You want to be able to communicate in English fluently, but you don’t have the time or the skills to learn the intricacies of grammar and pronunciation. And even if you do, it can be very intimidating. Luckily, there are shortcuts that help you speak like a native.
By taking these essential steps below, you’ll be better equipped to understand English news reports, meetings and lectures. Plus it will help avoid trouble away from home too!
Steps to Speak English Fluently!
1- Listen More!
Luckily, English learning can’t be done in isolation, listening is a skill that helps you to speak English Fluently. You need to eat, sleep and breathe it! The more you hear the language spoken by native speakers around you, the easier your accent will come over time. All that extra repetition will help bring nuances into your speech for better vernacular.
If you find listening to the radio difficult, try picking up your favorite podcast or buying a book on tape. If this isn’t an option, listen to YouTube plays of native speakers speaking English! Hearing these natural accents will help embed them into your mind for more effective recall during class time. See also how to speak English fluently and confidently.
2- Read More!
Start reading your favorite English news sites, local talk shows and cartoon channels on TV! English reading the same words over and over again is very important. It reinforces what you hear in real-life situations so it becomes part of you. Those extra words you learn will also enhance your learning curve. If that new form of slang catches on in your country it can change the social landscape! English is meant to be spoken, not trivialized like in some countries! Take it seriously!!
3- Talk to Native Speakers!
Engaging native speakers of the language is a great way to learn how to quickly grasp pronunciation patterns. But there are so many! Are you copying Twitter, Facebook or even David Cameron? The most successful learners have found the best ways to interest natives in sharing their knowledge on places that they visit regularly, Such as youth centers, parks or cafés during breaks at work! You’ll be exposed to more natural conversations too without fear of making mistakes because native vernacular will flow out of you as soon as they do!
4- Study Grammar!
Eventually, you will become more proficient in English. When that happens it’s time to start getting into grammar basics. This is the most vital step if you’re going for a job abroad! Don’t be afraid of complex word study unless needed though, unless working as a professional translator or interpreting conversations on TV and radio – those simple cultural explanations can still come through without having solid language rules under your belt. If you’re gearing up for an English course or just taking lessons on Skype then that’s great! You already know what you need and it can easily be replaced by a native tutor with their own currency of knowledge. But until those certificates start to pile up in your chest, don’t give yourself unnecessary problems down the track.
5- Learn Idioms!
Everybody in the world speaks English, but not everyone uses it correctly. The use of idioms can sometimes spoil your perfectly good sentence and let you fall flat in front of native speakers! Avoid making unnecessary mistakes by studying common phrases used all around us in everyday conversation. To begin with I’d recommend magazines from the UK because many words are still firm over here too!
So what do I mean by ‘idiom’? An idiom is a piece of slang. Words and phrases that our native tongue would normally sound clearly one way, but we adapt it to suit our own specific language! Learn the popular expressions to understand the meaning behind them and you’ll be on track for your English learning goals!
Should I use an online tool for improving my accent or should I go to a tutor in person?
In general, I would say you should go to a tutor and get personal feedback – especially in the early stages of learning English. Even if you’ve ordered an online course or ‘buried’ yourself inside Youtube’s video playlist for hours on end… Try asking a local native speaker personally to help enrich and sharpen up what you’re working with!
Should I practice speaking in front of a mirror?
Yes! This is the one tip out there that makes absolute waves with students – especially when combined with googling ‘adorable people speaking English‘. Through putting on an entertaining show for yourself, you’ll see just how ripe English really is to be learnt through will and patience alone, all while building up a reputation as someone who has over-exaggerated, hilarious personality traits.
To begin with, you could attempt to rehearse the phrase one by one in your head before looking at yourself in a mirror – but don’t expect any special tricks until around two weeks into it! The need for seeing someone face-to-face is not only essential when learning how sound varies between sounds that aren’t spoken that often – although this is very important too! Your pronunciation will take on new life.
How can I improve my pronunciation?
The two most frequent mistakes I hear from many students when trying to improve their pronunciation is where they do not fully believe in themselves. They’re always looking over their shoulder for tiny imperfections, going off towards a corner and casting glances of self-doubt at every sound that they ‘mistakenly’ made! Just keep on practicing – be it with friends or in public places! Get comfortable with making expressions or phrases out loud without changing them too.
Is it possible to sound 100% like a native speaker?
No – Although sound (sounds you make) is good to know. It’s the ability to use correct grammar and vocabulary that matters more for mastering pronunciation, as these are what allows people around you your voice at a personable level.
You should by now be thinking: “Then how am I going to start this?” If so… Practice! Practice, practice and more practice at being able to sound natural. Whether you do it in front of a mirror or not – Work on the basics…
In conclusion, Practice and patience will get you where you want to be. I think we all come in with a different goal of ‘selling’ ourselves down the line… But what is sure, the more we work on all aspects of our accent, the better English speakers we become! And when it comes to pronunciation: We’re not aiming for perfection (it’s impossible), but excellent intermediate-level results that can stand up against many native speakers without apparent stammering or speaking mechanically. Remember to always feel free, curious and excited about your English learning – it’s what guides us through the ups and downs of our perfectionism!