Interest, Exposure, and Conditioning in English Learning
“I have the basics, I understand, but I just can’t speak.”
If this sounds like you, this section will be especially helpful.
Many of the habits we form in life are difficult to trace back to a specific starting point. They often begin unconsciously, linger in our minds, and eventually take shape in our behavior, slowly becoming habits. While this process is especially common in childhood, it continues into adulthood—this is what we call exposure.
In the “About Me” section of the site, I mentioned that I learned English at an early age through internet content and the shows and films I watched. Honestly, if Netflix had existed back then, I probably would’ve watched everything dubbed in Turkish. But it didn’t, so I had no choice but to watch with subtitles. In other words, before exposure came conditioning.
Trying to read subtitles while also watching the screen isn’t easy for anyone at first. Naturally, in the early months, the lines would flash by before I could finish reading them. If the content hadn’t been interesting, I definitely wouldn’t have continued watching. Luckily, there were plenty of phrases I could understand, and that was enough for me. Eventually, even when dubbed versions became available, I realized I didn’t enjoy dubs anymore.
To be honest, even though I developed this habit in sixth grade, my English was still weak throughout middle school and probably stayed that way until eighth grade. But by the time I entered high school, I remember scoring high on English tests effortlessly, even without studying.
In Short:
Exposure is a long process and usually not within your control.
To be exposed, you must first be conditioned.
To be conditioned, you need interest.
A few small but powerful takeaways:
Whether or not you're taking English classes, learning the language is extremely difficult and slow unless it finds a way into your daily life. So you need to gradually introduce English outside of class.
Exposure itself doesn’t require much effort on your part, but starting the process—getting conditioned—is entirely up to you. Anything you’re interested in can become a tool for that.
Technology
One of the easiest ways to expose yourself to English today is to use technology in English.
You can change the language of:
Your phone and its apps
Google
Your social media accounts
Your computer
Do it step by step—start with the ones you’re most comfortable with. When things get tricky, don’t hesitate to use a translation app. It’s all part of the process.
Ignore Dubbing
On Netflix or other platforms, act as if the dub option doesn’t exist. Condition yourself to use subtitles.
Don’t “Try” to Learn
When watching shows or movies, don’t take notes or install dual subtitle extensions. This isn’t a lesson—it's a process. Just enjoy it.
If You Don’t Enjoy Watching
Maybe you never got used to foreign content as a kid—and that’s totally fine. But if there’s a style or genre you do enjoy, give it a shot with some recommendations.
Short comedies (like 20-minute sitcoms) are great for beginners.
If you’re not into fiction, documentaries are also a solid choice.
YouTube and Social Media
Follow large English-speaking YouTube channels in subjects you’re interested in. Many offer Turkish subtitles.
Even on TikTok and Instagram, Turkish content creators often post translated clips from foreign videos.
As you follow more of these accounts, your feed will naturally change.
The topic doesn’t matter—what matters is your interest.
Final Thought:
The most natural way to learn English is to make it a part of your life—by consuming content, using tech, listening to music, and more. These experiences gradually condition your mind and reinforce learning without you even realizing it.