Episode Transcript
Ixchell Reyes
The DIESOL podcast

Brent Warner
digital integration in English as a second or other language

Ixchell Reyes
episode 54 interview with Talal.

Brent Warner
Welcome to diesel This is episode 54 We are your hosts I am Brent Warner

Ixchell Reyes
and I’m Ixchell Reyes. Hey Brent Good evening to you

Brent Warner
Good evening I know now we have to like we have very limited time frames now that we can we can record because you know you’re working and then I am a my night is your morning and so basically we can only record on California’s Friday or Saturday night right? That’s correct. You’re really cutting into my social life here show my all the hey all the Friday parties that I want to go to.

Ixchell Reyes
I know you see Brent is such a DIESOL diehard, DIESOL co host that he gives up his social

Brent Warner
all the things I have to say.

Ixchell Reyes
Geez, lay on the guilt. But anyway

Brent Warner
How’s things going for you?

Ixchell Reyes
Oh, great. Of course I mentioned in the last episode that men Japan and you can’t just can’t not have a good time in Japan. I mean, it’s it’s it’s people flow. I was saying that people follow the COVID guidelines here even when there’s no mask mandate. People are wearing their masks. And it’s just I don’t have to worry about a lot of things. So yeah, it’s awesome. It’s awesome. But I felt kind of disconnected to of course life in the states it because of the time changes and I think you guys just had the Daylight Saving Time. Time changed. Yeah, so ended.

Brent Warner
Now we’re in the standard. And so it’s like right now as we’re recording it’s pretty dark out at five let before 530 right now in the evening. So yeah, you know, it’s that we’re all gonna get that seasonal affective disorder.

Ixchell Reyes
Not me. I’m in Japan.

Brent Warner
And then also, we’ve got like, we’re moving into holiday season. We had Halloween recently. We’ve got we’ve got Thanksgiving coming up. You know, shortly. Well, the timing ended up being a little weird. But you know, a week or so after this episode comes and then right into all the winter holidays Christmas and you know, Hanukkah and everything, so…

Ixchell Reyes
I know. 2021 is leaving us

Brent Warner
I know. It’ll be it’ll be gone before you know it.

Ixchell Reyes
Alright, well, in today’s episode, we are interviewing a former student. His name is Talal. Talal. Are you there?

Talal
Yeah, I’m here.

Ixchell Reyes
Good. Good. Morning to me. We’re all over the place. So Talal I’ve been really impressed with Talal’s growth in terms of English and in terms of his ability to interact and use humor. That’s one of the one of the things where he caught my you know, I’m he was very memorable because he’s, he’s able to use American humor effectively and that of course, for language learners. It’s harder can be a challenge. Yeah, it’s it’s a challenge. And to wall was one of those people who listen to our podcast so you know, our our podcast is mainly aimed at teachers but he was listening to our podcast and then asking, Hey, in Episode blah, blah, blah. Brent said this or use it this what is it? I couldn’t I couldn’t understand. Because you know, he’s awesome. And that to me was like, pretty impressive because I don’t know what we sound like to people who aren’t teachers. And sometimes I think well, you know, teachers will understand our will maybe be interested but non teachers.

Brent Warner
Yeah, you know, it’s funny because I don’t – I make adjustments for my students when I’m when I’m talking to my students when I’m in class. Right. And so I’ll, I’ll simplify a little bit or I’ll slow down a little bit, but I never feel like I do that for the show. Like the show is pretty, you know, is my natural English speaker to English speaker pace, I guess and so, so one Talal I’m pretty impressed that you listened to the show and, you know, grateful for your listens, but also, you know, I’ll be interested to hear I think we’re going to talk about a little bit but like, as you’re listening to these conversations that are not really meant. I mean, I guess I gotta say this the right way. They are intended for teachers, right. And they’re and, you know, and, and so as a language learner listening to the show, for your own purposes, I will, I think will be interested to hear a little bit about how you know, and it doesn’t just have to be our show, it could be any podcast that you’re listening to, but like about how you’re listening and how you’re trying to catch the nuances of the language.

Ixchell Reyes
So Talal I’m curious what so one of the things that I’m always you’re always wondering is how do students keep motivated, maybe after class because of course, in class, a lot of students will do what the teacher asks them to or the homework but how do you continue to support your own learning outside of the classroom? What is it that you find motivating to keep you going?

