The top 5 reasons why I've been learning English for years.

Since I graduated from high school where my English education ended, I've learned English from time to time, mostly by myself. However, my enthusiasm for learning English in the past twelve years wasn't as intense as it is nowadays. I'd like to share the top five reasons that have kept me on track recently. I hope that they can resonate with other Koreans who often find it hard to stay motivated.

1. Koreans are already familiar with the English language.

We Koreans are given ten years of English education from 3rd grade in elementary school to high school. Even though our English education in schools has been criticized for its inefficiency, ten years is a long time. Before I began to learn English by myself in my thirties, I already knew a lot of English words thanks to my public education. I was able to read English text, albeit it was with bad pronunciation and a thick Korean accent. I thought, "What if I just put a little more effort into this? Maybe I can use what I already know far more effectively."

2. English-language materials are everywhere; they are your tutors.

When I was little, there weren't many opportunities to get exposure to the English language. My English subject workbooks had cassette tapes, and they were the only way for me to experience an English-language environment. Nowadays, there is the internet, mp3 technology, smartphones, and tablet PCs. In particular, South Korea's internet speed is amazing, and most Koreans have at least one mobile internet device. I also have a smartphone and an iPad. Now, I can easily access English-language videos and audios if I want to. Why not take advantage of this situation? There was no better time to learn English.

3. It broadens your horizon.

Whether it is the English language or another, learning a second language allows you to extend your knowledge. I'm a medical doctor, and it is undeniable that much of the ground-breaking research is published in English, so I usually search for medical knowledge in English. Apart from my career, I can gather information from various sources about topics I'm interested in. When I was a regular gym-goer, I used to search for weight-training tips in English. Also, I can access global issues more directly via English than when I use only the Korean language. It changes my viewpoint on the world in a healthier way.

4. It's fun.

Most importantly, learning a language is fun. It's like making a D.I.Y. toy; just unleash your inner child. There is an infinite variety of English words and phrases flooding the internet. They are the materials you need to play with to build your own toys, English sentences. You don't need to make an English sentence from scratch. Using expressions as a prebuilt frame, you can break them apart and swap bits from other phrases. It will be pure pleasure to communicate with English-language speakers via your new skills.

5. You don't need to be perfect from the beginning.

Koreans tend to take an exam-oriented approach to learning English, so they feel pressure to have perfect grammar and pronunciation. However, the primary reason we learn English is to communicate, not to get a perfect score in an English proficiency test. Freaking out over mistakes robs you of any further learning. Babies learn to talk through trial and error. The same method also applies to when adults pick up a new language. In my case, even if I barely managed to make others understand what I wanted to say in English, I would still call it successful communication. Meanwhile, I'm willing to review and correct my English sentences. I think we can achieve a higher goal step by step.