week and month. 
• Listen a little, read a little, study some new words, and practice speaking. 

Over time, these small efforts compound into huge gains.

Sustainable Progress: The Athlete's Approach to Language Learning

Researchers found that Olympic-level cross-country skiers trained for an average of 861 hours per year, with:

• 89% of the training hours at light intensity, 
• 6% medium intensity, and 
• 4% high intensity. 

Other professional athletes, like runners and swimmers, also spend most of their training time at a low intensity. This is because sustainable training over time is more important than pushing yourself too hard and getting injured or burnt out. 

The same approach can be taken in language learning. 

To achieve the highest levels of fluency over time, it's important to have sustainable language learning habits and consistently practice at a manageable pace. 

Embrace the Journey: Achieve Mastery in English

Remember, achieving mastery in any field is a marathon, not a sprint. Embrace the power of compounding through long-term, sustainable learning. 

Make slow, steady progress day by day, and your English ability will grow in leaps and bounds over the months and years to come. 

Stay focused on fundamentals, keep listening and practising every day, and enjoy becoming fluent in English!

What You Can Do

Here are some examples of small, sustainable steps you can take to make progress in learning English:

1. Set a goal to learn a certain number of new words each week. Start with five or ten words and gradually increase the number as you become more comfortable with the language.
2. Listen to English language music or podcasts while commuting or doing other activities. This can help you improve your listening skills and learn new vocabulary.
3. Read English language books or articles for at least 10-15 minutes each day. This can help you improve your reading skills and expand your knowledge of the language.
4. Practice speaking English with a language exchange partner or tutor for 10-15 minutes each day. This can help you improve your pronunciation and become more comfortable with speaking the language.
5. Watch English-language TV shows or movies with subtitles to improve your listening and comprehension skills.

Remember, the key to sustainable progress is consistency. It's better to do a little bit every day than to try to cram all of your learning into one or two days a week. By making small, sustainable progress each day, you'll build your confidence and gradually improve your English skills over time.