I've heard that before you have a conversation in your target language, preparing a topic and writing down phrases/words you want to say are helpful for your speaking.
I usually prepare before a lesson so that I can keep the conversation flowing, but because of this I think I rely too much on preparation now. For example, I'll write down some phrases I want to say, since I can write better in my target language than I can speak. While doing this is helpful, oftentimes I find myself afraid to "improvise" and be more spontaneous, since my non-prepared sentences are more choppy and less advanced. My confidence in my ability to speak my mind has dropped unless I have prepared sentences beforehand.
Have you ever been through this as well? How do you usually prepare before a lesson? Do you think there should be a balance between preparation and just winging it?
Hello,
I am learning Vietnamese, and continuing to learn Korean.
I don't go as far as writing down phrases or sentences in preparation for my lesson, but I may write down a few words and some grammar that I want to incorporate in my lesson.
I think preparing the way you do is not a bad thing. By preparing you are still practicing. The more you do it, the better you will be a speaking the language.
I am at a high intermediate level in Korean (expect writing), so I am currently reading Harry Potter aloud in Korean, also I am watching a lot of Korean TV. Before I knew it I was thinking and even dreaming in Korean, and when I speak Korean to some coworkers, it was much easier than before and came out much more naturally.
If you prepare beforehand, what I would do is practice speaking what you have prepared and even memorize a few sentences. It will help you get used to the grammar and if you do it enough times, the grammar will feel more natural.
I prepare for my Japanese conversation lessons too. For the same reason. I just write some keywords, i have never written a whole sentence. I may never have used keywords i prepared before but i during the lesson i'd be sure to use them. Other than that i just briefly write about the order of the conversation and thats all for me.
When speaking first thing people want to do is transmitting their message to other side and that is completely natural. But in process of language learning this may need to checked sometimes.
Writing, speaking and listening are done with different gyri of brain. Supramarginal Gyrus for reading and writing, Wernicke's Area for listening and Broca's Area for speaking. Some neuronal connections exists between Wernicke and Brocka called Fasciculus Arcuatus. To speak properly both of these areas and fasciculi are crucial.
If you prepare for your lesson too much you'd be just using your Supramarginal Gyrus. That's not what we want.
Unfortunately my Arabic skills are just opposite of what i told. I can listen well and read well but i am close to zero in writing and speaking. I studied grammar way too much. My English is similar too i can't write some forms properly but i totally have no trouble at reading and listening.
