Are you keen on improving your English-speaking skills? The most important thing in learning any new skill is practice. The “10,000-hour rule,” popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers,” suggests that achieving mastery in any field requires roughly 10,000 hours of dedicated practice. Even if you do not dedicate that much time to learning a new language, daily practice is necessary. You need to overcome your hesitation in making any mistakes. Remember that early mistakes are unavoidable in learning any new skill and that as long as we learn from them, it is absolutely right. Here are some simple techniques that will help you realize your goal. So here goes.
Table of Contents
1. Active listening
The best way to improve your speaking skills is to listen actively. Hearing native speakers speak or even watching a movie, hearing the news, or listening to a podcast will help you pick up several nuances. Whether it is new words and phrases and their usage or the right pronunciation, there is a lot you can learn.
2. Speak
The importance of speaking English for students cannot be overstated. In fact, nothing can teach you to speak better than giving up your inhibitions and starting to speak for yourself. Have you ever wondered how babies learn a language? It is certainly not by mugging up the rules of grammar but by simply hearing others speak and then imitating them.
Take every opportunity to converse in English. You could start with phone calls if you prefer, but graduate from making conversations personally in different settings. Start with simple English conversation examples and keep progressing. Sure enough, there will be times when you wish you had done better, but do not let that deter you from continuing to practice.
3. Reflect on your conversations
It is also good practice to reflect on your conversations. Ask yourself questions to understand what went right, what you learned, and what areas you need to focus on. There isn’t a better way to offer yourself constructive feedback. Pro tip- Remember not to beat yourself up, though, if you aren’t satisfied with the progress. All it means is that you need to redirect your efforts. For instance, if you were unhappy with the way, you handled the conversation at the doctor’s office the other day, instead of beating yourself down, prepare a cheat sheet with easy-to-use phrases. That way, before your next appointment, you will be prepared for what you must say.
Alternatively, it will also help if you record your practice sessions and play them back to yourself. These will help you figure out areas for improvement.
4. Read
Reading is yet another effective way of picking up a new language. Go ahead and read the newspaper or a gripping novel. Even if you read for a few minutes every day, you are sure to make continuous progress on your language journey. Books are a great way to increase vocabulary. Think of it like this: in reading a book, you come across a new word and mentally
make a note of it. A couple of days went by, and you found the usage of the same word in a newspaper report. The word is now cemented in your memory. The next time you encounter the same word; you will recognize it immediately and appreciate its usage. Sure enough, it will make its way into your vocabulary, and you will also get to use it yourself.
It will also help if you read aloud and hear how you pronounce the words. You could even record these reading sessions and play them back to listen to yourself speak and reflect on what you are doing right and what the improvement areas could be,
5. Use technology
As with several other things, technology can come to your aid in learning a new language. There are several apps that can help you learn English at your own pace. It will help you download any of them and get to work. Alternatively, if you feel the need, you can join some physical classes and benefit from camaraderie as the whole cohort undertakes their learning journey. Remember the Movie English Vinglish and how the batch stood up for each other? All you need to do is to Google a “spoken English Course near me” and start your journey.
6. Be realistic about your goals
Last but not least, be realistic about your goals. If you are aspiring to speak as fluently as that native English speaker, remind yourself that it will take time and effort to get there. Any mistakes that you make along the way are part of the course. In fact, make it a point to celebrate small milestones and keep yourself motivated.
To Sum Up
There you go. With these seemingly small steps, you will soon succeed in speaking English fluently. All you need to do is to keep at it, and sure enough, you will master this skill, as you have mastered several skills in the past. If there is one thing you need to remind yourself in this journey, it is this- English is only a language; sure enough, it can open doors to better career opportunities. However, it is not a measure of your intelligence or your self-worth!
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