Lesson format for advanced speaking - suggestions?

[peterlkj]

Now, after x years of studying, my listening and reading skills are actually pretty decent - although I'm lazy to always do so, I can read almost any (modern) reading materials, and understand the majority of tv and films. I did take the HSK 4 years ago but they lost my script - no joke - so not doing that one again!

Since I'm outside China at the moment though I'm forced to rely on online (skype) classes - and I'm wondering how to get the best out of these when it comes to probably my biggest weakness - expressing myself fluidly on almost any topic. It isn't really a vocabulary problem (I know the words) - but I always find myself relying on the same simple sentence structures and relatively simple words.

Since I'm lucky enough to have 4 hours of skype classes a week, I think this is really what I should be spending some of the time working on - and I wondered if anyone of you would be kind enough to share your thoughts. Will free "conversation practice" be enough? (I can easily chat away for hours - but will use the same simple grammar etc). Are there other format that work better? Eg me "telling stories"? Others?

Thanks guys!

[Silent]

After reading your post I'm really wondering how your writing skills are. It's natural to use simpler language when speaking then when writing. However if also writing is done with fairly simple grammar the solution may be to write a lot and to force yourself to use more complex sentences. That way you've time to think about it and with practise the more complex grammar will come more and more natural to you. I expect that the more complex grammar would seep through to the spoken language.

[Clary]

For intermediate to advanced level learners, free conversation doesn't help much. Conversations help you get familar or skilled in speaking, however when you want to express complicated meanings, you will find you are still there. I would suggest you to have some well-structured formal learning. And your objectives, learning background, and current level are also important for making this learning plan.

[icebear]

I'm at the intermediate level and find that a good teacher on Skype can be given a list of words, or chapter of NPCR, and turn that into a productive 60 minute practice session with those words and grammar structures while keeping it feeling mostly like a free conversation. Keep in mind that I haven't had much spoken practice in about 6 months so the returns may be decreasing soon.

[abcdefg]

I find that if I try to express more complex and abstract ideas in conversation with a dedicated native speaker in a non-casual setting, that I'm forced to use different sentence constructions and vocabulary to say what needs saying.

I try to not "dumb the conversation down" to fit my language comfort zone. I struggle to figure out how to make my language equal to more challenging tasks instead of modifying the tasks or shying away from areas where I always run into trouble. Then the the person with whom I'm talking can help me out. What often happens is that the person figures out what I'm stumbling around trying to say and says it for me better. Then I imitate that native speaker's method right back to them and try to remember it for use later.

If I'm just talking for three minutes in a restaurant or taxi about the same usual basic "getting to know you" topics or the traffic or the weather, it's easy to fall back on simplistic ways of speaking, since precision and complexity is not required.

Among other things, I try to not let myself say 东西 very often, and search for a more accurate word or term. I don't always ask questions in the same way. I don't always agree or disagree in the same way. I try to vary ways of phrasing things like I would when using my native language.

I also try to copy my friends and teachers in the way they use particles, exclamations and other "verbal filler." I find that makes my speech sound "more natural." I try to copy the tone of utterance as well as just getting the words right. Difficult to explain that last bit, but an example comes to mind.

Went to the bank yesterday here in Kunming and the teller asked me in English, "What do you want?" I told him I wanted to make a deposit and handed him my bank book plus some cash. He said, "How much?" His English was correct but it didn't sound quite appropriate because it needed "rounding out" or "smoothing out" with some extra syllables here and there to make it seem less robot-like, softer and more friendly. I try to do the same in Chinese. Don't always get it right, but I try.

Those are things that might be useful for you to try with your Skype tutor since you already have a good foundation.

[peterlkj]

Hi - thanks for all the suggestions - although it wasn't what I originally had in mind, I think Silent's idea of doing more writing to improve speaking is probably genius - time to start a diary

[abcdefg]

#2 -- Good suggestion. I definitely need to be doing more writing. (And reading too.)

[edelweis]

Perhaps you can have the Skype teacher correct your essays and drill you orally on the structures or words usage that you got wrong.