Everyone is looking for a shortcut to English fluency. But this post is here to tell you that it isn’t – as long as you have the right strategy. We don’t provide tricks that will give you perfect English by practising five minutes a day. Instead, we provide solid tips that will help you learn how to speak English more fluently, in less time.
English is an exciting language to learn (here are fifteen reasons why it rocks), and even though it’s considered an accessible and relatively easy one to learn, with a lot of different words and spelling that can throw off even the most skilled learner, learning English fast can seem impossible.
Gather Information Regarding Basic English Skills and become proficient in the language and speak fluently with confidence. Try the Tips over here and Improve your English Writing and Speaking Skills.
15 Quick & Easy Ways to Learn English Faster
Here are some fun tips that will help you speak English better than ever:
1. Find Your Motivation to Improve Your Spoken English
By finding the ‘why’ of your pursuit of spoken English, you will find your motivation. It would be best if you asked yourself the reason why you want to learn Spoken English.
Is it about succeeding at job interviews? Is it about creating a good impression on others? Or, Is it to be socially mobile and enlarge your network?
English is the language of arts, science, computers, aviation, tourism and diplomacy. Knowing the language increases your chances of getting work abroad or an excellent job in a multinational company within your home country. English is the language for international communication, the media and the internet, so learning English is essential for socialising and entertainment as well as work!
Whatever reason is, always remind yourself that how remaining average will adversely affect your life conversely how getting better at the language will improve your life. This will help you keep going in frustrating times, which will be quite a few.
2. Dive Into Deep End
The best way to quickly improve and learn your English is to spend at least a few minutes practising every day. Usually, it isn’t enough if you are studying English only for an hour or two once a week to make any real progress.
Unfortunately, English has just as many exceptions as there are rules in English. If a person tries to find a reason for everything, it’s easy to get stuck on learning how to speak English properly. Sometimes English can be weird and inexplicable, so instead the best thing to do is just memorise the strange exceptions and move on.
Every time you study to try to immerse yourself as much as possible and challenge yourself to listen to, read and even say things in English that you think might be too difficult for you. One needs to make English an essential part of your everyday life to speak the language fluently.
3. Read! Everything You Can Get Your Hand’s On
If a person wants to improve your skills in speaking, then they should start to read, as well! It is not possible to improve particularly at one area of a language (like speaking) if one doesn’t improve and practise other areas, as well.
Reading helps a person to enhance their speaking skills because it makes their brain work. When you are reading, you probably do listen to your inner voice or your head pronouncing the words that you read. Apart from that, you’re able to learn new words in context that you can use later in your conversations.
Newspapers, Classic literature, paperbacks, emails, websites or even your social media feed, cereal boxes: read it if it’s in English. This helps you build on quickly, as re-exposure to learned vocabulary gives you new examples in context, therefore reinforcing those words in your mind.
The more you read, you’ll mostly have contact with correct, well-structured English and the faster your brain will start recognising groups and patterns of words that usually go together. When those patterns are already set in your head, you can use them in your conversations without hesitation.
4. Don’t Translate, Rather Think In English
Depending on a personal level of understanding, right now, one might first think of what he\she want to say in their native language, and then try to translate it into English. By thinking in English first, you omit the time to translate—which in the long run will help you become more fluent in the language, English.
When someone thinks in English (without translating), this also helps them internalise the particular language. When you internalise information, it means you learn it so well that you no longer need to think
about it.
Additionally, thinking in English is an excellent way to build your vocabulary with words you actually use. It’s important to know many words, but it’s even more important to know words that you’ll use in everyday conversations.
The solution to always think in English:
You can practice this anytime, anywhere. When you’re thinking about your day, try to use English, or when you decide what the food to order. Even an English-to-English dictionary to look up the words that you got stuck. That way, you never have to translate words or use your native language. You’ll notice that it’s easier for you to speak in English when you think.
5. Either Talk To A Live Human Or Yourself
You can enhance your English speaking whenever you’re at home (or alone somewhere else) with you’re the favourite person that is: you-yourself.
Try speaking your thoughts out loud if you’re already thinking in English. Readout loud, too. The practice is practice, and even if you don’t have anyone to correct your mistakes, just the act of speaking out loud will help you become more comfortable speaking English.
What is the value of a language if you can not communicate? Sure, we humans have become experts at communicating without opening our mouths – thanks Whatsapp! – but when push comes to shove, speaking a language indeed helps it stick in your head far better than only reading or writing it.
