Hello Reader,

I watched a video on YouTube today that had nothing to do with speaking skills for the CELPIP.

BUT

At the same time, it has a few ideas inside it that DO have a lot to do with stronger speaking performances on the CELPIP, and actually with your English speaking skills in general.

​Speak on YouTube like this to get views and sales arrived on my YouTube feed, likely because I've watched and enjoyed several videos from Deya's channel before. (I bet you'd like her content. Give it a go!)

In the interview I just linked to they're talking about making better and more engaging content for YouTube, but there are some great takeaways that will help you as you practice for your CELPIP exam, too.

Imagine you're talking to your best friend.

I bet you've heard this advice when it comes to the CELPIP, right? I speak about it often on my podcast, and in the CELPIP Success School, so it really caught my attention to hear it come up in this interview.

Deya not only imagines talking to this person, she also imagines their personality. "...someone positive and aspirational—"smart kind funny creative ambitious" You likely don't need to go that deep when you practice or deliver your CELPIP speaking responses, but it should SOUND like you're actually talking with someone you know or genuinely like.

I'd encourage you to even imagine your best friend sitting across from you when you're speaking into that cold impersonal microphone on your exam day.

Why?

It will help ground you, keep you focused, and...

Sound like you're talking to another human!

You want there be feeling in the way you speak. And those feelings should come through your voice so the test raters can hear it. Not that you have to be all touchy feely when you give your answers. Not at all. But you do need to sound the part.

Do you use a flat monotone when you're talking to a good friend, family member, coworker, or even someone you don't necessarily know that well?

Nope.

I bet you inject feeling and expression into your voice. (Often without thinking about it, right?)

Try your best to do the same thing on the CELPIP.

Next up: How you practice matters.

You can learn a lot from this interview. (I just did!) Did you notice the way she moved from having to script every single word, to using bullet points on slides, instead?

I need and want to learn how to do that, too!

Her script felt impersonal to her. Like she was just a newscaster reading her lines. She wanted connection with her audience. (Hmm. That seems important to me. Seems important for you on the CELPIP too. What if you didn't just try to deliver lines, but instead tried to create a connection with your listener?)

What helped? Using bullet points on a powerpoint like slide which she also included in her videos.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "But we can't do that on the exam!"

Yep. You're right. All you can read on the exam day is your own brainstorming notes that you prepare on the spot.

But we're talking about one way you can spend time practicing.

Not every practice session for the CELPIP must be 1000% identical to what it's like on the test.

Try spending little blocks of time actually working the way Deya does in her videos. Create a simple presentation of what you want to talk about.

Hey..stick with me. I know this sounds like extra work. It's not. Just throw up some bullet points into powerpoint, keynote or canva and try recording yourself talking off those points.

Repeat two or three times.

Then try the same answer with just single word notes like you would have created if you only got the chance to brainstorm.

"Riff" off your notes.

Practice this by using the slides + bullet point style Deya uses.

The workflow:

Slide ---> + Bullet points ----> Use bullet points to guide your speaking task response.

Increase the difficulty: Reverse engineer your brainstorming notes by stealing one or two key words from your slides. (How many could you have come up with if you only had 30 seconds to think?)

Now cover the slides, and use your much smaller bullet point list to give your response again.

Bonus challenge: can you record your answer in 60 or 90 seconds?

I think you'll like this!

Don't do this! Here's one of the most common mistakes I see people making with the CELPIP.

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From an immigration lawyer I trust: Here's why you must Check your cell phone before you make your PR application. This post might save you from getting flagged by an immigration officer. (from Robert Gertler, Canadian immigration lawyer.)**

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Looking for work? Here's how to turn one-on-one conversations into real career opportunities (perfect for introverts).

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Deya: Here's a link to Deya's YouTube channel. (I talked about her work above.) And I'll bet ya you'll enjoy this summary of Seth Godin's book: The Dip. See any applications for you and your English skills or CELPIP prep?

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(** I get nothing from sharing links from RCIC's, immigration lawyers, or other folks I link to here. I link to the immigration professionals because I've come to trust them. They might be able to help you with your process. )​
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Thank you for reading!

Aaron

PS. Did you like Deya's video? Reply to this email and let me know! I'd love to hear from you.