How to Use DMM English Conversation for Beginners
How to Use DMM English Conversation for Beginners - An Experienced Expert Speaks Out
With the recent globalization and the need to learn English, online English conversation has become popular.
DMM Eikaiwa is one of the most famous online English conversation sites.
- A wide variety of materials and tutors
- Low price
- Learn anytime, anywhere
Here are such reasons which make DMM an easy-to-use English conversation learning tool for beginners.
“I’m interested in the recently popular DMM Eikaiwa, but I’m new to English conversation and I’m worried about it.”
“I don’t know how to use it.”
If you have any of these concerns, we would like to share with you some tips for using DMM Eikaiwa for English conversation beginners.
I hope this article will give you a chance to continue your English conversation. I will share my own experience.
(In this article, “English conversation beginners” = intermediate level in vocabulary and grammar (TOEIC score around 500) but are not good at English conversation and have difficulty saying what they want to say and also have difficulty listening to what is being said).
Three ways to use DMM English Conversation
In DMM Eikaiwa, the most important thing is of course during the lesson.
However, what you prepare for the lesson and what you give feedback on is important to make the lesson effective in the limited time of 25 minutes.
Here are some specific tips for using DMM Eikaiwa for “Preparation,” “During the Lesson,” and “Review.
① Preparation: Clarify what you want to learn!
First of all, before taking a lesson at DMM English Conversation, you should clearly define “what you want to learn in this lesson.
This is because if you don’t have a purpose, you will end the lesson in a blink of an eye.
“I’m satisfied because I took the lesson.”
I once fell into this situation myself, but I don’t think just taking lessons in the dark was very effective.
Is it pronunciation, question-solving, discussion, etc…?
You can also refer to the characteristics of each material and the instructor’s specialty.
Once you have a clear idea of what you want to learn, you should also prepare the following
♦︎Research the vocabulary and grammar of the material.
♦︎Consider the questions you want to ask.
♦︎Think about what you want to discuss. You can use Japanese.
The basic lesson time is 25 minutes.
During the lesson, if you are checking vocabulary and grammar along with the material, the time for questions and free conversation will quickly run out.
Therefore, it is easier to have an effective lesson if you think about the vocabulary and grammar you can look up before the lesson, as well as what you would like to ask or discuss if possible.
② During the lesson: Focus on speaking!
During DMM English lessons, the most important thing is to “just talk”.
This is because speaking will not improve unless you speak.
I didn’t realize this for a long time and wasted a lot of time and money.
I had come all the way here to learn English conversation, but I was just following the material, checking vocabulary and grammar with the instructor, reading scripts together…and so on.
As a result, my speaking did not improve during this period.
When it comes time to have an English conversation with someone from overseas, there is no script.
So, the important thing is to “speak in your own words.” It’s all about repetition.
And the DMM English lessons are a great opportunity. Make the most of it.
During the lesson, it is also efficient to keep the following in mind.
♦︎Decide what you are not going to do in order to make time to speak in your own words.
e.g. : self-introductions, word checks, script reading, etc.
♦︎Have a strong “mindset” to speak in your own words. Take charge of your own lessons.
e.g.: Ask until you understand what you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, speak more by yourself than the instructor, don’t give up when words don’t come out or you can’t understand, etc.
♦︎Take notes during the lesson. (what you didn’t understand, what you couldn’t say, etc.)
It is recommended that you decide what you “don’t do” to create time for speaking so that you can force yourself to speak.
It is also a good idea to tell the instructor before the lesson that “you have read the material and would like to start with a discussion.”
It is very efficient if you can input what you can by yourself. An output that requires a teacher, such as discussion and pronunciation can be done in the lesson.
Read more about improving your confidence when Speaking English.
③ Review: Don't leave things you don't understand as they are!
After a DMM English lesson, it is important not to “leave what you didn’t understand as it is.”
Because if you don’t review the lesson, you will get stuck in the same place again.
When I learned the English phrase “Killing two birds with one stone,” if I did not review it, I forgot it immediately because the phrase is long.
However, one day after I learned the English phrase “Killing two birds with one stone” again and kept giving feedback, I was able to use it without forgetting it and it stuck.
Ideally, you should review everything you learn in a lesson, but if it is hard to learn, it is hard to continue.
If you pay attention to the following, you will be able to keep reviewing with less burden.
♦︎Review the notes or recordings you took during the lesson.
♦︎Pay attention to “what I couldn’t say” or “what I didn’t understand” during the lesson.
♦︎If you have time, memorize them together with analogies and paraphrases.
♦︎Imagine the situation where you will use it, make example sentences, say them aloud without scripts, and try to output them on SNS or radio.
In the next and subsequent lessons, “be able to say it when you are in the same situation”, you will feel the results of your review and your motivation will increase!
If you keep repeating this, you will naturally broaden your English conversation skills and continue to enjoy DMM Eikaiwa.
Let's have fun with DMM Eikaiwa!
I introduced how to make the most out of DMM English Conversation, including my own experiences!
In order to create a meaningful lesson, it is important to focus on “speaking” during the lesson.
For this reason, I told you that preparation and review are also essential.
What is even more important is to “continue every day.”
It is not easy to learn a foreign language, but if you continue to speak English effectively so that it becomes a part of your daily life, it will gradually become yours.
DMM Eikaiwa offers free trial lessons, so feel free to try it first, and if it seems to fit your learning style, keep trying.
We hope you will enjoy your English conversation experience.
