Crazy people and English learners…
Hi Readers!
What do crazy people and some good language learners have in common? No, this is not the Riddle of the Week! So, let me give you the answer. Some good language learners practice by talking to themselves. They try using vocabulary and sentence structures that they’ve been studying to think about what they are doing in their daily life. You can read more about this Talk to Yourself approach by clicking here.
What do you think? Do you ever do this? If so, how often, and what were the results. If not, do you think it might be helpful to you? Who do you think this can help the most, beginners, intermediate students or advanced students?
Nafis Said,
March 18, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
Use it or lose it! from my personal experience, I found it very useful even though I read in an English website that talking to myself is really dangerous.
Speaking in English have its own problems. First, I thought if I go to an English class, I will have more chance to speak in English. I did but I had another problem. All the students are not in the same quality of speaking. In other words, some can speak very well and some can not. So, I could not speak with them very often and understand them. Consequently, our conversations were limited to greetings and some short talks.
Then, I tried to talk by myself. I can at least think in Enlish and remember some words that I use in daily life. I am not perfect yet but I am better than before.
teacherjoe Said,
March 20, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
I have a similar situation in my Chinese class. I used to be the only student, but now one more student has joined the class. She tries hard, but she can’t say much and her vocabulary is limited. I don’t learn anything from listening to her, but I benefit a lot from the teacher correcting her. Since I am under not pressure to respond, I can focus completely on the teacher’s words. Usually, after the teacher repeats again for the new student, I am ready to ask a more probing question to get even more feedback from the teacher.
Still, it’s not enough. I should start talking to myself in Chinese. Maybe I’ll start doing it in the subway on my way to work every morning!
Nafis Said,
March 23, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
Dear teacher Joe,
Thanks a lot for this post because I am so relieved! I was up in the air if I speak to myself or not. But, by your approval, I can do it as much as I can to improve my speaking skill.
Thanks a lot,
Nafis
teacherjoe Said,
March 24, 2009 @ 2:40 am
I just had an interesting experience this morning. I do some simple stretching exercises after I get up and this morning I did my stretching while watching TV in Chinese. I noticed that is was very hard to concentrate on the words being spoken when I counted out my movements by saying “one, two, three…” to myself. Then I changed to saying “yi, er, san…” and I could hear the words from the TV much more clearly! I think there is one part of our brain dedicated to our first language, but we have to access a different part of our brain when we are learning another language. When we think to ourselves in a new language, we are able to focus our attention better and, I think, we will have better success.
Nafis Said,
March 24, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It really helps me to know what I should do to learn English.
I also had an experience. As you said, we should try to write everyday, I did that and by writing, no matter what the subject is, I can speak better, read better and of course write better.
I still have grammar mistakes (which I do not care) but at least I have more focused mind and the organization of my writing is much more better than before. Before, I could not even THINK in English or gather my information to write. But, right now, I can write without a lot of effort and more interestingly, I learn new vocabularies faster than before. While I am watching TV, I learn many words very quickly.
I think practicing writing is magical. Since you approved speaking by ourselves, I practice speaking everyday and say what I did the day before. I want to see what will happen. It must be magical too.
Best regards,
nafis
Nucha Said,
June 10, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
Hello teacherjoe ,
I would like to tell you that I talk with myself often. About my English is still not good enough, pronounce ,intonation , listening ect..,so when I have to speak with another people I must talk my self before. Sometimes I can talk by pronouncing , but sometimes just consult my brain .
I know when I talk with my self on one listens or can’t help me about mistakes. But I just try to talk with my self that I could understand it or not before I pronounced it from my mouth to another one . So when I talk with my self in front of the mirror that make me confident before saying . I do like that when I can talk with myself, but not every time. I don’t know the way is useful for what English level ,but as for me I think it’s ok .
All the best ,
Nucha
teacherjoe Said,
June 15, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
Besides this way of studying, you should try listening to some good sentences and repeat what you hear. Have you seen my videos on You Tube? Go to www dot YouTube dot com and search for teacherjoedeveto and you will find my video lessons. Let me know what you think!
Joe
Nucha Said,
June 16, 2009 @ 8:59 am
Dear Teacher Joe :
Thanks a lot for your reply . It’s sure I have ever listented your video on youtube.com and I also keep the link it my web I means the website in Englishclub.com that I use now. Well, I ever listened the song video that you sang for teaching . Yeap , I like your teaching style,it’s so fun and learners easy to understand . And many videos that I watched from the link ,too. I think I will be all your videos that put it some day and hope to see new one when you up date the thing.
Well, now my English is not good enough ,so if I wrote something wrong . Can you help me to your correction ? I feel thankful in advance . I want to be a new student of yours.
Sincerely,
Nucha