How To Improve Your English Speaking Skills?

The ability to express oneself fluently in spoken form is crucial when learning a new language.

Take a look at these recommendations to better express yourself in English.

You can greatly enhance your command of the English language by regularly practising with a native speaker, enrolling in a conversation class, or using pronunciation tools available on the internet.

Use these methods, and you’ll soon be able to express yourself confidently in English.

Millions of students around the world struggle with academics. Dr. Study provides a variety of online learning and tutoring programs to assist your child to get ahead.

How to Increase Your English Speaking Skills

Putting in the time and effort required to master any skill, including communication, is essential.

You can increase your vocabulary, comprehension, and your ability to learn from your own mistakes by increasing your speaking frequency.

Here are some tried-and-true approaches to bettering your English communication skills:

Find Yourself a Good Talking Buddy

Getting in touch with a native English speaker to work on your language skills is strongly suggested.

If you don’t have anyone to practise with regularly, you might want to look into hiring a personal trainer.

Even if you can’t think of anyone to talk to, you can always find them online and practise your digital conversation skills with them.

Make Sure To Listen As Well As Speak

One of the best ways to learn new words and gain an understanding of grammar is to listen to native speakers. Perhaps you would benefit from listening to podcasts or previously recorded conversations.

YouTube and real-life conversations are just two of many sources of exposure to the English language.

Practice Having Conversations by Recording Them

It’s normal to make some blunders when you first start talking.

To gain wisdom from your blunders, however, you must accept that you will make them. You can gain even more insight from the feedback you and your conversation partner receive by recording your conversations and listening back to them. This will help you track your progress and fine-tune your pronunciation.

Put Yourself in an Environment Where You Can Practise Your English

Regardless of the context, English is always spoken. Menus, advertisements, books, films, and road signs are just some of the many things that can be found written in English all over the world.

Immersing yourself in English and paying close attention to the English you encounter on a daily basis will greatly strengthen your foundation.

Learn Through Listening to Music and Watching Movies

Most people like to unwind with some kind of musical or cinematic entertainment.

Movies can be viewed in either their original language or with English subtitles.

Read It Out Loud

Reading aloud is a great activity for people who would rather stay in and do nothing than go out and make small talk. This will help you see and read the words, hear how they sound in your mouth, and ultimately remember them better.

If you aren’t sure if you’re ready to put your public speaking skills to the test, have a conversation with yourself. The more time you devote to independent study, the greater your progress will be in acquiring a command of the English language.

Discover Brand-New Words Each and Every Day

Learning new words regularly, every day, is the best way to increase your vocabulary.

First things first, resolve to write a certain number of words every day, whether it’s three words or ten.

If you can only learn one new word a day, it is still better than nothing.

If you commit to learning a new word every day for a year, you will have added 365 words to your English vocabulary.

Write down the phone number so you have it on hand whenever you need it. Give it to your study buddy so she can gauge your progress.

The daily news, songs, and television shows you watch can all be excellent word sources. Listen carefully to songs and jot down any unfamiliar lyrics or words that you want to learn.

A lot of useful words, phrases, and expressions can be found in popular songs. Therefore, they are a great resource for learning English.

Learn New Words by Memorizing Them in Phrases And Chunks

You’d do better if you learned words as a group instead of picking them apart one by one.

Glass of wine, pint of beer, cup of tea, pot of coffee, and so on are all acceptable terms to use when referring to alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, respectively.

These phrases are more useful than knowing the names of common alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, tea, etc.).

You can also benefit from learning pairs of related words.

For instance, the moon goes through the phases of crescent, gibbon, waxing, and waning over the course of a lunar month. For this reason, it is most efficient to learn all four words at once.

Your Pronunciation Could Use Some Work

Even if you know a lot of words, it won’t help you understand anything if you can’t say them clearly. Doing that instead of studying a foreign language seems pointless.

Online dictionaries like Macmillan and Merriam-Webster feature a “little speaker” icon that can be used to hear how a word is pronounced.

English pronunciation tutorials on YouTube and podcasts like English Pronunciation Pod and American English Pronunciation are also great resources for learning the nuances of American English pronunciation. It’s possible to gain access to both of these materials via the internet.

When you’re ready for a challenge, try your hand at some tongue twisters.

Here are a few illustrations to help you along. One of my favourite bits from “The Two Ronnies” is the one involving the fork handles.

