If you could become fluent in English, you could feel so much more comfortable in business situations. Like a new you in English.
But you know what? A lot of us are feeling tired, busy, overwhelmed. Life is fast and we have a lot of decisions to make already. Our careers keep us busy. And not knowing what to do or how to improve your English–having to make one more decision–that can make it hard for you to start improving your English.
It can make your dream of being a new you in English feel like something you can’t do.
That’s why in today’s lesson, I’ll help you learn exactly what you need to do to set up an English routine. I’ll even help you get started with your very own virtual immersion that can get get you off the intermediate plateau–so that you can feel like yourself in English.
And I promise, it’s something you can do in the time you have.
In case you missed it, my last blog post and video talk about about why even smart and hard-working people tend to get stuck at intermediate (especially once you get to a certain level!) If you didn’t see that one, you can check it out here.
So now you know that feeling stuck on the intermediate plateau is normal.
And you know you need some very specific, smart strategies if you want to become a new you in English in the New Year.
Let’s get started creating your own super-effective and efficient virtual immersion habit. We’ll do this together.
Also check out my lesson: Improve Your Business English Habits-Start with 2 Minutes
Index:
1. Why virtual immersion is the best way to become a new you in English in 2022.
2. To become a new you in English, start small, focus, and make it a habit.
3. A virtual immersion plan you can use now for a new you in English in the New Year.
1. Why virtual immersion is the best way to become a new you in English in 2022.
Virtual immersion can help you feel like a new you in English because:
- Practice lots of English every day, with short, easy-to-do activities
- Be much more regular & consistent, so you “switch your brain to English”
- Create your routine for enjoying English
- Remember things better and learn faster
- Feel more confident & comfortable using English for your work and for your personal pleasure.
I know from experience how frustrating it is to feel like you can’t move up in your career because of your language skills (it happened to me in French)
As a neurolanguage coach, I also know the way to solve the problem:
Live in the language…immerse yourself. Let me share how you can make that easy.
Also check out my lesson: Three Things You Need to Do to Become Confident Speaking Business English.
2. To become a new you in English, start small, focus, and make it a habit.
In this post, I’m going to give you an example of one daily routine that makes it feel easy to work on your English and get started with a new habit in 2022! But before we get started, you might be afraid you don’t have time to do this. Or can’t get it done. I know exactly how you feel…and here’s why I know you can do this.
This is a routine I would do myself–and it is really close to the one I use for German.
And if you’re feeling like you don’t have a lot of extra time or energy, I know just how you feel.
I have to fit my language practice in while running a business, creating videos, coaching clients, managing a team. And that’s exactly why I feel like I don’t have time to waste. I need to use the smartest, most effective strategies I can get. So that I can improve in the time I have. And I know that it’s the same for you–and all of my clients.
And one of the easiest ways to start using smart strategies a little bit every day is to create a routine. Routines and habits are so much better than New Year’s resolutions for helping you change your English.
For this routine, we’ll use ONE main resource. Aside from having great habits and routines, focusing on just one thing at a time is a really powerful strategy for making progress.
Before you start your routine, you’ll need your ONE main resource.
- You can use this episode from the Faster Fluency Conversation Club podcast: How to feel more confident speaking in English.
- You can find the transcript for the episode How to Feel More Confident Speaking in English here
You’ll find both deliberate and natural learning strategies so you can be really smart and effective as you start your new habit. Because we both know you don’t have any time to waste.
I’ll tell you exactly what to do so you can start the habit that will help you become a new you in 2022.
Also check out my lesson: How to be Fluent in English: The Ultimate Guide of Tips & Tricks
3. A virtual immersion plan you can use now for a new you in English in the New Year.
This sample virtual immersion plan will help you put a small habit in place. Start with something small and easy.
If you want to create a habit that will last in time and that you will be able to do consistently so that you can really feel like a new you in English, you should start with something you’re sure you can do.
You don’t have to do this all at once.
Pick on new habit you can do and start with that for the first day, or the first week.
Afterward, you can add another new habit into your schedule.
The point is to start with something so easy, you can’t fail. And then to keep going!
- Listen to the podcast as you prepare for your day. This is natural learning. The idea is just to hear and immerse yourself in the language.
- During breakfast: Read the transcript & look for useful expressions. This is natural learning again. You’re picking up vocabulary in context. You’ll find the transcript for the episode “How to Feel More Confident Speaking in English” is here.
- On your way to work, listen to the podcast one more time. This time, have a goal: listen to see if you can notice any useful expressions in the podcast and how they were used. This is another example of deliberate learning–listening with a purpose in mind.
- Your lunch break is a great time to use flashcards with new vocabulary. I’ve made some just for you on Quizlet. Click here to access them. You don’t have to study them for long. Just 1-3 minutes is enough. Here again, you’re using deliberate practice–reviewing specific expressions and making your review more effective by practicing several times in a day.
- On your way home from work, listen to the podcast again. This is another opportunity to notice and remember any new expressions you noticed earlier. And another opportunity to add some deliberate learning into your day. (If you’re working from home, you can do this on your home workout equipment or on a short walk!)
- Sometime in the evening, try to write a list of the expressions you learned from memory so that the expressions you learn become part of your real-life English. Once again, you’ll be doing deliberate learning!
- Meet up with a conversation partner on the phone or on Zoom so you can talk about the podcast or some of your new expressions. If you don’t already have a partner, feel free to join my Faster Fluency Conversation Club!
- To end your day of smart and efficient English practice, see if you can write down in a few lines what you learned and use your new expressions again. Here’s an extra tip–write this by hand on paper. Why? Because it helps you put everything you learned into your long-term memory!
I wish you nothing but the best in the New Year–great new habits, peace, happiness, and new confidence in your English!
I love this time of year so much. All the new habits, the new starts, and the new opportunities.
And there’s no way I’d rather start the year than by your side, helping you set up your own virtual immersion.
The notes in this blog post have the basics of what you need for success with your virtual immersion–and for success becoming a new you in English in 2022. But you can also watch the video to hear me explain it, give you a few more details and see some visuals of what I mean.
Wishing you all the best in the New Year!
Also check out my lesson: How to Understand Native Speakers Better.
Take the next step: Improve your English in the comments
The best way to become more confident using Business English is to practice!
Here’s your Confidence Challenge for this week:
- Tell me one way you’d like to start practicing your English each day in the comments.
- What will you do? When? How long will it take?
If you learned something from this lesson, please share it with your coworkers & friends. You can send your message to them in English for more practice!
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Are you trying to get off the intermediate plateau? Don’t miss out on the rest of the lessons in this virtual immersion.
Are you ready to try some new and smart English-learning strategies and finally go beyond intermediate?
I’m passionate about making and sharing new lessons to help you reach your Business English goals, so you can reach all your goals.
If you want to get all my future lessons, videos, virtual immersion challenges, plus my English Habit Starter Kit to make it feel easier to learn more each day, sign up here.
See you for the next step in this virtual immersion!
Christina
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