Practise making small talk!

Steer the conversation to something interesting. Learn how to ask good questions that show a real interest in the other person. A good question can keep them talking for several minutes.

And a few decent questions will leave the other person thinking you’re a brilliant conversationalist.

If you need some practise, you know where to go: https://english-trainer.de/angebote/

You’ve probably experienced ‘neuroplasticity‘ many times.

But what exactly is it?

‘Neuroplasticity’ is the ability we all have to rewire our brains by forming new connections and by weakening old ones.

This animation illustrates it well.

And what does it mean?

1. Anyone can learn new information or new skills.
2. We learn by repeating what we’ve learnt over and over again.

So age is no barrier to learning a language. Yes, there’s no excuse.

Do you sometimes find yourself giving advice?

I know, it happens to the best of us. We know that we should only give advice if someone asks for it. And even then, we need to be careful.

In this humorous TEDx presentation, Michael Bungay Stanier talks about the challenges we face when giving advice:

1. We’re busy solving the wrong problem. The first challenge is rarely the real challenge.

2. Our advice is not nearly as good as we think it is. Especially if we believe we always give good advice.

3. Our advice can be disempowering. The person receiving it might feel that they can’t figure their problem out themselves.

We can replace our advice-giving habit with a new habit which is to stay curious a little bit longer. And Michael tells us how we can do that.

I spoke to online editor, trade journalist and blogger Nicole Isermann in an Instagram Live a week or so ago.

I knew she was a little nervous and apprehensive. Most of my interview partners are.  It’s quite a challenge to go live, especially when using a language that is not your own.

In one of her latest blog posts, Nicole talks about her experience with me.

You can read that Nicole studied English along with her native German many years ago. So you might be surprised that she admits that she was out of her comfort zone.

But that’s quite ‘normal’.

Any language, even your native language, will deteriorate if you don’t use it.

The good news is that it will come back quickly. In fact, the better you knew the language, the quicker it will come back.

And that’s what you’ll realise if you listen to our conversation. Nicole did a superb job.

Talking about a language going rusty if you don’t use it, that’s why I send out my ‘Sparks of English’ on a regular basis. I want to remind you that you need regular practice if you want to keep or improve your language level.

And you also have two free opportunities a month to speak English with me and others. In our Speed Networking sessions.

But I have another idea!

Would YOU like to go live on Instagram with me on a Wednesday at 11 for about 10 or 15 minutes?  If so, tell me and we’ll organise something.

“If you can’t figure out what kind of work you like, pay attention to what’s easy to concentrate on and gives you energy vs. what makes you tune out and feel tired.”
Sam Altman

This sounds like good advice to me. What do you think?

Why not take one simple action today that is a little bold and outside of your comfort zone?

If you’ve not yet come to one of my Speed Networking sessions, today might be the day to take that step and register for the next one.

Have a look here to see when we’re getting together again: https://english-trainer.de/.

 

“I love these English lunch breaks with you Christine, networking and talking English … how would we say in German? Drei Fliegen mit einer Klappe? ” Beatrice Krammer