The first time you talk about something, it’s always a challenge.
It can be demoralizing, but it’s important to recognize that it’s part of the process.
That said, we don’t have to sit back and hope we’ll get good at discussing different things.
We can get proactive about it (and have some fun doing it).
So today I want to look at an evidence-based technique for building more fluency on a narrow topic.
(For those of you who’ve joined my new speaking challenge, we’ll actually be using this as part of week 2).
Why this happens
It’s easy to give yourself a hard time for not expressing yourself how you’d like to in Spanish.
Grasping for words, feeling inarticulate – generally like a dumbed down version of yourself.
But this happens in our native language, too (at least, I don’t think it’s just me).
Just last week, I was on the phone with tech support for an electronic door lock, trying to explain what was wrong with the metal prongs.
The situation and vocab were unfamiliar. I found myself stumbling over my words, and hung up feeling a little dumber than when I started.
In a new language, it just happens that there are far more situations we’ve never encountered, which leads to more encounters like mine with the lock.
The exercise I wanted to share today is called the 4/3/2 Technique and helps with this.
Here’s how it works:
The 4/3/2 technique is a timed monologue where you give the same “talk” three times.
Each time, the length of the mini-speech decreases, helping you clarify your ideas and increase your fluency and pace to be more and more natural.
It was introduced in a paper in the TESOL Newsletter in 1983¹ and has since been used in a number of other studies.
One 2014 study² showed that when learners repeatedly use the same speech, it helps embed the statements in their memory, making them easier to recall later.
I’ve written often about the value of repetition in what we listen to and read (as long as you can keep it fun).
This also applies to speaking.
Too often, learners move on to the next thing before they’re ready.
Whatever you’re reading, listening to, or saying… there’s more juice you can squeeze from it.
A 2nd or 3rd pass through something helps you relax, pay attention, and notice far more than the first time.
Here’s a simple way to try this:
- Watch this short video: Celulares en clases: ¿Usarlos o prohibirlos?
(it’ll be a comprehension challenge, but that’s okay, the main idea here is to have an interesting speaking prompt; use subtitles if helpful) - Take a few notes on useful vocabulary, but don’t write a script
- Answer this question in 4 minutes:
¿Deberían permitirse los celulares en la sala de clases o no? ¿Por qué sí o no? ¿Qué ventajas y desventajas ves?
[Should cellphones be allowed in the classroom or not? Why yes or no? What advantages or disadvantages do you see?] - Answer it again in 3 minutes
- Answer it again in 2 minutes
As you go, unknown words will crop up. You have two options:
- Paraphrase
- Jot it down and move on, and try to use the new word in the second or third pass.
Both are useful. Try them both and see what you like doing.
Speak briefly but often
Getting better at speaking Spanish doesn’t need to be a painful process.
Ok, maybe sometimes it’s unavoidable.
But you can get lots of speaking practice through flexible solo exercises like these.
They build your confidence and fluency, and get you ready for real world interactions.
And they don’t take hours, either.
5 minutes a day beats 1 hour every two weeks.
That’s the whole idea behind the 30 Day Speaking Challenge, which kicks off on Monday (enrollment ends tomorrow, Sunday Nov 10, at midnight EST):
You push yourself to use what you know, ease into speaking, and build fluency gradually and proactively.
The first times you speak on your own, it is a bit strange.
But you don’t need someone correcting you for speaking to be valuable (in fact, corrections are hard to absorb while speaking and often derail more than they help).
And once you get past about 3 minutes of awkwardness, it’s a really enjoyable, low stress way to improve.
Give today’s exercise a shot and let me know how it goes.
And if you like it and think speaking every day for the next month would help you break through your current plateau, join us for the speaking challenge!
– Connor
