Практический тренинг

Отдел образования администрации Петровского района г.Донецка

Муниципальное общеобразовательное учреждение

«Гимназия № 107 г.Донецка»

Практический тренинг по методике австралийского методиста Эммы Джакоби

«Как научиться думать по-английски»

Подготовила:

Учитель английского языка

Гладкова Т.Ю,

Донецк - 2018

Emma Jakobi is a CELTA qualified TESOL teacher. She works as a teacher of English in Monash College in Melbourne, Australia. She is the Founder of mmmEnglish You Tube Channel and the creator of the Imitation Technique.

Learn to think in English.

T:Are you translating words from your native language in your head while you are speaking English? When you do this, you a long time to speak and your English sounds unnatural because the sentence structure is different! If you want to sound more natural when you speak English, you need to learn how to think in English.

Learning to think in English will make you a more confident English speaker because you will speak more naturally, fluently and with less hesitation.

But you have to train your brain to do it.

Learning to think in English will make you more confident speaking English because you will speak more naturally, fluently, with less hesitation.

I can already hear you saying, “But Emma! I need to think in my native language to translate, it’s too hard! I don’t know enough English vocabulary to do it!“

But listen, that is the long, slow and painful road to English fluency. When you do this, your English sounds unnatural because the sentence structure is different in your language. And it probably takes you a long time to say what you need to say because you are translating in your head as you speak.

We are going to learn a few strategies to help train your brain to think in English.

So start with very simple vocabulary. When you’re at home, think about the English words for things that you see around you: shoes, flowers, desk, door. When you are on the train or you’re driving to work, look out the window and think of the English word for the things that you see: dog, factory, busy, windy, people.

In fact, we’re going to try it right now.

So I want you to close your eyes, take a deep breath because when you open your eyes you are going to look around the room in front of you and THINK in English. Only in English, not in your native language. You’re going to think (in English) of the words for everything that you see around you, okay? So, take that deep breath again and open your eyes and look around you, thinking of the English words only.

Teachers (students) give the answers….

T: Great! Now if that was easy, we can move onto the next level. If it was hard, that’s okay too! But you’ll need to practice every day, doing the same thing in different places – it will become easier. You’re training yourself to think in English. So you can do it at home, or at work, on the train or when you’re at the cafe, waiting for a friend.

Then you can move onto simple sentences. For example, “Your hair’s really long.” or, “What’s he eating for lunch?” or “That chair looks really uncomfortable.”

So do the same thing now, I want you to look around the room and make three simple sentences about what you see. Remember! No translating, you’re not allowed to think in your native language, at all! And if this is too difficult, go back to thinking of simple vocabulary words.

Okay, so close your eyes, take a deep breath and go!

Teachers (students) give the answers….

T: Okay, if that was easy you can move to the next level, which is to plan your day in English, thinking in English. So when you wake up in the morning and you’re still lying in bed, think about everything that you need to do that day – in English.

After I eat breakfast, I’ll walk to the bus stop and I’ll catch the bus to work. On the bus I’m going to read my book. I’m meeting Matilda for lunch today and I think we’re going to get takeaway and eat it in the park. It’s going to be such a nice day.

Teachers (students) give the answers….

T: So, when thinking in English sentences and planning your day with simple sentences becomes easy, move on to thinking in conversation!

Now, this is great when you’re sun baking on the beach or hiking up a mountain or you’re in the shower, getting ready for your day and you have some time alone, in your head!

So there’s nothing to distract you. Now, thinking in conversation is really great because you’re asking the questions, then thinking of answers to those same questions and also, ways to keep the conversation going. So it’s really great conversation practice!

Now if talking to yourself in your head sounds strange, or silly…Well I guess it probably is! Get one of your friends to help! And no, I don’t mean ask one of your friends to have a shower with you! That would get, maybe a little bit weird and awkward… You might not have the same relationship again after that.

I just mean imagine that they are part of the conversation in in your head. So when you’re asking the questions, how would they answer? What would they think about the things you’re saying?

As you’re walking down the street, in your head you could be saying “It’s so hot today isn’t it? Yeah it is, I wish I’d brought my hat, that sun is scorching! It reminds me of a week that I spent in Dubai actually, it was over 40 degrees Celsius. Hey, are you sure Sally’s meeting us here? We’ve been waiting for so long now.“

Teachers (students) give the answers….

Practising this skill and doing it regularly will help train your brain to think in English. I recommend that you find a time in your day where you always do this. Every day.

