Enhancing your spoken English? Did you know there’s one crucial step to take before you begin? Allow me to explain…
YouTube blocked? Click here to see the video.
Video Transcript:
Today we’re talking about an exercise that is the magic ingredient. It takes all the other work you’re doing as you work on English, as you work on your pronunciation and it supercharges it. It makes it really work for you. I’ve been teaching pronunciation for over a decade and I have noticed some students reach their goals and transform their voices pretty quickly and others do it very, very slowly. And I looked at these two groups of students and I thought what’s the difference. They’re all in the academy with the same materials, they’re getting the same teacher feedback, it doesn’t have to do what their native language is. So then what is it? When I figured it out, I made a course in the academy and we’re taking one of those lessons and we’re doing it here together today. So, this is going to help you with your confidence in speaking English, it’s going to make you a better English speaker if English isn’t your native language.
First, let me say when I figured out the difference between my most successful students and those that took longer to meet their goals, I didn’t really like it. I mean I accepted it but I didn’t want to touch it, I didn’t want to teach it. It embarrassed me a little bit because it’s not about the actual work, the actual training. In my mind I was like you either got it or you don’t but then I thought wait, that’s not fair, I want to give every student every tool I can to help them succeed so I sat down and I made this course but the first lesson in this course is actually called, “I’m embarrassed to make This Course.”
So, I had to work through that to bring you this lesson. Basically, the tool that we’re going to use in this lesson is the same tool that professional musicians use, professional athletes, CEOs. It has to do with the mind. Yes, I’m talking about visualization. I realized it really matters how my students see themselves. The students that get better, faster that reach their goals, they see themselves as their potential. The students who sort of creep along and don’t make much progress, they see themselves as their problems. And that slows them down so much, I felt like I had to address it. So I made this course that goes over visualizations you can do to visualize yourself as a better speaker of American English, you can’t just do this. My students also do all the other work in the Academy, the understanding, the training but this is the magic ingredient that takes that work and supercharges it so that they reach their goals faster. A lot of people don’t realize they’re not actually that open to change and actually this right now is making me think what goal do I have in my life that I’m never going to reach because I’m not actually open to the change required for that goal. I can think of one or two things. I’m going to need to put a pin in that and come back to it later.
So, let’s jump right in with this visualization. It is a good idea to do it maybe once a day for several days in a row and just see if that changes your energy about your practice. I’m excited for you to do this exercise.
I felt embarrassed about the course because I’m much more comfortable talking about concrete things that you can do. But there are actually is a lot of research that supports that visualization does help people get better things. So, we hit this up, we talk about, “Are you ready to change?” we start addressing the mindset. Then, we visualize relaxation, we visualize your American persona, and here, we’re going to do an exercise from visualizing yourself speaking English, we’re going to do the lesson on the coffeeshop.
Sit comfortably, or you can lie down and close your eyes. Today you’re going to visualize yourself having a spontaneous conversation and being able to think quickly. You’re going to be able to naturally say what you want to say and express yourself completely.
Picture a coffee shop. A picture that is known to you. A place with seats where people linger to read or work on a laptop or meet with friends.
Today it’s crowded. You’re there sitting. You’ve already gotten your drink. Now, really picture it. As you sit there, look into the coffee shop. What do you see? Hear the sounds that you would hear if you were there. Feel your body sitting in the position that you’re picturing for yourself. Feel it. Hear it. See it. You’re there.
There’s an empty seat next to you and someone just approached it. This person is American and only speaks English. In your imagination, see him. He’s looking at you like he’s about to say something. “Is anyone sitting here?” He says. You smile and say no feeling very relaxed. He sits down. Now you know he’s going to start talking to you in English. He’s going to speak quickly but something wonderful happens. Picture it in your mind. He starts asking you questions about yourself. What you do for work or what you study, where you’re from. He asks you about your family. You have a great conversation. You’re talking effortlessly. Picture the scene. You sitting there, him sitting next to you. You don’t need to imaging what is being said, just imagine this visual. It’s like watching a video on mute. What you’re seeing with your mind is smiles. Gesturing, understanding and an engaging conversation. See that with your mind and feel the confidence in your body, feel the happiness of being able to effortlessly respond to his questions. You express yourself exactly the way you want to. You’re confident in your vocabulary, in your pronunciation and in the way you put phrases together. You understand everything he says to you. You just feel so great. You’re using your English like a native speaker. Keep feeling this feeling as you picture this conversation happening in your mind.
As soon as he asks you a question, you know what you want to say. It comes in English effortlessly. It’s clear as if you’re speaking in your own native language. You’re focused on the content and ideas only not trying to use English. The way you speak is sophisticated, feel that. Feel that confidence in speaking sophisticated English. Keep watching this video in your mind. This conversation, you, him in the coffee shop and feel that confident feeling. On your real face, here now, smile. Feel it in your chest. Feel warmth and satisfaction. Feel relaxation and confidence. Breathe in to that as you watch this video of your conversation with him. Say in your head: I feel completely confident in this conversation.
Doesn’t that feel so good? Your whole body is vibrating with positivity, ease, happiness, satisfaction. Say again in your head: I feel confident in this conversation. You’re able to express yourself just the way you want to. All your goals are met. All your hard work has paid off. Good for you.
Keep this image of yourself in your head. Keep these feelings of positivity, excitement, confidence and ease in your body. With your mind, you can put them there. The more you work on it, the greater the effects will be. Put this positive feelings in your body with your mind and relate that to your own confidence in speaking English. The more you do this and the more positivity you bring to your practice sessions, the more effective every minute spent working will be. You, my friend are a wonderful speaker of American English.
Are you seeing yourself as the speaker you want to be? Of course, do this not just with English but with all your goals, it really does help, it changes your attitude towards it and I think it makes to work more fun.
If you’re interested in other visualization lessons and you’re in my academy, just go to the courses tab and find the visualization course. If you’re not in the academy and you want to transform you voice, your spoken English, your American persona, check out rachelsenglishacademy.com, this visualizations course is a very small part of what we offer. Most of the lessons teach you how Americans speak so quickly but are still easily understood, how to understand them and how to yourself sound very, very natural speaking English. Of course, we cover all the sounds, vowels, diphthongs, consonants, all of the rhythmic qualities. Thank you so much for watching my lesson here on Youtube. Be sure to check out this video to keep your learning going now and do subscribe with notifications on. I absolutely love being your English teacher. That’s it and thanks so much for using Rachel’s English.
Video:
Hear the difference immediately.
Get the Top 3 Ways to Master the American Accent course absolutely free. Sign up today to unlock your American voice.