Talal
Alright, so first of all, it’s, it’s kind of self motivation. And then it depends also on the teachers, the your classmates. Like, you know, for me, like, I usually like used to, as you said, I used to humor, I like fun, you know, fun way to teach English. This style is like my, you know, I love it. So when I go with teacher who using listening moves the class are using, Jess, you know, yeah, why were you cool?

Ixchell Reyes
I say Jif

Talal
Yeah. I know, you think Jif. What do you think, Brent?

Brent Warner
I’m a hard Gif person. Yeah, for sure.

Ixchell Reyes
I moved over. I did move over. I don’t remember which side I’m on. Whatever.

Unknown Speaker
Good. So you know what? As I told him to bet on yourself first, then your teacher? The way how do you style, the teaching style in the class, after that, you’ll really feel motivated, you’ll feel good. And the diversity in the class and everything that you honestly.

Ixchell Reyes
So so in the class, I do understand that because, you know, I like to have fun in the class too. But so outside of the class, once here, they’re not there anymore. And once you’re back with your own friends that speak your own language, how do you stay motivated, personally, what has been your experience to stay motivated to improve your English?

Unknown Speaker
You know, like, I enjoy, like studying English, especially grammar stuff. So when when we are like, together, with like, our friends, we speak our native language. We discuss them a lot. And that’s really fun. Honestly, for me, that’s really funny. So it motivates me like because I know grammar really well. I know myself and this skill, I’m really good. So when I discuss it with people, honestly, I feel really good. I help somebody else, you know. So that’s really good for me that that motivates me like so much.

Ixchell Reyes
So you gain more confidence from being around people who also enjoy English that helps you to motivate you. So, Tala, you mentioned, again, that you already have a natural interest in grammar, which is you know, something you get a lot of people who are either interested in the enabled, you know, being able to speak, but don’t care about the grammar necessarily, but what do you do to set like, I know that you watch a lot of movies, I know that you listen to a lot of music. Can you tell us a little bit about that? What how do you practice it beyond your friends, I know that you’re not you’re not spending most of your time, your free time discussing grammar with your friends on the weekends.

Unknown Speaker
Sometimes we go like that, we think about it, then we discuss it. And of course, I enjoy. So the story is like when I was like, when I started in my country studying English, there was a teacher there, who like was practicing with me the grammar all time. So every morning I came to the class, he was like looking vision symbol, Present Continuous sentences. And tell me the difference between and I was always like, maybe four to three months like that. I guess somebody’s got more than you know, that’s it. That is kind of like it’s a little bit so that one of the way I practice. So right now I have the ability really to recognize a sentence orders. Just when I looked at it. I know this is this, like the citizens like prison symbol or continuous. So I don’t know, like that naturally right now. It’s got enough for Billy naturally, you know Exactly,

Brent Warner
yeah. So till all when you’re going on your own, so you’re kind of distinguishing the different patterns or trying to recognize, you know, hey, this means this and this means this, but like, if, let’s say, for example, you’re out of class, and you’re just watching a movie or something like that. And when you find something that you don’t understand, so you come across a sentence, and you’re like, I don’t know what they’re saying here. How do you how do you go about trying to figure that out?

Unknown Speaker
So usually, you know, I go ask, like, my teachers that they have, like connection with them. Or sometimes I use like tools that you guys mentioned in your show sometimes, like, let’s say, you glish English is one of my best, honestly, a really, like, yeah, it’s like, amazing for me. So yeah,

Ixchell Reyes
I had I had an inkling that you had been using your English because I know you and a couple of others that I’ve that I’ve mentioned it to actually use it a lot. So when are you finding yourself? So again, it’s interesting that you’re using the tools that we mentioned, see, Brent, there’s another niche within a niche audience for us. So when you’re using English, do you find yourself using it because you heard something in a movie? Or you heard someone say something? Or why do you what is it that that? Tell us a little bit more about that?

Unknown Speaker
Alright, so any word that I have problem with, like, pronunciation? I hope I pronounced it well. Alright, so what the Lord’s, and I just got, like, you know, different accents. You know, so are you with a American accent? And then I just get the right pronunciation. Yeah. So Yeah.

