How to Practice Speaking in English

With approximately 341 million native speakers worldwide, and a further 267 million people who speak it as a second language, English is one of the world's major languages. Due to its use as a lingua franca, or common language between speakers of different native languages, in business, the media and academia, there is high demand internationally for people who can speak English well. However, the irregular pronunciation and spelling of the language can shake students' confidence in their ability to speak English successfully. Practicing speaking English on a regular basis is a crucial way to build both confidence and fluency.

Instructions

    • 1

      Master the pronunciation of the language. Practice saying the letters of the alphabet aloud, paying particular attention to sounds that are not present in your native language. Identify letters that you have difficulty with and focus your efforts on pronouncing those as accurately as possible. Record yourself while you practice and then listen to the audio, comparing your pronunciation to that of native speakers.

    • 2

      Speak to yourself in English whenever the opportunity arises. Practice speaking English in the shower, while walking to work or when cooking dinner in the evening. Start by forming basic sentences about your daily routine and progress to more complex topics when you feel able. Practicing creating your own sentences in a stress-free environment will increase your confidence and allow you to become more accustomed to speaking aloud in English.

    • 3

      Speak to other learners. If you are attending classes to learn English, arrange to meet with some of the other students after the lesson for a coffee and a chat. English may be your only common language, so this places you in a position where you have to practice your speaking skills. As you will all have language abilities at a similar level, informal conversations between you should be straightforward.

    • 4

      Practice speaking English online. Use websites such as Livemocha to connect with English-speakers who are learning your native language. In exchange for helping them with their language studies, arrange to chat with them in English over Skype so that they can help you improve your English speaking skills. Ask them to make brief notes during the conversation and feed back to you at the end about ways you could improve.

    • 5

      Meet with native English speakers to practice speaking English in real life. If possible, search for people who share common interests and hobbies with you. Agree in advance on the topics you want to speak about and, before you meet up, spend some time researching the words you might want to use. This will help you to speak more fluently because you will not be worrying about vocabulary.

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