Do you know how to move from B1 to C1?
Today we’ll share an activity that will help you with this!
In your English practice, you may find yourself using the same words and the same stories.
Listen in today and learn the secret formula for structuring your practice.
This will help to push you to a higher level of English fluency.
Learning a language
Aubrey asks Lindsay if she had a language class recently that was especially helpful.
Lindsay shares that she took a 30-minute Spanish conversation class on italki.
The teacher asked her about how to launch a podcast ane details about hosting and making episodes.
She spent the 30 minutes explaining how to get a podcast live.
At the end of the conversation, Lindsay felt different.
It didn’t feel like she was in a class.
She freely expressed herself and was challenged to use new vocabulary.
Why to describe a task in English
There is immense value in structuring a lesson around describing the steps of a task in the target language.
Having this approach creates a higher level of practice.
It gives you a chance to use new vocabulary and improve your fluency.
Today, Lindsay and Aubrey will teach you how to ask a teacher to structure a lesson like this.
They’ll also share tips for doing this with a speaking partner or on your own.
Steps to improve your fluency with your teacher
The following are steps that Lindsay and Aubrey recommend.
These will bring you to the next level in your English language learning.
#1: How to ask a teacher
You can ask your teacher to guide you through describing the steps of a task.
This will push you to use a variety of vocabulary.
Here are different ways you can ask your teacher:
- I would like to set a goal of being able to describe a task. Can you help me with that?
- I would like to be able to describe different tasks I perform in my daily life. Could you ask me follow-up questions as I describe a task?
If your teacher doesn’t understand what you want to do, here is how you can be more clear and expand more on the practice you want done:
- For example, you could give me the task of planning a meal. I might describe how I would find a recipe, and then you could ask me which ingredients would be needed and the steps needed to buy them, what steps would be needed to prepare the meal, etc.
#2: How to do this on your own
If you don’t have a teacher and you are doing self-study, you can definitely incorporate this into your practice sessions.
Here are ways you can do that:
- Write out tasks to describe on pieces of paper, fold them and put them in a bowl. Draw one out and describe it out loud. You can do this by yourself if you don’t have a speaking partner.
- For each task, include follow-up questions. If the task is planning a vacation, follow-up questions could be ‘Describe the process of choosing a destination’ and ‘Describe the process of booking flights.’
With a speaking partner
It is easier to talk about your daily activities.
These can be the simplest of tasks or projects at work.
The goal here is to describe a task you do and use as much vocabulary as possible.
Make sure to not skip any minute details when talking about what you did.
This way the conversation keeps going and it engages the person you are talking to.
Possible tasks to describe
Here are some ideas for tasks you can talk about by yourself or with a language speaking partner:
- Errands: shopping for groceries, returning something, picking up dry cleaning
- Household: doing laundry, preparing a meal, mopping a floor
- Leisure: planning a vacation, meeting friends for drinks, going to brunch, choosing a book at the library
- Work: describe the steps of a task you complete at work: ordering materials, submitting reports, scheduling meetings, finding clients, etc.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay to show how you can describe tasks in a conversation.
In this scenario, Lindsay is Aubrey’s language teacher.
Aubrey: I would like to set a goal of being able to describe a task. Can you help me with that?
Lindsay: That is a fantastic goal! Describing a task will help you build fluency and use new vocabulary.
Aubrey: Could you ask me about a task and then ask follow-up questions?
Lindsay: Absolutely! I know you love volleyball. Today let’s have you describe how to serve the ball during a game.
Takeaway
Advocate for yourself with your language teacher.
Ask them to help you set goals and guide you through activities that will build your fluency.
You can also ask them to try out today’s activity of describing a task or try it with a speaking partner.
Always take the reins of your English language learning.
Don’t be hindered by what your teacher says or stop where your materials stop.
Choose to expand and push yourself to keep practicing in new ways to bring your English fluency higher each time.
What are other ways you can bring your English to another level?
Share what you do in the comments below.
