I have a confession to make: I am a terrible language learner. I studied French, Spanish, and Russian, and struggled with each. That French sound of OUILLE in GRENOUILLE! That Spanish R in FERROCARRIL! Oh, how I suffered trying to make those sounds! And Russian, my lord, those cases and gender-a grammar that seemed much too complicated for that American brain of mine.
My father, however, knew nine languages-most of them self-taught. He seemed to learn them with ease. When he traveled around the world, he wanted to be able to communicate with people in their language. Also, he wanted to read Voltaire in French, Chekhov in Russian, and Cervantes in Spanish. Unlike me, my sister learned languages with ease like my Dad. She speaks Chinese, Russian, and French fluently.
Did I ever master any of the languages? I did master French well enough to study there and teach there and most importantly to laugh at French humor.
So how did I end up teaching English to international students? Since I had struggled with learning languages, I felt I might be good at understanding my students' struggles.
Below is a list of what I have seen my students struggle with over the years. Perhaps you might want to keep these thoughts in mind so you can enjoy mastering this crazy language of ours.
1. Welcome corrections made from everyone. In general, Americans tend to be pretty tolerant of errors, but if they make an effort to correct you, don't see it as an affront but as help.
2. Resist being defensive. Take off your boxing gloves when someone makes a suggestion. Instead say I'll have to think about that. Or I'll try to keep that in mind. Or Thanks for pointing that out. Perhaps you are right.
3. Keep a sense of humor about mistakes you make.
4. Listen carefully to the question being asked. Put the question in the answer. Don't start with an expansion.
5. Remember good speakers of English don't take the floor for too long. English is more like a tennis game, not bowling. Get to the point.
6. Keep conversations flowing by asking questions. Americans love questions. Asking questions shows interest.
7. Make giving compliments a part of your language. We love compliments-giving them and receiving them.
8. Show thanks. We love when people directly thank us.
9. Master small talk. It's fun. Plus, with small talk, you can widen your connection with people and with the language. Start with talking about the weather in New York. Join in.
10. Poke fun at yourself but not at others. Americans love self-mocking humor.
11. Give details. We love being specific. Take giving directions. If someone asks where the car is parked, say the street as well as the avenues it is between-the cross streets.
12. Watch the register of your language-that is, consider formal versus informal. If someone says to please call her by her first name, don't use a title-just her first name.
13. Project your voice when speaking. Don't make the listener ask you to repeat because he can't hear you.
14. Have fun with the language. Play with it. Invent new words. Try out new words. Enjoy a new way of expressing ideas.