how to *actually* improve your English speaking skills

Summary

In this video, the instructor introduces a technique called 'Super Sentences' to help students improve their English speaking skills and confidence. The method involves taking a simple sentence and gradually making it more complex, level by level, while encouraging students to practice speaking along. By building longer, more advanced sentences, learners can train their speaking ability like a muscle, increasing fluency and accuracy. The video emphasizes the importance of regular practice and discomfort as essential for progress in language learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 The teacher introduces a method called 'Super Sentences' to help students improve their English speaking skills step by step.
• 📈 The technique involves starting with a simple sentence and gradually making it longer and more complex.
• 🗣️ Students are encouraged to practice saying sentences out loud either by shadowing the teacher or by pausing the video and repeating.
• 💡 Each level adds more details to the sentence, training the brain to handle more advanced sentence structures.
• 💰 In the example, the base sentence is 'A man opens a bank account,' and more reasons and actions are added as the levels progress, such as 'to save money,' 'for his future,' and 'to invest.'
• 📊 By level 10, the sentence includes advanced ideas like financial stability, emergency funds, and major life events such as buying a house, getting married, and starting a family.
• 🧠 The exercise is designed to build both sentence complexity and student confidence in speaking longer, more detailed sentences.
• 💪 The teacher compares this speaking practice to working out a muscle, emphasizing that discomfort is a necessary part of learning and improvement.
• 👨‍🏫 The teacher encourages students to engage in 'deep work' with the lessons, suggesting they dedicate 1-2 hours to practice for effective improvement.
• 👍 The teacher asks students to like and comment on the video to support the channel and suggests turning 'Super Sentences' into a series if there's interest.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the 'Super Sentences' technique introduced in the video?

The 'Super Sentences' technique is designed to help improve English speaking skills by building progressively longer and more complex sentences. This technique helps train the brain to handle more complex sentence structures, increasing both fluency and confidence.

Why does the teacher emphasize practicing out loud with him or by pausing the video?

The teacher emphasizes practicing out loud to engage the brain in active speaking practice. Repeating the sentences helps learners become comfortable with complex sentence structures and improves pronunciation, fluency, and confidence.

What is the purpose of starting with a simple sentence and gradually increasing its complexity?

The purpose is to build the student's speaking ability step-by-step, allowing them to stretch their language skills progressively. Starting with a simple sentence helps establish a strong foundation before moving on to more complex structures.

What is the sentence at level one, and how does it evolve through the levels?

The sentence at level one is 'A man opens a bank account.' As the levels progress, details are added to explain why the man opens the account, what he plans to do with the money, and other factors like financial goals and life events.

How does the sentence change at level four, and what new information is introduced?

At level four, the sentence changes to include the man's plans for the future: 'A man opens a bank account to save money for his future and plans to invest.' This introduces the idea that he is not just saving money but also planning to grow it through investment.

What does the phrase 'achieve financial stability' mean as it is introduced in level seven?

The phrase 'achieve financial stability' refers to the man's goal of reaching a secure financial position where he does not need to worry about his financial situation. It implies that he wants his finances to be steady and predictable.

Why does the teacher compare learning English to training muscles at the gym?

The teacher compares learning English to muscle training to highlight that just as muscles grow stronger through exercise, language skills improve with consistent practice. Both processes require effort, repetition, and gradually increasing challenges.

What does the term 'setting aside funds for emergencies' refer to, and why is it important?

The term refers to saving money specifically for unexpected situations, like medical bills or urgent repairs. It is important because it provides financial security and helps avoid debt during unforeseen crises.

What are 'major life events,' and how do they affect the man's financial planning?

Major life events are significant milestones like buying a house, getting married, and starting a family. These events typically require large amounts of money, so the man is planning ahead to ensure he has the funds to cover these costs.

What is the significance of practicing longer sentences at the speed of a native speaker?

Practicing longer sentences at the speed of a native speaker helps learners improve their fluency and ability to process and speak complex thoughts quickly. It mimics real-life conversation speed, preparing learners for natural spoken interactions.