“I just need to talk more.”
Sound familiar?
“In school we only studied grammar and took tests. We never spoke. Now I know the rules but I have trouble speaking. Therefore I just need to talk more.”
The #1 English Speaking Myth
Miscellaneous
How To Build Your Vocabulary 35% Faster
“Where’s Trutnov?” I asked.
One of my Czech friends was trying to tell me but she was having problems. She confessed – a little embarrassed – that she always confuses the English words for “east” and “west.”
And she didn’t know why.
A couple weeks later, while I was building my own vocabulary by reviewing my Czech flashcards, I noticed I was mixing up the words for “push” and “pull.”
And I didn’t know why.
But then…I found out!
The answer… interference theory!
And yes, it’s as boring as it sounds. If you have trouble sleeping at night, you can read some academic papers written about it.
But let me save you the pain and suffering.
INTERFERENCE THEORY: when you learn two or more words at the same time, and the words are related (ex. types of metals, names of trees, a list of phrasal verbs for movement, etc.), your brain doesn’t like it and will make you feel stupid when you try to remember them.
Advertisers have known this for a long time. They know that if you see a commercial for a Skoda and then immediately after it a commercial for a Fiat, you’re less likely to remember which had the new brake system and which had the new heated seats. So instead, Fiat chooses to play their commercial after the latest “Fast and Furious” movie trailer.
An Introvert’s Secret Weapon For Speaking English Like a Native Speaker
“Introverts actually get better grades and are more knowledgeable, according to research.”
“Introverted leaders often deliver better outcomes than extroverts do.”
“Some of our transformative leaders in history have been introverts.”