This is not a conversation that normally takes place, but it exemplifies the richness of the English language in conversation. The likelihood of a hearty guffaw is also high.

Develop Your Self-Assurance When Speaking English

One of the biggest roadblocks to learning English is a lack of confidence in one’s own abilities to do so.

It’s undeniable that this is a problem for every language learner, and one of the best ways to overcome it is to get out and use your new skills regularly.

If you think you have what it takes, you should get out there and practise your English with people you don’t know.

Yes, if you follow the video’s instructions, you can zero in on an aspect of language learning that is often overlooked: self-assurance.

Eventually, you’ll overcome your initial hesitation about using English in conversation, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of fluency.

Dr Study offers a unique, targeted approach to help students build confidence and competency with the English language. 

Shadowing of the Speech

One simple way to describe this technique is to say that imitation is central to it. The first step is to try to speak like a native speaker.

• Find a video with captions that suits your needs. Make sure you enjoy watching it, because you will be doing it for a while.
• It’s something you should listen to over and over. You should be able to grasp the gist and movement of the video after listening to it and reading the subtitles. While reiterating the prior step, you should move on to the next.
• Sentence structure should be copied verbatim from the narrator. Play. Listen. Pause. Speak. Remarkable (optional) (optional). Do your best to adopt the rhythm and cadence of the target speaker. If you decide to document your workout, you can compare your progress to the recorded version later on.
• Instead, you could give your own sound a critical listen and figure out how similar or different it is. Carry on doing this until the video concludes.

Self-Talk

Engage in a loud English conversation with yourself. A simple, “Shall we go get a glass of water?” could be the trigger. something more complicated is also possible. or a subtle prod, as in, “You should probably do some laundry today.”

It’s also a good idea to pick up a book and read aloud to yourself for a while.

It’s possible that this exercise will slow down your reading speed, but it will greatly increase your speaking speed.

There’s also the option of recording oneself and then listening back to it to check for mispronunciations. A native speaker’s opinion should be sought out if possible.

Think in English

If you can think in English before you speak it, you’ll save time in casual conversation.

Not even a translation would help here.

The process of rethinking can be aided by keeping a journal in which you write down your daily thoughts in English.

The goal shouldn’t be perfection, but rather progressively less difficulty in expressing oneself in English.

Share a Story in English.

Storytelling is a great way to take the challenge to the next level. You paraphrase the ideas of others without adding anything new to the conversation.

You can start by sharing a story that is well-known in your culture.

Your translation must be spot-on, both in terms of literal meaning and the rhetorical and cultural connotations of the words you’re using.

Alternately, you could use a different vocabulary when retelling a simple story in English. Once more, the best way to start is at the beginning, with a short story like a fable or a fairy tale. No matter what you decide, your English language skills will grow.

Practice Improves English Communication.

Learning to speak English fluently requires extensive exposure to the language.

Some people falsely believe that they do not have the opportunity to hone their public speaking abilities because they do not currently reside in the United States or another English-speaking country.

They may be discouraged because they have no contacts who are fluent in English, or because they are required to use another language at work.

A grain of truth can be found in your justifications, but that shouldn’t stop you from furthering your education. The growth of both globalisation and technological capabilities has resulted in more chances than ever before for you to practise your command of the English language. A wealth of inspiration awaits you below.

Take Part In Events That Involve Public Speaking

Large theatres, colleges, and cultural centres frequently host open mic nights, poetry readings, and impromptu storytelling sessions.

You can use these gatherings as opportunities to interact with like-minded individuals and improve your English language skills.

There are now TED and TEDx events in many cities, and you can sign up to speak and share your original ideas. To find out if there are any upcoming events you might be interested in attending, visit the university’s events page.

It could be a challenging situation for you, but it would be great for your English if you could push through it.

Visit Language Cafes When You Can

Going to a language cafe may help those who get nervous at the thought of public speaking (and it does for many).

The friendly ambience at these cafes makes them ideal places to practise a language and meet new people.

Inquiring at nearby colleges or joining an active Meetup group in your city will lead you to language cafes there.

Using Apps

Due to technological advancements, learning a new language is now much simpler. Downloading an app like Duolingo or Busuu, which connects you with native speakers, can help you improve your English speaking skills wherever you are.

Talk to Siri About It.