Ixchell Reyes
That’s pretty cool. I actually, I still, I know that many of the people I tell about they’ll, they’ll use it for a couple of, they’ll use it a couple of times after I mentioned it, but I don’t know a lot that we’ll go back and, and reuse it. So. But I have noticed, I have told you that hey, you’re I can tell your pronunciation has shifted a little bit where not that I couldn’t understand before I could understand you well, but now I notice, hey, you’ve been in the States for a while I see. Is that because you’ve been you you also practice from what you’ve been watching? Or how did you? I mean, some of the sounds in English are pretty hard to make, how did how, what are other techniques that you use for your own pronunciation? Alright,

Unknown Speaker
of course. So honestly, like, sometimes people, I see somebody, I am at a time. One of the things that I’m doing is like watching YouTube. You know, like, when I see any show, that I know the person who like, you know, deal with this show. I really love to watch it close into. So I would like I found like showing YouTube, and I know the person who speaks there. So he has like, such a great accent honestly. So I try to imitate him. The other thing is like when I was in that Institute, there is two teachers. And they are originally actually from Germany, I think. So both children give me like two advices one of them was like training your mouth mouths. I was like, alright, that word wise to the other one was, like, told me that you need to try to speak in English without thinking in your native language. So this is one of the things also, you know, let me improve a little bit. I think so yeah. That’s pretty much it.

Ixchell Reyes
So you said imitating is what helped has helped you and then also the advice from your teachers who were their first language was I think you said German and maybe not English, right? One of them said to train your muscles.

Unknown Speaker
Exactly like your mouth muscles. He said that like I don’t understand it, like first time really well. But then when the time I got it, like when when I play the verse, and I told you how much so it’s kind of like you’re trying to like to get his accent his way to speak. You know, this is this like other way it’s kind of sound crazy. I’m gonna say, yeah, it’s speaking to yourself.

Brent Warner
Oh, speaking.

Ixchell Reyes
I didn’t hear that. Say that again. One more time.

Unknown Speaker
Yeah, it’s my sound a little bit, but you know, it’s speaking to yourself. Just get your mirror. Speaking with yourself still anything, say anything. You can image it, anybody you want? Any let’s say actors, a reporter in the news, whatever. So this way you can really improve your speaking.

Brent Warner
You know, that’s funny. No, sorry, go ahead. I’m just gonna say it’s just interesting because your techniques really parallel my techniques on how I studied Japanese, like, almost all the things that you’re talking about are the things that I did when I was learning. Right. And Ixchell, I think you’re you’re kind of setting you to English, right?

Ixchell Reyes
Yeah, I was excited. I was gonna say exactly the same thing, the same techniques as the thinking that imitating and the training of their muscles and then speaking to yourself, I used to do that and just say, repeat who you see, like a news reporter. Exactly.

Brent Warner
Yeah, it’s funny. When I the first time I was in Japan, I was staying in a hostel. And I was watching TV and there, you know, people from all over the world, they’re including Japanese people. And like, I was sitting there watching the TV, and I did I did almost exactly what you’re talking about Tila, which is, you know, they would say something on the TV. And then I would try to repeat it. And then I would sit and I would like feel how my tongue would like, flap or tap the tongue, the the roof of my mouth in order to get that sound, like, as close as I could get it. Right. And I really understand exactly what you’re saying. Because it’s like, at first I’m like, I don’t, you know, like, I can’t make these sounds right. I you know, watashi wa Gaya Jean Ducey, right, and like, there’s this whole like, like, you know, like this, like, Americanized sound of Japanese, right. And then like, as I started slowing down, and like really trying to get it back, then I didn’t have access. Well, I mean, we had we had VCRs back then. But like, you know, it wasn’t like it is today where you can watch it online and pause it and go back a second really quickly. And that, you know, easily multiple times, we if I did that on a on a videotape, it would have worn it out really quickly. But but I just really resonate with how you’re saying that. And then I would look in the mirror, same thing you’re talking about, like, try to talk to myself, and really try to get those sounds until all I want, I’m wondering now, because I’m like, you have all of my techniques, which is I’m wondering if you also did one thing that I did too, and Ixchell, you you as well, which is in my house, I would take sticky notes. Like I was living in a in an apartment, and I put sticky notes on everything like it is my entire I looked like a mad person’s house, you know, like, it’s like, there’s just like crazy sticky notes on everything. And then I would like every time I would see that thing, I would have that vocabulary word. So it’d be like, you know, you know, kitchen, like when I walked into the kitchen, there would be on the door and it would say like, you know, kitchen or die taco and then and then it would be like TV would be Teddy be you know, like, just so that I could kind of keep those words cycling inside of my head. I’m not sure. Did you guys ever do that? Or was I mad and alone on?

