While the Key Learning Structures are key to progress with the language, they are oftentimes also the hardest part for your brain to internalize.
The key thing to really progress without getting stuck in your fluency when speaking is not only to understand them but to be able to use them without thinking too much.
In the podcast series “Fluency Test”, I’ll ask you to make some “Quick translations”. So this is NOT an audio file to simply “consume”.
This time, you need to listen actively and then also take action by speaking OUT LOUD.
I’ll give you some sentences in English and then I’ll prompt you to translate the sentences into German by asking you always:
- How would you say …?
I’ll give you for each sentence just a few seconds (silent period) to translate it, then I’ll give you one right answer (Yes, I say just ONE possible right answer, because there might be sometimes more).
Remember: Give your answers SPEAKING OUT LOUD to get the most out of this test for yourself!
Why only a few seconds?
Because this way you’ll get a very honest feedback about how good your brain has internalized the key concepts of this lecture.
You’ll notice that the vocabulary is not very hard and the sentences are normally not that long. The focus is more on the structures.
It is key not only to be able to say them right but also quickly, this way you know for sure that your brain has adapted them well so when you speak, you’ll feel more “fluent” and you don’t need to think so much when building sentences.
You don’t have to be perfect of course and you still might make a lot of mistakes with articles and endings for example, but while going through the test, try to be brutally honest and ask yourself:
- How accurate am I translating?
- Am I able to come up quickly within the silent period with the answer?
If you don’t feel comfortable, I recommend you to stop as soon as you notice you’re making too many mistakes or you’re too slow.
Keep in mind: You don’t have to be perfect, but you have to feel comfortable.
In case you need to stop, first refer back to the Key Learning audio files and sheets and review them. Then practice a little bit more the Key Learning structures.
For example:
- Writing sample sentences
- Reciting sample sentences out loud
- Practicing and “juggling” with the structures like in my daily “Verb Juggling” lessons
Afterward, try again.