speaking) bootcamp4+slides.pdf · o using new vocab in conversations o making words stick for the...

SPEAKING BOOTCAMP A crash course in speaking fluently and

communicating better with native speakers

Map of the course

1.  Beat your fear of speaking 2.  Exactly how to find your ideal language partner 3.  A step-by-step guide to speaking fluently and

interacting with native speakers 4.  Techniques for learning new words and speaking

in fluent sentences 5.  Turning pro: Advanced skills you need to survive

at any level

The system

Speaking sessions

New, relevant vocabulary

Flashcard system

Learn the new vocabulary

•  Beat your fear •  Finding people to

talk to

Module 3 recap We covered… •  How you learn from speaking •  Pros and cons of L1 and L2 •  Transitioning to using more L2 •  What should we talk about? •  How to learn from the conversation •  How to keep going •  10 survival phrases

Module 4 Behind the scenes - the hidden study techniques for

learning new words and speaking in fluent sentences

Module 4 aim By the end of this call, you will… •  Cut through the noise - know what really matters •  Know my exact system for learning vocabulary •  Know how to make it accessible in conversations •  Know how to speak in fluent sentences •  Know how to choose and setup flashcard software

What we’ll cover Part 1: •  My exact system •  How this system addresses your questions

o  Motivation o  Using new vocab in conversations o  Making words stick for the long-term o  Getting organised o  What changes as you get more advanced

Part 2: •  Tech vs non-tech •  Flashcard software options

Why this session? •  Learning vocab is at the heart of language learning •  Without enough words, you can’t do anything!!! •  Big confusion. Conflicting advice.

o  Learn by reading? o  Learn by listening? o  Learn by memorising lists?

•  Speaking Bootcamp – narrow focus, a system that you can trust to keep moving forward

What’s your strategy for learning vocab?

Olly’s history of vocab •  French/Italian – vocab lists •  Spanish/Portuguese – no lists •  Japanese – notebooks, paper flashcards, apps •  Cantonese – flashcard software •  Arabic – flashcard software

•  New language and stronger languages: I still concentrate on this system

Checklist – what really maOers?

A system for learning vocab must be… •  Simple enough to work •  Doable enough to remove doubt and “get on

with it” •  Feel progress •  Contribute to fluency •  Be able to use it in conversation

System overview Capture new

language

Transfer into

flashcard software

Revise

Take it into your

next session

Step-by-step

(type me questions as they come up)

1. Capture new language

2. Transfer into flashcard software

3. Revise

4. Take it into your next session

System overview

1.  Capture new language In complete sentences

2.  Transfer into flashcard software Again, in complete sentences

3.  Revise little and often Daily minimum, track it, keep momentum up

4.  Use SRS to focus on what you don’t know 5.  Focus on production, not recognition

Still in complete sentences

6.  Take it into your next session Using a list to prompt

– behind the scenes

1. Capture new language …in complete sentences

“I have some time in-between the lessons” “I have some time in-between the lessons”

in-between

I have some time in-between the lessons

2. Transfer into flashcards …in complete sentences

When you learn a new word… •  Ask for it in a sentence •  Write it down in a sentence •  Revise it in a sentence

•  …you will speak in sentences! •  It’s easier to remember a complete sentence than

a singe word •  Get grammar for free

How to make complete sentences

3. Revise

•  Same as normal flashcards •  Software decides what you revise and when •  Indicate how well you know each card •  Weak vocab more often •  Stronger vocab less often •  Even after 6 months, software knows what you need to

be reminded of

In other words… •  Only spend time on what you don’t know

…using SRS

Question

L2 L1

When revising, which side do you display first?

L2 L1 If you display L2 first

You learn the meaning

How does this help you speak?

Focus on production, not recognition

L2 L1 If you display

L1 first

You have to…

Now, how does this help you speak?

Say it in the target language!

