You understand English but can't speak fluently? This is why! (ACTION PLAN!)

Summary

In this video, Lucy discusses common struggles learners face when trying to speak English fluently, despite understanding it. She highlights the difference between receptive (listening/reading) and productive (speaking) skills and shares six practical tips to improve spoken English. These include talking to yourself, working with a tutor, preparing responses, focusing on fluency over perfection, shadowing English speakers, and recording your voice. Lucy also offers a free downloadable PDF with the lesson's transcript, tips, and a quiz, alongside a special offer for English tutoring through LanguageTalk.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understanding English is easier than speaking it due to a lack of practice in productive skills like speaking.
• 😀 Fluency in speaking requires active practice (output) rather than just passive learning (input).
• 😀 Talking to yourself in English throughout the day can significantly improve fluency and vocabulary retention.
• 😀 Keeping a vocabulary diary or using voice notes on your phone can help track new words and expand your vocabulary.
• 😀 Working with a tutor is valuable because they can correct mistakes, provide targeted feedback, and help simulate real-life speaking situations.
• 😀 Preparing written responses to common conversation questions can increase confidence and make speaking more natural.
• 😀 Don’t focus on perfection—fluency is more important than perfect grammar or pronunciation. Mistakes are part of the learning process.
• 😀 Shadowing, or imitating native speakers, helps improve pronunciation, intonation, and overall fluency.
• 😀 Recording yourself speaking allows you to assess your progress and identify areas for improvement in pronunciation and fluency.
• 😀 Regularly revisiting recorded speech after a period of time (e.g., a year) can highlight your improvements and motivate further learning.

Q & A

Why do many students understand English but struggle to speak it fluently?

This issue arises because understanding English primarily uses receptive skills like listening and reading, while speaking requires productive skills, such as producing and actively using the language. Many learners focus on language input (e.g., watching English content), which doesn't necessarily build speaking fluency. To speak fluently, students need to practice language output through speaking and active use.

What is the key difference between language input and output in language learning?

Language input involves absorbing the language through listening and reading, while language output requires actively using the language through speaking and writing. The balance between both is crucial, but productive skills (output) are often harder to practice and find compared to passive learning (input).

How can talking to yourself improve spoken English?

Talking to yourself helps to practice fluency and fluidity in speech. You can narrate your day or thoughts in English, which encourages you to use the language actively. This can be done out loud or in your head, and it helps you to get comfortable with producing English sounds and constructing sentences naturally.

What is a vocab diary and how does it help in language learning?

A vocab diary is a tool for recording new words or phrases you come across during your day. It helps expand your vocabulary and reinforces what you've learned. Using apps or voice assistants, like Siri, you can easily capture these words and review them later, which aids in retention and active language use.

Why is talking to a tutor important for improving fluency?

Talking to a tutor provides personalized feedback, helps you reenact challenging speaking situations, and ensures corrections are made. Tutors offer a safe environment where you can make mistakes without fear of judgment and get targeted advice to improve your speaking skills and confidence.

What makes language talk a good platform for finding a tutor?

Language Talk is a highly selective platform where only a small percentage of tutors are accepted. It allows you to filter tutors by availability, country, price, and motivation. Tutors offer free trial sessions, allowing you to find a good match before committing, and there's an option to get a free 10-lesson credit after your first paid session.

What is the elevator pitch concept, and how can it help with language learning?

An elevator pitch refers to a brief, clear introduction of yourself or an idea, designed to be delivered in a short amount of time. Preparing these short answers for frequent questions (like 'Where are you from?' or 'What do you do?') helps improve fluency and builds confidence in speaking, especially in common social situations.

Why should learners focus on fluency over perfection when speaking English?

Fluency is more important than perfection because the goal is to be understood, not to speak perfectly. Mistakes are part of the learning process, and avoiding them out of fear can hinder progress. Embracing mistakes with a sense of humor and viewing them as learning opportunities helps students gain confidence and improve their speaking skills.

What is shadowing, and how can it help improve English speaking?

Shadowing involves mimicking what native speakers say, usually by repeating their words and sounds as you hear them. It helps improve pronunciation, word stress, and fluency. By actively copying the speaker, you also enhance your ability to understand and produce language more naturally.

How does recording yourself speaking help improve English?

Recording yourself allows you to hear how you sound in English, which helps you become more comfortable with your voice and speech patterns. It also provides an opportunity to identify areas for improvement, such as pronunciation or speed. Tracking progress over time lets you see how much you've improved.