Here are some more ways to practise the English you have learnt, outside of the classroom and away from the textbooks. Repeatedly speaking what you have learnt aloud will help with remembering words, composition, and pronunciation if you are mindful.
All of the exercises below can be done alone at a time convenient for you for any duration, practised daily your English learning will progress. Why not try them yourself?
Running commentary
This doesn’t mean you’re talking about people competing in a Marathon; this is to do with talking about what you’re doing and your thoughts about it. This is a combination of thinking, seeing, and doing, plus your thoughts or feelings on what’s happening.
For example, “I’m walking to the park. I’m walking up the steps. I see a tree, it’s pretty. I feel good.” Or, “I’m walking to the park where I exercise. There are many steps to climb to get to the park which is tiring however, it’s good exercise for me. There are a few people playing gate-ball, I have never played gate-ball. I don’t think I would enjoy it.”
Talking to yourself
This can be about any topic you like but instead of a monologue like the running commentary or talking about daily tasks, try being two “voices” for a dialogue. This will practise starting a conversation AND replying to a question or statement, for example, (voice one) – “Do you like any sports?” (voice two) “Mm, I like to watch tennis on TV, I especially like Wimbledon.” (voice one) “Really? Me too. I would love to go there and watch the final.” (voice two) “That would be marvellous.”
Mindful pronunciation
What’s mindful pronunciation? Being careful of pronunciation that you know is difficult. This can be done by copying a trusted source: an English language CD, a YouTube English lesson channel, or a recording of your teacher (I let students record my pronunciation to help with the difficult sounds). You can also do it from memory depending on your level; slowly counting to twelve uses many phonemes that are difficult for Japanese people.
Brain and mouth keep fit
You can do three more things to find gaps in your vocabulary and grammar. It can improve conversational skills, and thinking and speaking in English. Your brain and mouth need exercise to strengthen them, doing a daily English workout will at least maintain what you’re reviewing. Mentally, it will help with vocabulary and grammar, and physically, it will help with mouth muscle memory for pronunciation.
*****お知らせ*****
【ご自身が英語でコミュニケーションを取れているかどうか】を知りたい方、
【ご自身の英語のコミュニケーションの改善点】を知りたい方はお問合せから
【無料英語コミュニケーション力ミニ診断】と件名にご記入いただき、ご連絡ください。
毎月先着３名様のみ受付中です！
ー オンライン英語コミュニケーションプログラム ー
【あなたの心が伝わるあなただけの英語】
英語でのコミュニケーションをあなたらしい英語で。一人一人のレベル、能力、
興味に合った教材や方法を用いたテイラーメイドの英語コミュニケーションプログラムです。
”あなたの英語”でコミュニケートしたい方は、まずは無料カウンセリングをご予約ください。