Talal
Yeah, I mean, I did that for a while, too. Yeah.

Ixchell Reyes
You know, I am listening to both of you talk about this. And it’s interesting, because now of course, I’m in Japan. I studied Japanese for several years for fun. And then I worked here and I was able to pick up a lot of vocabulary and phrasing and mannerisms here and there from being around people. But now I’m here after several years of having used the language or needing to use a language. And I find myself being again, at that shy place where I know what to say. But I don’t have the confidence to say it. So I’ll go and I don’t have anyone to translate for me. So I’m totally relying on myself to get around. And I’m having to go back as a sort of, you know, to the students steps that I tell students just try just speak, just say one word, it’s okay. And I had, you know, one of the things that I’ve had to memorize recently is when they asked you at checkout, if you need a bag, and I didn’t know because most people bring their own bags, they’re you know, they’re very big on recycling. So they use their own recyclable reusable bags. And I didn’t know that. So I had to learn now. And I do have instead of sticky notes though, I have a picture a picture of something on my phone and I write the you know, you can put you can type on your photos and I have it there, the kanji or the you know the label. So now I know that Ijebu Kudo guy at Macka. And the other day I was brave enough to say kick Goldust Nice, nice, nice. But I’m thinking like, oh, again. Confidence is so important and or To get you to use it, so I think I’m gonna start talking to myself in Japanese in front of them here.

Talal
Yeah, I mean, one of the stories I have, like, when I was speaking to myself on my own like, that is like my roommate and the other side. So sometimes they don’t knock the door, they just, you know, enter the door. I know, I’m speaking for myself. And then when I hear the door open, I take my phone, like I’m not crazy. I’m not crazy. I’m just

Brent Warner
brilliant technique.

Talal
I’m watching the dogs. I’m watching the dog.

Brent Warner
Your phone’s always ready, just in case you’re like, I’ve

Ixchell Reyes
been talking to this person this whole three hours.

Brent Warner
Yeah, that’s great. That’s actually you know, that can also be a comfortable technique. It’s funny, because sometimes, I mean, sometimes I see people walking down the street talking on the phone. And I’m like, wondering if they’re really talking to anyone. Maybe you could do that, right? Like you could you could even practice in public. Now you don’t have to wait until the room but

I want to follow up a little bit with the, with this idea of confidence, confidence in your, in your language. I think you’re we’re talking a little bit about these. You know, like, you start shy, maybe depending on your personality. Like I was definitely hesitant to start with my language as well and kind of took me some time to get into it. But till all for you. I mean, it sounds now and I don’t know what it was like for you before but you sound quite confident right? In your speaking and your ability to communicate things. Did you? Do you feel like you had to develop your confidence in English? Or do you feel like you were the type of person who just always went for it?

Talal
I think like, English landing won’t stop, you know, like, you need to improve this for all life. You know, you cannot just stop like, we take it just for 346 months. I know I’m done. I’m not confident now. No, it’s not. So you need to take your time actually, though, I want to say,

Brent Warner
yeah. Yeah, that totally makes sense to me. So like, so it’s kind of grown over time, then.

Talal
Exactly.

Ixchell Reyes
Tell all just, I want to hear a little bit more about just because I know there now might be other students out there or other people who are also practicing, you know, working on the English, for example, right now, my students are not just English students, I’m actually working with a group of teachers who are English teachers in Japan, they are all Japanese, but they all come to me, because they want to improve their English. So they’re constantly worried about their own English skills or English pronunciation. And, you know, they are English teachers just like me, they’re not better or worse than me, we are colleagues. And one of the things that I always, you know, tell them is, you’ve got to stay motivated, and you have to believe in yourself, when you’re trying to speak the language. If you believe that you’re gonna fail, then you’re probably going to fail. So you’ve got to, you’ve got to tell yourself, you know, keep at it, keep at it, even when you make a mistake, you’ve got to continue and keep pushing, keep pushing. So can you tell us a little bit about when maybe you found that challenging? Or maybe you felt discouraged, but you kept pushing, and you continued to get you through?

Talal
Honestly, like, you know, when you find like, academic boards, let’s say, you know, it’s kind of challenging. Sometimes it’s just, like, long sentence or Academy quotes, or somebody speak fast and like, you feel like you’re not improving, but the problem is not you. Sometimes the problem is the other people who are, let’s say, speaking or writing the words, to you, honestly. This thing like sometime makers toe, honestly, when you feel like, Oh, I’m bad, I cannot complete. And this case, don’t stop, just keep going. No, you know, like, this is pretty much. Exactly.

