[Update September 2015: Please check my new Facebook page here. The new page and site will feature more general articles such as on self-development, travel, communication and learning languages].
In the next few days I’ll have a new blog opening up!
The new blog follows my experience of living in Prague, and from learning Czech. And what I want to write doesn’t fully fit the idea of getting into English.
I’ll include tips on learning languages in general, and discuss the psychology of learning.
As well, I’m a language learner myself, and I’d like to encourage English-speakers to get into foreign languages.
This year I have my own language missions: in terms of level, I’d like to be a clear B2 (Upper Intermediate) in Czech and reach C1 (Advanced) in French.
An added bonus will be revising my Spanish, which is very rusty right now.
So I’ll be writing about how I reach my own goals, and along the way I’ll be posting some new videos and interviews on learning languages.
Ending ‘English Practice Syndrome’
Another aim of the new blog will be to encourage Czechs to speak to us foreigners in Czech.
In fact, wherever you are, if an American or Brit is visiting your country, why not speak with them first in your language..?
For example, right now it’s ‘normal’ for a Prague Czech to speak to an American only in English, even if they’ve known each other for a few years!
In short, I don’t think this is helping anyone. And it’s plain weird not to speak your own language in your own country with your friends.
Make no mistake – if you’re Czech or indeed in another country, there are many benefits of speaking your own language with us!
It’ll strengthen your most important relationships and friendships, especially if you’re married to a foreigner or in a serious relationship with one.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a real friendship with an English-speaker where maybe you spoke some English together, but also where they respected you and your culture by learning your language?
I’ll add a link for the new blog soon. I hope you’ll give it a go, but I also understand it’ll be going against the whole ‘machine’ which is in place now in Prague.
Travelling about
Finally, I’d like to travel a lot more in what could be my last year in the Czech Republic, and I’ll post photos of my journeys across Moravia on the new blog.
And who knows, maybe I’ll like it so much, that I’ll be back for another year in 2015 😉
Image Milena Rybničková
Hi David,
I’m a year 9 student from Perth, Australia. This year I’ve started to get worried about my English – even though I sometimes get A’s. I know that I won’t be hiring you, but I would like to know how to write a good essay and what the fundamentals are.
Kind regards,
Geoff
Hi Geoff
Thanks for visiting, I wonder how you found the site. I’m from Melbourne btw, go Hawks!
A few tips which I find helpful:
1. Read a lot. I wasn’t so good at English at one stage, but then I went through the whole Hardy Boys (detective series when I was at school) in about a year or so. It meant I was reading LOADS. Plus I actually liked the set books we had to study in each year. By senior school I was getting top grades without working too much (compared to maths, which was not so good, lol)
2. PLAN. If one of my students writes something that doesn’t flow, often it’s because they didn’t plan their points beforehand, and it seems incoherent or something is missing.
3. In terms of essays, they need to have good structure. Once you have your points all sorted, then you’ll pick up the language of how to present different points of view, and how to argue a case. Reading similar pieces in the newspaper or a magazine will help with this, as well as watching more lengthy interviews with decision-makers on TV.
On top of that, what does your teacher say? Their feedback will also be important.
I’m sure you can find more in your textbooks or in a writing guide, these points are the ones that reach out at me.
Good luck
David
Hi David,
Yes go hawks! I have some cousins who live in Melbourne.
I found this website when I was looking up something like how to improve my English – but I don’t exactly remember
I have always been good at math, but English is not my cup of tea. The problem is that whenever I read, and I get to a word I don’t understand the meaning of, I look it up in the dictionary. But after a day or two, I totally forget what the definition is. Are there any ways that I can fix this problem?
I understand what you mean by planning. Some people tell me that you should spend 5 minutes of a “in-class essay” planning the points. However I don’t know what good structure in an essay is.
I’ve never asked my teacher for feedback. Sometimes I think that they wouldn’t like you asking them questions. Is it like that? Since you are a teacher yourself.
Kind regards,
Geoff
Hi again
What language do you speak at home..?
On learning vocabulary: it takes a few goes or more for you to remember a word. It helps in fact if you can:
1. Learn the words that go around it. For example, ‘spic and span’ is a binomial phrase meaning ‘very clean’. But I’ve never used ‘spic’ on its own. It goes with ‘span’.
2. Create an association with the new word. For example, I remember the word for ‘beach’ in Czech (plaž) because it’s the same in French (la plage).
3. Go over your new vocabulary once a week. You’ll remember a lot more if you go back to it.
Re: planning, maybe try spending longer on your plans while you do you homework until it becomes more natural.
Re: teachers, I teach English to people in Europe, so I’m not at a high school. That said, my English teachers at school always gave feedback. I don’t know what your teacher is like, but usually it’s considered a normal part of our job.
Try and ask your teacher when they have a quiet moment..
Hello David, ahoj, salut 🙂
Sounds good your plans. I’m sure you’ll be succesfull!
I’m also looking forward to your new topics, tips, videos and photos! Would be enjoyable;-)
Good luck David
Hodne stesti David
Bonne chance David
Hi Martina!
Thanks, I think the new blog will be quite interesting, though not the same as this one.
I’ll probably do something with Get Into English, maybe even just post ‘secret’ articles for subscribers like yourself 🙂
Hi David,
I usually speak a mix of mandarin and English with my family at home. I’ve actually lived in China for 4 years when I was 6-10.
Thank you for the tips. I will try to ask my English teacher for some feedback, maybe later on in the year, since the year has just started.
Do you have any recommendations for book choices?
Kind regards,
Geoff
Hi Geoff
I don’t know your school but usually teachers are quite approachable. If you can ask, see if they’re ok to talk about some of your recent writing.
Re: Mandarin, you’ll also get better I think at English when you know your native language better too.
Re: books, I’m sure there are some available in W.A. that I don’t know about. But I remember this book I used a few years ago: http://www.amazon.com/Longman-Exam-Skills-CPE-Writing/dp/0582529972/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392232616&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=cpe+writing+book
Pls note it’s now a few years old, but the phrases in it and tips on how to plan & write different types of genres are pretty good.
If you can get hold of the teacher’s book (might be at your local library), then you’ll have some model answers as well to look at..
Another option is to go to a bookstore in Perth where they sell English books for foreigners. Check any writing books under the CPE or IELTS exams, you should find something! If it’s expensive, as Aussie books can be, you can always check out online shops too.
You should only need one book, don’t go buying the whole shop 😉
David
Hello David
How have you been? The purpose of your new blog is really interesting. The blog is already up? What’s the link?
Hi Marcel
I fell sick so I’m a little behind. It’ll be up hopefully this week, just to start somewhere before I improve the design. Will post it here for sure or send it to you..
Nice to see you again mate!
David
I’m sorry to hear about that, David, I hope that you are back on your feet. As for the new blog, I’m looking forward to it, so please hit me up when you are done, best to you.
Thanks again, but I actually meant book as in novel. Sorry for not elaborating. But do you have any good novels I could read?
Hi Geoff
What are you into? These days there’s a lot for teenagers to choose from. Just pop into a bookstore and see what grabs you.
In terms of the classics, see if any of these grab you: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/oct/12/features.fiction
Personally I like George Orwell – 1984 and Animal Farm
Okay thanks. Good luck in your future career!!