10 Tips for Improving your English Speaking Skills

that is how you learn!

Dont be afraid to speak with native speakers.

1) Practice speaking every chance you get! (Example: ordering coffee, shopping, asking
for directions, etc).
2) Read English-speaking newspapers or online articles. (Free newspapers like Metro and
24Hrs are a good place to start lots of pictures!)
3) Read childrens books, the grammar and vocabulary are easier. Get a library card or
buy them from the Dollar Store.
4) Listen to English songs, google the lyrics and sing along (you might want to do this in
private unless youre a really good singer ;))
5) Watch English movies and TV shows No subtitles!
6) Make friends with people from other countries so youre not tempted to speak in your
own language.
7) Participate in ILACs social events, join a salsa class, or a free yoga class.
8) Join a free conversation group or language exchange. (Maybe your co-worker is dying
to learn Spanish to impress the cute guy in the office downstairs you can help each other!)
9) Talk to your teacher for advice on any specific things you need to work on, for example,
maybe theres one word you always say wrong.
10) DONT BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES! The more you speak, the faster you learn
and that is why youre here!
http://www.ilac.com/blog/10-tips-for-improving-your-english-speaking-skills/

10 quick tips to improve your spoken English

Speak your mind. With precision
10 quick tips to improve your spoken English

You may have noticed that over the past few years, fluent verbal communication in English has
come to symbolize a superior personality. The way you speak English and communicate, rates you
as a winner or loser in this age of cut-throat competition. However, speaking English is as easy or
difficult as the effort youre willing to put into it. So fear not, help is at hand. Read on and imbibe the
10 tips to make your words and sentences in English flow like a charming river.
1. Think in English
The mind is a powerful tool. Use it. Speak to yourself in English and let your thoughts about
everything from the local train to the shopping list be in English. Even if you do nothing else, do this!
2. Do not translate from your native language to English
If you do not know the correct sentence or phrase in English, do not ever translate from your native
tongue. Doing this will not take you any further in your learning plus you end up becoming a joke.
So, find out what the correct usage is by reading or asking someone.
3. Speak English at every opportunity
Dont worry if it doesnt sound perfect at first. Its like driving initially, the traffic lights and other
vehicles will give you a scare but after some practice, you can do it without thinking.
4. Learn sentences or phrases dont concentrate on single words
Instead of concentrating on learning new words by themselves, try using them in a sentence. Learn
as sentences, not single words. The aim is to get comfortable speaking; improving your vocabulary
is a different lesson.
5. Listen to others speaking English
Listen, listen, listen. Whether it is the radio or the television or a movie. Or a colleague or teacher
who speaks good English. Keep listening. This will help you improve pronunciation and accent. Do
not imagine that your speaking skills can be enhanced through reading alone.

6. Learn how to say the same thing differently

As with other languages, so in English, one sentence can be framed in multiple ways, all conveying
the same meaning. Learning these will help you form clearer and simpler sentences.
7. Make sure there is someone to correct you if you go wrong
Making mistakes is natural. So there must be someone to correct your English. Speaking it
incorrectly for a long time will imprint it in the brain and itll be hard to correct later.
8. Do not lose confidence
It is common to lose your drive along the way but if you keep seeing results, no matter how tiny, it
will keep up your motivation. So keep note of the little achievements and soon, theyll add up to a big
one fluent spoken English!
9. Keep it simple
Do not complicate your goals by trying to accomplish too much. Reading, writing, spelling,
vocabulary they will all come in due course. Your goal is to speak better English. Stick to it.
10. And most of all, have fun!
If you imagine learning English as a fun contest or race, the sooner you will reach the end. So take
joy in it and enjoy each moment of learning. If you look upon it as torture, that is what it will be and
you wouldnt make much progress.
http://www.thinkvidya.com/a/tips-to-improve-spoken-english

Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Spoken English

Spoken English Tip #1:
Learn phrases, not just individual words

Learn phrases to help you speak naturally

If you study individual English words in isolation, this is what happens:
When you need to speak, you have to think a lot in order to combine the individual
words in the right order, using the right grammar, and in a way that makes sense.
Thats WAY too much work!
If you focus on learning phrases instead, then you will have ready answers and
responses for any situation no need to over-think. Focusing on phrases will
help you speak English in complete sentences more naturally.
Spoken English Tip #2: Listen to more English

Listening to more English will improve your speakingMost English learners read
too much and listen too little.But when babies and children learn English,
they listen first then speak and later learn to read and write.Half of a
conversation is hearing the other person and if you dont understand what
theyre saying, how can you respond correctly? So if you want to improve your
English speaking, spend more time listening!Bonus: Listening more will also help
you naturally improve your pronunciation and reduce your accent.Spoken English
Tip #3: Practice speaking by yourself
(both reading aloud and speaking spontaneously)
When you speak English, there are two main difficulties:

The mental difficulty of thinking of the English words to say

The physical difficulty of pronouncing the English words correctly

Speaking English by yourself helps train your ability to put your ideas into wordsReading
English texts out loud will help you with the second part without having to worry
about the first part. It will train your mouth and lips to pronounce English words
more easily.
Speaking English spontaneously by yourselfis also EXTREMELY helpful in
developing your ability to put your ideas into words without the pressure of a
real conversation. You can look at a list of discussion questions and respond out
loud in English speaking alone.
It might feel a little silly, but remember this is GREAT training for your spoken
English, and theres nobody to hear your mistakes!
Spoken English Tip #4: Practice thinking in English
Do you think in your native language and then translate it into English in your head
before speaking?
Dont do this! It often results in sentences that dont sound natural in English,
because the sentence structure is often different in English and your native
language.

Practice thinking in English to improve your fluency

Also, it takes WAY too much time to think and translate when youre in a
conversation.
One of the biggest secrets to speaking English fast and fluently is to learn to think
directly in English.The great news is that this is is a skill you CAN develop with
practice, and you can practice anytime while taking the bus, while waiting in
line, while sitting at home.
Try thinking in English for a few minutes today, to start building this habit!
Spoken English Tip #5:
Get an online conversation partner
How can I practice speaking English if I have nobody to talk with?

You can find a speaking partner on conversation exchange websitesThere are

conversation exchange websites where you can find a partner who speaks
English, but wants to learn your native language.You can then schedule a
conversation session and speak half in English, half in your native language so
that both of you can practice.Its also good to have someone help correct any
errors in a relaxed, low-pressure situation.Two conversation exchange websites
areverbling.com and sharedtalk.org so if you dont have a conversation partner,
get one today it will really help you practice your speaking.
Spoken English Tip #6: Remember that communication is more important than
grammar

Dont worry too much about grammar when speaking

Do you get nervous when speaking because youre afraid of making a mistake?
Remember that the #1 goal of speaking English is tocommunicate. Although
grammar is important, it is less important than communication when speaking
English.
Heres a simple example if you say:
Yesterday I go to party on beach.
The sentence isnt grammatically correct, but it DOES successfully communicate
your message, and an English speaker will understand you. Its better to say
something wrong and still communicate successfully than to say nothing!
Also, the grammar of spoken English is more flexible than the grammar of written
English so dont worry too much about grammar when speaking.
Spoken English Tip #7: Speak slowly

Sloooooow down when speaking English dont try to speak too fast
Trying to speak English too fast wont make you sound like a native speaker.
Instead, it can actually make it more difficult for the other person to understand
you.
Speaking English slowly has two advantages:

It gives you more time to think of what to say

It makes your speech clearer so the other person can understand

Over time and with practice, your spoken English will get faster naturally.
Spoken English Tip #8:
If you forget a word, use other words
Its very common for English learners to stop a sentence in the middle because
theyve forgotten the word they want to use but try to be creative. The other
person can help you if you describe the word you want by using other English
words.

Be creative use other words when you cant remember the word you want
For example, one of my students was describing a recipe, and he didnt know the
word for one of the vegetables. So he said Its white, and like a ball, and when you
cut it, you cry.
I said, Its an onion.
So you can see that my student communicated successfully by using different
words, even though he didnt know the word he wanted to use.
Spoken English Tip #9:
Relax & have a positive, confident attitude
If you make a mistake or forget a word when you are speaking English its
OK! Dont be nervous or afraid.
The person who youre talking to will understand and be patient with you. If you
are insecure when speaking English, it will be even more difficult to speak.

So DONT say My English is terrible or Sorry for my bad English. These are
negative comments and theyre not helpful.
Instead, think I can speak English! before every conversation in order to give
yourself more confidence and help you speak better!
Spoken English Tip #10:
Learn real English phrases for everyday life
Today, you have the opportunity to take an English course that focuses on useful
English in the context of conversations.
http://www.espressoenglish.net/top-10-tips-to-improve-your-spoken-english/

10 tips to improve your English speaking skills

Subscribe to the OTUK blog:

Your email:

Learning to speak English fluently takes time and a good understanding of the
language. Start by setting some realistic targets for your spoken English that are
achievable in the near future. For example, I want to improve my pronunciation of
English vowel sounds or Id like to write and conduct a short presentation in
English for work. Once you have several clear goals in mind, the following tips will
help you to improve your English speaking skills

1. Understanding comes first, so be patient

Imagine a newly-born baby. In the beginning, the young child does not understand
language as such but communicates through body language, crying and so on. Then
it starts to engage more actively with its parents, who speak to it constantly. The
baby is a great listener but lacks the ability to speak properly for several years. Our
understanding is always one step ahead of our practical ability to speak and this is
especially the case when learning English as a foreign language. Work on improving
your understanding of English by exposing yourself to the language as often as
possible. Great listeners and observers make great speakers!

