Why you understand English but CAN'T speak fluently (a step-by-step action plan to solve it)

Summary

This video script addresses the common challenge of understanding English without being able to speak it fluently. It identifies four main reasons for this gap, including the difference between passive and active language skills, the focus on passive skills in education, the fear of making mistakes, and lack of practice. The speaker then offers a three-tiered strategy for improvement, starting with solo exercises like shadowing and talking to oneself, progressing to conversations with a partner, and concluding with post-conversation reflection. The script also suggests using language exchange apps or hiring a tutor for additional practice and accountability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understanding English and speaking it fluently are two different skills; the former is passive, the latter active.
• 🏫 The education system often focuses on passive skills like reading and listening, neglecting active speaking skills.
• 🚫 Schools tend to discourage mistakes, which is counterproductive to language learning where making mistakes is essential for growth.
• 🧒 Encouraging a childlike mindset that is not afraid of making mistakes can facilitate language learning.
• 🚴‍♂️ Practice is key to mastering a language, similar to learning to ride a bike where falling and getting up again leads to improvement.
• 💡 Confidence in language comes from competence, which is built through consistent practice and improvement.
• 🎥 Shadowing, or mimicking the speech of a content creator, can help improve pronunciation and sentence structure.
• 👥 The 'blind friend' exercise encourages creating sentences and descriptions, enhancing active language use.
• 🤔 Talking to oneself can simulate a conversation, helping to prepare for real dialogues.
• 🤝 When speaking with a partner, embrace the opportunity to make mistakes as part of the learning process.
• 🔍 Avoid switching to a more comfortable language during conversations to stimulate creative communication in English.
• 🌐 Utilize language exchange apps or hire a tutor for specific feedback and to stay accountable in language learning.

Q & A

Why might someone understand English but struggle to speak it fluently?

The script suggests that understanding and speaking are two different skill sets, with speaking being an active skill that requires more mental processing, such as extracting words, translating, and coordinating mouth movements for pronunciation.

What is the difference between 'output' and 'input' in language learning as mentioned in the script?

Output refers to the active use of language, such as speaking or writing, while input refers to the passive reception of language, such as listening or reading.

How does the traditional education system contribute to the difficulty in speaking English fluently?

The script points out that the education system often focuses on passive skills like grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening, rather than active speaking skills, which can lead to a lack of fluency in spoken English.

What is the impact of the fear of making mistakes on language learning according to the video?

The fear of making mistakes can inhibit language learning because it discourages learners from practicing speaking. The script emphasizes that making mistakes is a natural part of learning and essential for growth in any new skill set.

Why is it important to get back into the mindset of a child when learning a new language?

Children are not afraid of making mistakes, which is necessary for rapid language acquisition. The script encourages learners to adopt this mindset to overcome the fear of making mistakes and to learn more effectively.

What is the role of practice in becoming fluent in a language?

Practice is crucial for language fluency. The script likens language learning to learning to ride a bike, where repeated attempts and getting back up after falling lead to mastery over time.

How can one practice speaking English when alone, as suggested in the script?

The script recommends exercises such as shadowing, where one mimics a content creator, and the 'blind friend' exercise, where one describes the environment to an imaginary blind friend to practice forming sentences and using vocabulary actively.

What is the 'shadowing' exercise and how does it help with language learning?

Shadowing involves copying a content creator's speech, mimicking their gestures and pronunciation, and reading along with subtitles. This helps with pronunciation and familiarizes the learner with sentence structures.

What is the purpose of the 'blind friend' exercise in language learning?

The 'blind friend' exercise requires the learner to describe their surroundings in detail to an imaginary blind person. This encourages active sentence construction and helps practice using language to convey information.

How can one maintain a positive mindset when speaking English with a native speaker?

The script suggests telling oneself that it's okay to make mistakes and aiming for them as a way to grow. This mindset helps to overcome the fear of speaking and encourages active participation in conversations.

What are some strategies for finding language exchange partners or tutors online?

The script mentions using apps like Tandem or HelloTalk for language exchange, where one can find partners to practice speaking English in return for teaching them another language. For more structured learning, hiring a tutor through platforms like italki is recommended.

How can reflecting on conversations help improve English speaking skills?

Reflecting on what worked and what didn't during conversations helps learners identify areas of difficulty, such as specific words or phrases. Looking up and memorizing these can lead to gradual improvement in language proficiency.