Ixchell Reyes
I think I actually agree with you on that. I do think sometimes it’s the other person sometimes I don’t understand and they’re speaking the same language I’m speaking and who knows how many times people don’t understand what I’m saying.

Talal
Exactly. Sometimes. You know, sometimes it just different dialogues, you know, different accent, and you kind of need to use to because, you know, I was in Chicago on for a while, and I have my own teacher there. So, my teacher there was like speaking too fast. And I know I have no way to change him. Like, there’s no way I’m gonna stick with him for three, four months. So in this case, I need to use to his way I need like to get along with him. You know, like, you just think about it. Like, you don’t but if way, so yeah, exactly.

Brent Warner
to like, comment follow up a little bit on your, your humor that you know, like the understanding of of, you know, cultural humor and American humor and I know you said you’ve been watching YouTube videos and movies and and those types of things. I guess there’s a couple different parts to this, but one Do you feel like American humor was easy for you from the beginning? Like did you connect with it well, or did you have to develop an understanding? And then to if you had to develop an understanding? How did you go about doing that?

Talal
I mean, when I was so when I was watching like Jim Carrey’s movies, you know, Jim Carrey with it, you know, so yeah, other things when I came here and found like memes, a lot of memes, sometimes. Yeah, sometimes, like, I don’t understand the memes itself. And I go like us, my friends, or I have like, let’s say, you know, quad group, I can go ask them, you know, so yeah, like, I mean, my struggle, like my friends, you know, there’s like, a close friend to me. We call ourselves like squad group, like, kidding, you know? So then when I go ask them, that’s it, they will let me know. So yeah, like it also develop your comprehension for the language itself. Because for me, like, it’s not just words, sometimes, like, I feel that sometimes knowledge is its culture. It’s not just words.

Ixchell Reyes
Yeah, just just memes. Memes are very difficult to understand. Because the, the meaning behind them is usually tied to something that happened in culture, and you have to be at that moment, the aware of what happened. And then three weeks later, something new happens and it changes and then of course, that, you know memes in itself as the humor keeps evolving as people create more of the same right, Brent? I think it’s hard to understand humor. I don’t know I don’t I don’t understand memes in Spanish. Some of my students post memes in Spanish and I don’t get them I understand the Spanish. I don’t understand why they’re funny.

Brent Warner
I think the the meme thing is interesting, too, because it moves so fast. Right? So fast. And so if you’re not in that cultural zeitgeist, right when it when it comes, like you’re, you’re gonna be completely lost. So like, I didn’t watch squid games when it first came out and took me. I was gonna bring that up. Yeah. And there’s tons of squid game memes out there, right? And I’m like, and I didn’t even recognize what the pictures were from, right? I just like, hey, there’s pictures of this thing. And people are making all these jokes. And like, sometimes I can kind of get the joke like, because it’s just like, the way that the picture looks right is connected to what they’re saying about it. But then I’m like, oh, and then after I watched squid game, so I wasn’t, you know, I wasn’t the first person watching it. And then I went back and I’m like, Oh, now I see what that means. Yeah, now there’s a deeper level even though I could kind of get what the what the joke was trying to say before it. It didn’t carry all the meaning behind it until after I had seen what the resource materials were just really tricky.

Ixchell Reyes
It’s hard. Talal, have you seen Squid Game?

Talal
No. Not yet. I’m waiting. Yeah.

Ixchell Reyes
I have a question too. Now. So you watch a lot of YouTube videos. Do you turn on the subtitles to that? Or are you just listening with completely without subtitles?

Talal
It depends. Sometimes. Sometimes it’s really easy. I can understand very well. Sometimes you know, as I told you sometimes to speak fast is different. So in this case, yeah, I would subtitles.

Ixchell Reyes
And do you watch over and over? Or do you just move on to another video because I know I told my students Hey, if you don’t you know listen to it two times. But I realized doing this in Japanese sometimes. I don’t want to watch the same thing two times. So I want to move on to something else. So it’s can be hard depending on what the video is. But what is your strategy?

Talal
Honestly, like I keep going on. I don’t start with one video. But sometimes if it’s interested, like, if I’m like kind of interested in that video, I’m going to repeat it, especially if it has like good knowledge of something like that. Funny stuff. I’m gonna repeat it, of course.

