While doing my two-month self-assessment, I noted that one of my biggest areas for improvement was getting out into the community and actually speaking.

So… here I go.

A real-life opportunity

It was a cold day today, and two days ago my hot water bottle sprang a leak.

This was the perfect opportunity to go out and use real sentences with real people.

It is very easy, especially in a large city, to do all your shopping in big stores. But that is not helpful for language learning. For language learning, you need small shops — places where you have to speak in order to make a purchase. And if they are in your neighbourhood, you can go back again and again, and the same person will begin to recognize you, understand your level, and help you grow.

Using GLUE

Time to use the trusted GLUE framework:

  • Get what you need
  • Learn what you get
  • Use what you learn
  • Evaluate what you use

I looked up the Greek word for hot water bottle. I already knew how to say, “I would like…”.

I practiced the new word a few times on its own, and then a few times in a full sentence.

At the pharmacy

I walked to the nearest pharmacy.

When I went in, I started with a greeting:

“Hello. How are you?”

Then I said:

“I would like a hot water bottle.”

The lady responded with a long sentence that I didn’t understand, but I did catch the words for “electric” and “water”.

“Water,” I said, in Greek.

She went to the back and came out with two hot water bottles. Then she said something else that I didn’t understand at all.

“I don’t speak Greek,” I said in Greek.

She smiled and showed me the two options more clearly. One was a plain hot water bottle, and the other had a fabric cover.

I pointed to the plain one.

She told me the price. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I still struggle with numbers, especially when they are said quickly. She had to repeat it, and then kindly said it in English.

I thanked her — in Greek — and walked home.

Evaluating the interaction

  • I got what I needed
  • I learned what I got
  • I used what I learned

And now to evaluate.

I was understood, which means my pronunciation was probably clear enough.

But I definitely need to work on my numbers.

A small victory

Today was a small victory.

It was only a five-minute interaction — but that is five minutes more than if I had stayed at home.

This is the month where my goal is to get out and speak to people. This is the start!

Read more about GLUE in this article: GLUE: Making Language Stick.