One of the number one comments I receive on my YouTube and Facebook videos is this:
“I want to improve my speaking, but I have no one to practice with.”
There are three options here:
- Pay for lessons
- Join a language exchange site such as this one
- Make friends with English speakers (see here)
But, there is another way that you can improve your speaking.
The method is simple but highly effective.
And you can do this from anywhere in the world.
I call this the LRRC Method.
TO FLUENCY METHOD (LRRC): IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH IN AS LITTLE AS 15 MINUTES PER DAY (FROM HOME)
It works like this:
- You listen to an English phrase
- You repeat the phrase
- You record yourself saying the phrase
- You compare the two versions and make changes
- You repeat the phrase until you are comfortable with it
Simple, right? 👍
This is similar to shadowing.
However, you pause the audio to repeat each phrase so that you can record your own version and compare it with the original. This helps improve accuracy in addition to fluency.
I shared this method with my community the other day, and here is what someone said about it:
“I tried this after you explained it in the YouTube video and it’s amazing. It was the first time that I heard my voice recorded in English and I realized so many things… thank you for this method I feel more confident about my speaking and how I can improve it.”
When you record your own voice, you can give yourself feedback.
You’ll notice your own mistakes.
Then, you can make changes.
When shadowing, you can’t do this. You’re repeating your mistakes over again. That’s why the LRRC method is more powerful.
We’ll talk about repetition in a moment. But first, here are the benefits of this method:
BENEFITS OF THIS METHOD
IMPROVE YOUR PRONUNCIATION AND FLUENCY
You listen to the English sounds, intonation, rhythm, relaxed pronunciation etc. and copy what you hear.
By recording yourself and comparing the two, you are able to listen to your own mistakes and make changes.
Then, once you are happy with your pronunciation of a particular phrase, repeat it to build fluency.
The next time you say this phrase in a conversation, it will just happen naturally.
LEARN GRAMMAR IN A NATURAL WAY
The number one way to know grammar and be able to use it naturally when speaking is the repetition of sentences.
If you commit to this method, then you’ll be able to use the phrases you repeat in a flexible way.
Learning the rules won’t help you use grammar when speaking.
You need to reach the stage where grammar FEELS right. Repetition will get you to this stage.
LEARN NEW WORDS & KNOW HOW TO USE THEM
Learning new words in sentences shows you how to use them in the right way and at the right time.
Learning single words is one of the biggest mistakes I see learners make.
The LRRC Method means that you’ll have a true understand of what new words and phrases mean.
LET’S PRACTICE THIS NOW
Here is a phrase taken from this video.
We end up traveling to visit family
Listen to the phrase 2-3 times.
Repeat it.
Record your own voice below:
Play it back and compare it to the original.
Do this now!
Have you done it yet?
Okay, good.
Did you notice the mistakes you made?
Don’t feel bad if you don’t sound like the original version. This is good. It means that you’ve found a way to improve.
Make the changes you need to make to sound more like the original. Record your voice again and make more changes.
Keep doing this until you’re happy with your version.
WHAT YOU’RE LEARNING
When doing this, you’re also learning:
- the phrasal verb: “end up
- that we use the gerund (verb + ing) after this phrase verb
- that we use to meet after traveling
- and everything else in this sentence
Imagine repeating hundreds or even thousands of phrases like this.
If you do that, then you’re going to make fast progress with your English.
You’re going to learn grammar in a real way.
Your speaking will improve dramatically.
As will your pronunciation.
And you’re going to learn new words and phrases.
The Next Step is to Get Long-Term Repetition
Repetition is the key to internalizing phrases and being able to use them without thinking about grammar rules.
But we don’t want to repeat sentences more than we have to. We want to be efficient.
That’s why I recommend Anki.
With Anki, you can input sentences and let the software take care of the rest. It will show you the sentences you need to see using the forgetting curve.
This shows that if you repeat something over the long-term, you will remember it.
With sentences, this means that you’ll be able to produce the sentence effortlessly without thinking about it. And if you do this with enough sentences, in a flexible way.
You’re going to repeat the sentences 2-3 times on day one. Then again on day two. Day four. Day eight etc.
All you need is 15 minutes per day to internalize thousands of sentences over the next 6-12 months.
At this stage, you might be thinking that this takes a lot of work.
Well, I’ve made all this incredibly easy for you…
Want Audio, Flashcards, the Full Method, a Pronunciation Course, and Feedback?
If so, join the To Fluency Program.
This unique course gives you everything you need to follow the To Fluency Method. This includes:
- phrases based on real English (with audio flashcards so you can get smart repetition)
- a pronunciation tutorial so you can speak more fluently and with more accuracy
- worksheets so that you learn new grammar and new vocabulary
- speaking feedback so that you can improve your accuracy
This is the program you need if you are looking to speak with more confidence and without having to translate or think about grammar rules.
