So many people come to our English training organisation complaining they are learning English for a long time with xyz school but nonetheless struggle to make conversation in English.
I’ve identified 4 significant reasons why traditional private language school classes frequently neglect to help people who have their spoken English. For each reason below I’ll provide a solution made to super-charge your learning and take your English to another level.
Problems:
1. Classes are too general and /or too large
Traditional English classes are usually organised along financial lines so often you may expect large classes with various degrees of ability, even if they are advertised as ‘intermediate’ level.
If English is really a hobby or you have no need to improve quickly, large generalised classes are fine. If your classes are grouped according to a specific need, with an exam focus for instance, a traditional class can still work.
But if you want to see specific improvement in your spoken English quickly, this large generalised class is a big mistake. Yes, it may be a cheaper solution to learn – but you’ll spend more time and money in the long run using material that is irrelevant, hearing mistakes from other foreign learners and very short amount of time actively speaking the English you need to practice and improve.
Wouldn’t you rather be spending your time and money on something else?
Solution:
Write down your known reasons for learning. Set yourself realistic ‘functional’ goals and become as specific as you possibly can: e.g ‘I want to speak English more confidently to clients on the telephone’. Present this to your English school for anyone who is already attending classes. Can they help you with this by arranging 1-1 or small classes with an identical focus? If not, it’s time to find another teacher/school who guarantees to help together with your specific needs. The main element would be to learn 1-1 or in really small groups to increase practice time and ensure classes are 100% focussed on your own needs.
2. Teachers educate you on what they think you have to know, rather than what you need to know.
Teachers are taught that a good lesson includes a balance of reading, writing, speaking and listening throughout. That is fine and makes sense for many students – unless your aim is to improve your spoken English.
To be of benefit to you, everything should serve and then promote your spoken skills. This may in fact mean reading a passage or making notes, but only to progress your aim; to speak English better.
Solution:
Insist upon a spoken focus. If you are asked to read/write long passages consistently, ask how that is helping your spoken progress. If you’re not satisfied, it is time to find another teacher or school. Along with BACCARAT เกมไพ่ในตำนาน ฮิตตลอดกาล (in 1 above) explain to your new teacher your lesson focus should be on speaking English.