Ixchell Reyes
So the content does matter. It’s not just whatever, you know, whatever language they’re using the content has to be high interest.

Talal
Exactly. Yeah. I’m watching Japanese and stuff too, Brent. So yeah, sometimes, like when I’m watching Japanese, I’d be like, I’m watching those movies for a while

Brent Warner
Oh you’re building your Japanese language at the same time.

Talal
Not that much. (laughter) Oh, you know, I would like and listen, I kind of like, get the words you know, like in Japanese because I was watching anime when I was kid.

Brent Warner
Oh, yeah,

Talal
So I know it really well. That’s it.

Ixchell Reyes
Another fun fact about Talal. He he’s he’s also teaching himself Spanish.

Brent Warner
Oh. So you’re you have no shortage of languages to work with here.

Talal
I’m just, you know, it’s funny for me

Ixchell Reyes
so, so Talal. You, you remember what La Chancla is?

Talal
Chancla. Oh, my God. I hope nobody remembers.

Ixchell Reyes
We’ve mentioned like, chunk line some of our episodes, I believe, but it’s the it’s the shoe emoji that mothers throw at you. Well, culture.

Brent Warner
Not the emoji, they actually throw the shoes, right?

Ixchell Reyes
Yes.

Talal
I think it’s a Spanish. And Arabic, too.

Ixchell Reyes
They do like Spanish and Arabic tradition. Is it is an American thing for the mom to throw the shoe?

Brent Warner
No, no. I think like, I mean, you know, we’re talking about different culture, but like, I think the traditional thing in American culture is spanking. Right. Like, and I know where

Ixchell Reyes
They throw the hand. Yeah.

Brent Warner
Yeah (laughter) I guess so. Right? I mean, we’re talking about like, kind of like my, that, like, stopped around my generation or like, you know, like, I knew people that might have gotten spanking once or twice, you know, but, but I don’t think that’s very, I don’t know, for me, I don’t ever see or hear very much about spanking anymore. But, but I think the Chancla is still going strong, right?

Unknown Speaker
Yeah. So I guess I have other things to tell you about, like, let’s say speaking, you know, improved, like ways, or something like that. One of the ways and when I’m watching, like any podcast, let’s say, for example, your show, guys, so when I’m watching your show, like sometimes I don’t want to vocabulary or something like that, I’m looking for the way how he speaks. So I love like, let’s say when Brent, you know, do like, catch up with the guest. And back to the subject when they like, go out a little bit. I win, like Ixchell, like, you know, more information to that. So yeah, I learned from this way, so I got the technique too. So yeah, this is one of the way to also.

Brent Warner
Ah, I love that.

Ixchell Reyes
That’s pretty cool. I love that too. Because that’s not what I’m thinking of when people are listening. But you’re right, that’s exactly it. Brent does follow back with the person and bring brings them back to the topic right in. And I add extra information. Absolutely. That you got you hit that nail right on the head? That’s exactly what we do.

Brent Warner
Yeah, that’s great. Well, because it’s transition language, right? And so, so when we’re changing the purpose of our conversation, or when we’re trying to shift it, if you’re recognizing that, and then kind of paying attention saying, Oh, this time, you know, I’m sure I must repeat similar things or, you know, related types of language points as I do that, or, you know, on a regular basis. And, and I’m sure Ixchell that you probably do the same thing, too. We don’t, I don’t think about it in terms of our conversation, because I’m not studying, right, in that sense. But sometimes I do notice, like my own language patterns when I’m talking to students, right, some of the things that I say too much. My one that I still cannot break is “Does that make sense?” Right, like I keep asking that I need to, I need to get rid of it.

Oh, I did the same thing. Does that make sense? Is that clear? As sometimes? Do you get an answer that you think oh, yeah, it made sense. And sometimes you’re not sure if what you just said made sense. Anyway. That’s great. It is transitional language.

Yeah. So moving on. Talal! (laughter) so Talal, actually I am interested. So uh, you know, you talked a little bit about you glish. Or like, you know, maybe like YouTube in general or podcasts in general. I like the idea of you English and just kind of for you and how you used it. Do you have maybe two or three, either tools, websites, resources, things that you just go to all the time. In addition to you glish, that you find that you would recommend to other people who are who are studying language as well.

