How to improve English speaking? | Follow these tips!

Summary

In this video, Maddie from POC English shares three key tips to improve your English speaking skills. First, speaking comes last – focus on learning vocabulary and collocations before speaking. Then, practice writing to reinforce new words and phrases. Second, think in English by keeping a journal and talking to yourself throughout the day. Lastly, build your confidence by reading aloud, pretending you're speaking to an audience, and embracing mistakes. With consistent practice and a positive mindset, you'll gradually improve your fluency and overcome speaking challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 Speaking is essential to improving your English fluency. Practice speaking as much as possible.
• 😀 If you don’t have a speaking partner, talk to yourself to practice your English.
• 😀 Learning vocabulary and collocations is the first step in becoming fluent in English. Understand words and how they fit together.
• 😀 Write sentences before speaking. Writing helps organize your thoughts and build useful phrases.
• 😀 Practice with prefabricated patterns—ready-made sentences you can use in various situations.
• 😀 Making mistakes is part of the learning process. Don't be afraid of making big mistakes.
• 😀 Use your imagination to practice speaking. Pretend you are in different situations to build fluency.
• 😀 Keep a journal to think and write in English daily. This helps improve grammar and vocabulary.
• 😀 You can improve your speaking by thinking in English throughout the day, even when you're alone.
• 😀 Build your confidence by reading aloud. Hearing your voice will help you feel more comfortable speaking.
• 😀 Keep improving all aspects of language learning: vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, writing, and reading.

Q & A

What is the most important factor in improving English speaking skills?

The most important factor is speaking regularly. To become fluent, you need to practice speaking as much as possible, even if it means speaking to yourself.

What should you do if you don’t have a speaking partner?

If you don’t have a speaking partner, you can talk to yourself. Imagine different scenarios and practice speaking out loud. This will help you gain confidence and improve your speaking skills.

Why is learning collocations important for speaking English?

Learning collocations helps you speak more naturally and accurately. Collocations are combinations of words that often go together in English, making your speech sound more fluent and less awkward.

What are some examples of collocations with the word 'career'?

Some examples include: 'a promising career', 'an academic career', 'to pursue a career', 'to give up a career', and 'career opportunities'.

Why should you write before speaking in English?

Writing allows you to organize your thoughts and practice using new words or phrases. It helps you create sentences that you can later use in speaking without having to think too much in the moment.

What are 'prefabricated patterns' and how do they help in learning English?

Prefabricated patterns are ready-made sentences or sentence structures that you can memorize and use in different situations. They help you speak more fluently and reduce hesitation when forming sentences.

How can thinking in English improve your speaking skills?

Thinking in English helps train your brain to process thoughts in the language, which leads to faster and more natural speaking. You can practice by keeping a journal or by mentally speaking to yourself throughout the day.

What are some effective ways to think in English?

Two effective ways to think in English are: keeping a journal where you write down your daily plans or activities in English, and talking to yourself throughout the day, even if just in your head.

What is the role of self-confidence in speaking English?

Self-confidence plays a crucial role in speaking English. Many students avoid practicing because they fear making mistakes or looking foolish. Building confidence through practice, such as reading aloud or speaking to an imagined audience, helps overcome these barriers.

How can you build confidence in speaking English?

To build confidence, you can read aloud to get used to hearing your own voice, pretend you’re speaking in front of an audience to overcome shyness, and continue improving your vocabulary and grammar through regular practice.