Guide to speaking


Golden rule:

It is better to make mistakes than not speak at all!
The aim of your speaking practice is to become a communicator.

 

Basics

The important thing is to communicate!

Don't be afraid of making mistakes. It is better to express yourself incorrectly than not saying anything at all. Your first step towards fluency is to accept that it takes time to become a self-confident speaker.

Always remember that reading and listening help to develop your writing skills too.

Work on your pronunciation and your fluency. As your vocabulary grows, and your pronunciation and your fluency improve, you will certainly gain the self-confidence and the skills that is typical of a good communicator.

bullet Pronunciation - you want to be understood
bullet Fluency - you want your listeners to stay awake
bullet Vocabulary - you want to express many different things
bullet Grammar - you want to be certain
bullet Self-confidence - you want to dare

The best thing is to work together with someone. Try to find classmates, friends, and other people who are willing to speak English with you. Take every opportunity to speak English, and don't be shy.

BUT, it is possible to improve your speaking skills on your own too! Bring out the child in you, pretend that your are an actor, talk aloud, dramatize, and don't take yourself too seriously.

Practise, practise, practise, ...
 

Some practical advice

Remember to use what you read, hear, and write as starters for practising your speaking. Make sure you include words that you have saved and practised lately.
 
bullet Practise telling about yourself, your family, your interests, likes and dislikes.
bullet Practise asking questions, and remember to practise appropriate answers too
bullet Read simple dialogues from easy textbooks
bullet Make it a habit to sum up your day by speaking aloud to yourself
bullet Learn and use polite phrases like 'please', etc.
bullet Sum up and re-tell what you read and hear
bullet Start and be active in discussions. Why not pretend that you and your friends have no other common language than English?
bullet Ask friends to tell you what they think of your pronunciation
bullet Learn, practise, and retell jokes
bullet Listen to VOA "Special English"; retell and discuss
bullet Prepare 'guided tours' of your neighbourhood
bullet Join or start an English-speaking club
bullet Volunteer as a guide
bullet Use available Internet technology, like SKYPE, etc.!