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

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzQwNDk2OTMy.html

http://blog.csdn.net/cuipengfei1/article/details/5962316​

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

Thank you