Do you want to be able to use your phone to make a late-night phone call or to set reminders to keep you on task? Engage Siri in conversation about it!

Establish A Solid Base For Your Future

Learn a language’s fundamentals-its pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar-and you’ll have a solid foundation for learning the rest of the language.

Build Your Vocabulary

When you’re a kid, adults love to point out objects and explain their names.

Words are learned in this fashion. The same tactic could be used to better one’s grasp of English.

Vocabulary is the foundation upon which everything else rests.

Each day you have the option of expanding your vocabulary by a certain amount.

Work on Perfecting Your Pronunciation.

Different digital tools that will read the words aloud are available to help people with their pronunciation.

It is important to practise pronouncing words using resources like online dictionaries and YouTube channels so that others can understand what you say.

Master the English Language’s Natural Cadence

The rhythm and tempo of a language are what set it apart from all others. Learning English will help you better understand contractions, or words formed when two others are merged into one. In this way, “I am” can be contracted to “I’m” and other similar forms.

You should also know how to emphasise specific syllables in words. Listening to and participating in natural conversations with native speakers is the key to achieving all of this.

Methods And English Language Training

Everyone has their own tried-and-true methods for improving their command of the English language. Given that no single alternative is objectively better or worse, you are free to choose from among the following.

• Read aloud to yourself or tell yourself what you’re thinking, and you’ll be having a conversation with yourself.
• Improve your self-assurance by practising in front of a mirror and listening to your own voice.
• Although studying grammar is not necessarily frowned upon, the primary goal should be to increase your fluency. The ability to clearly express one’s thoughts, however, is paramount.
• Word Play in the English Language: Tongue twisters are a great way to practise the alphabet and increase your fluency in English.
• Repeat That While I Listen You can keep improving your listening and rephrasing skills by repeating this process.
• Identify Accented Sounds: Certain syllables are emphasised in both individual words and in the context of entire sentences, highlighting the underlying rhythm of the language.
• Singing along to popular English songs is a great way to learn new vocabulary and phrases by ear.
• Phrases are easier to remember than individual words because you can learn them in context, which aids in learning both the meaning and the pronunciation.
• Learn to Use the Most Frequent Phrases: Get right down to the meat of your message by starting with what matters most to you. You can begin with concrete examples from your own life, like a word for the workplace or a phrase you used to order a meal.
• Put It Up For Discussion: If there’s something that really interests you, talk to your English-speaking friends about it and have a lively debate.
• Don’t fret; learning requires a willingness to err on the side of self-compassion and acceptance. Remember that it will take time and relax!

Dr Study can help you prepare for your tertiary education and avoid common pitfalls. Check out our Pre-Tertiary and Tertiary Programs.

Some of the most common and efficient strategies for learning a new language are reading aloud, talking with others, and studying with a native speaker.

You may find it difficult to commit to daily practise sessions of English if you are also juggling other responsibilities, such as full-time schooling or employment. However, many other methods exist that can be equally effective.

Using gamification techniques, like those found in the language-learning apps Duolingo and Memrise, can make picking up a new tongue more exciting.

You can quickly and simply locate both of these apps. The progression you make over time will be tracked by the programmes to help you focus on the areas that need it the most. The time and effort you put into developing your conversational abilities now will pay dividends in the future, and you won’t regret having done so.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The ability to communicate effectively through speech is a crucial skill for any language learner. Finding a good talking buddy, enrolling in a conversation class, or making use of pronunciation tools available on the internet are all great ways to hone your English communication skills. Increasing the amount you speak can also help you improve your vocabulary, understanding, and metacognitive skills. At last, you can put yourself in a setting where you can practise your English by listening to podcasts or previously recorded conversations, practising having conversations by recording them, and so on. If you’d rather stay home and do nothing than go out and make small talk, reading aloud is a great activity for you.

The more time you dedicate to studying on your own, the faster you’ll be able to master English. If you want to expand your vocabulary, you can make a pact with yourself to write a certain number of words every day, to learn a new word every day for a year, to jot down the phone number so you’ll have it handy whenever you need it, to listen to songs and write down any unfamiliar lyrics or words that you want to learn, to memorise them in phrases and chunks, and to learn pairs of related words. Macmillan and Merriam-Webster, two of the most popular online dictionaries, both include a “little speaker” icon that allows the user to hear how a word is pronounced. YouTube pronunciation guides and podcasts like English Pronunciation Pod are also excellent ways to pick up the nuances of standard American English. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, try your hand at some tongue twisters, like the one used by “The Two Ronnies” to describe the location of the fork handles.

