Want to get the most out of your e-Tutoring sessions? Here are some tips from our French tutor, Sev (not pictured above: here’s more about Sev). He focuses on French, of course, but they work for any language!
With Living Language, you have the privilege of practicing what you’ve learned with a native speaker via our e-Tutoring sessions, available with an online subscription or Platinum subscription. No matter your current level, this is a critical step if you expect to improve and hope to be proficient. So jump at this opportunity and have fun!
As a language teacher with years of teaching experience, I would like to share a few tips with you concerning this particular aspect of the learning process. This will help you get the most out of attending an e-Tutoring session.
1) Get past your fear of failure.
When learning a new language on their own, most people don’t go beyond the stage of reading and writing. With Living Language, you are fortunate to have this amazing e-Tutoring feature, so use it!
Fear of failure and shame is undoubtedly a major reason why more people skip the opportunity to practice with a native speaker. You can be assured that we e-Tutors will not judge you, nor will we think less of you because of your present skills; we are genuinely interested in helping you become more proficient. I cannot stress this fact enough. As e-Tutors, we completely understand the psychological blocks that present themselves when learning a language, and we’ll make every effort to make you feel comfortable.
When we do correct you, remind yourself that this is solely in order for you to become a better learner.
2) Make sure you’re prepared.
To prepare sufficiently, follow the Living Language method, paying attention to details, and making notes of the points that seem to trouble you; if you need clarification on a particular point, don’t hesitate to visit - and/or post questions in - the Living Language forums. Don’t forget to do the exercises in your books and play the games online, of course.
When you practice on your own, it is critical to speak out loud so you become familiar with the sounds. Try to match the voice on the audio, but don’t worry too much about sounding exactly right: your e-Tutor will help you correct this. Accept the fact that it’s a process, as both mental and muscle memory need regular “workouts”!
3) When answering questions, use the same words in your answer.
When the e-Tutor asks a question, try to pay attention to the words in the question, and reuse them as much as possible in your answer. It has the double advantage of listening with intent, and anchoring the words that the e-Tutor feels are important for you at this point.
Examples:
Q: Qu’est-ce qu’il y a sur la photo ? (Who is there in the photo?)
A: Sur la photo, il y a ….. (In the photo, there’s …)
Q: Que porte la femme ? (What is the woman wearing?)
A: La femme porte ….. (The woman is wearing…)
4) Focus on simple phrases.
When you want to express a thought, focus on simple phrases - that is, with a subject, a verb, and a complement - until you are really comfortable with these simple structures. This forces you to pay attention to the basic grammar points which otherwise can be lost (and often difficult to “repair” later on). There can be a tendency in students to use a lot of vocabulary, but you need at least some control over grammar so your thoughts can have meaning.
Examples:
Q: Que faites-vous le matin ? (What do you do in the morning?)
A: Le matin, je me réveille à 8h. Je m’habille et je prends mon petit-déjeuner. Je bois du café et je mange du pain avec du beurre. (In the morning, I wake up at eight. I get dressed and I have breakfast. I drink coffee and I eat some bread with butter.)
As you get more comfortable, you can add sophistication, and perhaps skip repeating words in the questions, to sound more “natural”:
Q: Que faites-vous le matin ? (What do you do in the morning?)
A: D’habitude, je me réveille vers 8h. Après m’être habillé, je prends mon petit-déjeuner. Je prépare d’abord du café. J’aime boire mon café en lisant le journal. (Normally, I wake up around eight. After I’m dressed, I have my breakfast. I make some coffee first. I like to drink my coffee while reading the newspaper.)
5) Repetition, repetition, repetition.
Often, your e-Tutor will have you repeat certain words or phrases. Repetition is sometimes overlooked by students who are either too eager to express themselves or too shy to sound “dumb.” But repeating words or phrases (sometimes 10 times!) is absolutely critical. And if you feel some particular issue keeps coming back, make note of it and concentrate on studying it frequently after the session, finding new opportunities to reuse that particular construction or word in different contexts.
6) Don’t worry about having the “right” accent.
Pronunciation and having the “right” accent are two different things. Many students are depressed that they don’t have that “French accent.” I regularly tell them to keep their foreign accent. Believe it or not, it’s exotic and much more interesting to French people! French people will be much more impressed to talk to someone who has mastered the language and can be clearly understood (through correct pronunciation), while at the same time showing signs of a different cultural background - through their accent, gestures, and idiosyncrasies. And if you really feel you need a “true” French accent, you simply need to work harder, most likely with a coach.
We hope these tips help you get the most out of your e-Tutoring sessions! To learn more about e-Tutoring, visit this page.