Check-in: did the AI practice happen?
Start from the routine we discovered last class.
Quick questions
Framing
Say this:
“Last class, we discovered something important: listening is not the hard part for you. The challenge is turning good input into language you can actually use when you speak. Today we’ll test that process here.”
Understanding is not the same as using
The goal today is Level 3.
I understand it when I hear it.
Passive input. Useful, but not enough.
I recognise it when I read it.
You know it looks right, but you may not use it.
I can use it when I speak.
Active language. This is today’s target.
Question
Give me one phrase you understand perfectly when you hear it, but you probably wouldn’t use naturally when speaking.
Speak first: raw answer before input
Production first. Model later.
Question 1
Walk me through your background.
Answer naturally. No model. No notes. 60 seconds maximum.
Teacher captures
| What Bruno said | Upgrade |
|---|---|
| I... | A sharper way to say it is... |
| I... | A more natural construction is... |
| I... | For an interview, I’d say... |
Why production first?
If we start with the model, you may sound good while reading. If we start with your answer, we can see what language you can actually retrieve under pressure.
Input bank: listen, repeat, personalise
Hear it. Repeat it. Change one detail. Make it yours.
Rule
Don’t just repeat the sentence. Make it true for you.
After each chunk: listen → repeat → personalise → use in a real sentence.
I currently work in corporate treasury.
Your turn: What do you currently do, in one clean sentence?
I focus on cash flow, funding and large financing operations.
Your turn: Add your main areas.
I’ve spent about 13 years in finance.
Your turn: Time + field + specialisation.
I started as an intern and worked my way up to a coordinator role.
Your turn: From where to where?
Real money on the line — that’s when I do my best work.
Your turn: What kind of pressure brings out your best work?
I’m looking to take on more scope.
Your turn: What does “more scope” mean for you?
Lexical noticing: chunks, not isolated words
Notice the patterns you can reuse.
Verb + noun
Say one sentence with two of these.
Preposition patterns
Fast oral drill: finance, banks, forecast, role, company.
Stance frames
Use when you need to control your answer.
Task
Choose three chunks from this slide and use them in one answer to: Why are you considering a move now?
Sentence construction lab
Basic idea → sharper sentence → real use.
How we use this
First, upgrade the basic version yourself. Then click to compare.
Question every time: Why is the sharper version better in an interview?
Basic
I worked with finance.
How can we make this sound more natural and more credible?
I’ve spent 13 years in finance, mostly in corporate treasury.
Why it works: “Finance” is a field, so we say in finance. The sharper version adds time, field and specialisation.
Basic
I want a bigger role.
How can we make this sound less basic and more executive?
I’m looking to take on more scope.
Why it works: It suggests broader responsibility, more complexity and more impact — not just a bigger title.
Basic
Things were difficult.
How can we make this more specific and senior?
The stakes were high.
Why it works: It shows risk, pressure and important consequences. It sounds more professional than “difficult.”
Basic
I did everything.
How can we show judgement and execution?
I prioritised hard and made sure nothing slipped.
Why it works: “I did everything” is vague. This version shows how you handled the pressure.
Basic
I was surprised.
How can we make this more natural?
I was caught off guard.
Why it works: It sounds natural and precise: something unexpected happened and you had to react in the moment.
Basic
I didn’t have a right answer to say.
How can we make this natural?
I didn’t know how to respond in the moment.
Why it works: We say know how to respond, not “have an answer to say.”
Why this language works
Each chunk creates an impression in the interviewer’s mind.
Prompt
For each chunk, answer: What impression does this give?
I currently work in corporate treasury.
Clear role, clear field, no long warm-up. It helps the interviewer place you professionally.
I’ve worked my way up.
It shows progression, effort and growth — not random movement between jobs.
Real money on the line.
It shows high stakes and responsibility. It makes your work sound concrete and senior.
I’m looking to take on more scope.
It communicates ambition without sounding negative about your current company.
I’m not someone who likes to jump companies.
It shows commitment and long-term thinking. It turns stability into a strength.
I prioritised hard and made sure nothing slipped.
It shows decision-making under pressure. It is stronger than “I did everything.”
Guided retrieval
Answer with support, then remove the support.
Random question
Answer in 45–60 seconds. Use at least two chunks from today.
Timer
Tell me about yourself
Now → path → value → next step.
Why move now?
Respect current company → growth → more scope.
Pressure story
Situation → action → result → reflection.
Recovery language
What to do when a word disappears.
Let me rephrase that.
Use when your sentence didn’t come out the way you wanted.
The main point is…
Use when your answer is getting too long or too general.
To be more specific…
Use when you need to make the idea clearer.
Stuck-moment practice
I’ll give you a concept. Continue in English. Don’t stop. Use recovery language if needed.
- scope: I’m looking for more scope — in other words, broader responsibilities and bigger operations.
- career growth: I want to keep growing professionally and move into a more senior role over time.
- responsibility: I’m ready to take on more responsibility, especially in larger operations.
- polished answer: Let me rephrase that. What I mean is that I’m looking for a role with more strategic responsibility.
Final output: 45 seconds
Choose one question. Use two chunks. Recover once if needed.
Choose one
Performance checklist
Example answer: English practice
“For me, passive listening is useful, but it’s not enough. I need active speaking practice, because my challenge is not understanding English — it’s retrieving the right language when I need to speak. That’s why short voice practice with feedback could work better for me.”
Your six + evidence of progress
Make the result visible.
Your six reusable lines
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
Evidence of progress
| What improved today | Next thing to sharpen |
|---|---|
| Faster access to... | Concision / pronunciation / endings... |
| Better sentence construction with... | More natural collocations... |
Close with: “Today you didn’t just read good English. You used it. You turned input into output.”
Zero-friction homework
10 minutes, voice mode, while driving safely.
This week
Use ChatGPT voice for 10 minutes while driving, only if it is safe and hands-free.
Choose one mode:
- Interview
- Professional register
- Recovery language
- Free conversation with corrections
Goal: active speaking, not passive listening.