We all want to know how to improve our spoken English, but for some of us, the biggest difficulty is how to train effectively. The best way to improve your spoken English is to talk to native English speakers. But not everyone has such conditions! What if you don't know English speakers? What if you don't have time? Without the help of others, how can you practice improving your spoken English on your own?
Don't worry, even if no one is practicing speaking with you, you can speak fluent English yourself by practicing it repeatedly in the following 14 ways
1. Think in English
Sometimes the difficulty of speaking English is not in the language itself, but in how you perceive it. If you think in your native language and then try to speak English, you always need to translate between different languages. Translation is not an easy task! Even people who are proficient in two or more languages have difficulty switching languages. The solution is to think in English. You can do this anytime, anywhere. When you think about what happened in your day, or when you decide what to order, try to use English. Even try looking up words in the English-English dictionary. This way you don't have to use your native language and translate words. You will find it easier to speak in English when you think in English.
2. Talk to yourself
Whenever you're at home (or alone somewhere else), you can improve your spoken English with your favorite person (yourself). If you're already thinking in English, try to say your thoughts out loud. Read it out loud too. Practice is practice, and even if you don't have anyone to correct your mistakes, just saying it out loud can help you speak English more comfortably.
3. Practice in front of a mirror
Whenever possible, take a few minutes out of the day to stand in front of the mirror and talk. Choose a topic, set a two- to three-minute timer, and start talking. The purpose of this exercise is to observe your mouth, face, and body language as you speak. It will also make you feel like you're talking to someone else, so you can pretend you're having a discussion with a learning partner. Talk for two or three minutes, don't stop! If you're stuck with a word you don't recognize, try expressing your thoughts in another way. You can look up what the word says in two or three minutes. This will definitely help you find words or sentences that you find difficult.
4. Focus on fluency in English, not grammar
How often do you pause when you speak English? The more you stop, the less confident you sound and the more uncomfortable you become. Try the "mirror exercise" above, but challenge yourself not to pause or stutter throughout your presentation. This may mean that your sentences aren't perfect in grammar, but that's okay! If you focus on speaking fluently rather than speaking correctly, you will still be understood and your voice will sound better.
5. Try English tongue twisters
Tongue twisters are a series of words that are difficult to say quickly. "The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday". Try saying this a few times! You will find that this is not easy. Word games like this can help you find the right position of your mouth and tongue and can even help you pronounce it. You can find some English tongue twisters from the Internet to practice repeatedly.
6. Repeat after listening
Do you watch TV shows or videos in English? You can use them to improve your Fluency in English. Select a small part of the period and repeat it line by line. Try to mimic the intonation, speed, or even accent (if you can). It doesn't matter if you miss a few words, it's important to keep saying it. Try to make yourself sound like a native speaker on the show. You are free to choose the videos that interest you most. The more you listen, the more you understand how to speak English naturally.
7. Pay attention to the accents
English uses accents in words and sentences. This means that when you speak English, you need to emphasize or emphasize certain words and syllables (pronunciation) to give words and sentences different meanings. Listen to the emphasis places that native English speakers speak. Try to improve your English accent in the same way in your own speech. This will not only help you speak English better, but also reduce misunderstandings. Sometimes putting an accent on the wrong syllable changes the word completely. For example, the word ADdress is not the same as the word adDRESS. ADdress (address) refers to the actual place where a person lives, and adDRESS (speech) refers to the official speech to a group of people. Learn to differentiate!
8. Sing English songs along with them
Singing along with your favorite English songs will help you become more fluent. It's a scientifically grounded, tried-and-true method of language learning. Once you can sing alongside Taylor Swift and Jason Mraz, you can test your abilities with something more difficult: rap! Rap is a great way to practice your English because these words are usually pronounced like regular sentences. However, rappers use stronger tempo and faster speed. Some words may not make sense, but if you can keep up with rappers, then you'll become more and more fluent!
9. Learn the form of words with new words
Some exercises begin even before you open your mouth. Make your speaking easier by learning different forms of any word. You should do this when you learn new vocabulary. For example, if you've just learned the word write, you should also learn some other forms, such as written and written. It is important to know that a word is used correctly in any sentence. This knowledge will help you improve your speaking. You don't need to stop and think about different words, you'll know exactly when you need to use that word when you speak.
10. Learn phrases, not words
A better way to improve your English is to learn word phrases, not just words. You may have used the correct grammar and vocabulary, but this is still not something that a native English speaker would say. For example, you can say "how do you feel today?" But native English speakers might say "how're you doing?" or "what's up?". Phrases and expressions can help you sound more natural when you speak.
11. Learn the most commonly used proverbs
Take a moment to notice how you speak your native language. What are the words and phrases you use most often? Learn how to speak your most common phrases and words in English. Knowing in English will help you speak English as well as in your native language.
12. Prepare for special goals
Are there any specific reasons why you learn spoken English? For example, do you study English to find a job in a foreign company? If this is the case, practicing your English will help you stand out in the interview. Did you learn English to make friends in the United States? Then you need to learn all kinds of different English. Before you go to a place where English must be spoken, you can practice what you might want to say. If you were going to a restaurant, what would the conversation in the restaurant sound like? Answer questions that the waiter might ask you, try to talk about the food and the menu. If you're ready, you'll feel more confident!
13. Relax!
When you learn to speak English fluently, you can be your best helper or your worst enemy! We know it can be hard, but you should try not to worry about the sound you make when you speak. Please relax! If you feel trapped or stuck while talking, just take a deep breath and start over. If necessary, say slow down. Take a moment to pause and think about the next sentence. Do everything you can to make speaking English more comfortable.
14. Tell stories in English
Here's an interesting way to test your spoken English level: choose a story that you're very familiar with and tell it in English. When telling a story, remember to think in English. Focus on speaking fluently rather than saying it correctly. Say every word out loud to yourself.
Even if there is no one to accompany you to practice speaking and converse in English, you can still build confidence and speak fluent English. In a way, self-practice is even easier! Now that you know how to improve your spoken English, you should have the confidence to do it!