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How to Become a Grammar Addict so You Can Learn Languages Faster
Just because your school experience was bad doesn’t mean grammar itself is.
Grammar gets a real bad rap.
No matter where you look, it seems like language learners say you should ignore the grammar and “learn it by accident.”
This is awful advice.
Ignoring grammar is like taking care of your brain while ignoring your physical body. Without one, you’re bound to crumble.
If you want your language skills to reach the next stage faster, you’ll need to discover the true power of grammar.
Grammar makes you intelligible
You had to study grammar in your native language. You took classes for years, learning it little by little. The reason you speak so well in your native language now is not just the amount of exposure you had to it.
It’s because you have assimilated how it works.
Grammar well-studied is rules you don’t have to think about.
I’ve been learning Japanese for over a decade now. If I want to express a plan or expectation, I don’t have to think about whether I should use tsumori, hazu, or any other grammar pattern. I just use the right one.
It wasn’t always like that though. There was a time I had no idea when to use what.
I could have mastered them by watching tons of anime or reading a lot but this process would have taken the power away. Learning how these grammar patterns work and when to use them allowed me to master them faster.
Relying on exposure alone is like relying on luck.
It’s forgiving your right to power in the relationship.
Grammar is your friend
The goal for any language learner is to reach a specific level. Be it conversational, advanced, bilingual, or anything in-between, you will need some time to reach it.
Some say you should focus on expanding your vocabulary. They say you can still express yourself without proper grammar as long as you know the words needed.