Talal
So let’s say like, other tools I usually use, one of them is like Hi Native. Ah, I think it’s like, oh, yeah,

Ixchell Reyes
Is this – I feel like I know this one. Is it? Tell us a little bit about it, then.

Talal
Yeah. So there’s, there’s like, Native people, and that you know, your words, and then they will tell you what you did for a while, you know, that one of the things for me, the best source, the best tool ever, you can use it, and you didn’t even use internet you didn’t you don’t need anything is book, your book. That’s it, you just go read it, and you will be fine. And you don’t need to enter. You can use it anytime you want. And I just realized that honestly. Like, you know, like maybe last three months when he wasn’t that Institute, one of the teachers came to me and told me, just go really will be fine. Okay, I’m gonna try my best. Until now, I’m trying my best, honestly, to get that, you know, study habit. One of the other way is, let’s say all the books to like, it’s really good. I’m trying to get to this way. I’m thinking about the audio books, like will be helpful for me. You know, I’m reading a book right now. It’s called Alchemist. Oh, yeah, I’m trying my best to exactly.

Brent Warner
I’ve got my copy right now, because we’re doing that in my classes.

Ixchell Reyes
It’s one of my favorite books.

Talal
Yeah, that’s why I buy one. And then I’m trying my best with it. Honestly, I’m trying to read it to get, you know, the, you know, the study habits with the reading habit. I’m not good either, honestly. But I’m trying my best to be.

Brent Warner
I have to say at all I really love like, I think the thing that is probably leads you to the most success is your positive attitude towards it. Because if you just say something. Like, it’s like a teacher’s dream. It’s like, why don’t you try reading a book? And you’re like, Hmm, that sounds like a good idea. Maybe I will read a book, right? And most, most people is like, No, I don’t want to read a book, like I want to do I want to go hang out with my friends or you know, whatever else it is so. But like, each of these things, you’re kind of saying like, Hey, you just jump into the thing like that, that seems to be like, at the base of everything that you’re sharing, is, give it a try. Jump in, don’t be afraid of it right? Like there, you’re not gonna hurt something with the language. And you know, that kind of that kind of positive attitude, I feel like leads to really fast growth in language, as compared to like, hesitating, and waiting and trying to like, you know, wait until I’m perfect, right?

Ixchell Reyes
I’m that type of learner. (laughter)

Unknown Speaker
And, you know, what, Brent, you mentioned something that like, when a teacher like, tell students like read the book and other students, nobody wanted a book, you know, like that. So one of the advice I will give it to, like, international students, you know, especially the don’t underestimate your teachers way. Because, you know, what, their academy, they know, don’t do my mistake sometimes when I like, when I see teacher use style that I don’t want to say, well, I don’t like that thing. I just, you know, you know, I’m not I’m not like, I’m not positive in that in that time. But then I was surprised when a teacher use his method with me. I was surprised and that I got 90 something. His way was just discussion, you know, discussion, discussion, discussion, there is nothing else. And the students in the class. Like we’re from different countries, Lithuania, or gli Aegir, United Arab Emirates. And that was really amazing. And they’re really better than me in English. Now, one of the things was really important that cost I was like thinking why this teacher didn’t do anything? No, he has no idea that you guys, you know, discuss the grammar, the vocabulary, then we will be fine. And really, I was fine.

Brent Warner
I love it. Listen to your teachers, everybody.

Ixchell Reyes
Yeah, don’t underestimate them. That’s like, that’s a quotable quote right there.

Brent Warner
Okay, so tons of great ideas. Till all I think the attitude and you know, the approaches that you’re taking are great and I think they can be really valuable. For I know that are some other students who listen, but also teachers to kind of recognize what students are doing. So I hope that some of these ideas can be kind of transitioned and shared in other classes in the future. But for now, let’s jump over.

Ixchell Reyes
Alright, right, it is time for our fun finds. And today I, my fun find is a place. It is Komaki castle. It’s called Komaki Jo, it is visible right outside my hotel window. And it’s about a mile away from here. It is a beautiful place. It is even more beautiful and creepy at night when it’s dark and quiet. And so by the time I get home from work, I there’s no light out, but I go run three Castle perimeters every night. And so now every every time I go, I get a little braver and go up another path or if it’s dark, I wait till the weekend and then I visit in the morning and go through that path and to ensure that it leads to some place.

Brent Warner
Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. But for sure it is scary running around some of those places at night. Like they’re definitely if they’re ghosts, they live in Japan for sure.

