1. It's a skill that can be developed.
2. "I can do it."
3. You get out what you put into it.
4. Little progress accumulated over time becomes big progress.
5. "I am better each day."
6. Compare with self vs. (versus) others.
7. Try, try, try!
8. Make mistakes.
9. "I am a good person regardless of my English skills."
10. Be assertive in communicating needs with teacher.
11. "The progress may not match my expectations."
12. Frustration is normal, so keep working on it.
13. User vs. learner (intermediate vs. beginner).
14. Have fun!
Methods:
1. Set specific goals with time frame.
2. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
3. Create an English environment. e.g. ICRT in background.
4. Think in English vs. translate.
5. Make mistakes and make a mental note (and a written note) to remember them when corrected.
6. Repetition. (Practice makes it perfect.)
7. Learn in context.
8. Build vocabulary in context.
9. Learn new usage of old words.
10. Utilize opportunities for listening. e.g. mp3 while walking
11. Movies: listen and glance at subtitles vs. read subtitles.
12. Correct your partners’ mistakes in pair work/small groups.
13. Memorize expressions/sentence patterns so you can use them confidently and correctly vs. only know them.
Useful Expressions:
Pardon me?/ I beg your pardon?/ Could you please repeat that?/ Slower, please.
How do you say _______ in English?
How do you pronounce _______ / this?
How do you spell _______/ it?
Pardon me?/ I beg your pardon?/ Could you please repeat that?/ Slower, please.
How do you say _______ in English?
How do you pronounce _______ / this?
How do you spell _______/ it?