Thinking in English

Leads directly to

Speaking in your target language

Revise liOle and often •  Revise flashcards multiple times per day •  Aim for short bursts of 1 minute •  Target: 5 mins per day •  Most convenient on your phone •  You’ll almost certainly do more

Revise liOle and often

4. Take it into your next session

Take in a list of vocabulary you really want to remember and use

Why this works so well •  Big focus on what you’ve chosen to learn •  Fast progress in the right areas •  SRS makes learning very efficient •  Flashcard study directly mirrors what happens in real

conversations:

•  This prepares you directly for speaking •  Focus on complete sentences means you speak in

complete sentences, NOT single words •  Simple system, removes doubt

1. WHAT DO I WANT TO SAY?

3. SAY 2. RECALL

Caveats •  You’ve got to put the time in •  Regularity is paramount •  Must be selective about the language you choose

to work on (rubbish in, rubbish out) •  Don’t try to learn too much at first: 8-12 phrases •  Need to embrace technology

What to expect •  Not a linear process •  Some things will be learnt in 5 minutes •  Others will take months •  Brain isn’t ready for everything at once •  Many stages of learning a word/phrase •  Don’t get frustrated if you’re not using everything

right away

Mindset

Real progress comes from moving forward, not from being stubborn over vocab that won’t stick.

Perfectionism will hold you back.

If you find yourself getting frustrated with something…

delete it and move on!

It’s not worth your time or energy.

Big tip •  Transfer new vocab to flashcard software

immediately after speaking session •  Trust me…

•  Just do it!! J

The big issues •  Routine •  Accountability •  Sense of progress •  Motivation •  Will I still know it in 6 months? •  Making it accessible in conversations •  Low/high level considerations

Tips for routine •  Revise throughout the day…little and

often •  Aim for tiny chunks •  Is there ever an excuse for not doing 30

secs? •  Have a set time to revise

o  Wake up? o  Before bed? o  After food?

•  Whenever you’re waiting for something – no window gazing!

•  Tracking the stats keeps you focused

Accountability •  I like to use Lift to track my daily study •  Enter a “habit”

o  Eg. 5 minutes Ukrainian flashcards

•  Check in everyday •  Keeps you motivated •  Sends you reminders

•  www.lift.do

Sense of progress Short term: •  Stick with 8-12 phrases at first •  Very achievable •  Will feel progress between

speaking sessions Long term: •  Create new flashcard decks each

month •  Better alternative to “revise

everything” •  Makes progress visible

Motivation Low level •  Aim for 5 minutes daily study •  So small that you can’t fail •  Major benefit = gets you started •  You will always do more that 5 mins! J

High level •  Regular speaking sessions are the biggest motivator •  Not revising becomes a waste •  Ensure you schedule regular sessions •  1 week ahead is good

Will I still know it in 6 months?

•  This system ensures you will •  SRS brings vocabulary back, just when it’s about to

slip from your memory •  Think: what happened to all the vocab in your old

notebooks? •  Storing your vocab in flashcard software makes a

lot of sense

Making it “accessible” in conversations

Action points: •  Before each session, make a written list of the most

useful vocab you want to start using •  Keep it short (8-12 things) •  Refer to it during the session, use it where appropriate

However… •  Don’t fixate on how much you can use right away •  Might only use 10% of new vocab in next session •  Takes time to filter through •  Focus on expressing yourself and communicating •  There will always be more words •  Your job is to keep communicating regardless •  Focus on natural conversations

Making it “accessible” in conversations

Low/high level considerations

•  What part changes as you get more advanced?

Conversation Knowledge gap

Identify the gap Record it for later

Low/high level considerations

•  This system is very direct, no-nonsense •  You identify what you need, and learn that •  As you get more advanced, what you need is the

only thing that changes •  Your job is still to take responsibility and figure out

what that is


What really maOers?

Speaking sessions


Flashcard system


GETS EASIER WITH EXPERIENCE

SKILL

Low/high level example •  Low level, talking to your tutor:

“Did you pass your test?” •  High level, sat around the dinner table:

“Look, in spite of the fact that you want to…”


Memorising words and phrases

•  SRS does most of the work for you •  Use mnemonics and word association… the crazier

the better! •  Don’t expect to remember everything first time •  Don’t get frustrated •  Might need to see something 50 times before you

remember it

If something just doesn’t stick…

•  Delete it •  Move on •  Maybe you’re just not ready for it •  This takes courage, but it’s the smart thing to do •  PNP •  Spend your energy on productive things

The big danger with flashcards

•  SRS brings back old cards regularly •  Danger of sizeable backlog •  Difficult to catch up For example… Ukranian Deck

