Use It or Lose It

 

Exercising brains: conversation verses no practice

In sports and other activities where hard work develops strength and ability, there is a saying:  Use It or Lose It!  The meaning is that, if you don't use it--your muscles in this case--, you will lose it--your muscle strength.  

And this meaning can apply to almost any activity you start because, over time, if you do not continue to engage in that activity, you will eventually lose the level of ability gained through all your hard work. (Especially those that require the brain to get a good work-out!)

Language is also an activity that requires hard work to develop.  So, like any other discipline, without practice or use, levels of proficiency gained will start to diminish as well.

Summer time is where I usually see this factor play out: Students work hard on their English development and then drop off from any usage during the summer months.

But this is easily preventable by taking some simple steps through out the summer months, and even as we start the fall season.  

Here are some suggestions:

• When doing your weekly shopping, make an effort to speak to the cashier or ask for help finding items in the store.

• When you order food for the family through the drive-up window, YOU place the order (not your English-speaking family member)

• Speak directly to your children's activity leaders; ask questions about each child's progress...how are things coming along, etc. .., and then respond (keep the conversation going for any duration that you are comfortable with)

• Do video chats with anyone in your circle who has some level of English speaking on a regular basis (your friends, your tutor, etc.).  Make the chats short and fun with just enough conversation to practice everyday language.

The main point to remember is that, like exercising muscles, your language skills get stronger over time just by doing "repetitions" (doing the same thing over and over again); all your efforts DO eventually add up to something significant!

Most students that find ways to stay "engaged" with their English speaking skills find that it gets easier over time, and that just "using it" --even just a little bit regularly--brings rewards of gradual, advanced language skills.

So, USE IT--your English--, have a conversation, and stay in the game!

by Phyllis White