Just think of how many times you’ve heard people say that they “understand, but can’t speak English.” A lot of would-be English speakers have turned talking into a huge insurmountable barrier that only serves to psyche them out. Don’t be like that. Seek out native speakers for an informal language exchange, enrol in a course, or take classes online.
6. Replicate An Immersive Environment Around
Learning a new language for a person can be often fun or frustrating. More the reason why it’s so crucial for the person makes the process more natural, immersive and intuitive and possible so that you can keep it enjoyable and fun. It provides incredible results as one progress through their language learning journey. Of course, visiting the country where your target language is spoken is one of the best ways to go about learning any language. Not only it forces you to get out of your comfort zone but also increase your exposure to the language. This process is the perfect way for you to get in some much-needed conversation practice by socialising with the locals.
Creating an immersive language learning environment is not as hard as you may imagine. It just requires a little bit of experimentation so you can determine how everything fits into your daily schedule and what works for you. By creating an immersive language learning environment from home, you are essentially giving yourself the means to maximise exposure to your target language at any given moment and make the most of your language learning.
7. Make a mistake To Learn More
No one wants to fumble over words or make mistakes.
What if one leaves a bad impression? What if one says something wrong? What if one uses the wrong term by mistake? What if one forgets the specific word at the worst possible moment?
Thoughts like these are common, especially among those of us who have been taught English with a little emphasis on actual talking and a heavy focus on grammar.
Yes, everyone – even native speakers make mistakes. Think about it! Even when we are in our comfort zone, like for example discussing our primary field of expertise, sometimes we just “lose” the right word and must search for it.
The key to becoming more fluent in spoken English is to get those good discussions under your belt to bolster your confidence. The more you use English (or any foreign language, for that matter), the easier it becomes.
8. Focus On Fluency and Twisters, Not Grammar
How often do you stop when you speak in English?
The more you stop while speaking, the less comfortable you become and the less confident you sound. Try challenging yourself to speak without stammering (taking pauses between your words) or stopping the entire time.
This might mean that your whole sentences won’t have to be always grammatically! If one focuses on speaking fluently instead of correctly, the person will still be understood and will sound better. One can fill in the correct word rules and grammar as you learn them better.
Tongue twisters are a series of specific words that are mostly tough to say quickly. One example is: “Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?” Try saying this several times! It’s not that easy.
Such word games help you find the right placement for your tongue and mouth, and can even help your pronunciation.
9. Listen to More And Practise
Listening is an important factor in learning spoken English. Through listening, you can learn these nuances and calibrate your own speech. Spoken English has a rhythm – the pauses, the emphasis (speaking more loudly) on certain parts of the sentence, and the pace (fast or slow). You will spot pronunciation mistakes you’ve been making for years.
One must practice sounding natural by following along with YouTube videos, TV shows or other natural English speech.
Repeat a short clip that you like line by line, or that uses words that you’d use in real life. Try to match the speed, tone and even the dialect (if you can). It doesn’t really matter if someone misses a few words, the important thing is to keep talking. Try or imitate to sound just like the native speakers.
Spoken English can be somewhat different from the more formal written English. You’ll often encounter slangs, contractions, fragments (of sentences), and bruised grammar rules in spoken English. For example, ‘are you gonna come to the college tomorrow’ would be sufficient in spoken English, but would be too informal in most writings.
By the way, listening, like reading, too provides you with the opportunity to improve your vocabulary.
10. Practise To Take Note of New Vocabulary
This tip is a classic one for all good reason: it works! When learning, we often enjoy a new word of phrase so much that forgetting it seems impossible. But trust us, not everything sticks the first time.
To fight this, get into the habit of carrying around a funky notebook or using a tool like Evernote. One must write it down in a context, whenever they hear or read a new word or expression: in a sentence and with its meaning noted. This saves you time as you won’t return to that word in searching again.
On increasing your vocabulary, you will be able to communicate (speak and write) more clearly and using fewer words. You will understand more and people will understand you more easily. Learning new words is an exciting activity — and one you can even practise with the people being around them. Challenge a friend, members of the family, or roommate to learn new words with you.
You will hold the key to a better vocabulary. Such practices help you discover and learn new words to strengthen your use of the English language and expand your vocabulary.
Finally, remember that one must practice putting their new words into your speaking and writing so that one continues to remember them.
