Talking to yourself (Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies) Language Learning Forum

Talking to yourself
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Language Learning Forum : Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies

10 messages over 2 pages: 1 2

justberta
Diglot
Senior Member
Norway
Joined 5577 days ago
140 posts - 170 votes

Speaks: English, Norwegian*
Studies: Indonesian, German, Spanish, Russian

Message 9 of 10

09 December 2010 at 11:43pm | IP Logged

slucido wrote:

It seems that talking to yourself is an activity that a lot of
language learners and polyglots practice.

I would like to know how you practice this self talking.

When do you recommend to start? From the very beginning or from an intermediate level?

Do you have any specific time to do this? How much time do you recommend?

Do you use something to help you find topics? For example, phrasebooks, news, books and
so on.

Do you practice vocabulary or grammar points using this "talking to yourself"
technique?

Do you use monologues or you fake a dialog? Do you pretend you are taking with an
imaginary friend or you just talk to yourself?

Do you murmur when doing this or you talk aloud like in a normal speech?

Are you afraid to reinforce mistakes or this risk is lower than the benefit? Do you use
anything to lower that risk?

First of all talking to myself is not a conscious choice. I simply can't help it.

1. As a complete beginner I do this. I start out by repeating words in my head and
mouthing them out. First word 100 times. Et cetera.

2. All day, every day. It helps if you are/were a silent child.

3. As stated above, I do it every second of the day so the topics are completely
random.

4. Vocabulary and grammar. Yes of course. However I do not use grammar tables in a
traditional sense. Now would I consult a book while doing this. It's a completely
natural process of thought, I cannot help thinking about the grammar of the English
language throughout the day, as I am obsessed with grammar, but it does in no way
depict the grammar tables of vocabulary lists of my school years. I don't really know
how to explain this.

5. I have an ongoing monologue in English in my head, as well as imaginary
conversations with TV characters, past, present and future friends. Daydreaming
essentially.

6. I'm mostly silent. The only time I'll speak out loud when I'm not in my T.L country
is my dog. At a beginner level and in simple phrases. I mix all 6 languages while
keeping it fairly simple. After all this is a dog! Mostly to keep my pronunciation at a
good level when not having natives to talk to.

7. I'd say talking to oneself is a pretty foolproof method. I don't see how one could
reinforce mistakes. After all you still have your own studies, TV, native speakers or
immersion going on and a dictionary to refer to when in need.
3 persons have voted this message useful

FrostBlast
Diglot
Senior Member
Canada
Joined 5091 days ago
168 posts - 254 votes

Speaks: French*, English
Studies: Spanish, Russian, Swedish, Icelandic

Message 10 of 10

13 December 2010 at 3:23am | IP Logged

I make up scenarios in my mind and then try to work out what I'd be able to say about what's taking place in this scenario. Pretty basic stuff, usually, but it keeps me sharp and always ready to learn new things.

Sometimes when I can't sleep, my mind will start wandering, and suddently I'll get up and grab a dictionary for whatever language, to look up a certain word. Once I think I've figured out how to say what I wanted to say, then I can head back to sleep. Of course, what I figure out isn't always correct, but the effort definitely means something in the whole learning process.

Edited by FrostBlast on 13 December 2010 at 3:26am
2 persons have voted this message useful

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