2. Talking in English: Speaking Out Rina de Vries r.devries@bham.ac.uk

3. Welcome! In this workshop, we will consider: Why speaking English can be difficult. What you can do to become more fluent. And… we will do plenty of speaking!

4. What can make speaking difficult?

5. Difficulty 1: listening A conversation is only 50% YOU. The other 50%..... ?

6. If you don’t understand what someone is saying, it is difficult to reply. Decoding: individual words & main message Speed of the other speaker Accents Fastest talking female Geordie Accent

7. So what can you do? Step 1 Practise listening every day: 10 – 15 minutes. Learn phrases for when you don’t understand. XQQQQME?

8. Useful phrases I do not quite follow. Excuse me? I’m sorry, I didn’t understand that. Could you repeat that, please? Could you say that again, please? Could you slow down a bit, please? Do you mean…? If I understand correctly,…? Could you rephrase that, please?

9. Difficulty 2: vocabulary “What I mean is… uh……. that thingy that sort of does something when you do a kind of… I mean…”

10. So what can you do? Step 2 Learn new vocabulary and revise regularly. Use a “filler” > gives you time to think. Rephrase: use words you do know. Activate your existing vocabulary.

11. Activating vocabulary - Running commentary in your head - Word games: mind maps, puzzles, crosswords… running commentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SESJtQxbmmE

12. Difficulty 3: grammar

13. What can you do? Step 3 Do NOT worry about mistakes. We all make them. You are a learner: you are allowed to make mistakes. Lucky you!

14. But do… Improve your grammar & vocabulary by reading. Tip: choose something you like!

15. Difficulty 4: pronunciation – pronunciation pronunciation

16. So what can you do? Step 4 Again: do your listening! Practise your pronunciation (10-15 min. a day): - concentrated practice - fluency (reading aloud)

17. Difficulty 5: confidence

18. Step 5 Speak! Practice makes perfect. Set up a discussion group. Skype with someone in English.

19. Non-stop talking Choose a topic and speak about it for as long as you can. Your partner will time how long you speak. Silences do not count, so use a “filler”!

20. Speaking game Pretend you are meeting for the first time. Start a conversation and try to slip in the sentence you have been given (try to sound natural). Your partner has to spot which sentence you were given. Talk together for at least 3 minutes. You’ll get: 1 point for spotting your partner’s sentence. 2 points for slipping in your own sentence without the other person noticing it.

21. So to become more fluent, you need to…. Do plenty of listening Use fillers to give you time to think Activate your vocabulary Read as much as you can Practise your pronunciation & read aloud Not worry about making mistakes But most of all…

22. Speak out!