Hey everyone – this is a post promoting my friend Peter’s new workshops for English learners!
These are not official Thinking in English events, but Peter has been kind enough to offer discounts to Patreon members AND Patreon members can attend his Grammar Workshops for FREE until the end of the year.
If you have any questions, make sure to contact Peter directly – https://peter-english.com
Peter’s Grammar Workshop
Starting on Wednesday 6th November, Peter will host Grammar Workshops every Wednesday.
He will focus on a different Grammar topic every week.
What to Expect?
- Worksheets with challenging exercises
- Join a 45 minute Zoom call with Peter and other students
- Peter explains and demonstrates the grammar
- Ask Peter questions, and do speaking activities with other students
- Or, if you prefer just to watch, that’s ok. You can keep your camera and microphone off!
Workshop will take place every Wednesday at 12pm and 5pm UK Time
FREE for Thinking In English Patreon subscribers until the end of 2024
- All you have to do is complete this form
Non-patrons can join here.
Want to see the list of grammar topics ?
Why Do We Avoid Studying Grammar?
Peter has written an article about grammar learning. Read it, try answering a few of his test questions, and then consider joining his workshops!
Learning grammar is a crucial part of learning a language. However, many language learners (including me!) don’t spend enough time practising new grammar. But why?
We want to be fluent. We believe that traditional styles of learning languages, like we experienced at school, don’t lead to fluency. I remember studying French grammar and learning vocabulary for years, and I still couldn’t even have a simple conversation.
We also know lots of stories about people who moved to a new country and learned to speak the language fluently in the “natural way”. So, we try to do the same, we listen to podcasts, we try to read and watch videos, and we try to talk as much as possible.
This is a great method but it often means that we neglect learning new grammar.
Additionally, it’s difficult to use new grammar when you are speaking!
The problem is this: you have to stop and think about the rules. It breaks your flow. When you have to stop and think about what you are going to say, you feel less fluent and, as a result, less confident.
Therefore, we sometimes avoid learning new grammar because we feel more confident and fluent when we stick to the basic grammar we know.
But, obviously, if we only use basic grammar we eventually limit ourselves in one of two ways. Either, we will never even try to say anything complicated and only engage in very simple and boring conversations.
Or, we try to express complex ideas with simple grammar, we make lots of mistakes, and we often feel frustrated that we can’t show our true personality in our target language.
So, it’s time to add a little bit of grammar into your English learning routine!!
TEST: Are you confident about your grammar? Try these?!
Here are three tricky grammar questions.
In theory all of these topics are lower intermediate (B1) level. However, in my experience as a teacher, they often confuse even C1+ level students!
- Basic modal verbs and their opposites
Read these two sentences:
- I must leave the house at 8am
- I have to leave the house 8am
They have exactly the same meaning.
But what’s the opposite?
- I mustn’t leave the house at 8am
- I haven’t to leave the house at 8am
- I don’t have to leave the house at 8am
One of these is incorrect.
The other two are correct but have completely different meanings.
Which is wrong and what’s the difference between the other two??
- Present perfect vs past simple
- I have lost my keys…
- I lost my keys…
- … 4 times in my life
- … this morning
Match the first half of the sentence with the correct second half.
- Gerund or infinitive?
- We are considering to go to the new restaurant
- We are considering going to the new restaurant
Which is correct?
The way EVERYONE learns!
We need to remember something we already know. The way that EVERYBODY learns ANYTHING…
First: We don’t know about something and we learn it for the first time
Second: We try to use or repeat the new knowledge. But it is not natural yet, it requires lots of thought and effort! In other words: we PRACTISE
Third: After enough practice we start to use this knowledge naturally, without having to stop and think about it! For learning grammar, it is at this stage that we can use the new grammar fluently.
So what’s the lesson? If we want to arrive at the third stage (fluency), we have to start with the first and second stages!
Don’t be afraid of feeling less fluent while you’re learning and practising something new. It’s the ONLY way to learn!
Regularity is Key!
Like with everything, you will have the best results if you do something regularly. Incorporate it into your routine!
If you practising new language regularly:
- It is much more likely that you will remember it.
- Your confidence will increase. Confidence is the most important part of fluency!
- You will learn more! In the long term, practising regularly always means practising more. Eventually, sporadic learning routines are always less productive.
If you join my Grammar Workshop every week for the next 6 months, you will cover 25 different grammar topics. That is more than in any normal textbook or year-long English course!
Give It a Try!
Here’s three reasons why you should:
- My explanations might help make some things clearer. I know there are certain areas of English grammar you find hard to understand, maybe you are just missing the right explanation!
- You can get some practise with written and speaking exercises.
- If you feel shy and don’t want to speak, you don’t have to! Just join the call with your camera off and watch. You only have to ask questions or join speaking activities if you want to!
And the biggest reason of all?
If you’re a Thinking In English Patreon subscriber, you can join my Grammar Workshops for FREE until the end of 2024.
So you’ve got nothing to lose!!
Peter’s Grammar Workshop
Starting on Wednesday 6th November, Peter will host Grammar Workshops every Wednesday
We will focus a different Grammar topic every week
Every Wednesday at 12pm and 5pm UK Time
FREE for Thinking In English Patreon subscribers until the end of 2024
All you have to do is complete this form !
Non-patrons can join here !
Want to see the list of grammar topics ?
Visit Peter’s website: https://peter-english.com
Vocabulary List
Crucial – Very important or necessary for success.
Neglect – To ignore something or not take care of it when you should.
Break your flow – To stop your focus or concentration, often because of an interruption.
Engage – To get involved or to pay full attention to something.
Express – To show or say what you think or feel.
Stick to – To continue doing something or follow a plan without changing.
Incorporate – To include or add something as part of a larger thing.
Sporadic – Happening sometimes but not regularly; occasional.
Nothing to lose – A phrase meaning you can try something because even if it goes wrong, you won’t be worse off than before.
Vocabulary Games and Activities!
Learn and practice vocabulary from this Thinking in English episode. Practice using 5 different study games and activities – including writing, listening, and memorisation techniques!
Flashcards
Matching Game
Learning Game
Test Yourself
Listening and Spelling
