Have you been learning English as a subject in school and college for years? But still, struggle to speak the language with confidence?
You’re not alone!
Thousands of professionals, especially those who studied English as a second language can read and write it well. But when it comes to speaking, they fail miserably. They get embarrassed and anxious in professional and social situations, making them feel like a fish out of water.
In this post, I would love to share with you simple English-speaking tips that will improve your fluency in no time!
The best way to learn English speaking is to follow a learning strategy known as “immersion.” With this technique, you surround yourself with the language as much as you can in your daily routines. You need to take up English speaking activities until it becomes natural for you to hear and speak the language confidently.
You can immerse yourself in the language in a variety of fun and creative ways. Start watching English movies, TED talks and listen to English pop songs. English With Janet can help you with immersion, by exposing you to natural, day-to-day conversations in English. The more you converse in English, the more confident you get in speaking it.
A common mistake that people make when they learn to speak English fluently is to memorize individual words. This is a wrong approach and I’ll explain why.
Have you ever wondered why people say, “Can you take a picture of me?” and not “make a picture?” Sounding fluent is all about using the right combination of words. Learning phrases can make you speak naturally, building the communication more smoothly. When you’re familiar with commonly used phrases, they pop up automatically in your mind, making your day-to-day conversations easy and smooth.
You might know a lot of words and phrases in English, but if you fail to speak them correctly, you will not be misunderstood. Thankfully, mastering pronunciation is easier than ever before. Use Google or other online dictionaries like Merriam Webster and Macmillan to play the sounds of words you’re not familiar with.
Mastering the meaning of individual words and memorizing phrases is great. But the secret to learn to speak English fluently lies in the flow of sentences. Whenever you read an article, watch a video or listen to music, pay attention to the following:
Self-talk is the best way to learn English speaking quickly. Talk aloud to yourself in English. It can be anything from a simple reminder, “I’ve got tons of homework to do today,” or a suggestion like, “Shall I read a book before I hit the sack?” Alternatively, you can read out pages from a book or an online article out loud. This is an excellent activity to speed up your speaking skills.
Use your mobile to record yourself. Replay the recording and listen to how you sound. Are you mispronouncing words? Do you sound confident? If possible, ask for feedback from friends and colleagues who are confident speakers.
This technique is all about imitating others. Listen to how native speakers talk and try to copy it. Here is a step-by-step guide to practise this technique:
With consistent speech shadowing, you can begin to build confidence to speak English fluently.
Chatting with AI is a great way to improve your pronunciation. As these gadgets are machines, you cannot rely on facial expressions and gestures to get your ideas across. It’s your words that matter. So, you need to speak as precisely and clearly as you can. Ask questions, play games, ask for directions – do anything until you get more confident handling day-to-day conversations in English.
Some experts even state that you don’t have to study grammar to learn to speak English fluently. Grammar is just a part of English and focussing too much on the myriad grammar rules can make speaking English confusing, causing you to lose your confidence. So, it might be a good idea to put aside the tons of grammar rules, and speak without the fear of making mistakes.
Often, people are scared to speak in English because they are embarrassed of what others think of them, if they make mistakes. The best way to learn English speaking is NOT to be afraid of making mistakes. Remember, English is not your mother tongue. So, even if you make mistakes, it’s okay. Don’t let the fear of committing a mistake hold you back from improving your fluency. Use these tips to improve your English-speaking skills, and you’ll soon become a confident speaker!
[…] Thousands of professionals, especially those who studied English as a second language can read and write it well. But when it comes to speaking, they fail miserably. They get embarrassed and anxious in professional and social situations, making them feel like a fish out of water. In this post, I would love to share with you simple English-speaking tips that will improve your fluency in no time! […]