Ep. 26 - Try THIS Strategy To Learn Difficult English

Do you feel like you're not improving in your English? There are many complicated parts of English that students find very difficult. Maybe you're studying grammar, vocabulary, phrasal verbs, expressions, verb tenses, and other details in English. In this episode, Jesse teaches you a trick to try when you get stuck with your English and you feel like you're not improving.

The secret is... Less is More. Focus on only one grammar point, vocabulary, or expression that you're having trouble with and become obsessed with that for one week. Jesse will go into further detail with this in this episode.

Visit sweedacademy.com/podcast for episode notes and a listening quiz.

I. VOCABULARY and EXPRESSIONS
(The words and terms are in order of when you will hear them)

I’ll be honest… - (Fluency Builder) Transition to say something a bit surprising or unexpected
To have you stumped – To make somebody confused about something
Look at the big picture– (Expression) Get the general idea about something
Less is more – (Expression) Simplification leads to better results
To get lost – To be confused and to lose information about something
Take one principle- (Expression) Use ‘take’ sometimes to mean ‘use’. 
Over the next week– ‘Over’ here means ‘during’. We use this for durations of time.
Forget about it– (Pronunciation) 
To catch something – To understand a principle or idea. Normally subtle.
To be immersed in something – To be completely surrounded by something
Math formula– (Vocabulary) Math equation to find an answer
Set a goal for yourself – Use the verb ‘set’ to say ‘make’.
 
Did you catch any other phrasal verbs or expressions you like? Write them here.
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Become a Participating Member and Practice

II. Fill-In-The-Blank
(Listen to the podcast -again if necessary- and answer the questions. Use the expressions above to help you.)

1.“Let’s take a look at the finer details that ______________at times.”
2. “Choose one concept and I want you to become obsessed with it _______________.”
3. “Maybe the first day, you might _______________.”
4.“The next day, you might ______________.”
5.“Then by day 3 and 4, you’ll become so ___________________ that these principles will start to pop out at you.’ 
6.“You try studying so much, and you end ___________________.”
7. “__________________, I have trouble teaching those.”
8.“Language isn’t meant to be used as ____________________.”

III. Listening Quiz
(Listen to the episode and answer the questions.)

1.Practicing listening exercises with background noise can help your listening.          T / F
2.“To knock your socks off” means to impress somebody.                                             T / F
3.Language is simply a mathematical formula of grammatical rules.                         T / F
4.Phrasal verbs are impossible to learn and use naturally.                                          T / F
5.According to Jesse, the more you study, the better.                                                    T / F     
6.This strategy may take a few days to sink in and start working.                               T / F     
7.Memorizing grammar rules is a good way to master a language.                           T / F
8.This tip will work for everybody who is listening.                                                       T / F
9.Jesse thinks it’s important to have a specific goal to work towards.                        T / F
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Answers: 
II – 1. may have you stumped 2. over the next week  3. forget about it  4. catch one or two  5. immersed in it  6. getting lost  7. I’ll be honest  8. math formula 
 
III- 1.T  2.T  3.F  4.F  5.F 6.T  7.F  8.F 9.T