Speaking a Foreign Language - the Importance of Transition

One of the biggest problems I notice as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language is how badly students cope with switching between their native language and English (and vice versa).

Generally, in a work situation, they are speaking their own language and then receive a phone call from abroad. As they answer the call they start thinking about grammar, get all flustered, and the conversation becomes a nightmare of incomprehension and stress.

It doesn't have to be this way. What I teach my students is the concept of 'transition'.

What I mean by 'transition' is that, instead of jumping straight from your language to the foreign one, take a moment to 'put yourself' into the other language. For example, sing an English song, talk to yourself in English, read a newspaper article - whatever gets your mind thinking in the language. Of course I don't mean you should sing your way through the collected works of Andrew Lloyd Webber to get into the mood. Mostly it is symbolic - you are saying to your mind "Okay. Remember English? Let's go!"

When I explain this, the students often point out that they don't have time to do a transition, but this is where the second part of the strategy - control - comes into play. You don't have to answer the phone immediately. If the call comes via the switchboard ask the receptionist to put the caller on hold for thirty seconds, sing the first verse of 'Yesterday', smile, then answer. If you have a direct line, when you answer, say 'Please hold a minute", do your transition and then begin the conversation. Control when the conversation starts and you feel much more confident.

If you initiate the call yourself then you have all the time in the world for the transition. You could read Hamlet or War and Peace (the abridged version, of course) to get you on your merry way.

Remember. Transition + Control = Successful English conversation.

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