So for example, every morning, after you brush your teeth, spend 5 minutes thinking in conversation or planning your day. Or it could be on your lunch break. Work on it every day and you will make it happen. You will train your brain to think in English so that when it comes to speaking in English it flows naturally. Your words flow naturally because you’re not translating in your head – you’re thinking in English!

https://www.mmmenglish.com/2016/04/11/speak-english-naturally-learn-to-think-in-english/

7 steps to English confidence.

Learning English can be a bit of a roller coaster ride… Right?

You have moments of “I can’t believe I finally did it!” And “Ohhh man, I’m SO over this right now… I’m going to give up!”

The longer you’ve been studying, the tougher it gets. Can you remember the last time you got excited about practicing English? Probably not.

Today, we are going to find that enthusiasm again. How? We are going to change the ways you learn and practice English, to help you get through the dull, boring times and have more “woohoo!” moments!

Now, with all of that in mind, here are my 7 steps to English confidence.

The first one…

1. Love your mistakes.

Get things wrong! You need to start feeling comfortable with making mistakes because it is the fastest, most efficient way to improve your English.

You need to love your mistakes – when you make one, you need to celebrate it! Because there is nothing else in the world, no grammar book, no smartphone app, no podcast or video that can teach you better than your own mistakes can.

The second step…

2. Find a buddy

This might be an obvious one, but it’s often difficult to do. So I want you to make a list of everyone that you know who speaks English or is learning English. If you don’t know anyone, it’s okay! Look for someone online.

So, there are heaps of Google+ groups that are so supportive and full of people learning English and want to practice! You can also use places like CraigsList or even some Facebook groups, as well.

But there are so many students out there looking for a buddy to practice with! Now, this can’t just be anyone. You need to find someone who can meet with you regularly – once a week, once a month – whatever it is. But you also need to find someone who you can trust and who you can relax with and have a good time!

It’s kind of like a date! You have to find the right person – a good fit! And you need to work on this relationship because what you need is someone that you feel comfortable making mistakes with and you want that person to feel comfortable telling you that you’ve made mistakes. The purpose is to find someone who can help you.

The third step is…

3. Body language

Your body language says a lot about you’ve before you have spoken a single word! If you’re worried that you won’t be understood when you speak English, start with a smile and really great eye contact! The worst thing that you can do is “Excuse me, umm… do you know where the bathroom is?” but if you use great body language, great eye contact and a smile then the person that you are talking to will probably be more polite, more willing to help and more willing to listen – which will make you feel more comfortable.

Now you’re own body languages plays an extremely important role in your own feelings of confidence. You can actually make yourself feel more confident with positive body language.

The fourth step is…

4. Speak out loud

Do this as often as you can. Get your mouth and your mind familiar with English sounds, stress and intonation. Have conversations with yourself in the shower or when you’re walking to work or after you brush your teeth at night. Having conversations with yourself is so great because you get to practice asking the questions, answering the questions and thinking of ways to keep the conversation going!

5. Pronounce it right

Pronunciation mistakes can be frustrating and annoying or they can be really awkward and humiliating. Making them is a great way to lose confident speaking English, right? Your English pronunciation is affected by your first language (or your native language) and the English sounds that you find most difficult to pronounce are sounds that don’t exist or are uncommon sounds in your native language.

To improve your English confidence, you should take the time to understand the sounds that you have trouble with and to regularly practice.

Step number six is…

6. Watch English movies, listen to podcasts or audio books

I know, you’ve probably been told this a thousand times before! But there’s more to it than just watching the movie. Make sure you choose an audio or a video that is at your level of English. The worst thing that you could possibly do is go and find an audio or a video text that is too difficult for you to understand. It makes learning hard work, it ruins your confidence because you can’t understand much of it at all.

You need to grade your videos or your texts to your level of English so it will be more fun and more interesting. You’ll be able to understand more of what’s going on and if that means watching kid’s shows, do it! Who cares?

And make sure that it’s something that you’re interested in. So it’s easy – way easier – to watch stuff that you’re interested in rather than things that you feel like you have to or you should watch to practice your English.

So, choose things to do with hobbies that you like and skills that you have or maybe to do with your workplace.

And lastly…

7. Plan your practice

And remember to keep things interesting by mixing them up! Practice pronunciation for a few days, then do some imitation exercises, then practice with your buddy. Make sure that your English practice is something that you look forward to!

If you need more help with English conversation confidence, then I would love for you to come and learn and study with me. I have a new 7-day course that has been created for people just like you. Join me for your FREE 7-Day English Conversation confidence course. To build your speaking skills and take your English learning to the next level. It’s free to join, but you’ll need to apply by the 24th of February. Go to this website for more information.

Okay, well I hope you join me there and if not, I hope you’ve enjoyed this video. Make sure you implement some of these steps to feel more confidence speaking English.

https://www.mmmenglish.com/2016/02/21/7-steps-to-confident-english/

Imitation technique

Hello! Welcome to the very first video training lesson for the imitation technique! Thank you so much for signing up! I know you are going to love this training.