11. Learn Word Forms And Phrases, Not Words
Some practice comes much before someone even open your mouth. Learning the different forms of any words make speaking easier by you learn. One should practise while they are learning a new vocabulary. For example, if one has just learned the word write, you should also learn some other forms like wrote and written.
It is essential to know the correct way to use a word in any kind of sentence. This knowledge will help while you speak. You won’t have to pause and think for different words—you’ll know exactly when it would help if you used that word while speaking.
Another critical part of improving English is to learn word phrases, not just words. Beside common vocabulary, common phrases are one of the most important factors that decide whether or not you can speak a new language well in a short period. If a person wants to improve their skills in English speaking quickly, they must learn the way native speakers speak, learn the phrases they often use.
You might be using correct vocabulary and grammar, but it’s still not how a native speaker would say it. For sounding more natural when you speak, one must take help from expressions and phrases.
12. Prepare Yourself For Uncertain Situations
Suppose you are learning to speak English for a particular reason. For example, if you are learning English to make friends in America? Probably then you do need to learn the dialect of American English. If you are learning English so that you can get a job in an English-speaking company? In such a case, practise English that will help you in an interview.
Take some time to notice how you really speak in your native language and get the dialect.
Learn the words and phrases you do use most often and how to say your most commonly used words and phrases in English. As one does in their native language, knowing them in English will help them speak in English, as well.
One can practice what they might have to say before one goes to a place where one has to speak English. For example, if you’re going to a restaurant, then prepare yourself for the conversations you might have in a restaurant or how it’s sound like? Answer the questions that a waiter might ask you. Try talking about food in the menus. You’ll feel more confident if you’re prepared!
13. Learn and Make Use Of The Exceptions
You probably know that the language English is full of exceptions to its rules if you’ve been learning English for a while.
A lot of learners will get annoyed at this, but here’s a suggestion on what you can do: Make use of those exceptions in order to speak better English!
It would be indeed impossible to learn all the exceptions of the English language, but one can definitely focus on groups of exceptions and should learn groups of one or two every week.
The next step is to use the exceptions you’ve learned while you speak. Just take the exceptions and try to use them as much as possible in your conversations, and soon these exceptions will become so common for you that you’ll just naturally start using them.
14. Joining Online Spoken English Courses
You may not have a partner to speak, but guess what now you have free online speaking courses of English!
Learning online is becoming quite popular. Besides, the offer is sometimes is so huge (very big) that many times the course fee is actually zero.
Learning English online is an excellent idea since being able to speak, write and understand English is such an important skill. Interactive and in-depth online classes and modules make learning English online easier.
Whether someone is interested in learning how to speak or expanding your career opportunities, read and write English for educational purposes, learning English online is an excellent way to develop a valuable, important new skill.
There are literally hundreds of courses online that can help you improve your English speaking skills. I’ve mentioned three that I’m sure will help you with that:
- Professional English Speaking: If you need to improve your conversation skills for work, this is the perfect course for you.
- English For Asia: Many of us don’t need to do business in continents like Asia, but unfortunately Asia is just the setting. Certain course focuses on speaking and business English, and has a primary goal to teach a person about how to deliver the perfect oral presentation.
- Effective Speaking And Writing English: Boost your writing and speaking skills thanks to the techniques included in this amazing course.
15. Be Creative While Speaking
If we pose a little bit of creativity, then improving our English speaking skills can be fun. Always use it to your advantage whatever “fun” means to you, and include the language in it.
For example, try looking around, sitting on your couch. Find an interesting object to describe in English. If you’re just starting, you might use short sentences and easy vocabulary. But the better you get in describing, the better you’ll get at this small exercise!
Creative journaling in English is something you can try to improve your spoken English. A lot of people think that journalism and journaling are the same as keeping a diary, but it’s actually so much more!
Finally, always try to make your own life a little difficult. No, I’m not crazy. Have you ever been in a situation where you got stuck because you couldn’t remember a word while trying to say something in English? Do that on purpose! Try to talk about anything without using particular words. It’s almost like a real-life game of “Taboo,” but you make the rules.
In other words, be as creative as you want, and use English all the way.
Conclusion
You are or can be your best helper or even your worst enemy while learning to speak fluently! We know it’s not an easy task, but one should try not to worry about how they sound while the person speaks. Just relax!
If you are confused or get stuck, just take a big breath in and start all over. Speak slower if you are required too. Take your time to pause and think about your next sentence.
Do whatever it takes to become more comfortable with speaking English.