How to stop shy in communicating with foreigners
Forming / / December 19, 2019
Mary Alexander
Living in the US for three years
1. Stop to take English as a school subject
For me, foreign languages have always been something of an academic, a kind of large-scale project of a lifetime. I taught English for ten years in school, four years at the university and all the waiting that is about to start talking to him better than Oprah Winfrey. And then I moved to the US to see how people begin to speak fluently in English from scratch in just a few months. This is because they do not learn the language in order to simply know it. English need them every day, to communicate, to look for work and start a family.
This does not mean that you do not learn English until you come to the US without money and work. Enough to change the methodology and learn English not only in theory but also in practice. For example, the online school
Skyeng regularly conducts training marathons, during which students perform various practical tasks. They offered to call British company car rental and ask about prices or send resume to several foreign companies and arrange for an interview.2. Train your active vocabulary
In academic approach, there is another dark side. Is the creation of inadequately inflated strips language skills. In the classic book of the English language of Shakespeare and Byron, little to do with the living English. Most native speakers do not observe the time of approval, reduce the word and get up the language much more of this, what you would have lowered grades in school.
Of the 170,000 words of the English language is not used more than three thousand in everyday life. Knowing them, you will understand 90% written and spoken English.
Research the most used words authors conducted Oxford dictionariesThe Oxford 3000. , MacmillanRed Words & Stars. and LongmanLongman Communication 3,000. . On the basis of these studies, the school professionals Skyeng made their Gold List 3000 and adapted for his Russian-speaking audience, eliminating all the words that sound the same in Russian and English.
Gold List 3000 is available on the website and in Skyeng application. When you add words to your personal dictionary, the site will tell you whether they are included in the Gold 3000. So you'll know exactly what words should be given special attention, and which can be left for later.
3. Remember that all good communication
Sometimes it happens that you need right now to explain in a foreign language and teach three thousand words no. I it has happened more than once, even if it is not in English. One day I was working in the resort area, which came to Hispanic customers, and in Spanish, I only knew how to say hello. As a result, we were talking through a voice translator and perfectly understood each other.
Do not hesitate to use all the means at hand, you are not on the exam. There is nothing wrong to spy into the dictionary, explain something or draw gestures. Foreigners are not so terrible, after these conversations you this exactly sure.
4. Take a look at yourself through the eyes of a foreigner
Believe me, your accent sounds glamorous, your effort to find words touches, and you yourself radiate mystery.
Foreigners interested in you as well, as they will.
They want to learn about you and your culture as much as possible, to check in a conversation a couple of cinematic myths and demonstrate knowledge of two or three words of Russian. And your courage to speak in a foreign language they cause only respect. After all, you would not expect from a foreigner perfect knowledge of Russian and happily surprised, even if it is without error says: "Hi, how are you?" Most likely, you also do not hear anything, except the flow compliments to your wonderful English.
5. Give yourself time
I remember my first meeting with a foreigner. I was only ten years old, and I tried in vain to pour himself some coffee for breakfast in the hotel. Coffee pot was empty, what I hurried to tell an elderly American. She simply said: «There is no coffee anymore», - and I was paralyzed. I still can not forget this phrase, because for a long time after this event, I would like to go back and say something intelligible. I am sure that the American had forgotten about me in five minutes.
Now I have fluent English and I realize that everything I needed - it's just time. After all, you learned the native language is not one year and not two. Therefore, do not complex because of the failures and just continue to learn English.
6. Live the language, not his bison
Be greedy and curious. Do not hesitate: Ask, ask again, tell a funny story, even if it sounds ugly. Over time, you stop noticing that speak a foreign language.
Make English a part of your everyday life: watch movies in their original language, listen to music, subscribe to British or American magazines, find an English-speaking group with the same interests in Facebook.
And even better - often talk with native speakers. If to the nearest travel to Europe or America far - start with online lessons with a teacher-foreigner.
In Skyeng school has a rule: the pupil said 70% of the lesson time. Lessons with a teacher are on the video on an interactive platform. Special counter to pinpoint how much time you're talking about, so it will not work to keep silent. But will quickly overcome the language barrier and not ashamed to speak English right from the start.
What else is on course to Skyeng
- Methodist offer a suitable teacher to suit your interests and even temperament. You can choose the Russian-speaking teacher or a native speaker.
- You will connect the personal account in the system, where it will be everything: exercise, video, and chat with the teacher, tests, rules, films, audio and video clips.
- You get access to the application that is fully synchronized with your personal account. The application can do their homework at a convenient time and keep a personal dictionary.
- They will tell you about the many free educational and gaming services. You can participate in webinars and speaking club, automatically transfer your favorite songs to "Yandex. Music ", sign up for a fun newsletter and will receive useful letters once a week on Tuesdays.
according to the promotional code LIFEHACKER-2 All new students receive Skyeng 2 lessons as a gift.
Sign up for a free lesson