Free English-Speaking Practice Using Customer Service Calls: A Game-Changing Strategy for Language Learners. Here is how to do it.
Dr Manjusha Susan
Assistant Professor. Inspiring and guiding students to improve their English Communication Skills. Explores AI & its impact on language learning. Sharing as I learn. #Communication Skills #AI in language learning
Welcome to the second edition of my Newsletter.
I made this Newsletter to do 2 things for you:
1. Help you understand various aspects of English Communication.
2. Help you improve your English Language Skills to boost your productivity and accelerate your career/business.
In today’s issue, I want to give you a solution to a peculiar challenge faced by English learners. The challenge of finding a partner for self-paced speaking practice.
While self-talk is beneficial, some learners struggle to assess their skills independently and worry about transitioning from solo practice to speaking with others. Engaging in natural communication is the best for oral skill development but is not an easy option for two reasons:-
1. Online platforms connecting learners with native speakers can be expensive, deterring potential users.
2. Initiating interaction on these platforms can be intimidating for learners unfamiliar with English conversations.
I found an interesting solution to this recently. Opt for English language (if you have an option) instead of choosing your native language while dealing with any customer care executives.
If you are a beginner and hesitate to speak to others for fear of being looked down on, use this option when dealing with customer service. This way you will get a real-life speaking partner at no cost, completely free.
This real-life situation allows learners to test their language skills in a genuine context, receiving respectful responses to their queries. Utilizing these interactions not only helps solve problems but also serves as a tool for assessing language abilities and building confidence.
So, what is to be done?
1. Buy a product online from any online platform of your choice. (You can try this even if you don’t want the product if you have an option for cancellation at any time.) Later make a call to the customer service executive.
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2. Compile a list of questions or concerns you want to address during the conversation.
3. Choose the English language option when contacting customer service.
4. Communicate clearly with the representative, actively participating in the English conversation.
5. Seek clarification if needed, enhancing your comprehension skills during the interaction.
6. Pay attention to new words or phrases used by the representative, expanding your English vocabulary.
7. Thank the representative at the end, regardless of the outcome, fostering positive communication experiences.
8. Record the entire conversation to review later for pronunciation, tone, and identifying areas for improvement.
9. Listen to the recorded conversation, analyze your language use, identify areas for improvement, and learn from the experience.
10. Consistently choose English when contacting customer service, using each interaction as an opportunity for language practice.
Today’s takeaway
Use everyday scenarios like communicating with customer service to test and improve your English-speaking skills, fostering confidence in real-life situations.
Have a great Sunday…See you in March!
Dr Manjusha Susan George
Focused on achieving objectives, contributing and applying what I have learned to improve my environment. Pursuing the excellence.
1 年These tips are very helpful. The big challenge for non-native English speakers is the fear of making mistakes. Having a conversation about any daily situation ( stores, banks, supermarkets) with real people and real fields, helps to improve our confidence and gain experience. I used to learn one new word every day and tried to use it - still doing-