“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.” -Stephen Covey
Photo courtesy -@indykadeer
Speaking English Fluently and Confidently
It is one thing to be exam ready and completely different to being work-ready.
In your dental exams, interviews, being with patients - if you have to think of your grammar instead of your content to say, you are putting yourselves a few places down, so get that fear out of the system.
If you are not confident to speak, talk to everyone in English like you are in the destined country already- let your friends and family make fun but the mistakes you make will never be repeated. And they will slowly let it go - so don't be shy, that's the only way it will improve - The accent does not matter - the use of words and grammar correctly does.
Get learning to use the words 'sorry, please and thank you ' - here its people way of talking ' yes please ', 'no thank you' so if you answer 'Yes/No ' to a question they think it's impolite.
And a million 'excuse me' and 'sorry' !! 'Sorry, I didn't see you behind me when I turned my back', sorry I didn't hold the door as I didn't realise it was u (You must have been a mile away!!) - so be ready for that.....
If you didn't hear something someone has said u say 'pardon me' a politer form of sorry!!
How are you today is answered 'Not too bad' usually than 'I am fine ' to which we are used to?
If you are aiming for the UK, would def recommend the BBC series -The English we speak.
I also would recommend you listen to BBC radio and BBC news - just to familiarise with the way of speaking.
And it's not just about the exams you will need to really get a grasp of the language to understand and communicate with your patients effectively.
"Bloody hell mate! A fortnight ago I was down the local having a chin-wag with this fit bird, feeling pretty chuffed with myself, when some dodgy-looking bloke came up and started getting lairy with me. I don't know what he was on about; I thought he was taking the piss, but he wouldn't stop giving me aggro. I reckon he must have been off his tits. Next thing I knew the Old Bill had shown up and nicked this geezer before he could scarper. What a load of bollocks!
If you could make any sense of that you are 'gonna be ok '- that the narrator had been talking to a pretty female in a pub two weeks ago when they'd been accosted by an aggressive and possibly drunk man who was then arrested by the police.
This is an interesting article
Check this article as well- some good points
All the above points are for the UK - if you going to a different country please check out some basics slangs /usages of English for that country.
Being Ready For The English Exam
Go for courses
Be ready and prepared, as the validity is usually only for 2 years in most places - so don't give the exam till u are sure you will be able to give the required exam / apply for a visa in that timeframe.
Best way to improve your language is to watch English documentary / English series/daily soaps (try to pick from one from the country you are eyeing to go -as all have their own accent, slangs, and tone of talking).
In England, one of the most commonly watched is 'Coronation street/East enders/Emmerdale'
Always watch with subtitles, pick up words you don't know look it up in the dictionary.
Read English books (facts/fiction/ biographies) and pick out words you don't know, practice them.
Read dental journals - get familiar with evidenced-based dentistry and terms for statistics.
Other languages
If you plan correctly learning the language to the country of choice - like Welsh/ Irish , and some parts of US / Canada , encourage Spanish / French . So would be a huge advantage for you to be one up on the language , and would be a huge benefit to you.
Comments