From a young age as non-native speakers of English, we are encouraged and somewhat pressured by our parents, teachers and peers about the necessary skills of spoken English. We have bought multiple grammar books, taken too many English tuitions, made promises with our friends that we will only speak in English with them just for the hope of building our spoken fluency in English.
All our efforts were fruitless but nonetheless, the skill of spoken English is still very important in our life. No matter in our university, school, college or job place, it is one of the most essential skills to hone.
With consistent effort and practice one can improve their spoken English. To succeed in concurring spoken English Developing daily habits can help you enhance your language skills and become more confident in your spoken communication.Here are some habits that can easily overcome English language anxiety and overcome your fear to speak English with confidence:
Speak English everyday : try to incorporate English speaking in your daily conversations. Begin with small conversations, gradually introduce new vocabulary and phrases, and once you feel comfortable, discuss topics that interest you.
Read Aloud : you can read English newspapers, novels, short stories available on the internet. It can help with your reading skills and comprehending skills. Reading helps to improve pronunciation fluency which is very important in spoken English.
Listen to learn : To get better at a new language, you should work on your listening skills. You can do this by listening to things like BBC radio, podcasts, audiobooks by Western authors, and even watching English movies and TV shows. This will help you learn how to say words correctly, how to use the right tone, and new words.
Build your vocabulary horizon : Set a goal to learn five new English words every day and incorporate them into your vocabulary throughout the day. You can download the “Cambridge Dictionary +Plus” app from the Google Play Store and open a dictionary of your choice by giving it a name.
Here is the link of the app;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.cambridge.cdo.plus
In that dictionary, you can add at least five or more words daily to enhance your vocabulary skills along with their correct pronunciation.
Record yourself : Use your smartphone or a voice recorder to record yourself speaking in English. By recording yourself speaking English, you can improve your fluency and you can improve pronunciations.
Focus on fluency, not perfection : When you are speaking in English, focus on communicating your ideas clearly and fluently rather than trying to speak perfectly. You can use social media circles like Facebook, Linkedin to increase your confidence. Nowadays there are many types of groups that you can join and you can easily master this skill by connecting with others in your field. Additionally, there are also some apps or applications through which you can connect with native speakers and your English skills will be greatly expanded by speaking with them regularly.
Shadowing : There is a technique called Shadowing. It is a way to improve English by listening. You can listen to a piece of English audio and repeat exactly what you hear as closely as possible. This is a great way to expand your accent, ease, and ability to understand what you have heard.
You can encourage your family and friends to join you in this spoken English project. You can include them in your speaking practices in this way they can also improve their speaking and listening skills alongside you.
It takes time and work to master a foreign language and to improve your spoken English, but it is possible with regular practice. By following the tips that are mentioned above you can easily get better with practice.
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Writer
Jannatul Afia Priya
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE