How to Speak English Fluently | 7 Simple Tips
All English learners want to speak English fluently because of the importance of English. Sometimes language learners are diligent students, outstanding grammar experts, but terrible speakers.
No matter how many words and grammatical rules they memorize and how hard they practice with fill-the-blank and match exercises, they do not become fluent. But why is that?
Well, being fluent means being able to use the language comfortably and effectively to communicate. It does not necessarily involve perfect grammar.
Besides, in order to be fluent, one needs to use the right strategies to learn a language. It’s nothing like learning math or science because a separate part of the brain is responsible for it.
Tips on How to Speak English Fluently
Here are the top 7 tips to become fluent in English:
Listen, listen, and listen more:
The part of the brain that’s responsible for language learning is activated when you listen to the language you want to learn. And how lucky are we all to be surrounded by so many sources of authentic language use!
Take movies as an example. They’re fun and reflect how native speakers interact in everyday life. They’re also full of cultural references.
Or how about songs? They help words stick in your memory; you can lose yourself in the great ones for hours and not get bored. Singing along is also one of the best ways to practice pronunciation.
Perhaps you should try news and educative podcasts if you want something more serious. You’ll both practice English and enrich your mind with more knowledge.
Expand your vocabulary:
You would be unable to finish half of your sentences if you could not find the right words. Listening can help you with your vocabulary, but it’s not the only way. For example, if you like reading, you can try books from genres that you want.
Download a dictionary app (I recommend the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app), and use it to explain unfamiliar words.
Write the words and definitions in a notebook and memorize them. It’s also a good idea to vary the types of books you read. A book in politics would teach a different set of words from another about cooking recipes.
Learn Grammar rules:
Learning grammar will help you understand why words are ordered a certain way or why some of them end with an s, for example. And if you have a basic grasp of grammar, you’ll get more from listening and reading, which will improve your grammatical knowledge. Pay special attention to irregularities and exceptions.
But don’t worry too much about grammar. Immersion in the language will help you acquire it naturally without too much mental exertion. It just takes time and patience.
Learn the speech sounds of English:
Speech sounds are the tiny building blocks of verbal communication. Each language has its own set of them. Now, your native language certainly shares some sounds with English, but there must be a few that you are unfamiliar with. To speak clearly, you must know how to pronounce them reasonably.
It would help if you started practicing each sound individually and in words. Then you may listen and repeat complete sentences.
You can also play your favorite songs and sing along. Recording yourself and comparing your pronunciation with native speakers is also a great idea. If you want an expert’s opinion, you can get a tutor or enroll in a course to get feedback from teachers.
Find a partner to practice with:
Mastering any skill takes practice, and having someone to do that with offers many advantages. For example, they will give you feedback and help you improve. And as humans, we get more motivated to do things when they involve bonding with other people. You will also hold each other accountable in case one of you falls behind.
Now, you may be lucky enough to have native speakers of English living nearby. Who is better than a native speaker to tell you whether native speakers can understand you? Besides, you’ll have no choice but to speak English, forcing you to push yourself to the limit.
But to be realistic, most people have probably never met a native speaker. And traveling is too expensive for most (although it’s a good idea if you can afford it). Luckily, however, forums and social media websites are rife with posts in English. There are also apps like HelloTalk that match learners with the native speakers of their target language.
Commit to learning every day:
Polyglots recommend that you spend at least an hour a day learning a language. The more time you spend, the faster you’ll learn.
Of course, if your mother tongue is similar to English, the process will be much faster. And you don’t have to sit at a desk and study for a full hour. As I’ve already mentioned, even watching a video in English is considered a part of learning.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes:
Mistakes are an integral part of learning. Even the most proficient speakers were once beginners and struggled with some areas.
Fear of failure can prevent a person from trying, depriving them of the chance to improve. So go ahead, take note of your mistakes, and try your best the next time.