Now, imitating something is similar to copying something.

Usually, ‘imitating’ is copying actions or words. So this technique is all about copying something that a native speaker is saying – exactly. It teaches you to listen to the sounds and patterns of English and trains you to make those same sounds yourself. You’re training your mouth with your ears. So you’re listening to the sounds and you’re not training your mouth with your eyes by reading and guessing the pronunciation of words. You are training your mouth with your ears.

By practicing with this technique, you will reduce your accent and pronunciation problems more quickly and become a clear and more confident English speaker.

Now, there are 3 steps that you’ll need to remember when you’re using the imitation technique.

First, you’ll need to listen to me and read the text at the same time. So, when I talk on this video, you’ll see the words come up at the bottom of the screen.In the text, the important stress has been marked. So you’ll be able to hear the stresses in my expression and read them as well.

Then it will be your turn. So you’re going to hear me read each sentence again, but there will be a pause after each one and this is where you’ll need to copy exactly what I’ve said. Listen for my pronunciation, the stress, the pause, the intonation and then you’ll need to copy it – exactly.

You can do this step as many times as you need to before you move onto step number 3.

Then, the bigger challenge is for you to shadow me which is to copy everything that I’m saying, again but this time you won’t have any text on the screen. You’re just listening to the words that I’m saying. Now, it might be a little bit tricky, especially the first time because you’ll be listening to me and speaking at the same time. So it might take you a few times to get comfortable doing it!

And remember that you might not understand everything that’s being said as I’m saying it but that’s not the point of this training. We’re not testing your understanding of English. We’re testing and practicing your pronunciation and speaking skills. So if you don’t understand it, don’t worry!

But do it again and again and again until the sound that you are making sound very similar to the ones that I’m making in the video and that’s it! The imitation technique is simple, yet so effective.

If you practice this technique regularly soon you’ll sound more natural, more confident and more relaxed when you’re speaking English. Let’s try it!

I love to travel to different countries. I love meeting new people and tasting different foods (that’s my favourite part!) To date, I think I have visited about twenty-two different countries but there are so many more places on my list. Almost every person that I know who has a decent income does some sort of travel every year, usually overseas to a different country. In my opinion, travelling overseas and to different countries makes us more accepting of each other’s differences and teaches us respect for different cultures, traditions and beliefs. It also helps me to tell some pretty interesting stories about my adventures. I love talking to people about places they’ve visited and things that they have seen in the world. I think it’s because I can easily relate to them and it’s easy for me to share my stories and experiences with them. Plus I love giving recommendations about places to visit. It helps me to plan where my next holiday is going to be.

Okay, now for step number two. You’re going to imitate exactly what I say, the pronunciation, the stress, the pause. And there’ll be a pause after each sentence that will let you do that.

Ready?

I love to travel to different countries.

I love meeting new people and tasting different foods.

(that’s my favorite part!)

To date, I think I have visited about

twenty-two different countries

but there are so many more places on my list.

Almost every person that I know

who has a decent income,

does some sort of travel every year,

usually overseas to a different country.

In my opinion,

traveling overseas and to different countries

makes us more accepting of each other’s differences

and teaches us

respect for different cultures,

traditions and beliefs.

It also helps me to

tell some pretty interesting stories about my adventures.

I love talking to people about places they’ve visited

and things that they have seen in the world.

I think it’s because I can easily relate to them and

it’s easy for me to share my stories

and experiences with them.

Plus, I love giving recommendations about places to visit.

It helps me to plan where my next holiday is going to be.

This is step 3, where you’re going to shadow exactly what I’ve said as I’m saying it. So you’ll be listening to me and speaking at the same time. Remember, it might take you a couple of goes to get this right – but that’s okay!

Ready?

I love to travel to different countries. I love meeting new people and tasting different foods (that’s my favourite part!) To date, I think I have visited about 22 different countries but there are so many more places on my list. Almost every person that I know who has a decent income does some sort of travel every year, usually overseas to a different country. In my opinion, travelling overseas and to different countries makes us more accepting of each other’s differences and teaches us respect for different cultures, traditions and beliefs. It also helps me to tell some pretty interesting stories about my adventures. I love talking to people about places they’ve visited and things that they have seen in the world. I think it’s because I can easily relate to them and it’s easy for me to share my stories and experiences with them. Plus I love giving recommendations about places to visit. It helps me to plan where my next holiday is going to be.

So that’s it!

https://www.mmmenglish.com/2017/03/14/improve-your-pronunciation-using-the-mmmenglish-imitation-technique/