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除了補習班，住在台灣的我要在哪裡練習英文呢？
這裡，我們要再次從面子開始談。你有聽過任何兩個台灣人在教室以外的地方用英文交談嗎？非常少。然而，每一個學生都說，除了補習班之外，他沒有其他可以練習英文的環境，這個回答讓我們感到十分驚訝。在台灣有成千上萬的人想要學好英文，你一旦擁有了學成語言的自然思維：練習＋時間=成功（觀念#2），你就必須投資時間來練習，就是這樣簡單。
「不行啦？」學生們總是害怕地說。
大部分的學生覺得這樣的話，他們周遭朋友或是路人會覺得他們很愛現。當我們了解這項台灣人普遍的恐懼後，就如同建立英文自信（觀念#1）所談到的恐懼是可以被管理的：我們可以選擇面對恐懼，經過一次又一次的戰鬥，然後戰勝它。當你戰勝這個普遍的恐懼後，你將會發現無數免費的英語環境在你身旁出現；或是，你也可以選擇讓別人的想法阻饒你的成功，一切取決在你。
除此之外，Infinity Key語言訓練系統也會依據每個人的需求與程度，客製化你的訓練課程。想像今天你和你的健身教練說：「我想要讓我的腰部更有線條。」健身教練就會幫你設計符合你的體質與需求的訓練計劃。每周幫你檢視你是否用正確的動作在做這些訓練，生活作息中是否培養有益的習慣......等個人化的教練服務。
我們的語言教練就如同健身教練一般，如果你今天告訴我們：「我想要加強會話與單字。」我們就會依照你的需求與程度幫你客製化你的訓練課程。
每周幫你檢視你是否用對的方式在做這些訓練，是否培養有益的語言學習思維，當你做的很棒的時候，繼續挑戰你、激發你的潛能；當你表現欠佳的時候，鼓勵你、和你一起找出原因。
你可以選擇要用半年或是一年的時間完成你的訓練。在訓練完成後，恭喜你，你就升級成為自己的教練了！你就擁有自我訓練的能力，在你接下來的人生，持續提升你的語言能力。想像你就像是被一個語言泡泡所包圍的走在路上，整個城市都是你的英語環境。
小撇步：學習創造自己的英語環境。
Fear of Social Embarrassment
Where can I practice English when I live in Taiwan?
Once again, we need to talk about face. Have you ever heard two Taiwanese people speak English with each other anywhere outside of a classroom? I can count on one hand how often I’ve witnessed this kind of interaction. And yet, every one of my students has told me that they have no environment to practice in other than in the buxibans. I am always amazed at this misconception. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people in Taiwan trying to learn English. Once you accept the premise I’ve outlined in other blog entries (Practice + Time = Success), then you know you need to put in the time practicing. It’s no rocket science people, although, if it were, I think you’d have an easier time of it.
One exercise I am fond of creating for my students is to match them up in class 1 on 1 and get them chatting about anything. Basically, I task them with getting to know as much about their partner as they can. They usually get right into it. I keep my distance as having a “teacher” hang over their conversation will make them nervous. After 2 or 3 minutes, I check in with them. I ask them if they are comfortable speaking English with their partner. Most are.
I then suggest that they take their conversation down to the street, or to go for a short ride on a nearby MRT while continuing to speak in English. Imagine yourself in such a situation. You are meeting a fellow Taiwanese student, getting to know them and after class, you take the MRT together. Can you imagine yourself successfully participating in such an English conversation?
No? Why not?
It’s a fear of social embarrassment. Most of my students express concern that the strangers that surround them on the street or MRT will think they are showing off. While I understand that some believe this causes them to lose face, I suggest that you actually gain face by overcoming this social stigma. When I force my students to take their conversations out of the classroom and onto the streets, they are extremely reluctant, but within 10 minutes of accepting this challenge, they overcome their fear and, as I’ve suggested in previous blogs, that fear is gone. Forever.
It’s so surprisingly simple to overcome and is a great example of how we can face and conquer our fears. I suggest that you immediately stop caring what strangers might think of you as you practice your skills in public. Get that 900+ TOIEC score, get a great job and buy yourself a Benz. Who has all the face now?
Quick Tip: Just Do It!!
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