Gaining confidence through imitation is crucial when studying a new language. Get yourself a captioned video that you can watch over and over again. Self-talk, mimicking, and copying the narrator’s sentence structure, rhythm, and cadence will help you sound more like your intended audience. Practice your English cognition by writing in a journal or telling a story in the language. Instead of striving for flawlessness, focus on making it easier and easier to communicate in English.

In order to speak English fluently, one needs to be exposed to it frequently, and with the expansion of globalisation and technological capacities, there are more opportunities than ever to do so. Participating in public speaking events, going to language cafes, using language learning apps like Duolingo or Busuu, and even having a conversation with Siri can all help you become a better English speaker. Start with the basics of a language and build from there to learn more advanced concepts. This includes mastering pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. To achieve this goal, it is essential to master the natural cadence of the English language, to practise pronouncing words using online dictionaries and YouTube channels, and to work on perfecting one’s pronunciation. To further hone your English skills, it is essential to both observe and take part in spontaneous conversations with locals.

Among the most efficient methods for picking up a foreign tongue are reading aloud, engaging in conversation, and studying alongside a native speaker. Tongue twisters are a fun and effective method for learning and practising the alphabet. You can also find success by discussing the issue, learning the most common phrases, recognising and mimicking English accents, and singing along to popular English songs. Duolingo and Memrise, two popular language-learning apps, use gamification techniques to make learning a new language more fun. Investing in improving your conversation skills now will pay dividends later.

Content Summary

• Take a look at these recommendations to better express yourself in English.
• You can greatly enhance your command of the English language by regularly practising with a native speaker, enrolling in a conversation class, or using pronunciation tools available on the internet.
• Getting in touch with a native English speaker to work on your language skills is strongly suggested.
• Learning new words regularly, every day, is the best way to increase your vocabulary.
• A lot of useful words, phrases, and expressions can be found in popular songs.
• You’d do better if you learned words as a group instead of picking them apart one by one.
• English pronunciation tutorials on YouTube and podcasts like English Pronunciation Pod and American English Pronunciation are also great resources for learning the nuances of American English pronunciation.
• When you’re ready for a challenge, try your hand at some tongue twisters.
• One of my favourite bits from “The Two Ronnies” is the one involving the fork handles.
• One of the biggest roadblocks to learning English is a lack of confidence in one’s own abilities to do so.
• The first step is to try to speak like a native speaker.
• Find a video with captions that suits your needs.
• Self-TalkEngage in a loud English conversation with yourself.
• Share a Story in English.
• Alternately, you could use a different vocabulary when retelling a simple story in English.
• Practice Improves English Communication.
• Learning to speak English fluently requires extensive exposure to the language.
• Going to a language cafe may help those who get nervous at the thought of public speaking (and it does for many).The friendly ambience at these cafes makes them ideal places to practise a language and meet new people.
• Learn a language’s fundamentals-its pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar-and you’ll have a solid foundation for learning the rest of the language.
• Build Your VocabularyWhen you’re a kid, adults love to point out objects and explain their names.
• Words are learned in this fashion.
• Each day you have the option of expanding your vocabulary by a certain amount.
• Work on Perfecting Your Pronunciation.
• The rhythm and tempo of a language are what set it apart from all others.
• Everyone has their own tried-and-true methods for improving their command of the English language.
• Improve your self-assurance by practising in front of a mirror and listening to your own voice.
• Tongue twisters are a great way to practise the alphabet and increase your fluency in English.
• Singing along to popular English songs is a great way to learn new vocabulary and phrases by ear.

Author

Dr. Olga Abeysekera

Dr Olga Abeysekera, founder of Dr Study Tutoring and the Dr Progress Group Pty Ltd, is passionate about transforming education through innovative and personalised tutoring. With a PhD in Management from Monash University and a background in both academic research and private tutoring, she has a deep commitment to helping students excel.
Her holistic approach at Dr Study Tutoring emphasises not only academic success but also the development of lifelong skills, ensuring that each student receives the best education and support possible. Dr Olga’s dedication to continuous improvement drives her mission to inspire a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Check all posts

Linkedin