Understand English But Can't SPEAK? Why + How to Fix It

Summary

In this video, the speaker addresses common struggles English learners face when speaking, such as the difficulty of recalling words during conversations. The video offers advice on how to improve speaking skills by actively practicing with focused topics like food, family, or work. The speaker emphasizes the importance of writing out useful sentences and speaking them aloud, along with overcoming the fear of mistakes. Additional tips include using a free vocabulary tool and finding a practice buddy to boost confidence in speaking English.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on speaking practice, not just memorizing words and grammar rules.
• 😀 Actively use new words and phrases in sentences rather than passively absorbing them.
• 😀 Break learning into specific topics like food, family, or work to make practicing easier.
• 😀 Write out useful sentences about a topic to build a mental library of phrases.
• 😀 Use online resources like ozk.com to find common word combinations and phrases.
• 😀 Practice speaking to yourself to improve fluency and comfort in conversations.
• 😀 Use tools like ChatGPT to generate questions for practicing conversations on specific topics.
• 😀 Overcome the fear of mistakes, as they are essential for improvement.
• 😀 Find a practice buddy to engage in real conversations and improve your speaking skills.
• 😀 Use simple questions (who, what, where, why, when) to keep conversations flowing and engaging.

Q & A

What is the main issue that English learners face when trying to speak English?

Many English learners struggle with speaking because they focus on passive learning, like memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules, without actively practicing speaking or writing. This leads to difficulty recalling words and sentences when trying to converse.

Why does memorizing words and grammar rules alone not make learners fluent in English?

Memorizing words and grammar rules is a passive way of learning. Without actively using the language in real situations (like speaking or writing), learners do not build the necessary skills to recall and use the words when needed.

What is the first step to improving English speaking skills, according to the script?

The first step is to focus on individual topics. Instead of trying to learn all of English at once, choose specific topics, such as food, family, or work, and practice building sentences related to those topics.

How can writing sentences about a specific topic help improve English speaking skills?

Writing sentences about a specific topic helps learners practice forming English sentences and storing useful phrases in their minds. This makes it easier to recall these phrases when speaking, leading to more natural conversations.

How does using a website like ozk.com help learners build better sentences?

Ozk.com is an English collocation dictionary that shows common phrases and words used together. By practicing these collocations, learners can create more natural and varied sentences, making their English sound more fluent.

What should learners do after they have written down useful sentences on a topic?

After writing down useful sentences, learners should practice speaking them out loud, starting with self-conversations. This helps reinforce their learning and improves fluency.

Why is it helpful to speak to yourself when practicing English?

Speaking to yourself allows you to actively use the language, which helps reinforce the words and phrases you've learned. It also builds confidence in forming sentences and speaking without the pressure of another person.

How can learners come up with more questions for self-conversation?

Learners can use tools like ChatGPT to generate a list of questions on a specific topic, helping them to engage in meaningful self-conversations and practice different aspects of the topic.

What role do mistakes play in improving English speaking skills?

Mistakes are a crucial part of learning. They help learners identify areas for improvement and gradually get better at speaking. It's important to embrace mistakes rather than fear them.

How can finding a practice buddy improve speaking skills?

Having a practice buddy provides an opportunity to speak regularly with someone else, allowing you to practice asking and answering questions in real-time. It also builds confidence in speaking with others.