3.4.2.1. Some techniques to help you keep talking

When you first start trying to carry on extended talk, it can be agonizing. Eventually it gets easier. What makes it easier? Practice. Lots and lots of practice. Now your speech will be--well--it will be your speech. You'll sound like someone who is just beginning, with great effort, to speak the language. Expect to make countless “mistakes”. Believe it or not, the main thing which will decrease your mistakes is not being corrected every time you make one, but simply talking and talking and talking, while all the time continuing to be exposed to speech that you can understand. Constant correction takes the focus away from communication. Encourage your LRP to allow you to make lots of mistakes, and focus on communication rather than on grammatical accuracy. Right now you need to loosen up your tongue. When your tongue is good and loose in your new language, you can start worrying about decreasing your errors. Remember, your goal right now is not to become a perfect speaker. Your goal is to become some kind of speaker. Later you can work on becoming a perfect speaker.

Subsections

3.4.2.1.1 Learn to converse on chosen topics

3.4.2.1.2 Conversation practice through role-play.

3.4.2.1.3 Use the series method, but you be the speaker.

3.4.2.1.4 Tell tales

3.4.2.1.5 Focus on structure