A common mistake that many English learners make is something I like to call ‘compartmentalizing.’
What I mean by that is is simply this: many english learners make the mistake of boxing in their use of English to when they have an English class or when they are studying for the CELPIP.
Everything else they do with the rest of their time is in their first language. They have put their English into a box or a compartment.
The problem with this approach: you’re not going to become fluent no matter how many years you work at it.
How to fix compartmentalization
To fix the problem, look for ways to make English a part of your day to day life. Let it flow into your hobbies, your work, your commute – in short: your life.
The more you can make English a part of your regular activities and lifestyle, the better.
How Do You Interact with Native English Speakers?
I would like you to reflect on how you are currently interacting with native English speakers at work or at home.
Here are a few questions to help you think through this:
- How often are these interactions happening?
- What kinds of things do I speak about with these native speakers when we do talk – are the topics we talk about fairly routine, or are they about different things every time?
- Finally, how long do those interactions last? Are you talking for just a few seconds or minutes each day?
Take a few minutes to think or even journal about the answers to these questions. The way you are interacting and using your English with native English speakers matters.
Are your interactions fairly routine, like when you see each other you exchange customary greetings like, “How are you doing?” “Fine, thanks. How about you?”
Or, ” How was your weekend?”
When I say routine interactions, I am meaning the questions and answers are fairly predictable and quick. You rarely even need to think about your reply to them – they kind of just come out automatically.
If that’s your case, then it’s time to practice taking your next conversation a little deeper.
Surface level talks that don’t require more than a few predictable phrases, aren’t going to take you where you want to go with your English practice.
As I mentioned a moment ago, you need to go a little deeper.
Take Your Conversations Deeper
It will help you to actually do a little bit of preparing before hand by coming up with two or three questions you can ask that require more than a simple yes or no, or ‘predictable’ response.
For example, instead of, “How was your weekend?” Try, “Tell me about something you did over the weekend.”
Instead of just asking, “How are you doing today?” Don’t be afraid to ask a follow up question based on your conversation partner’s response.
Their ‘predictable response’ : “I’m pretty good, thanks. And you?”
You: “I’m doing well too. What do you have going on today?”
Most surface level greetings don’t go beyond “How are you doing?” “I’m fine thanks, and you?” Do they?
Give Your Speaking Skills A Workout
Tip: If you want to give your speaking skills a workout, practice asking a followup question or two to go a little deeper with the person you’re talking with.
It doesn’t have to turn into a massive conversation, but taking it one or two levels deeper than simple customary exchanges is a great place to begin to help you practice coming up with a response with just a few seconds to think.
In real life conversations, we often don’t even take 30 seconds or a minute to think about what we’ll say next, do we? The time between our thinking and speaking is usually just a few seconds.
That’s why I think getting into regular conversations with native speakers where you talk about more than just how you are, or the weather for example, is such an important and practical way to practice. These conversations present you with similar conditions you’ll face on the CELPIP exam:
- A random topic.
- Little to no time to prepare what to say.
- Having to come up with what to say next on the spot.
- Pressure – likely not the same kind of pressure you may feel on the exam, but having to carry on a conversation with someone can be quite challenging.
What If I Have Limited Practice Time, What Skill Should I Focus On?
The answer depends on where you feel the weakest.
Your area of weakness needs to take up the most of your practice time. You can still have times set aside to practice your other stronger skills, but your primary focus needs to be on where you are weak.
Be Careful: We are usually drawn to work from within our strengths, but hiding from your weak areas when it comes to getting ready for the CELPIP is a big mistake!
If you love to read in English, it feels safe to open a book and spend hours with it, right?
It may feel fun or enjoyable to queue up your favourite English podcast to listen to while you work out, if listening comes easy to you.
And writing that email to your native English speaker coworker isn’t so bad because you can edit your words before you hit send, giving you time to correct mistakes or find better ways to say what you want to say.
But if you’re focused on only practicing those skills – reading, listening and writing when your area of weakness is actually speaking, then you’re never going to get stronger there.
Improvement will only happen when you regularly step into those areas of discomfort!
Need even more help with your speaking skills?
Join the CELPIP Success School Today!
- Weekly live group coaching calls.
- Get access to practical courses that will help you practice listening, speaking, reading and writing skills for the CELPIP.
- You get hands on practice with friendly and encouraging feedback.
- You’ll meet other hard working newcomers to Canada who are getting ready for their CELPIP exam.
Stop working on your CELPIP prep alone. Join the CELPIP Success School today!
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