Hey there! This is TOP episode 141: I Can’t Speak English Outside The Class!
My name’s Ola and I am an English teacher. My goal is to help you start speaking English with confidence and get rid of speaking barriers. It’s time you started speaking English fearlessly! I’ve been there. I was unable to speak English for many reasons that now I call a language blockade. Today I teach people like you how to speak English with confidence. Go to my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Happy learning!
Hey there! I am so happy you are here! Please keep showing up because this is crucial. You gotta do it consistently. Say the sentences ut loud and complete the Worksheets and you’ll get to that fluency in no time! But, The hardest part is usually finding time for yourself, so keep that in mind,. The hardest part is showing up. But you are here today so let’s jump in.
Today we’re going to talk about this annoying thing that happens on our learning journey. At some point, we notice we are great at English but only during the lesson, or only when you’re alone and nobody hears you. Your skill is somehow limited to a certain area. That’s common, quite normal so no worries, we’ll fix that. But first a word from our sponsor, that is me:
Visit my tiny shop and buy one of the Worksheet Sets. These will help you learn English, learn to speak English with this podcast. Have them all in one place, have an easy access to Worksheets on your smartphone. Worksheets are editable, so you can type the answers in the document and check them with the key. We have also prepared the ebook that contains all transcripts to the first 51 episodes. Enjoy! Teacherola.com.
I have noticed that most of my students tell me this or something along these lines: ‘Here I remember. I remember the words, I am able to communicate here with you. I feel confident in the class, I have the vocabulary I need and I have the guts to talk and I do talk fluently. How come? How come I can’t do that outside class?‘
First of all, congratulate yourself on achieving that goal. You are too hard on yourself. Have a moment of appreciation. Note that in the class you are able to communicate freely. You speak English fluently, ain’t that a success? Ain’t that what you’ve been looking for? Give yourself a pat on the back.
Now. What to do next. I’ve got some solutions for you, but please stay with me to learn them later on. Let’s look into why this even happens?
This is natural and the reason for that is we attach our thoughts that is vocabulary elements, grammar rules, and phrases, to a particular situation and environment.
You learn how to react to certain expressions right here right now. If you learn with a tutor you are in your room and this is your immediate environment. The surroundings carry your memories. In this particular setting, you remember things.
This is one of the reasons why hot-desking is such a bad idea. If your immediate surroundings at work change daily, you don’t have the same objects on the desk and the situation behind your desk, next to your desk changes daily you are in chaos, your memory cannot attach events to objects.
This is also why we enter the kitchen and have no idea why we’re there. What to do to get that reason for coming to the kitchen back? Well, go back to the room where you came up with this idea. You’ll see that cup, you’ll see that flower pot. Whatever, but the objects, the setting and you’ll get that thought back. Test it, it’s a proven formula.
Now. With learning a language you want to reverse that process. You strive to avoid being limited by the one-room you do your learning, or where your lessons take place. Maybe you do all your learning in silence, in your brain only and you never say a word out loud? See, all I’m talking about today boils down to sort of expanding the reality. Since fiction. But yes, we want to expand our conscience.
You know so much vocabulary, you understand all that you watch on Netflix all that you hear in songs, all that you read. Now, expand your knowledge onto your mouth. Start speaking out loud. All my podcast is on this topic. How to start speaking? Search for episodes like:
episode 25: Shadowing Technique To Boost Your Speaking Skills
episode 9: Boost Your Fluency By Talking To Yourself
At the beginning I mentioned I see some solutions to this limited area of language knowledge. The first is continue your lessons with the tutor, with the teacher whether it’s a one-on-one or a group, keep it. Add speaking out loud in other places. That’s that. Or change the room you have your online class. Initially, you’ll notice it’s super hard to focus your attention on the lesson but it is beneficial for you in the long term.
Have the lesson in a cafe. That’s gonna be a bigger challenge because the surroundings will change immensely, you’ll get a lot of background noise and there is a risk someone might hear you. But that’s great! That’s exactly what we want, we want you out of that cosy and smelly comfort zone.
Have a walking class. Take your headphones and take a walk. This is gonna be a conversation class but doing that once in a while won’t hurt anyone. Walking around and talking English and navigating yourself outside, being vigilant and careful adds up to a massive challenge. It’s really hard to keep your attention focused but again, it expands your perception and widens your skill, takes it outside your traditional learning space. Teaches your brain you can speak this language outside the class.
If you don’t have a teacher the same things apply. Take this language skill somewhere else. Walk and talk, learn English in the other room. Change your environment. Speak that language out loud and do it everywhere. Don’t limit yourself to one location. One physical space.
I see this sometimes in the class, students change location and the energy of the class is also altered. Or walking classes. Holiday classes, from abroad, from a hotel room or from the beach. Beautiful. That’s expanding at its best! Do it! Really do it! And let me know what did you recon. Yep! Practice time.
I’ve prepared for you, but first the sentences. Listen and repeat them out loud. I hope you’re outside, on your walk. Say the sentences out loud. Here we go:
I have noticed that most of my students tell me this or something along these lines.
How come I can’t do that outside class?
First of all, congratulate yourself on achieving that goal.
Go back to the room where you came up with this idea.
It’s a proven formula.
With learning a language you want to reverse that process.
All I’m talking about today boils down to sort of expanding the reality.
Initially, you’ll notice it’s super hard to focus your attention on the lesson but it is beneficial for you in the long term.
Doing that once in a while won’t hurt anyone.
That’s expanding at its best!
Well done! I hope these tips will help you find a solution to your situation. I hope this episode helped you understand why we speak fluently in one place or with one person but I lose it among others or in different locations. I’m curious what your ideas are. Do you have more solutions on this issue? Please share them with all of us. Go to teacherola.com/141 and leave a comment there. Thank you so much.
Go to your inbox and grab the worksheet, that’s your homework. If you’re not a member download the worksheet at teacherola.com/141 and become one. It’s free.
Thank you for listening, and please share this episode with just one person. Your friend, your family member. Let’s spread the message. No matter what, you can start speaking English fearlessly. There’s zero doubt about it.
I’ll see you here next Wednesday. We’re going to discuss song lyrics. Happy learning. Take care! Stay fearless and say it out loud. Bye!