Ixchell Reyes
Yeah, Komaki Jo. Yeah.

Brent Warner
Everybody go visit Komaki Jo. Alright, so mine is the TSA PreCheck. I know that doesn’t sound very fun. But you know what, here’s where the fun part is going to be. I don’t have to take my pants off when I go to the airport. anymore. Or take care of. Exactly. That’s, that’s, that’s the worst thing. So. So I get to this, I haven’t used it yet. But I’m traveling this winter, right. And so I’m really looking forward, I’m going to New York over the winter. And then and, and Alaska, I’m going to be doing some trips. And so I the airport, you know, everybody knows how bad the airport is and waiting. But I think this year is going to be particularly awful.

Ixchell Reyes
And it’s COVID. And it just the shortages.

Brent Warner
Everything. Yeah, and so I went and paid it $85 for five years to go get the TSA PreCheck thing you can go do you basically sign yourself up. And then and now I’m don’t have to wait in that line, or the very short line, you kind of get a wrap around and you know, they’re they’re basically saying, Hey, you’re a safe traveler. And so if you can get this. There’s also unfortunately, I didn’t recognize it when I got it. But there’s an international version to like the world pass or something like world traveler travel. Yeah. But that one’s not very much more expensive. And it covers the TSA one. But anyways, just the timing didn’t work out. So we we got the the TSA PreCheck. But, man, I am already excited about just not waiting in all the lines and all the things so not by itself. It’s not very fun. But I think that the the relief it’s going to give me it’s something I am excited about and looking forward to.

Ixchell Reyes
Yeah, and you travel often. So TSA check.

Brent Warner
Yeah, Talal, what about you? What’s your fun find?

Talal
Alright, so honestly, like, I have a place also. And I have other advice for the listener. Right. So, yeah. So there’s a place called Niagara Falls, it’s in New York, that place is really amazing. If you feel bad, or say, negative identity or something, you just take that and ignore it. And that was you know, it’s just like, you’ll feel happy after that, honestly, cuz I was alone. And I visited that place. It was really amazing and great. So yeah, it’s a good idea just to think about, that’s great. Yeah, the advice I want people is if you’re not any, if you don’t find anybody to speak with you speak to yourself. You’re not crazy. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Yeah, so this is, yeah.

Brent Warner
I love that advice. Love it. It’s great.

Ixchell Reyes
All right. Thank you so much for listening to the show. You could win a one of a kind DIESOL pin by leaving us a review on Apple podcasts. And if you’re giving us a shout out any other way. sure to tag us on social media. We are on all the platforms.

Brent Warner
Yeah, if you want to jump on to the Patreon to support the show, we’ve been getting a few people and Ixchell, I think we should start calling people out by name because you know I’m I’m always like, Oh, it’s so so nice. And so I think from here on, we have gotten some some nice support, but we’ll also start shouting out people because it’s just we Really appreciate people who are supporting the show so if you want to do a buy me a coffee or a Patreon and then on the Patreon we’ll also have those little bonus mini episodes with the guests which includes Talal after this as well so those ones have been actually I always have a lot of fun with those parts so I like doing them. So for us the show notes and other episodes please check out DIESOL.org/ 54 And of course you can listen to us at voice Ed Canada at VO ice d.ca You can find us on Twitter the show is at @DIESOLpod and I am @BrentGWarner.

Ixchell Reyes
I’m Ixchell at @Ixy_Pixy, that’s I x y underscore p i x y. And Talal, is there a place where people can contact you if they wanted to get in touch with you?

Talal
So my Instagram will be @tlal1002.

Ixchell Reyes
All right. And we will have that and the show notes

Talal
(Speaks in Arabic)

Brent Warner
Yeah, what did you say? I heard Shukran, which I understood

I heard Brent.

Talal
(laughter) Yeah, like I said, Thank you for like, for you guys that you like give provided tools for the teachers. And that will be beneficial to improve this student and you know the teachers performance. So yeah, that was

Brent Warner
Awesome. I love it. Thank you so much to all for your time and everybody. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon.

Ixchell Reyes
Alright, thank you for listening!

Talal
Thank you, bye!

How can students stay motivated outside of the language classroom? What can students do to support their own learning? In this episode we are joined by Talal who has been studying English in the states for about 3 years. Dig in with us as he shares his own learning journey and reveals his secret to improving and gaining confidence while learning English.

Talal’s Top Tools

Fun Finds 

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