MSI Press Blog

  Many language learners strive for brevity, believing short answers signal confidence and control. But when you’re speaking with native speakers, brevity can backfire—turning dynamic conversation into a rigid Q&A exchange. And once the learner starts playing ping-pong with questions and answers, the conversation loses flow, and fluency begins to fray. That’s where  Show Your Stuff  comes in—a powerful tool introduced by Boris Shekhtman in  How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately . It flips the script by encouraging learners to give expansive, intentional responses. Not rambling—but rich. Not performative—but personal. ⚙️ Why Verbose Responses Matter Imagine this: a native speaker asks, “Do you like Italian food?” A short answer—“Yes, very much”—shuts the door. The next question might follow, but the learner remains passive, reactive. A fuller answer opens the door wide: “Oh, absolutely. I first discovered real Italian food when I traveled to Milan durin...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately  by Boris Shekhtman, which reached  #54 in study and teaching reference and #135 in academic and commercial writing references . the successful practices of diplomats and international journalists now available to any language learner Book description: This is the fifth edition of a popular book that provides a unique set of tools designed to enhance an individual's success in communicati0n in a foreign language environment. The devices presented allow the speaker of a foreign language to demonstrate the level of his/her language more impressively, so impressively, in fact, that it appears that the speaker's language itself has improved overnight. These techniques were developed and tested by the author with adult professionals in such varied fields as journalism, diplomacy, government, and international business. Many of these professionals have attested to the efficacy of these tools i...

  In the winding journey of foreign language acquisition, one deceptively simple skill can make the difference between a stalled conversation and a confident flow:  Shifting Gears . Originally outlined by Boris Shekhtman in  How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately , this tool allows learners to maintain fluency—even when they encounter unfamiliar vocabulary or complex topics—by artfully pivoting to terrain they know well. 🎯 What Is “Shifting Gears”? Imagine you’re driving through a foreign language conversation and hit a hill too steep: maybe it’s a political debate you’re not prepared for, or a scientific concept you don’t know the words for. Instead of grinding to a halt, you  downshift —you transition, smoothly and purposefully, to a topic you  can  discuss. And when done well, this move isn’t evasive—it’s strategic. It gives the impression (rightfully!) that you’re in control of the conversation, equipped with tools to communicate effectively ...

  When learners hit a word they don’t understand, they often freeze—or worse, ask “What does that mean?” and stall the exchange. But  Skillful Questioning , a technique from Boris Shekhtman’s  How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately , offers a smoother way forward. It works like this: instead of admitting you don’t know the word, ask  contextual  questions that treat the new term as part of a familiar story. You stay engaged, and the meaning often reveals itself naturally. 🧭 What Does Skillful Questioning Look Like? Take this sentence: “When I came into my room, I saw a corpse lying on the sofa.” You don’t know the word  corpse . Rather than saying “What’s a corpse?”—ask: “What corpse?” “Why was it on the sofa?” “Who brought it there?” These questions don’t spotlight your confusion. They pull out details that give the word meaning, all while keeping the dialogue going. 🛠️ How to Practice “Skillful Questioning” 🔍 Stick to the Situation Ask questi...