2. Confidence matters

Some of the most active and vocal students in any classroom are often the most
confident ones. Being afraid to make mistakes in English will almost certainly lead
to nervousness, which in turn produces a higher incidence of speech errors. At the
same time, being overly confident can mean your ego gets in the way of progress.
There is always room for a little constructive criticism and self-analysis but we
should be proud of our achievements and sure in our ability to speak English well. If
you are ever shy or embarrassed about making mistakes when speaking English,
remember this: the vast majority of our mistakes in a foreign language come
directly from our mother tongue and this is a 100% natural process. There is nothing
wrong with making mistakes as long as we try to understand and learn from them.
Most native English speakers are monolingual and are unlikely to speak your

language so the fact that you are making an effort to communicate in English
deserves their respect and appreciation.

3. Expand your vocabulary

Knowing more words in a language gives you greater choice and power when trying
to express your thoughts and ideas. Having a larger vocabulary will help you
understand native speakers better and read more complicated texts. Learning
thematic vocabulary and discussing topics connected with it can expand your lexical
horizons. Remember that there are always several ways of saying the same thing
and knowing more words will simply mean you are able to express an idea faster
and more directly. Dont be afraid to experiment with the new words and phrases
you learn. Avoid overusing idioms many are outdated and no longer in use. Always
learn vocabulary in a context dont just swallow the dictionary!

4. Use audio books

There are now many websites that allow you to download audio books free of
charge so there is no excuse for not having a few in your collection. Choose an
interesting audio book (perhaps one you are already familiar with in your native
language) but dont start listening to it straight away. First take the original text and
read chapter one. Then underline any new words and translate them. Once you are
sure you have understood everything, listen to the first chapter in the audio book
and follow the text version as you progress. When you next go for a walk or drive to
work, put on the audio book again but without the text version you will understand
much more! This approach will also help you make the connection between how
English words sound and how they are written.

5. Work on your pronunciation

Poor pronunciation is a barrier to fluent spoken English and if you fail to clearly
distinguish certain sounds you may be misunderstood. Native English speakers
often use contractions and connected speech to make pronunciation easier. It is a
good idea to select a speech model you like for example, the BBC news or a
favourite actor and try to copy how they speak English. Notice where your
pronunciation differs from that of the native speaker (you may want to record
yourself speaking). Practise pronouncing minimal pairs (words that differ in just one
sound) to sharpen distinctions between difficult phonemes. Work out which English
sounds present the most problems for native speakers of your language and focus
on these through drilling and repetition. For example, short and e in words like

bad and bed are often difficult for Russian speakers of English so practising
utterances like this can help: She said she was sad because her bed was bad. It is
also worth learning the phonetic alphabet so you can check the correct
pronunciation of words in a dictionary.

6. Watch films and TV in English

Films provide great listening practice and insights into real speech situations
involving native English speakers. Material of this kind often contains a wide range
of vocabulary, including slang, professional jargon and popular expressions in the
modern language. If you regularly watch new films and TV programmes, you will
always have your finger on the pulse of current English usage. If you find watching
full-length films tiring, try a short documentary or serial these are often shorter
(around 30 mins). Download subtitles in English if you have difficulties
understanding fast speech and native accents. However, avoid subtitles in your
language as they will prevent you concentrating on the English original. If you watch
the same types of English video material on a regular basis, you will soon find that
words and expressions start to repeat. The more you watch, the easier it will
become for you to understand native English. After this, you can try using the words
and expressions you have learnt in your own speech.

7. Listen to songs in English

If you are a music lover, this tip is for you. Take several of your favourite tracks in
English and download the lyrics from the internet. Read and translate these lyrics,
making a note of new words and expressions. Remember that the language used in
songs is often non-standard and can be literary or poetic so there is little sense in
spending hours on a direct translation just try to get the gist of the song. Now play
the song and follow the lyrics you have printed out. After this, you can listen to the
song any time without the lyrics and still understand what its about. If you have an
ear for music, try learning some songs in English and then sing them in the shower
each morning!

8. Find a study buddy

If you find it hard to stay motivated when studying English or just dont like learning
on your own, you may want to look for a study buddy. Ask your friends whether they
speak English and would like to practise with you once a week. You can then meet
up to watch English films, play games in English, attend a speaking club in your city,

travel abroad together, etc. This could make studying the language more fun and
provide you with a constant conversation partner.

9. Network with natives

There are numerous language exchange and pen pal websites on the internet where
you can meet other speakers of English. Some will be native speakers, but the
majority will be non-natives. In any case, sites of this type can provide a great
opportunity to network with new and interesting people from around the world,
perhaps make a few friends and practise your written and spoken English. If you
enjoy travelling, maybe one day you will get a chance to meet some of your new
friends face-to-face!

10. Take English conversation classes online with a native teacher

At the end of the day, there is no substitute for real conversation practice with a
native English speaker. If you dont live in an English-speaking country and dont
have native English friends, then a logical alternative is to take conversational
lessons with a Skype English teacher. Regular 1-to-1 speech practice will give you
the targeted approach you need to make fast progress with your English speaking
skills.
http://onlineteachersuk.com/en/10-tips-to-improve-your-english-speaking-skills/