Improving English as a Middle-Aged Person #3

Didn’t expect this series to continue. Almost 5 years in New Zealand. My English has improved a lot since I first arrived — from understanding nothing to handling daily work and life communication fine. Really, it’s just that my spoken English has improved. I’ve learned how to express everyday things I didn’t know how to say before. But how much have my listening, reading, and writing improved? Not sure. Vocabulary might not have improved at all — maybe even regressed. I’ve forgotten words I don’t use. Like “dilapidated” — I now know the colloquial “run-down.” “Sprain” — I now know “put out,” same phrase as extinguishing a fire. Who wants to remember the complex words anymore?

I’ve always thought memorizing vocabulary isn’t the most important factor in improving English. But I still need to learn words — not because my vocabulary is too small, but because my memory is getting worse with age. Learning new things gets harder. If I give up now, my brain will only get worse.

I recently found a great website and app, been using it for 3 months: Anki. Desktop and mobile versions. Android is free, iOS costs money (but not much, compared to classes). Sync progress across devices easily. I set a goal: as long as I’m alive, I must finish that day’s learning tasks. A way to force myself to learn. If you’re interested, give it a try.