Listen carefully before you talk. Understanding what the other person says is imperative to giving an accurate answer. Practice your listening comprehension skills by watching English movies and TV programs, as well as online videos. Real English offers a variety of videos of real-life situations for language learners (See Resources).
Work on your accent and intonation. It is not easy for English speakers to understand what "cheese" when pronounced "tsizz," means, for instance. Intonation is also important, especially when you want to express a feeling (anger, fear, affection) or during interrogative sentences.
Practice on an everyday basis and whenever you have the chance. For example, do not try to find your destination using a map, but instead ask people for directions, talk with colleagues, or discuss sports with people at a bar. You can also find a person to chat with online. OnLine English offers chat rooms for beginners and advanced English speakers (See Resources).
Disregard small mistakes in your speech as long as you've made sure people have understood you. If you stop your speech to apologize for the mistake and repeat the sentence, you risk losing coherence. Instead, note down your errors and work on them in private.
Watch videos (movies, TV series and online clips) and examine the facial expression and gestures of the speakers. Communication includes much more than spoken words. Without gestures and expressions, you look like a talking robot. In addition, body language can help you communicate your thoughts and feelings more effectively.
Come up with expressions you can instantly think of when you need time to think of your answer. "You know" and "to be honest" can give you a few valuable seconds to think and avoid silence. However, such expressions are not suitable to use during formal occasions (business meetings, job interviews, etc.).
Examine the style and vocabulary of letters and notes you must answer at and write back accordingly. An official letter requires a reply in formal written English, while an informal message, containing plain language and even smileys to show your mood, is appropriate as a response to a friendly note.