The Randall Sensei

How to Learn a Language EFFECTIVELY

Learn pronunciation first – The most basic part of any spoken language is pronunciation (the sound system of a language). It is absolutely necessary to learn the sound system in order to accurately hear and speak any language. Pronunciation is also the first thing people notice about your English!

Don’t translate – Learn a language using the language. If you are translating, then you are using two languages. This is inefficient and leads to many problems, such as unnatural pauses in speech (while translating), getting stuck on particular words/expressions, and confusing grammar structures (some languages have very different structures).

Use spaced repetition systems – These systems reinforce words/phrases that are difficult to remember by increasing the frequency they appear in exercises, while decreasing the frequency of words that are easily recalled. A great example of such a system is Anki (free for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android, *not iOS).

EAR TRAINING for Pronunciation

*NOTE: The following links go to wayground.com, a website that teachers use to quiz students. Be sure to turn off music (located in the top-left corner), as well as the settings – read aloud text, timer, memes, and power-ups (located in the bottom-right corner). Then click “Start”.

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /L/ vs. /R/ as in “lock” or “rock” – PLAY

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /L/ vs. /R/ – Minimal Pairs – PLAY

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /V/ vs. /B/ as in “very” or “berry” – PLAY

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /Th/ vs. /S/ as in “think” or “sink” – PLAY

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /ɔ/ vs. /ɜr/ as in “walk” or “work” – PLAY

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /V/ vs. /F/ as in “view” or “few” – PLAY

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /Th/ vs. /Z/ as in “seethe” or “seize” – PLAY

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /æ/ vs. /ʌ/ as in “cap” or “cup” – PLAY

Ear Training – Pronunciation: /ɔ/ vs. /oʊ/ as in “lawn” or “loan” – PLAY

OJT, Pre-departure, Study Abroad and Homestay Intensive Courses

For students enrolled in our OJT, Pre-departure, or Homestay Intensive courses, please do the following supplementary exercises for the course booklet.

Short Speech / Presentation

In the OJT and Pre-departure programs you will give four short speeches. Follow your instructor’s orientation (including demo) on how to conduct the short speech. Some instructors will provide one specific topic to be revised and repeated with the goal of the final speech being flawless in spoken grammar, word choice, and delivery. In my class, however, students choose a new topic for each speech – also with the same goal in mind. Topics are free to choose, but I recommend themes such as one’s hometown, hobbies, job, product, overseas assignment / location, etc.

Short speeches / presentations may be casual or follow a more formal format (opening, body, closing – with transitional language between each segment and the main points of the talk). Traditional presentation examples follow:

Opening (greeting, self-identification, topic introduction, overview, *optional: time it will take, when to ask questions)

• Good morning / afternoon / evening.
• My name is …..
• Today I’m going to talk about …..
• I have divided my talk / presentation into three parts. First, I will tell you about ….. Then, I will talk about ….. Finally, I will explain …..
• My talk will take about …..
• Please hold your questions until the end of my talk.

Transitional Language (between opening and body, between main points, between body and closing)

• Okay, let’s begin with …..
• This covers …..
• Next, let’s turn to / move on to / look at / consider …..
• That brings me to the end of my talk / presentation.

Closing (summary, *optional: conclusion / call for action, thank the audience, invite questions)

• To sum up my talk, I told you about ….. Then, I talked about ….. And finally, I explained …..
• In conclusion, …..
• Thank you for listening.
• Do you have any questions?

Reporting News

In some of our courses, “Reporting News” may be added to the curriculum. This is often instead of giving a short speech / presentation, but it is similar in that you are presenting information to the class. Follow your instructor’s lead and the five steps below.

1. Find an article in English that is slightly above your level. (*Do not translate from an article in your native language.) 

2. Highlight new vocabulary and key concepts as you read the article. Add the new vocabulary to the “Reporting News – Preparation Sheet” excel form. (*Be sure to look up pronunciation and syllable stress.) 

3. Identify the 6 Question Words (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) in the article. Add the information in the “Reporting News – Preparation Sheet”. 

4. Write a summary and opinion of the article using only the information added to the “Reporting News – Preparation Sheet” and your own words. (*Try not to look at the news article during this task.) 

5. Introduce new vocabulary learned and present the news article and your opinion to the class. 

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Example news article:   SpaceX’s Starship Successfully Completes Orbital Test Flight 

In a significant step forward for space exploration, SpaceX’s Starship has successfully completed its first orbital test flight. The spacecraft, which is designed to take humans and cargo to the moon, Mars, and beyond, blasted off from the company’s launch site in Texas on Thursday, April 20. 

After reaching an altitude of about 90 kilometers (about 55.92 mi), the Starship orbited Earth for several minutes before successfully returning to the ground for a soft landing. The test flight marks a major milestone in SpaceX’s efforts to develop reusable spacecraft that can make space travel more affordable and accessible. 

The Starship is a massive rocket, standing at over 120 meters (about 393.7 ft) tall and capable of carrying up to 100 passengers. It is powered by a combination of liquid oxygen and methane engines, which are more environmentally friendly than traditional rocket fuels. 

SpaceX’s CEO, Elon Musk, hailed the successful test flight as a significant achievement, saying that it represents a major step towards making humanity a multi-planetary species. He added that the company plans to continue testing the Starship in the coming months, with the ultimate goal of sending humans to Mars in the near future. 

The successful test flight of the Starship has generated significant excitement among space enthusiasts, who are eagerly anticipating the next steps in SpaceX’s space exploration efforts. With the promise of affordable and reusable spacecraft, the Starship could potentially pave the way for a new era of space exploration and colonization. 

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News article resources: 

Beginner: newsinlevels.com 
Lower-intermediate: newsquickies.com, www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld, upi.com 
Intermediate: learningenglish.voanews.com, bbc.co.uk/learningenglish 
Upper-intermediate: engadget.com 
Advanced: cnn.com, voanews.com, bbc.com, sciencedaily.com 

Reporting News – Preparation Sheet (.xlsx) download here
Reporting News – Preparation Sheet – Example (.xlsx) download here

Pronunciation

(*Before playing, remember to turn off music, read aloud text, timer, memes and power-ups.)

Practicing Pronunciation – Lesson 2: /l/ vs. /r/ minimal pairs in sentences – PLAY

Practicing Pronunciation – Lesson 3: /th/ vs. /s/ minimal pairs – PLAY

Practicing Pronunciation – Lesson 6: /f/ vs. /v/ vs. /b/ minimal pairs in sentences – PLAY

Practicing Pronunciation – Lesson 14: /uh/ vs. /a/ vs. /aw/ (ʌ/æ/ɔ) minimal pairs in sentences – PLAY

Practicing Pronunciation – Lesson 16: /aw/ vs. /oh/ (ɔ/oʊ) minimal pairs – PLAY

Pronunciation Tips:

1. Master the sounds of the English language. Master the small differences in sounds in the minimal pairs above and in the ear training section. Vowels have more than one sound. Consonants may have more than one sound and may be hard or soft.
2. Pay attention to word stress and syllable stress. Word stress: we stress nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and interjections. Syllable stress: stressing different syllables can change the function and meaning of words, e.g., OBject is a noun; obJECT is a verb. These words have completely different meanings.
3. Mind intonation patterns. The four most common patterns are following intonation (used for statements and Wh- and How questions, e.g., “It’s going to rain all day.” and “What will the weather be like tomorrow?”), rising intonation (used for “yes or no” questions, e.g., “Can I borrow your ruler?”), choice intonation with ‘or’ (e.g., “Would you like mustard, or ketchup?”), and series intonation (e.g., “I like hiking, fishing, and camping.).
4. Avoid pronouncing silent letters. Common silent letters and examples are listen, honor, write, half, thumb, receipt, knit, daughter, design, column, and island.
5. Link words when speaking. (e.g., “Where did you get your watch?” = “Wheredja getcher watch?”)
6. Do shadowing practice regularly. Try to mimic the speakers pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, speed, and stress.

Common Mistakes

(*Before playing, remember to turn off music, read aloud text, timer, memes and power-ups.)

Common Mistakes – Part A: Almost / Most / Most of – PLAY

Common Mistakes – Part B: Many / Much / A lot of / Lots of – PLAY

Common Mistakes – Part C: Common Mistakes Using Time Expressions – PLAY

Common Mistakes – Part D: Common Mistakes with Verbs – PLAY

Common Mistakes – Part E: Common Mistakes Involving Unnecessary Words – PLAY

Common Mistakes – Part F: Common Mistakes with Nouns and Adjectives – PLAY

Common Mistakes – Part G: Common Mistakes with Expressions – PLAY

Common Mistakes – Part H: Common Mistakes with Grammar – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses

(*Before playing, remember to turn off music, read aloud text, timer, memes and power-ups.)

Questions & Quick Responses – Part A, Topic Area A: Biographical Questions – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part A, Topic Area B: Time, Routines & Weather – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part A, Topic Area C: Free time and Interests – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part A, Topic Area D: Travel and Food – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part A, Topic Area E: Japan – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part A, Topic Area F: Society and Current Affairs – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part A, Topic Area G: Work – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part A, Topic Area H: The Future – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part B, Language Point A: Classification and Evaluation – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part B, Language Point B: Suggestions and Advice – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part B, Language Point C: Comparisons – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part B, Language Point D: Sequencers – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part B, Language Point E: Necessity/Obligation/Prohibition – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part B, Language Point F: Giving Reasons – PLAY

Questions & Quick Responses – Part B, Language Point G: Negative and Tag Questions – PLAY

The Randall Sensei recommendation: This book will expand upon the Questions & Quick Responses covered in this course. There are 1,000 questions within the CEFR levels A1 to C2 (beginner to proficient).

!!! NEW !!! Download a FREE sample of the first three units of Speak English Like a Native here!

Engineering English

A YouTube search is a quick way to find a variety of videos on almost any engineering process. These videos are useful for expanding your engineering English vocabulary and for learning how to describe processes in a grammatically correct and detailed way.

However, some of these videos can be quite long or spoken at a speed that is too fast for the average English learner. I recommend choosing videos that are under 10 minutes long and have a moderate speaking speed.

“How It’s Made” is a YouTube channel that offers a wide range of short videos about manufacturing processes. The average video is around 5 minutes long, and the speaking speed is appropriate for pre-intermediate and above English learners.

Feel free to use these videos to study in any way you like, but in my class, we will follow the lesson format below and use selected videos that closely reflect the work of engineering students. The lesson plan is as follows:

Warm-Up Discussion (10 minutes)

• “Have you ever wondered how [topic of the video] is made?”
• “What materials do you think are used?”
• “What steps might be involved?”

Introduce key vocabulary from the video (e.g., manufacturing, assembly, mold, conveyor belt).

First Viewing – General Comprehension (10 minutes)
(Play the video once without subtitles.)

• “What product is being made?”
• “What are the main steps in the process?”
• “What materials are used?”

Discuss answers as a class.

Second Viewing – Detailed Listening (15 minutes)

• Complete a gap-fill dictation exercise using short excerpts from the video narration.
• Play the video again (pausing if needed) for students to complete the missing words.

Review answers together.

Third Viewing – Comprehension Check (15 minutes)
Complete multiple-choice or short-answer questions:

• “What machine is used to shape the material?”
• “Why is the product heated/cooled/spun?”
• “What is the final step before packaging?”

Discuss answers in pairs before checking as a class.

Speaking Activity – Process Explanation (10 minutes)

• Students work in pairs to explain the process in their own words using sequencing words (first, then, next, finally).
• Volunteers present their explanations to the class.

Optional Homework

• Write a short paragraph summarizing the manufacturing process.
• Research and explain how a similar product is made.

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Electric Transformers: “How It’s Made – Electric Pole Transformers” (video)
Air Conditioners: “How It’s Made – Air Conditioners” (video)
Assembly Machines (CNC): “How It’s Made – Assembly Machines” (video)
Refrigerators: “How It’s Made – Refrigerators” (video)
Rice Cookers: “We All Makers – How Rice Cooker is Made in Factory” (video)

If your specialty isn’t listed above, find a short video (under 10 minutes) with moderate speaking speed, and I’ll add it to the list. Of course, feel free to recommend alternative videos to the ones listed above.

Syllable Stress

Two-syllable stress – Sentence practice – PLAY
Question: In this practice, which stressed syllable is a noun? Which is a verb?

Study Tips & Techniques

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Duolingo – (Beginner to Intermediate)

Duolingo is a great resource for learning essential grammar and vocabulary. It is available on their website duolingo.com and on the iPhone and Android apps. *For students enrolled in the 5-week OJT course, you should complete all levels of the Duolingo curriculum by the end of the course. Currently, there are six units with an average of about 20 lessons, with each lesson containing six levels.

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News – (Beginner to Advanced)

Reading the news should be a part of any language learner’s toolbox. Not only does it aid in expanding knowledge in grammar, vocabulary, and natural expressions, but also provides the learner with current topics for discussion. Such knowledge allows for conversation beyond simple greetings and small talk. Resources: (Beginner) newsinlevels.com (Lower-intermediate) newsquickies.com, upi.com (Intermediate) learningenglish.voanews.com, bbc.co.uk/learningenglish (Upper-intermediate) engadget.com (Advanced) cnn.com, voanews.com, bbc.com sciencedaily.com. *For students going abroad, it is highly recommended that you read a local newspaper of the location where you are going to stay. Search onlinenewspapers.com or refdesk.com/paper.html for English newspapers in the 50 United States and worldwide.

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The Letter Game – (Beginner to Advanced)

“The Letter Game” is an exercise in vocabulary recall and grammatical usage. Throughout your studies you have learned many words and grammar structures, but the ability to recall what you’ve learned (particularly vocabulary) can be difficult at times. This activity will help you to recall those infrequently used words and structures. You can do this activity on your own, but you will need a native speaker (preferably an English teacher for explanation) to check that your sentences are correct. To start, use a random letter generator (like this one here) to generate letters. True beginners should use one letter with a simple sentence structure (*this works best after a few lessons with basic vocabulary and grammar). Beginners can move on to two letters with simple / compound sentence structures. Intermediate and above should move on to three or four letters with simple / compound / complex / compound-complex sentence structures. Once you have generated your letter(s), you will create one sentence with them.

Here are the rules:

1. Letters must be used in order. For example, if you get the set “SCT” you cannot change it to “CTS”.
2. The letters will be changed to words. The words must be a combination of noun (n), adjective (adj), verb (v), or adverb (adv). For example, n,v,adj or n,adj,adj or n,n,n, etc. Any combination of the four types is OK.
3. No proper nouns, such as a person’s name, the name of a city/country, or building, etc. For example, “Scott”, “Canada”, or “Taj Mahal”.

Complete instructions with hints for The Letter Game in English and Japanese can be found here.

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Shadowing Practice – (Beginner to Advanced)

Shadowing practice is one of the best techniques for improving language proficiency, especially for those learning a new language. The method involves listening to a speaker and simultaneously repeating the words or phrases being spoken as quickly and accurately as possible.

In shadowing, learners try to match the speaker’s intonation, pronunciation, and rhythm of speech as closely as possible. This technique helps learners develop their listening and speaking skills and increases their ability to process spoken language quickly and accurately.

1. Choose a spoken passage: Find a spoken passage, such as a podcast or a recorded conversation, that you want to practice shadowing.
2. Listen to the passage: Listen to the passage multiple times to familiarize yourself with the content, intonation, and pace.
3. Begin shadowing: Start by listening to a short section of the passage, and then immediately repeat it out loud, trying to match the speaker’s speed, tone, and inflection. Use headphones or earbuds to hear the passage clearly.
4. Repeat and refine: Repeat the section several times, gradually refining your pronunciation, intonation, and speed.
5. Move on to the next section: Once you feel confident with the first section, move on to the next section and repeat the same process.
6. Practice regularly: Practice shadowing regularly, ideally daily, to improve your fluency and speaking skills.
7. Increase difficulty: As you become more comfortable with shadowing, try choosing more challenging passages with different accents, speaking styles, or faster speeds.
8. Record yourself: Record yourself while shadowing to listen back to your progress and identify areas that need improvement.
9. Seek feedback: Ask a language partner or tutor to give you feedback on your shadowing practice, and use their feedback to improve your skills.
10. Keep practicing: Shadowing is a long-term practice, so be patient and persistent in your efforts to improve your fluency.

Shadowing works so well because it trains your brain, ears, and mouth at the same time. Here’s why it’s powerful:

• Immediate feedback loop: You hear correct English and instantly try to reproduce it, which strengthens listening comprehension and speaking muscles together.
• Natural rhythm and pronunciation: You pick up the real flow of English — intonation, stress, and connected speech — that textbooks don’t always teach well.
• Muscle memory: Your mouth and tongue get used to the physical feeling of speaking English smoothly, almost like how athletes build automatic movements.
• Active focus: Because you’re constantly trying to keep up, your brain stays highly engaged — it’s not passive listening, it’s active doing.
• Mimicking native patterns: Over time, your grammar, word choice, and even thought patterns start to sound more natural without you consciously memorizing rules.

It’s a little like learning a song: the more you sing along, the more natural and effortless it becomes.

!!! NEW !!! Try shadowing practice with customized language! Do you need to deliver a speech or presentation? Why not practice your speech by shadowing a natural sounding version of it? Using TTS (Text-to-Speech) technology, you can generate an audio version with natural rhythm, pronunciation, and intonation. Check out how here

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Gap-fill – (Beginner to Advanced)

Gap-fill is a great technique for improving fluency. Another merit is that the questions and responses are tailored to your situation, so that they are relevant and readily usable in natural conversation. You will need some sort of recording device, such as a digital recorder or smartphone recording app. I use the “Voice Memos” app on iOS. To begin, go to the Questions & Quick Responses section above and practice (click “PLAY”) each section. After the practice you will be able to see all of the questions and answers. Write the questions and responses on paper, modifying them if necessary to fit your situation. Then you will make two recordings; one with the questions and responses, and the other with the questions and gaps (periods of silence that match the same length as the naturally spoken responses). Refresh your memory with the first recording and then practice your fluency with the second. Your responses should become automatic and smooth!

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3-2-1 Fluency – (Intermediate to Advanced)

3-2-1 is an exercise designed to improve fluency, where students collaborate in small groups and tell stories. The teacher provides a prompt, and each student takes turns telling a story within three minutes. They then switch to new groups, where they have two minutes to tell the same story. In a final group, they have one minute to share their stories. This activity is commonly known as 3-2-1, reflecting the decreasing time limit for storytelling. *Note: This activity can be done in your self-studies. Simply, choose a topic and talk about it for three minutes, then two minutes, and finally one minute – while trying to keep as much detail as possible from the 3-minute version to the 1-minute version. This will force you to speak faster and smoother.

Example prompts are as follows:

1. What are some of the things you like to do on weekends? (Variations: Tell me about your typical weekend. What do you like to do in your free time?)
2. Tell me about your family and pets.
3. Tell me about your company. (Variations: What kind of company do you work for? What products/services does your company offer?)
4. Tell me about your job. (Variations: What do you do? What is your job?)
5. If you could take a month off work to travel overseas, where would you go? What would you do? (Variations: Where would you like to go in the future? How would you like to spend your retirement years?)
6. What would you do if you received sudden wealth, e.g., inheritance, lottery, etc.? *Use $10 Million as an example. (Variations: If you received $1 Million, how would you spend it? If you received a $10 Million grant, what kind of business/organization would you create to tackle a social issue?)

*Note to teachers: This activity works best in a group of four, as the storyteller will tell their story to a new person each round. When doing this activity online, it’s best to use breakout rooms so that students don’t hear all stories at all stages. Breakout rooms are closest to how the activity is conducted in an actual classroom setting. (Total time: 30-60 minutes, depending on whether you include prep time and/or Q&A between rounds)

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TED Talks – (Pre-intermediate to Advanced)

TED Talks is a great tool for improving listening comprehension skills, vocabulary, phonology, and grammar. TED stands for Technology, Engineering, and Design – though there are many other topics as well. The talks are educational, interesting, and often inspiring. The website ted.com allows you to select subtitles and to follow along in a script that automatically highlights words as the presenter speaks. I recommend first watching the talks with no subtitles or scripts, then again with subtitles, and again with scripts to pick up any words missed when listening and to look at specific grammar / sentence structures. When looking up new words, be sure to also learn their pronunciation and syllable stress. For improving phonology, do shadowing practice – try to mimic the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the speaker. *Note: some speakers speak too fast to make shadowing practice practical / effective. I recommend selecting talks with a natural, medium-paced speaking speed and using the TEDict app (*see below) for shadowing practice.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• “Try something new for 30 days” by Matt Cutts (Pre-intermediate and above)
• “Build a tower, build a team” by Tom Wujec (Pre-intermediate and above)
• “Less stuff, more happiness” by Graham Hill (Pre-intermediate and above) – Worksheet
• “A headset that reads your brainwaves” by Tan Le (Intermediate and above) – Worksheet
• “The shared experience of absurdity” by Charlie Todd (Intermediate and above) – Worksheet
• “Massive-scale online collaboration” by Louis von Ahn (Upper-intermediate and above) – Worksheet
• “The greatest TED Talk ever sold” by Morgan Spurlock (Upper-intermediate and above) – Worksheet

The TEDict app (TED dictation) provides an interactive experience, making listening active through dictation exercises and phonology improvement fun through the repeat player function. Of course, you will learn new vocabulary, natural expressions, and sentence structures through these exercises.

TEDict Lite App for iOS (free, but limited), TEDict App for iOS (¥800), TEDict App for Android (free?)

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TOOLS

English dictionaries: dictionary.com, urbandictionary.com (slang)
Japanese-English dictionaries: ejje.weblio.jp, jisho.org
Collocations dictionary: ozdic.com
Pronunciation dictionary: forvo.com, howtopronounce.com
Grammar: quill.org
Dictation / VTT (Voice-to-Text): dictation.io
TTS (Text-to-Speech): https://notegpt.io/text-to-speech
Whiteboard: witeboard.com

Grammar Terms – JPN/ENG

日本語	ふりがな	ROMA-JI	ENGLISH
品詞	ひんし	hinshi	part of speech / word class
名詞	めいし	meishi	noun
代名詞	だいめいし	daimeishi	pronoun
動詞	どうし	doushi	verb
他動詞	たどうし	tadoushi	transitive verb
自動詞	じどうし	jidoushi	intransitive verb
助動詞	じょどうし	jodoushi	auxiliary verb
形容詞	けいようし	keiyoushi	adjective
副詞	ふくし	fukushi	adverb
前置詞	ぜんちし	zenchishi	preposition
接続詞	せつぞくし	setsuzokushi	conjunction
間投詞	かんとうし	kantoushi	interjection
冠詞	かんし	kanshi	article
不定冠詞	ふていかんし	futeikanshi	indefinite article
定冠詞	ていかんし	teikanshi	definite article
疑問詞	ぎもんし	gimonshi	interrogative / interrogative word / question word

Grammar FAQ

12 Verb Tenses, Conditionals, During vs. While, Lay vs. Lie, Modals, Must vs. Have to, Participles, Prefixes & Suffixes, Punctuation, “To recap THEN, …”, Who vs. Whom

Discussions, Storytelling, Etc.

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Articles / topics for class discussion –

Choose one of the following topics, but don’t read the article: Gunkanjima, The Line at Neom, Paternoster Elevator, Big Mac Index, Navy UFO Sightings, Digital Currency, Colonizing Mars, Investing Basics, American Culture.

1. In small groups, discuss what is already known about the topic and ask for/give opinions. *If nothing is known, watch the short video at the end of the article first. (5-15 minutes)
2. Read the article and look up any new vocabulary. (5-10 minutes)
3. Pick out the key points of the article, summarize and combine them into one paragraph (if possible), and add a final statement of opinion. (10-15 minutes).
4. Develop new questions based on pre/post-reading of the article. (5 minutes)
5. Discuss these new questions and what was learned. (5-15 minutes) (Total time: 30-60 minutes)

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Tips for improving storytelling skills –

1. Start with a clear message: Before you start telling a story, think about what you want your audience to take away from it. What’s the main idea or lesson you want to convey? This will help you stay focused and keep your story on track.
2. Build suspense: One of the most effective ways to engage your audience is by creating suspense. Start your story with a hook, a surprising statement or a question that captures their attention and makes them want to know more.
3. Use descriptive language: Make your story come alive by using vivid, descriptive language. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings in your story, and use sensory details to help your audience imagine what it was like to be there.
4. Keep it simple: Avoid using complex language or jargon that might confuse your audience. Use simple, everyday language that everyone can understand.
5. Use humor: Humor can be a powerful tool in storytelling. It can help you connect with your audience and make your story more memorable. Just be careful not to overdo it or use humor inappropriately.
6. Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice telling stories, the better you’ll become. Try telling your stories to friends or family members, or record yourself and listen back to see how you can improve.
7. Be yourself: Finally, remember to be yourself when telling stories. Authenticity is key to connecting with your audience and making your stories memorable. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, and let your personality shine through in your storytelling.

Additional Resources:

Check out this video from Philipp Humm: Give me 9min, and I’ll improve your storytelling skills by 176% – YouTube. He shares five essential elements to make any story more engaging and memorable.

1. Location – Set the scene so your audience can visualize it.
2. Actions – Show, don’t just tell. What is happening?
3. Thoughts – What is going through the character’s mind?
4. Dialogue – Bring moments to life with actual conversations.
5. Feelings – Tap into emotions to create a real connection.

More from Philipp on storytelling: Give Me 4min to Become a Master Storyteller – YouTube, 25 Storytelling Secrets I Wish I Knew In My 20s – YouTube

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Strategies for expanding on topics –

1. Research and gather information: Before expanding on a topic, it is important to have a strong foundation of knowledge on the subject. Research relevant sources such as books, articles, and online databases.
2. Consider different perspectives: Think about different viewpoints and arguments related to the topic. This will help to provide a well-rounded perspective when expanding on the topic.
3. Connect to related concepts: Look for connections between the topic you’re discussing and related concepts or themes. This can help to make the topic more interesting and relevant to the audience.
4. Use examples and anecdotes: Bring the topic to life by using real-life examples or personal anecdotes. This can make the topic more relatable and memorable.
5. Incorporate visual aids: Use diagrams, charts, and images to help illustrate and explain the topic. This can make the information easier to understand and retain.
6. Engage with the audience: Encourage interaction and discussion by asking questions, encouraging feedback, and fostering an interactive atmosphere. This can help to deepen the audience’s understanding and engagement with the topic.

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Presentations

Creating an effective language for giving presentations involves a balance of clarity, engagement, and professionalism. Here’s a guide to help you structure your presentation language:

1. Introduction:

• Greet your audience and introduce yourself.
• State the purpose and agenda of the presentation.
• Hook your audience with an interesting fact, question, or anecdote related to your topic.

2. Signposting:

• Use signposts to guide your audience through the presentation. Phrases like “Firstly, Secondly, Lastly,” or “Next, I’d like to discuss,” help maintain a clear structure.

3. Content Delivery:

• Be concise and focused. Present one main idea per slide or section.
• Use bullet points, visuals, and diagrams to reinforce your points.
• Explain complex concepts using simple language and real-life examples.

4. Transition Phrases:

• To move between ideas smoothly, use phrases like “Now let’s shift our focus to,” “This leads us to the next point,” or “Building on that idea.”

5. Visual Aids:

• Describe visuals clearly, highlighting key points.
• Don’t overcrowd slides with text. Use visuals to complement your spoken content.

6. Engaging Language:

• Use a variety of sentence structures to maintain audience interest.
• Pose rhetorical questions to encourage active thinking.
• Employ anecdotes, analogies, or stories to make your points relatable.

7. Data and Statistics:

• When presenting data, explain the significance and implications.
• Use phrases like “This data illustrates that,” or “These numbers emphasize the importance of.”

8. Transitioning Between Slides:

• Use phrases like “Moving on,” “Let’s now turn our attention to,” or “Shifting gears.”

9. Summarizing and Recapping:

• Periodically recap key points to reinforce understanding.
• Use phrases like “To recap,” “In summary,” or “To sum up.”

10. Addressing Questions:

• Encourage questions throughout the presentation or set aside time at the end.
• Respond to questions with clarity and respect, even if you don’t have an immediate answer.

11. Concluding:

• Summarize the main points of the presentation.
• End with a strong closing statement that reinforces your key message.
• Thank your audience for their time and attention.

12. Handling Transitions:

• If switching presenters, use phrases like “Now I’d like to hand it over to,” or “I’ll now invite [Name] to speak about.”

13. Professional Tone:

• Use a clear and confident tone.
• Avoid jargon or technical terms that your audience might not understand.
• Maintain a friendly demeanor to establish rapport.

14. Practice:

• Rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure smooth delivery.
• Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself, or present to a friend for feedback.

Remember, the goal of your presentation language is to effectively convey your message while engaging and informing your audience. Tailor your language to suit your audience’s level of understanding and interest in the topic.

Interview Test Preparation

You should always prepare for interview tests, especially if your job or job promotion depends on a good score. Below are some of the most common questions I ask in my interviews. Of course, questions and follow-up questions vary with each interviewee, however most interviewers will ask questions in 3 or 4 general areas. They are biographical (about you), your company/job, free time/hobbies/interests, and maybe something interesting in the news (if you are a high enough level).

BIOGRAPHICAL 

• What is your name? Could you please spell your name? What is your employee number? 
• Where are you from? Is your hometown well known for anything? Where are you living now? Which do you like better? Why? 
• Did you go to a technical (high) school or university? What was your major? What was your Master’s research topic? 

COMPANY 

• Tell me about some of the products your company makes. Are they superior to your competitors’ products? How? 
• What are the key features that differentiate your products? 
• Which of your company’s products/business areas contributes most to revenue? 
• Tell me about your company’s CSR (corporate social responsibilities) activities. 

JOB 

• What is your job? Could you tell me about a routine day in your job? 
• How do you design/sell/keep track of…? 
• What is the most difficult part of your job? What could you do to make it a little less difficult? 

FREE TIME 

• What do you like to do in your free time? [or] What is your hobby? Where and how often do you do it? 
• What is an effective way for a beginner to quickly improve in that sport/activity? 

TRAVEL 

• Have you ever traveled overseas? [or] Have you ever been to another country? 
• Tell me about your most recent trip. What did you like best about it? Did you have any problems there? 
• What advice would you give to someone traveling there? 

ALTERNATIVES 

• Tell me a little bit about your career. Have you ever worked overseas? What was the most difficult thing you encountered while working overseas? 
• What’s your favorite movie? What was the main plot of the movie? Which (part of / scene in) the movie did you like best? 

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS 

• What are the differences between Japanese culture and the culture of the country you last visited? 
• What are the major holidays in your country? How do you celebrate them? Which is your favorite and why? [or] Tell me about a special day in Japan that is uniquely Japanese and what do you do on this day? When is it held? What is the meaning/purpose of that special day? (*examples of these special days would be Hinamatsuri, Koinobori, Setsubun, Tanabata, etc.) 
• What are some things considered taboo in your country? Why? Explain. 
• Many Japanese believe that you can judge a person’s character by their blood type. Can you give me an example of this? Do you believe it’s true? Why/why not? 
• Are you an investor? What is your strategy? If not, how are you saving/planning for your retirement? 
• How do you plan on spending your golden years? 
• In America, business card exchange is very informal and there is no standard way of doing so. In contrast, exchanging business cards in Japan is quite formal and there is a specific way of doing so. Could you explain how to properly exchange business cards in Japan? 
• Do you think our reliance on technology has created undesirable effects on our relationships and well-being? 
• If you could go back in time and give the 20-year-old you some advice, what would you say? 
• Aside from COVID-19 or sports, tell me about something you saw in the news recently that piqued your interest. (*NOTE: The interviewer may not be familiar with the topic, so be prepared to give some background on the story and to answer related opinion questions.) 
• One of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic was a disruption in the way people conducted their work or schooling. The pandemic ushered in remote work and schooling using platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom and many people continue doing so today, despite waning concern of the public in getting sick by contracting the virus. What is your opinion about this? Which do you prefer, working in the office or remotely? Why?