Aug 2014

12 cards due

WEEK 1

Ukranian Deck Aug 2014

36 cards due

WEEK 2


94 cards due

WEEK 3


128 cards due

WEEK 4

Part 2 -‐‑ Resources

Hi-‐‑tech or low-‐‑tech? •  Low tech is extraordinarily inefficient •  Paper lists, physical flashcards etc – you waste time

revising what you know •  With SRS, every minute of study time is spent on your

weaknesses

•  Not everyone likes using software •  SRS flashcards are too powerful to ignore •  Enhances existing learning, doesn’t replace

Software options •  Many, many options •  Most are no good •  Whatever you choose, must be…

1.  SRS 2.  Distraction free 3.  Quick and responsive 4.  Pleasant to use 5.  Convenient to access regularly during the day

•  I like smartphone apps because I always have it with me

•  Desktop software fine if you prefer

Flashcards Deluxe •  My #1 recommendation •  Simple, cheap, fast, powerful, easy-to-use, pleasant •  Set up in under a minute •  All off-line, no data connection required •  Only on smartphone

Flashcards Deluxe

Anki ankisrs.net

•  Most popular SRS software •  Desktop and smartphone apps (iPhone $25,

Android free) •  Very powerful •  Difficult to set up (see 20 minute YouTube vids!) •  Horrible user experience

Memrise.com •  Very popular •  More interactive •  Can add pictures and other pnemonics •  Smartphone requires data connection L •  A bit “fluffy” for me •  No simple flashcard model

•  But many people love it…

If in doubt •  Use Flashcards Deluxe •  Cheap, easy, powerful •  Up and running in 1 minute

Keep it simple •  Huge, complex topic •  But it’s really very simple…

•  8-12 complete phrases from your conversation •  L1 on one side of the card, L2 on the other •  Set to display L1 first •  Go for it!

Conclusion Part 1: •  My exact system •  How this system addresses your questions

o  Motivation o  Using new vocab in conversations o  Making words stick for the long-term o  Getting organised o  What changes as you get more advanced

Part 2: •  Tech vs non-tech •  Flashcard software options

Momentum is everything

…day after day …week after week

…month after month

5 minutes a day keeps you moving forward

Questions that will hold you back

•  “How can I remember everything?” •  “What’s the best method?” •  “How can I use everything I’ve learnt in the next

conversation?” •  “Why did I forget that word that I spent the last

week remembering?” •  “Is this wrong?” •  “Have I failed?”

Questions that will move you forward

•  “How can I most enjoy this conversation?” •  “How can I use what I’ve learn to get my meaning

across?” •  “How can I keep going in spite of what I don’t

know?” •  “How can I learn from the mistake I just made?” •  “What are the most important words/phrases for me

to take out of this conversation?”

The quickest path to success is to set your goals so small that you can’t possibly fail

I’m not successful because of talent

(I’m actually rather lazy)

I’m successful because I get started, do a little every day, keep going and don’t stop

If you can’t motivate yourself, impose consequences.

Set regular speaking sessions.

Module 4 homework •  Set up a flashcard system of your choice •  Transfer 8-12 items from your last speaking session •  Begin revising •  Make a list of questions as they come up •  Email me with them •  I’ll cover them before the end of the course

The system

Speaking sessions


Flashcard system


•  Beat your fear •  Finding people to

talk to

Next week •  Turning pro •  Taking everything to the next level •  Independent learning •  Surviving any situation •  Intermediate +

How did I do? By the end of this call, you will… •  Cut through the noise - know what really matters •  Know my exact system for learning vocabulary •  Know how to make it accessible in conversations •  Know how to speak in fluent sentences •  Know how to choose and setup flashcard software •  Take a long-term view •  Questions?

Congratulations!

•  Well done for making it through the fourth call •  Remember… •  Thank you!

PNP

fluent speaker beginner P R O C E S S

Using pre-‐‑made decks •  Should you use pre-made decks?

•  Pre-made decks are totally irrelevant to your needs •  Identifying the vocab you need is critical •  Make your own decks


Identify the gap Record it for

later

speaking) bootcamp4+slides.pdf · o using new vocab in conversations o making words stick for the...

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