Hello

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You get this email once every two weeks because you are subscribed to my newsletter and are genuinely interested in improving your speaking skills and pronunciation. If at any point -hope not soon- you want to stop this, just click on the ‘unsubscribe/darse de baja’ button at the footer.

So, let’s get to the TIP of the week -with a story behind.

For those of you who follow my posts on FB or Instagram, you must have seen that I’m a bit of a sporty type.

Not a fitness-freak but more of a mild, twice-a-week gym person. Just to keep fit, get my energy boost and muscle tone. I do Pilates once a week, go cycling at the weekends and walking and trekking any time I can.

But Pilates is more than a sport for me.

I started taking Pilates’ classes some years ago back in Catalonia. But it wasn’t till I came to live in Switzerland that I could actually see the benefits. In my body, but also, in my mind. And surprisingly, in my language capacity - my French.

Triple benefit for the price of one. (don’t tell that to the owner- he’ll put up the fees!! )

How’s that Anna? How is Pilates helping you improve your French?

Simply because I have to listen to all the instructions. Not a single word written.

I cannot write a single word; my body is busy trying to follow the class!! 😉

When the coach gives an instruction I need to listen attentively.

Sometimes I don’t know what she means, but soon after, when she does the movement, my brain goes: Aha!!! That’s what she meant!!!. (in English we call it the 'aha' moment)

It is proven that good listeners become good speakers.*

I’m pretty sure I’m doing great progress in my speaking thanks to this class: I listen to the same phrases being repeated week after week, like:

‘Allongez-vous sur le dos/ ventre’ (lie on your back/stomach) 

‘Gardez la colonne droite’ (keep your back straight)

‘chien tête en bas’ (down- dog pose)

My brain processes those sounds, I ‘hear’ the rhythm of the phrases, the intonation. I get the intensity of the vowels, such as the ‘u’ in ‘sur’ or the relaxed nasal sounds like the ‘e’ in ‘ventre’.

And how does Listening help your Speaking?

By not paying attention to the writing part, my complete focus is on hearing (like a child learning his/her mother tongue). Then, the magic happens in the brain. It processes everything, integrates the whole lot. And when I need to speak, I practise with the melody and sounds I picked up. And I sound ‘more French’.

I get it. You don’t have such a class. So, what can YOU do? (I’m not yelling, that’s the stressed word XD

The two TIPS with easy resources I picked for you today

The tips:

1. Subscribe to a podcast.
2. Listen to the radio online .

My podcast recommendations (on Spotify):

• The -Samadi Podcast. I simply love his calm voice and his interviews!
• To Fluency, by Jack. It's self-explanatory and very well-done. Start with episode 42.
• Fearless, by Trinny Woodall. A I loved the interview to Elizabeth Day, a female writer full of very relatable-fears.
• All ears, by a dynamic female duo, Lindsay & Michelle. A must.

Download ‘Simple radio’ to your smartphone. And then you can select which radio to follow- any British or American radio will do. My fav: Classic FM, from London. Good music and some brief news reports.

So, if you really want to improve your Speaking, start by becoming an active listener.

Here’s me at my Pilates class. It is delivered either distance or face to face modality. In the French-speaking part of Switzerland. When I took that snapshot, I was in Catalonia, so I had my class online. That's the beauty of distance-learning -the freedom it gives!

Cheers,

Anna.

PS1: Read my latest blog entry : https://elisendana.com/the-verbo-tonal-an-effective-method-for-improving-pronunciation/

PS 2: I'd love to read your comments. Have you found any of the resources useful? Which other ones crossed your path?