Speaking English, a few practical tips
A personal history
It's not about:
- Learning English (vague)
- Vocabulary (narrow)
Why do we have to draw the distinction?
- The ultimate goal is to talk with people
- The primary function of a language is to communicate
- Clear objective
- When you know clearly what you want, you can always figure out ways to do it
- And other things(reading/writing/listening) will follow
Pronunciation
Pronunciation workshop
I will never forget this man's name: Paul Gruber
Now we practice!
S11 2:30
Downtown? or
裆烫？
This gets boring after you've followed it through four or five times
So?
Watch TV!!!
Recommended TV shows:
- Friends
- The big bang theory
- Seinfeld
- Curb your enthusiasm
- The office
- Parks and recreation
- The Daily show
- The Colbert report
- Real time with Bill Maher
- ......
Now we practice!
Tip: when you can not follow, just mumble, don't stop
TBBT 8.20 6:19
Daily show 15.4.8 13:20
Curb 5.10 1:14
The office 1.1 2:26
An example of "other things will follow"
Words via subtitle
To sum it up:
- Set a clear objective
- Correct your pronunciation (Paul Gruber)
- Follow TV shows, don't just watch them, mimic the characters' lines
- Use "Words via subtitle"
- Other things will follow