I Want To Learn English

For adolescent and adult English learners, the journey to language fluency begins with one essential step: mastering the basics. It’s why I have been talking about phonics for adults for decades now. It is not a practice solely for children and the data I (and others) have presented over the years has firmly established that. Simply put: before learners can construct sentences or engage in conversations, they must first develop a strong foundation of everyday vocabulary. Words like eyes, mouth, ears, and cheeks may seem simple, but for a beginner, these are critical building blocks for communication, comprehension, and confidence. Sounding out the words, practicing pronunciation, and adding these words into their repertoire of English vocabulary start with some simple strategies.

Students need to familiarize themselves with the words by connecting them to visuals they firmly understand. That’s why focused vocabulary instruction, like the one featured in our new YouTube video on the parts of the head and face, is so important. This lesson introduces 18 high-frequency words, using visuals, repetition, and a short quiz to help students practice and internalize new terms. The approach is deliberate: slow-paced, clearly enunciated, and structured around real-life context. It’s a model that works especially well for older learners.

Pacing and Relevance Matter

Unlike young children who often absorb language through immersive play and fast-paced exposure, adolescent and adult learners benefit from a more intentional approach. They need time to process, practice pronunciation, and connect words to meaning. In the video, students are invited to repeat each word after it’s introduced—“This is the forehead. Repeat: forehead.”—and are shown pictures that reinforce understanding. In my class, I ask student to point to their own foreheads as we are going through the content of the video. This repetition helps them remember its meanings, especially when it is connected to their own face.

This kind of pacing is respectful of the adult learner’s needs. It avoids overwhelming the learner while making space for meaningful practice. More importantly, the vocabulary is relevant. Learners aren’t memorizing random words. They’re learning how to name the parts of their body, describe themselves or others, and participate in everyday conversations with family members, healthcare providers, or coworkers. For me, I like to add humor by showing a picture of Frankenstein, for example, as ask if his forehead is large or small. This usually gets a few chuckles and lightens the mood.

Strategies That Stick

Key strategies used in the video are repetition, call-and-response, visual cues, and a built-in review quiz. All of these are rooted in effective adult ESL pedagogy. These techniques help learners strengthen their memory and begin to hear the rhythm of the English language. By ending with a quiz, the video reinforces a sense of accomplishment, giving students a quick opportunity to assess what they’ve learned and encouraging them to watch again if needed. I especially encourage students to watch the video again (as many times as they like) on their own, just to firmly root the words in their minds.

Practice Makes Progress

Basic vocabulary lessons may not feel glamorous, but they are vital. For learners who are just starting out (or who are returning to English after a long break) videos like these offer an accessible, low-pressure way to engage with language every day. They also support classroom instruction by providing learners with opportunities to review independently at their own pace. But more importantly, the content is basic enough to be frequented throughout their day. Things that happen at work, for example. One student described a situation at this job site where a coworker injured his chin. But before this lesson, he didn’t know that part of the face was even called the chin. And soon, other students shared similar stories involving other parts of the face, opening up a whole group discussion.

At I Want To Learn English, we believe that adult learners thrive when we meet them where they are. And where they are always starts at the beginning. Helping them name the world around them, starting with the face they see in the mirror, is a powerful place to start. Once new words are incorporated into their lexicon, they will inevitably begin crafting new narratives with their growing vocabulary.