How (Not) to Practice Your English; p.1

1. CHALLENGE YOURSELF, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

Don't settle for saying things you already know how to say. Try to doll your English up a little.

Whaddaya mean?

Ok, let me give you an example. Let’s say you’re in class and you have been assigned the role of a daughter who thinks she’s spending way too much time with her parents. Here’s something that you/she might say that you probably already know how to say, which is why you shouldn’t say it, at least not in this very form.

Sometimes I don't want to talk to my parents. I want to be alone. It isn't a problem, I think. You can understand, yes?

Well, what’s wrong with that?

What’s the point in putting it like that in an English class, whose primary purpose is to allow you to work on making your English better?

How would you have me put it then?

There are times when I don't really feel like talking to my parents. Sometimes I'd rather be by myself. What's wrong with that? I mean, can you blame me for wanting to have some me time?

Oh. That does sound a little better.

It does, doesn’t it?

But how do I get there from here?

Like I said, you have to challenge yourself. Instead of falling back on the most primitive form of English that you have at your disposal, you might want to purposely try to use phrases like these:

POINTERS

But that’s really hard! I won't be able to think of any of these!

Not on first try you won't. Which is why you need to-- (See part 2 for more.)