Why should I record my conversation?

Some students say their practice conversations in English classes are sometimes unnatural or boring. They think they can't improve very much because they aren't shown their mistakes or given a chance to improve those mistakes. One way to overcome these problems is to record your conversations.

How do I prepare for recording?

You get ready for recording conversations in the same way you usually prepare for conversations in your class. Follow your teacher’s directions to learn about the topic and practice the task in class. After that, prepare your notes by thinking about what you want to say to your partners, the questions your partners may ask you, and how you might answer those questions. You may want to make special effort to practice on or just before recording day. Try using self-talk (talking to yourself).

What do I do on recording day?

Be sure to bring your completed assignment to class to help you review the topic with your classmates. Then you will probably have the chance to practice your conversations 1 or 2 times with different partners. Between these conversations, teachers will give you some advice to help make your recordings successful. After practicing 2 or 3 times, take an IC recorder and record your conversation with your partner.

How can I have successful conversations?

With experience, you’ll learn how much you need to prepare to have successful conversations. It’s important to remember that “successful conversations” does not mean “perfect conversations.” You and your classmates are students of English and not native English speakers. If you are able to communicate your ideas and use conversation strategies to keep the conversation going, then your conversation is probably successful.

What is Recursive Recording of Student Conversations (RRSCs)?

Recording has more benefits besides motivating you to use English. After recording, you can transcribe and self-evaluate your recording. This is called Recursive Recording of Student Conversations (RRSCs). It helps you look more closely at your English skills and to learn from your partners. After transcribing, you can also benefit from a self-evaluation. Students bring their transcription and self-evaluation to the next class and talk about them. You can improve your English by gradually increasing your vocabulary and using more conversation strategies.