"Language practice gymnastics"

When we learn languages (especially on our own) it can get very boring and tedious sometimes. Also it can be frustrating to know if we are making progress with writing and speaking or not.

One way to see how we are progressing is to do some language learning "sports" and this can make us more aware of things we enjoy and things we find hard.

Here are some "gymnastics" ideas for you:

1. Try writing some interesting sentences with big words and speaking them:

"these parasols were perfectly positioned for presenting a particularly practical photo print previously prepared." 

Try to say this slow then fast

2. Make a complex grammatical sentence as best as you can:

"I would have thought that he could have done it more quickly, but he wasn't able to complete the project he had started, maybe he will be able to finish it next week"

3. Try related sound words:

a springy spring sprung,

a lucky plucky duck,

nine nice nieces from Nice,

peppercorns were peppered over a pizza

trying to tie a tight tie on a tightrope in Thailand

running a right royal run on the right side of a roundabout right around the perimeter

4. Count 1-100 out loud as fast as you can. 1,2,3,4,5 etc  Then say some random numbers: 7251, 8725, 1867 out loud.

5. Say "he didn't do it, didn't he? No I don't think he did" 5 times for pronunication practice.

6. Make a list of interesting words (nouns or verbs):

stretch

cuddle

flick-through

hob-knob

rumble

flabbergast

chuckle

slapdashly

gurgle

grimace

grapple

yomp

7. Go for a "20 second sprint" and see how much you can write in 20 seconds: Here is mine:

Start: "I am now writing to see how much I can write in 20 seconds, it is interesting to see that when we do this it can be fascinating" Finish.(28 words)

8. Go for a "marathon" and see if you can read out loud without stopping (apart from to take a breath!) for 5 minutes from a book.

9. Make a big number and say it:

999,999,999

which is: "nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine"

817,926,345

which is: "eight hundren and seventeen million, nine hundred and twenty-six thousand, three hundred and forty-five"

1.923678 is "one point nine two three six seven eight"

1/200  is "one over two-hundred" or "one two-hundreths"

78 x 91 is "seventy-eight times ninety-one"

865-718 is "eight hundred and sixty-five minus seven hundred and eighteen"

99+2 = "ninety-nine plus two"

10/10 = "ten out of ten"

10. Sing a nursery-rhyme:

Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John,
Went to bed with his trousers on;
One shoe off, and one shoe on,
Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John!

 

Have fun!

Bye for now

Alan