Improving English fluency is likely one of your goals.
In fact, 8 out of 10 students say they want to improve their English fluency.
However, the ones who actually succeed tend to choose a specific conversation problem.
Listen in and find out how to do this in three simple steps with today’s special guest.
Who is Amy Whitney?
Lindsay introduces Amy Whitney, an English fluency expert.
She has helped thousands speak English with more confidence and better fluency.
Amy is the host of the Real English Conversations podcast.
Her expertise is in helping students identify where they get stuck and quickly overcome those challenges.
Amy shares that she is currently living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Lindsay says she is a bit jealous because it’s a great place for a vacation.
Deliberate practice
In today’s episode, Amy and Lindsay are going to talk about deliberate practice in English language learning.
Deliberate practice is a method used by many successful people.
We have to be intentional in everything we do.
It’s important to act with a purpose.
When you apply this to your language learning it can be very helpful.
Three steps to improve English fluency
Learning a new language is a big project to undertake.
With deliberate practice, the first step is to identify what your goal is and what is keeping you from the goal.
Here are three steps from Amy that help her students improve their English
#1: Identify your problem and set goals
Amy has encountered many students who have set a very general goal.
This is a common mistake made by students.
This will give you an unclear path for how to get there.
Instead, select two to three situations in which you recently had to use English and it didn’t turn out the way you wanted.
Maybe you didn’t feel good about how it went.
Focus on these situations when setting a goal.
It will reveal the problem areas you need to address.
Knowing where you need to improve will get you closer to your goal of fluency.
#2: Purposeful practice
Now that you’ve identified the problem and you know your goal, the next step is to know how to practice.
Finding materials that are specific to your problem area can be hard at times.
It may be necessary for you to find a coach to guide you with your English learning.
You need someone you can bounce ideas off who will give you proper feedback.
Your practice shouldn’t be general.
It must be targeted to the problem you’re trying to solve.
#3: Reflect on your practice
You may have gained progress and it is vital to be aware of it.
Look back and assess yourself.
Check how far you’ve improved and if there are still any areas that need more attention.
From here you can recreate your strategy and bring yourself to a higher level.
You never get to completely solve your problem on the first go.
It is also valuable to get an expert to give you feedback on how you’ve done.
You can use what you learn from them to further improve.
Takeaway
It can be difficult to learn a new language.
Setting specific goals with intention can also be a challenge.
Being deliberate with your study and learning methods will definitely help you achieve your fluency goal.
Take note of the three steps shared by Amy and watch yourself improve every day.
Amy’s bio:
You can check out Amy’s podcast and YouTube channel, Real English Conversations.
She has natural English conversations with her husband.
They discuss a variety of topics.
They provide a transcript and you can use them to analyze and learn how native English speakers have a conversation.
You can also check out their website: www.realenglishconversations.com
They have a trial option to practice with an English teacher.
You can try this out and see if this will help you with your English language learning journey.
What are practice methods that have helped you improve your English fluency?
Share one in the comments below.
