So, just today I had one of those moments when I said something and they didn't get it. 'They' being speakers of my foreign language - actually, my best one (Russian). It was a video conference and there must have been a dozen of them.
So why didn't they 'get' it? Why did I fail to get my point across? And how can my experience today help you and me with language learning?
My first mistake was the order in which I provided information. Rather than saying what I wanted to say straightaway, I started with something less important, a qualification, and that distracted my hearers. If it's not your native language, say the main thing straightaway, don't get sidetracked.
Secondly, I waffled, cluttering up my sentences with long words and phrases, again creating 'noise' which hindered my listeners from getting what I was on about. I need to learn to keep it simple.
Thirdly, there was a key word I couldn't quite find in the moment. I wanted to talk about online interaction being 'out in the open' and potentially subject to being tracked. I said "видно" (visible), but the word I was looking for in Russian is "прозрачно" (transparent, literally). That word, which someone else in the meeting subsequently said, would have got my point across clearly. Not recalling it at the right moment meant I lost my audience. Likewise I wanted to say "we are moving into a new situation", but said something in Russian which didn't sound familiar and didn't get across. Know and use the resonance words native speakers are familiar with.
Fourthly, I gabbled; what I said was interrupted with lots of filler words (in English, these would be words like 'just' or 'basically'). When foreign language speakers do this, it can be distracting and even irritating. It doesn't make people think you are at home with the language. Cut the filler words.
Fifthly, bearing in mind that I was communicating without the luxury of things like eye contact, head-nodding or other non-verbal signals that my message had got across, I finished off without a clear statement of my conclusion. While repetition can be bad, restating your main point is essential - this is a form of redundancy (rather like saying yes, smiling and nodding your head all at the same time).
Maybe some of that will be useful the next time you are in a similar situation. And I hope you can make yourself understood!
By the way, chance had it that my contribution was recorded, so I have been able to practise my own advice given in an earlier post about listening to yourself as a way of overcoming language fossilisation.
If you are interested in language learning, follow this blog.
My name is Russell Phillips. I offer online video language tuition for English and Russian - and also German, Italian and French.
My rate is GBP 9 (nine pounds sterling) per block of 15 minutes (a typical lesson might be 45 minutes), payable in advance.
Contact me via www.facebook.com/russelljamesphillips or on email at regnavit[at]gmail.com
So why didn't they 'get' it? Why did I fail to get my point across? And how can my experience today help you and me with language learning?My first mistake was the order in which I provided information. Rather than saying what I wanted to say straightaway, I started with something less important, a qualification, and that distracted my hearers. If it's not your native language, say the main thing straightaway, don't get sidetracked.
Secondly, I waffled, cluttering up my sentences with long words and phrases, again creating 'noise' which hindered my listeners from getting what I was on about. I need to learn to keep it simple.
Thirdly, there was a key word I couldn't quite find in the moment. I wanted to talk about online interaction being 'out in the open' and potentially subject to being tracked. I said "видно" (visible), but the word I was looking for in Russian is "прозрачно" (transparent, literally). That word, which someone else in the meeting subsequently said, would have got my point across clearly. Not recalling it at the right moment meant I lost my audience. Likewise I wanted to say "we are moving into a new situation", but said something in Russian which didn't sound familiar and didn't get across. Know and use the resonance words native speakers are familiar with.
Fourthly, I gabbled; what I said was interrupted with lots of filler words (in English, these would be words like 'just' or 'basically'). When foreign language speakers do this, it can be distracting and even irritating. It doesn't make people think you are at home with the language. Cut the filler words.
Fifthly, bearing in mind that I was communicating without the luxury of things like eye contact, head-nodding or other non-verbal signals that my message had got across, I finished off without a clear statement of my conclusion. While repetition can be bad, restating your main point is essential - this is a form of redundancy (rather like saying yes, smiling and nodding your head all at the same time).
Maybe some of that will be useful the next time you are in a similar situation. And I hope you can make yourself understood!
By the way, chance had it that my contribution was recorded, so I have been able to practise my own advice given in an earlier post about listening to yourself as a way of overcoming language fossilisation.
If you are interested in language learning, follow this blog.
My name is Russell Phillips. I offer online video language tuition for English and Russian - and also German, Italian and French.
My rate is GBP 9 (nine pounds sterling) per block of 15 minutes (a typical lesson might be 45 minutes), payable in advance.
Contact me via www.facebook.com/russelljamesphillips or on email at regnavit[at]gmail.com
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