How to Benefit most from Your Spoken English Practice Sessions

Okay; so you are at your favourite English Class, and you can’t wait to get started. But wait! What is this? When your turn comes to speak, you seem to be searching your mind for words! Why do you think this happens?

Could it be

• Lack of preparation
• Lack of knowledge
• Nervousness
• Shyness

preventing you from making the most of the session? Well, then let us see how we can overcome these hurdles, for optimum results.

Lack of Preparation

This one is simple to handle. You just need to get more organized, that’s all. Let me help you with that.

To begin with, you need to remember the dates, days and time of your English classes; be they in your school, college, institute or with your tutor.

A calendar and a watch can help you there. Note the dates, days and time for your classes on the calendar itself, so that they are right in front of your eyes, or set a Reminder on your phone. You can even write these down someplace where you can see them easily, many times a day.

Next, pay attention in class, to remember

• The lesson
• Your doubts, if any, that you need to clear by the next session
• Preparation instructions for the next session
• What is expected to be learnt in the next session.

With these things in your mind, you should hardly feel unprepared for the next class, and will always have something relevant and interesting to ask the teacher or share with the class.

Thirdly, reach your class a bit before time, so that you can settle down comfortably, before the lessons begin. This gives you a sense of relief, as opposed to the panic you might feel if you reach your class late. Panic and embarrassment can often make us forget what we need to say, ask, or do, at the right time.

Carry all the things you require for the class, to the class. Being completely organized and ready for something is the key to being totally confident.

 

Lack of Knowledge

Lack of knowledge could mean a number of things, actually. It could mean

• You are unprepared for the class and you have no idea what has been taught earlier, or what is going to be taught next.

Maybe you have joined the class late, or have been absent from it, for some time. If this is the case with you, try to find out from the teacher or other reliable sources what has been taught in your absence, and please refer to Tip Number One, above, for some assistance.

• You lack the proper knowledge of English.

Nothing to worry about. You have joined the class specifically for this reason: to learn English well. Get prepared for the wonderful experience. Refer to Tip Number One on this page, for help.

Nervousness

Ask yourself why you feel nervous. If it is due to lack of preparation or knowledge, we have already discussed how to cross those hurdles. What else could it be?

I believe the video here has helped you much to know how to deal with feeling nervous. What you need next, is to practise those tips regularly. Trust me, you shall soon forget what nervousness is!

Shyness

A lot of people feel too shy to speak in front of others. Shyness could be having a lot of causes – and remedies. But only if you give your shyness too much of importance can it gain the strength to overpower you. Think. This is just a regular thing that you do: like brushing your teeth, perhaps. Speaking in class is a regular thing that you do, and you need to do. Everybody does it. You can see your friends doing it in class; so why can’t you? You are as good as they are – or, you could get even better! All of you are there to learn; and there is nothing to feel shy about, when it comes to learning. So, do speak when the teacher asks you to. How can you learn – or show how well you have learnt – otherwise (Linkhouse)?

Now that we have addressed all the possible hurdles and discussed ways of handling them, let us talk about how to make the most of your English Practice Class.

• Be it a regular class you attend, or an English Practice App that you use, be well-prepared for the session, first. No use forgetting or being confused about what you need to learn from or ask the teacher at a particular time; right? Carry reminder-notes, if required.
• Decide what you need to practise, and speak to your teacher about it as early into the session as you can.
• Pay attention to the suggestions and advice of your teacher, the most.
• Listen carefully to the words, tone, accent and pronunciation of your teacher, and try to speak in the same manner while speaking to him/her, so that you can be corrected immediately by your teacher, in case you make a mistake.
• Take down notes, if required. You can also request your teacher for audio recordings; if those are allowed or possible.
• Seek advice on which books you might read, or videos you might watch, in order to improve your English.
• Clear your doubts. Always. As soon as you can.
• Speak as much as you can, so that the words can flow correctly and easily off your mind and tongue.
• Your class-rules and teacher permitting this, you could practise listening on one session, and speaking, in the next one. That way, you could hear your teacher speak on one topic on Day 1, and speak, yourself, on the same topic, on Day 2; trying to speak the way your teacher spoke.
• Try to adhere to the topic that you are speaking on and explore as many avenues related to it, as you can. For example: if you are talking about how to speak in restaurants, concentrate not only on how you should speak to the people catering to your needs there, but also about the menu, crockery and cutlery, ways to address people, request or thank for something and all other relevant things associated with the situation.

You need to know the terms and ‘sub-situations’ related to the ‘main situation’, in order to place and conduct yourself well and comfortably in it; so you need to know all the people or things you might have to meet, and it would be helpful to know how you should address or refer to each one of them.

• Practise regularly.

Spoken English is all about practice – and regular practice. Practise not only speaking in English, but also thinking in it. Practise as much as possible with your teacher: in school, special class, through any app you use! Practise listening as the session goes on and practice speaking the same way, during the session.

Practise when the class or session is not on, too. That is how you will develop confidence; and perfection.

 

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