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Today, in this episode

Let\\u2019s look at some bad strategies and attitudes that don\\u2019t quite work in conversation. I mean, like having awkward conversations.

Next, you\\u2019ll practice your fluency with a mini-story lesson\\u2014the best way to learn to speak English without translating mentally.

Okay, let\\u2019s start with an important question:

Do you think that you are too old to learn English?

I have always thought that it is never too late to learn a language, and I have always had students of all ages using my method successfully.

But a few days ago, I received an email from a student in Greece, saying something like this:

Dear Georgiana, hello,

I\\u2019m delighted to see your programs.

I think you give your soul to every lesson.

My mother tongue is Greek, and I am proud because our language has a positive contribution to the English vocabulary.

I\\u2019m also proud that I try to improve my English even though I\\u2019m 94 years old.

Georgiana, I encourage you to continue with your English lessons.

I admire you!

Erotokritos

Thank you, dear Erotokritos, for your kind words. You are an inspiration for all of us.

So, you see, I think I\\u2019ve made my point.\\xa0It\\u2019s never too late to learn English.

All right, have you ever been with someone and not know what to talk about? It\\u2019s happened to me sometimes. Every once in a while, we run into situations where it\\u2019s difficult to continue the conversation.

One example is what happens in an elevator. Imagine that you meet a neighbor you hardly know, and a typical dialogue ends up going like this:

\\u2014Good morning.

\\u2014Good morning.

\\u2014Going down?

\\u2014Yes.

\\u2014 \\u2026

\\u2014 It\\u2019s cold today, isn\\u2019t it?

\\u2014 Yes, yes. It\\u2019s going to be like this all week, they say\\u2026

\\u2014 \\u2026

As you can see, this conversation is not very intellectual. It\\u2019s more about avoiding silence, which can be uncomfortable.

This doesn\\u2019t just happen in elevators but in all kinds of social interactions. I read recently that a silence of four seconds or more triggers anxiety.

It doesn\\u2019t get any better when you have to speak in a language you are learning. You have even fewer resources to express yourself.

Read the transcript at:

SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast