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Hello and welcome to the next story, "Focus". Soin Emotional Mastery we learned about changing our physiology, changing our bodies to change our emotions. Remember in that less I said there are two ways to change your emotions. Number one is physiology, we talked about that. There is something else you can change so you can be in a peak emotional state as you learn English and that is your focus, your mental focus. What you think about consistently, that will change your emotion also. So what do I mean by mental focus? How do you change your mental focus?
What should you focus on? What should you not focus on?
First, let's talk about the negative. What should you not focus on? Try to remember when you were in school in your English classes. What did you focus on when you were in school? What did you think about, worry about, consistently, frequently? W ell probably tests, right? That was one I always thought about. You probably were focused on tests a lot. "I gotta pass this test, I gotta pass this test." Tests, and then grades.
"Will I get an A? Will I get a B? Will I get a C? Will I fail this course?" So you were thinking about judgment, other people judging you, the teacher judging you, getting a grade, getting a score. How did you feel about that? When you think about tests, tests, tests a lot and you think a lot about a score, a grade, A, B,
C.
Or maybe now you're thinking about the TOEFL exam and you're worried "What number will I get on the TO EFL exam?" How does that affect your emotions? Do you feel more relaxed or more stressful? W ell, most people feel more stressful, of course. The more you think about judgment, the more you think about a test score, the more nervous you become, the more worried you become. And that's not good. You actually learn more slowly when you're worried. You learn more slowly when you're nervous, when you have anxiety.
Again, l'll talk about Dr. Stephen Krashen, our favorite researcher. Anxiety is a major part of his research. It is the single number one most negative factor in language acquisition, in language learning. Anxiety means worry or stress and there are many, many studies about this. They study different language learners, study different English learners. And they put them in a situation where they are more stressed or more worried. And they have others that are in a more relaxed situation. And the relaxed students always learn better and faster.
So let's say after six months the relaxed students will have better grammar, better pronunciation, better listening and understanding, better writing skill, better everything. The anxious students, the worried, nervous students, the stressed students, of course, have worse pronunciation, worse speaking ability, less vocabulary, worse writing, less listening comprehension, listening understanding. So what was happening in school was you were actually learning to fail. You were training yourself to be stressed and nervous. You were training yourself to focus on things, tests, grades, teacher's opinion of you, that make you feel nervous and that nervousness made you learn more slowly. So you don't want to focus on that.
Something else you don't want to focus on. You don't want to focus on every small step to reach your goal. Your goal is to speak excellent English, to feel strong and confident when you speak. That's a great goal. But what happens if you focus on everything you must do to reach the goal? For example, you think "Oh god, to become a great speaker that means I've got to study every day.
I've got to learn a lot of words. I've got to listen to 2 or 3,000 hours of English." How does that make you feel? Probably a little nervous, probably stressed, right, you think "Oh my god, it's too much." So you want to focus on the little individual steps because it's going to seem huge, it's going to seem so big it's going to kill your motivation.
What else do you not want to focus on? Problems. Problems, so many students focus on problems. So many students corne tome andsay "Kale, my pronunciation is bad. Kale, I make grammar mistakes." Well, of course you do. You're a student. You're learning. lt's normal. You're going to make mistakes. You're going to have problems sometimes. You're going to make a mistake with your pronunciation. I do, I'm a fluent speaker, I'm an English coach. I make mistakes all the time. It's normal. You can't focus on it. If you focus on it, if you focus on the negative, if you focus on mistakes, if you focus on problems your emotions become weaker and weaker. You actually get worse. So you just
need to relax about this. Everybody is human. Everybody makes mistakes. It's a normal thing.
Finally, you do not want to focus on the past. Most of my students have very negative experiences with English from the past. Most did not enjoy their English classes in school. When I ask about their past with English "Oh, oh, it was terrible." People tell me, students tell me "l'rn not good at English. I was always bad in my English classes. I've studied for 6 years, 8 years, 10 years, still I cannot speak well." Focused on the past, well the past is not the same as the present. The past doesn't equal the future as Tony Rabbins likes to say.
And it's true. In the past you used very old traditional methods that made you feel bad. Sitting in a class still, not moving, being graded and tested constantly. Studying boring grammar textbooks, that's not a method for success for most people. Sorne people succeed with that but very few. So the past was different.
You're now learning in a very different way. You are different now. Don't focus on the past.
Alright, so enough of what not to do. What should you focus on if you want to be happy, if you want to be excited, if you want to learn very quickly, faster than before. What should you focus on?
What should you think about consistently all the time? W ell
number one, instead of focusing on the little steps and all the little problems, instead focus on the end result. The final result, that's what you need to focus on. Focus on your ultimate success.
Soin other words use your imagination and see yourself, imagine yourself speaking English fluently, quickly. Imagine yourself smiling as you speak English with a native speaker. Imagine yourself feeling strong and confident as you speak English easily, effortlessly. Every day focus on this thought, the end result. What you will ultimately reach, ultimately achieve, what you will finally do. Focus on the end result every day, the final result. Do not focus on the little steps you must take every day. Focus on the final result every day.
Second, focus on the purpose, the reason you are learning English. I mean why? If your purpose is to take the TO EFL exam, you're going to be stressed and depressed. Nobody is excited about a test, nobody I know. That's nota good emotional thing to focus on. It's not a good reason to learn English. T aking a test is a terrible reason because it makes you feel stressed, nervous, tired and bored. You need bigger, better reasons. Yes, maybe you need to take the TO EFL exam but why? Why do you want to pass the TOEFL exam? Maybe you want a great job that
requires English, where you canuse English in international trade perhaps.
Maybe you want to study in the United States, go to a University
in the United States, have a great adventure in another country.
W ell that makes you feel good, right, thinking about that?
Imagine yourself in New York City or in San Francisco, meeting native speakers, talking effortlessly, easily. Making new friends, a great new job with more money, now those are great things to focus on. So you want to focus on compelling strong reasons why you're learning English, why it's important, the benefits, things that make you feel great. Do not focus on a test, please.
So those are the two things, you focus on the end result and they're related, they're basically the same thing. Number two you focus on the reasons why, the purpose. So you have to imagine very vividly, very strongly in your head what it is you will finally do. See the end result. And then feel the emotions. The last step is you want to see the end result with emotion, let yourself feel that it's real. So when you focus on speaking great English, feel the emotions. Feel proud. Feel happy. Feel confident. Smile big.
Imagine how you will feel speaking excellent English.
Okay, so let's review very quickly about focus. The main thing about focus, it's very, very simple. You're going to focus on the end result, the final result. You want to focus on the thing that
makes you feel great, the situation, the benefits, all the great things that will improve in your life by speaking excellent English. That's what you need to focus on every day. Write it clown. Write clown, make a list of all the great things that will happen in your life when you speak excellent English.
New friends, maybe? Maybe great new travel experiences. Maybe living or working abroad. Maybe a better job. I don't know, you have to make your own list, but make it a big list. Write clown all the great things that will happen in your life and then every
day focus on those. Review those every day. Teach your brain to focus on these positive inspiring things, not on these negative things, not on problems, not on the past.
Okay, so that is it for this main explanation on focus. Next, let's listen to the mini-story.
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Welcome to the mini-story for "Focus." Now, before we start this story, I want you to do something. You know what I want you to do. Stand up. Pull your shoulders back. Chest up. Chin up. Eyes up. Stand strong.
Move your body. Okay, you need to be awake. You need to be alive while you're learning. You ready? Let's start the mini-story.
*****
Elvis the spider can't swim. But he wants to.
Elvis the spider has a problem.
Poor Elvis can't swim. He wants to swim. In fact he wants to swim a very long way. He wants to swim across the Atlantic Ocean.
Elvis lives in London, he's a British spider.
He decides "I'm going to practice." He decides to practice in the North Sea.
He tries to swim but he has another problem. It's very cold in the North Sea.
Elvis freezes.
And he almost drowns.
So next he decides "Hm, I know. I will go to the gym. I will go to the gym and swim in the pool."
So every day he goes to the pool. And every day he visualizes arriving in New York.
He visualizes vividly. He visualizes powerfully, clearly and colorfully, vividly.
Finally, the day cornes. He jumps into the Atlantic and he starts swimming. Swimming toward New York City. After 15 days, he's
still swirnrning. Sharks try to attack hirn. He hits thern with his legs and he escapes. Storrns corne, bad weather, rain, he continues to swirn. Ultirnately, ultirnately, ultirnately and finally he arrives
in New York City. He is successful. The rnayor of New York City gives hirn the key to the city. They have a big parade for Elvis to celebrate his success.
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Welcorne to the rnini-story for "Focus." Now, before we start this story, I want you to do sornething. You know what I want you to do. Stand up. Pull your shoulders back. Chest up. Chin up. Eyes up. Stand strong.
Move your body. Okay, you need to be awake. You need to be alive while you're learning. You ready? Let's start the rnini-story.
*****
Elvis the spider can't swim. But he wants to.
What does Elvis want to do?
Swim, Elvis wants to swim.
What is Elvis?
W ell, Elvis is a spider.
How many legs does Elvis have?
Eight, just checking.
Okay, Elvis has eight legs because?
Because he's a spider, of course. Elvis has eight legs because he's a spider.
Elvis the spider has a problem.
What is his problem?
Well, his problem is he can't swim.
Poor Elvis can't swim. He wants to swim. ln fact he wants to swim a very long way. He wants to swim across the Atlantic Ocean.
Does he want to swim a short way or a long way?
A long way, he wants to swim a very long way.
How far does Elvis the spider want to swim?
He wants to swim across the Atlantic Ocean.
Elvis lives in London, he's a British spider.
Where does he live? New York?
No, London. Elvis the spider lives in London and he has a problem. He can't swim.
Where does he want to swim to?
He wants to swim to New York City.
Who wants to swim to New York City?
Elvis the spider.
From where?
From London, he wants to swim to New York City from London.
Can he swim now?
No, no, no, Elvis can't swim now. He can't swim now but he wants to swim from London to New York City.
He decides "I'm going to practice." What does he decide to do?
T o practice.
He decides to practice in the North Sea.
Where does he practice?
ln the North Sea.
He practices in the North Sea.
What does he practice in the North Sea?
Swimming, he practices swimming in the North Sea.
He tries to swim but he has another problem. It's very cold in the North Sea.
Is it hot? Is it warm?
No, it's cold. It's very cold in the North Sea.
Is the North Sea hot or cold?
Well, it's cold, it's very cold in the North Sea.
Elvis freezes.
Does he freeze? Is he very, very cold?
Yes, he freezes.
Where does he freeze?
ln the North Sea, of course, he freezes in the North Sea.
And he almost drowns.
Does Elvis almost die?
Yeah, exactly, he almost drowns. He almost goes under the water forever.
Why does he almost drown?
Because he's freezing, it's so cold he can't swim.
Does Elvis swim successfully or not?
Not, he does not swim successfully. He almost drowns. He almost dies.
So next he decides "Hm, I know. I will go to the gym. I will go to the gym and swim in the pool."
Why does he go to the pool? Why? What's his purpose?
W ell, his purpose is to practice for swimming from London to New York.
What does he want to practice for?
He wants to practice for swimming from London to New York.
What is his purpose? What is his reason for practicing?
W ell, swimming from London to New York. That is his ultimate purpose.
So what is his ultimate purpose? What is his final goal?
His ultimate, his final purpose, is to swim from London to New York.
Is his ultimate purpose to swim from London to Rome?
No, that's not his ultimate purpose. His ultimate purpose is to swim from London to New York.
What does he want to swim across?
Across the Atlantic Ocean to New York.
Does he want to swim across New York?
Not across New York, to New York.
Does he want to swim to the Atlantic Ocean?
No, he wants to swim across the Atlantic Ocean.
Is that his ultimate purpose?
Yes, it is. lt's his final reason for practicing. His ultimate purpose is to swim from London to New York.
Whose ultimate purpose is it?
Elvis the spider, it's Elvis' ultimate purpose.
So every day he goes to the pool. And every day he visualizes arriving in New York.
Does he imagine himself arriving in New York?
Yes, every day he visualizes, he imagines himself arriving in New York.
What does he visualize?
He visualizes arriving in New York.
How often does he visualize this?
Every day, he visualizes arriving in New York.
He sees it clearly, vividly, in his head.
Does he visualize vividly?
Yes he does.
He visualizes vividly. He visualizes powerfully, clearly and colorfully, vividly.
How does he visualize?
Vividly, he vividly sees himself arriving in New York City.
Does he vividly imagine success?
Oh yes, very clearly. Very powerfully, very colorfully, he sees success.
He imagines success. He vividly visualizes arriving in New York.
And he practices every day.
Where does he practice swimming every day?
At the gym, every day he practices swimming in the pool at the gym. He swims with all his eight legs in the pool. Swimming every day, swimming and visualizing. Swimming and visualizing.
Swimming and visualizing. He sees in his head arriving in New York. And he swims in the pool, swims in the pool.
Finally, the day cornes. He jumps into the Atlantic and he starts swimming. Swimming toward New York City. After 15 days, he's still swimming. Sharks try to attack him. He hits them with his legs and he escapes. Storms corne, bad weather, rain, he continues to swim. Ultimately, ultimately, ultimately and finally he arrives
in New York City. He is successful. The mayor of New York City gives him the key to the city. They have a big parade for Elvis to celebrate his success.
What does Elvis ultimately do?
He ultimately is successful. He ultimately arrives in New York City. He ultimately swims from London to New York City. He finally swims from London to New York City.
Who is ultimately successful?
Elvis, Elvis the spider is ultimately successful. He has problems, he has difficulties but ultimately, but finally, he is successful.
*****
That is the end of the mini-story for "Focus." Again, listen every day, 1 time, 2 times, 3 times, it doesn't matter, as muchas you can. When you listen, always have a strong posture. Breathe deeply, smile and move as you listen. If you get tired, it's okay, it's normal. T o get bored is also normal. Just pause, change your posture. Change your breathing. Change your smile. Move and then start again.
Okay, I will see you next time. Enjoy.