The 3 most common mistakes adults make when learning English and how to avoid them

"The problem is in the approaches," explains English teacher Anna Romanyshyna. "Adults can learn English effectively if the training corresponds to their real level and abilities."

Almost every semester, Anna continues, students make the same mistakes. The three most common ones and practical tips on how to deal with them are exclusively for subscribers. LIGA.net.

Too difficult a start.

Very often, people with an A2 level immediately turn on a complex TV series or read a scientific article, and after a few minutes, they get overwhelmed, frustrated, and feel like they "can't do it."

I recommend choosing materials that are only slightly more challenging than your current level—just enough to require effort, but so that you can still grasp the overall meaning.

What works:

• adapted books (e.g., Penguin Readers)
• short instructional videos
• simple TV series — Friends, Young Sheldon

The initial load should be controlled, and the complications should be gradual. This way, the brain accepts the language much more easily, and the process itself does not cause rejection.

Chaotic selection of resources

Another typical situation: people buy several textbooks, download many apps, read tips from TikTok – and end up with nothing but confusion.

Chaos is the biggest enemy of adult learning. Effectiveness emerges when there is one specific goal: confident speaking during travel, professional calls, conversational practice, or literate writing.

When the goal is clear, a few tools are actually enough:

• reading platform
• pronunciation trainer
• conversational practices
• a service like Grammarly

The problem isn't that there's a lack of materials. The problem is that there are too many of them—and they aren't all focused on a single task.

Over-reliance on "willpower"

Another illusion is that you can achieve everything solely through willpower. However, it's obvious that willpower, maximum motivation, and concentration cannot be maintained at the same level for too long. That's why the enthusiasm of the first week quickly fades – and then comes the day of skipping, then three days, then a month without any contact with the language.

Therefore, a system based on regularity and a minimal barrier to entry is much more effective for adults:

• daily brief contact with the language
• 10–15 minutes, but consistently
• noticeable small steps
• a sense of progress through "micro-successes"

15 minutes every day works better than two hours once a week. Consistency always wins over intensity.

Thus, effectively learning English as an adult is not a matter of talent, memory, or inner discipline. It is a matter of a system that corresponds to your level, your goals, and your lifestyle.

When learning is comfortable and structured, English ceases to be a burden and gradually becomes a habit that yields results without stress or exhaustion.