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Read the material or a portion of it out loud.
- If audio or video, practice talking along with it and imitating the speakers.
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Practice verbally summarizing the material:
- Use the 4-3-2 technique:
- Describe the material for 4 minutes, pause, then do it again for 3 minutes, pause, then do it again for 2 minutes.
- Each time, try to ensure you are still sharing the essential points and getting clearer and clearer in your explanations as you go.
- Practice giving a presentation about the subject to different audiences:
- Friends
- Small children – how would you need to simplify the language?
- A classroom or office – how would you make your language more formal?
- Use the 4-3-2 technique:
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Write questions about the selection and practice asking and answering them.
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Think about alternative positions or perspectives on the material and practice representing them as though you are in a debate.
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Record yourself doing one of the above activities:
- Listen to your recording and critique yourself:
- Do you need to fix grammatical, pronunciation, or vocabulary issues? How is your intonation and emphasis?
- Re-record yourself and see if you've improved.
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Practice with a partner:
- Choose a conversation preparation guide and complete the roleplays.
- Go to a zoo or museum and talk about what you see in the target language.
- Choose an issue you’re passionate about and try to convince the other person to support your cause.