Today, I read an interesting article on the internet. It is about, speaking the English in you. Forget the grammars, forget the perfect English speaker we'd all want to be, just speak English to communicate.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2014/08/17/issues/could-the-lingua-franca-approach-to-learning-break-japans-english-curse/#.VFoXjvSUefs
The article is rather long, so I would summarize it here.
How to speak English fluently (according to the article):
1. Forget about the perfect grammar, and speak out your opinion.
2. Talk about or focus on an interesting topic.
3. Accept that you cannot get the native pronunciation if you start learning English after 12 years old.
4. It's okay to speak Japanese English.
5. Different nationalities speak English differently.
6. As long as the communication goes through, that is what matters most.
As for point no.4 and no.5 : Personally experience***
Dutch: Any eeedia? (Any idea)
Australian: Toodai is Wednesday. (Today is Wednesday)
British: Hello, mate. (Hello, friend)
Japanese: Hambarg. (Hamburger)
Malaysian: kicap sauce (ketchup sauce)
I really kinda agree to the article, and would like to add some tips for my readers.
How to speak English fluently (my opinion):
1. Elaborate what you are saying. (Make your story longer..and longer.. and longer....)
2. Direct translation is okay(Jap-Eng, Eng-Jap). I use it all the time.
3. We can fix the grammar gradually.
4. Use it daily. Speak daily, if not, read daily.
5. You can study English, but please do not memorize.
6. I am not a walking dictionary, so I don't know all English words. So do you (you too).
For those who will be meeting me soon, do use this as a topic in our lesson!! Tell me if you'd like to agree or disagree with all the points above.
Thank you and have a great evening.
