How To Practice Speaking In English

How To Practice Speaking In English. Let’s also refer to this lesson as, Unlocking English Fluency: Strategies for Successful Language Learning.

If practice is not part of the strategy, it’s not really a strategy. Regardless of what someone wants to learn, practice is a vital element. Not only that, but continuous, if not constant, regular practice is a must.

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Does that mean one must practice everything all the time?

No, that’s not possible, but focusing one or a select few aspects at a time is reasonable and doable.

Compare learning English to learning how to play baseball, for example.

Fundamentals are things that a team practices all the time, even at the highest level. There are many fundamentals. A team may focus on something or some things they need to improve upon.

Learning a new language, such as English is no different.

The goal is fluency. To gain fluency, one must immerse into the language. The best way to do that is to practice.

I will share some effective strategies for English language learning in the following paragraphs.

Why is English Fluency Important?

For starters, being fluent in any language, in this case English is the main reason you want to study and learn the language in the first place.

Right?

If you want to be, live, and/or work in an English-speaking culture, it’s important that you become fluent in the language.

I think it’s the most important aspect for being able to thrive anywhere.

• It’s how you will interact with the people you meet
• It’s how you will understand traffic signs, and all written directions
• It’s how you will understand what you hear and see on television and other broadcast media
• It’s what you will need for an effective job interview

Being fluent in English will open up all kinds of opportunities for someone who plans to remain where the first and main language is English.

I believe that’s a given.

There are bound to be many challenges people will encounter when trying to learn any language, especially English.

Let’s face it, to someone who doesn’t understand English, it’s a crazy language, or at least it can sure seem that way.

The more fluent you become, the better able you will be to understand the many nuances, exceptions, and variations of this crazy language.

These obstacles must be overcome.

It is for this reason that continuous, if not constant practice is necessary.

How Does Someone Immerse Into A Language?

According to Dictionary.com, one definition of immerse is to become deeply involved.

An example of being immersed is jump into a swimming pool and be completely surrounded and involved with the water in the pool. Furthermore, you don’t learn to swim outside the water. You learn to swim by being in the water.

Learning English is the same way.

I don’t suggest that you abandon, try to forget, or to forego your native/first language. Being bilingual or multilingual is wonderful. On the other hand, if and when learning English, I suggest doing as much as possible, if not everything, in English.

That includes:

• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing
• Listening

By the way, the four elements listed above are the four main aspects of an English class.

You may want to consider enrolling in a class, working with a tutor, or both, to help you learn the language.

Whether you take a class or not, I recommend the following activities to help you with your English:

• Watch English-speaking movies
• Listen to English-speaking podcasts
• Read whatever you can in English
• Speak English with everyone you meet
• Incorporate practicing English in all of your daily routines
• Try to learn the meaning of at least one new word in English every day
• Play learning games on Kahoot.com and Quizlet.com

Understanding The Culture

Language and culture are closely related. Knowing the words in a language is important. It’s also important to understand why certain words are used instead of other words.

The culture of a language is often what gives a language context.

Having said that, not all English-speaking people are culturally homogenized. Not only are there different countries. There are different areas of countries that are culturally different from other areas.

A lot of that can be heard in the language, either in the form of a dialect, accent, or the choice of words.

Sometimes, what a word or phrase means in one area means something completely different in another area. It can be and usually is confusing to someone unfamiliar with the language and the culture.

As an English language learner, it’s good to interact with as many different people and groups of people as possible to help understand how differently the language can be used from one area or group to another.

I can only assume that’s the same for anywhere else in the world, and any language, not only English and English-speaking countries.

For this and other reasons, it’s important to personalize your learning and customizing it to your surroundings. Allow yourself to be confused but not to the point that it keeps you from continuing.

When you become confused, it can be an opportunity to look deeper into what confuses you in order to better understand the culture and the language.

There will be times when that is much easier said than done.

What are your strengths and weaknesses for learning?

Are you someone who learns more from reading or are you more apt to learn by listening and speaking? Maybe writing is your strength.

Being aware of your learning strengths and weaknesses allows you to tailor and personalize your learning in a way that is best for you.

Nowadays, with so many technological advances, there is something for everyone to help learn just about everything and anything, including English.

Embrace that and take advantage of it.

A free, no cost, learning website that I recommend is USA Learns. All you need is a valid email address to set up a free account.

You should also look into Mondly Languages and English Class 101.com. Both offer free trials or free versions.

The Power Of Conversation

Interact with as many people in English as often as possible.

You can converse:

• Face to face
• Via telephone
• Online via Zoom or something similar
• In writing

Utilize all the methods.  Don’t underestimate the power fo can converse with so many people in so many ways.

The more uncomfortable you feel doing it, the more you need to do it.

You will only improve by doing.

By conversing casually with others, whether you’re comfortable doing it or not, and whether you’re fluent or not, you are naturally processing the language by learrning to respond and to ask questions.

You can’t expect to be able to speak and understand fluently too soon.  It will come in time.  You need to allow yourself to make mistakes. Mistakes are opportunities to learn.

Accept that.

Don’t worry what others think of your command of English.

I will paraphrase a saying:

Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

Most people are understanding of the fact you are trying to learn and may be able to help. There are people who are rude and inconsiderate but that doesn’t need to be your problem.  Let it be their problem.

You need to do what you need to do to learn and not put too much pressure on yourself.

In fact, I suggest that you reward yourself for your accomplishments, even if it’s something as simple as patting yourself on the back.

An accomplishment can be something as simple going against your fear and speaking with someone even though you made many mistakes and what you said may not have been understood.

By attempting to get better, eventually you will.

Give yourself credit for your efforts as well as for your successes, which will include your failures.

The only true failure is giving up.

A failure doesn’t know how to win but a winner knows how to fail.

To Wrap It Up

We have been discussing how to practice speaking in English as well as strategies for successful language learning.

We looked at why fluency is important.

We examined the concept of immersing oneself in a language

We talked about how language and culture are entwined

We also discussed the power of converstion

Learning a language takes time and patience but it is achieveable if you’re willing to consistenly practice, to not expect too much from yourself and to keep moving forward.

I encourage you to employ these strategies to help you learn the language.

I’m here to help you any way I can.

Leave comments and questions in the comments section below. I will promptly reply