Personal experience: how to learn English at 65

Magazine online English schools Skyeng.

I had no time to learn English. Although this is, of course, an excuse. It's just that life turned out so that I had to work a lot: you start at 8, you come home at 11 in the evening. I was the head of the Neftekamsk Automobile Plant, spent 36 years with KamAZ. I traveled a lot, often had to communicate with foreign colleagues, and I could do it at least a little in German. But English, alas, is a zero level, I had to go everywhere with an interpreter.

Everything changed when I went on a well-deserved rest and came to visit my son. He lives with me in San Francisco and knows English well: he studied at Moscow State University, then at an American university, now he works for an international company. And I, while in America, did not understand anything around. The son then advised Skyeng: he says, dad, cool guys are doing, let's learn the language with mom. Well, we signed up right away. I was familiar with the computer from my work at the factory, so the online lessons did not scare me.

But starting with the alphabet at 62 is not so easy. To be honest, I did not immediately believe in this idea. When everything is from scratch, it is very difficult for you and all success depends on the teacher. He can freak out: "How so - he doesn't understand such a simple thing!" But I was very lucky: Natalya and I have been studying for three years now, and she is an excellent teacher. My results are only due to her talent, skill and patience. In addition, it is pleasant to communicate with her: such a competent person, not only in matters of English, deeply knows both culture and literature.

I could not even imagine that in retirement I would suddenly begin to feel comfortable abroad. At passport control, sometimes you come across those who thoroughly ask: why are you going, where you live, how long will you be. Earlier, it used to be, you stood and could not answer anything - very unpleasant. And recently, for the first time, I said everything perfectly, and the officer was satisfied. And the attitude towards you is different! Still speaking English abroad is just respect for other people.

I regret that I did not start studying earlier. But before, this was not the case: so that you could sit at the computer and study. And now all this has great prospects. I can see how the guys have made progress in three years: huge progress, everything is becoming more convenient, everything is improving. Dictionaries, trainings, tasks - you can get a lot on this platform. And everything is very interesting to me, even just to learn words.

This is how I train my memory and fight Alzheimer's. When a person works, his mind is constantly stressed, and when he retired, that's all, the stress is gone. Classes are a very good workout: you learn words, you remember times, and the gears moved. My wife and I, when we walk, even check each other according to the rules or homework.

Now I am talking to old friends without an interpreter. In London, I recently met with Alan Spencer, the former CEO of Ford. We communicated with him so much at the plant! And finally, I was able to talk to him without a third extra, one on one. I saw many, with whom I worked before - everyone admires how I mastered the language in this way.

The daughter says to her granddaughter: "Look, our grandfather is such a fine fellow, he makes proposals correctly!" Although I have it strict - it can and correct if there are mistakes. And the granddaughter was born in America, now lives in Amsterdam, so at the age of five she knows three languages. And he also wants to learn Chinese. The truth is, probably, they say that young children have a computer in their heads and they easily download everything there.

I tell all my friends: even though we are already at an age, we need to teach. Because it is the language of the world. He is known everywhere, and everywhere he gives you a huge advantage. Both on trips and at work: if I spoke English then, at the plant, all production issues would be solved much faster.

I understand that English is endless. People say: "I speak perfectly." But how can you learn it to the end? This does not always work even with the native language. I still have to study and study, but I have already overcome the most difficult part.