U.S. immigrants and their U.S.-born children now number over 80 million persons, or one-quarter of the overall U.S. population, according to statistics from the Migration Policy Institute. The growing numbers are creating a critical demand for English language training. For immigrants, the stakes are high.
Employees who speak English “very well” earn, on average, 18,000 dollars a year more than those who speak “not well” or “not at all” according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. For immigrants, English fluency is the most significant barrier to advancement beyond entry-level jobs.
Although many are highly motivated to learn English, the current system of adult education is serving English learners especially poorly – with high drop-out rates, and poor results. These programs are not working effectively– with only 40% of learners improving their fluency level after one year of study, and many fewer achieving full fluency, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
According to A.J. Hoge, author of Effortless English: Learn To Speak English Like A Native (Effortless English LLC, 2015), the solution is a radical change in the way English is taught.
“For several years I’ve been encouraging students to abandon the failed education system and use more effective natural methods,” says Hoge. Natural approaches aim to replicate how students learn their native language. The approach is supported by research. In a study by Dr. Ashley Hastings, students learning with a natural approach improved 3 times faster than students using grammar-translation methods, over a 4 week period.
“The natural approach is spreading throughout the globe very, very fast, especially among independent learners” Hoge said.
Adult English learners are more likely to be under tremendous time pressure and in many cases require independent learning options that fit their busy schedules. The longer these students lack English fluency, the further they fall behind economically.
Hoge understands the pressures that immigrants are under. He reports that his students typically have only 1 hour a day for study, utilizing short moments of free time throughout the day such as commutes and lunch breaks.
“Traditional programs are simply failing adult English learners,” Hoge said. “Immigrants and international employees need new approaches that help them achieve true fluency in the language quickly– that is, the ability to communicate clearly, naturally, and effortlessly in English”.
Hoge’s book comes from his 19 years experience teaching English to immigrants in the United States and to international employees abroad. Since 1996 he’s been sharing his insights and resources on the popular EffortlessEnglishClub.com.
In Effortless English: Learn To Speak English Like A Native, readers learn how to:
- Master spoken English in approximately 6 months
- Avoid grammar study in order to learn more naturally
- Learn with their ears (by listening) rather than with their eyes (by reading textbooks)
- Develop confidence and eliminate nervousness when speaking English
- Improve their pronunciation
“Today, more than ever, immigrants need to be proactive in learning English, and learning independently with a natural approach is one of the easiest, most effective ways to do that!”
The book is available in both a simple English and a Spanish (Inglés Sin Esfuerzo) version, in paperback and e-book formats. It is available at Amazon.com, Kobo.com, and booksellers worldwide.
English Paperback ISBN: 978-1-942250-00-5
Spanish Paperback ISBN: 978-1-942250-03-6