My Top 10 Tips for Better English Speaking

Summary

In this video, Adam, an experienced English teacher, shares valuable tips for improving English speaking skills. He emphasizes overcoming the fear of speaking and the importance of relaxation and confidence. Adam advises learners to focus on vocabulary building, as it is more crucial than grammar for communication. He also encourages making mistakes as a learning opportunity and suggests various practice methods, including recording oneself, engaging in conversations, and avoiding speaking one's native language in learning environments. The key takeaway is to be adventurous, embrace imperfection, and enjoy the learning journey.

Takeaways

• 😨 Overcoming fear is the first step to becoming a better speaker in any language.
• 🧘‍♂️ Relaxation is crucial for effective language use, as it aids in clearer thinking and natural expression.
• 💪 Confidence in one's abilities is key, regardless of current language proficiency.
• 🧠 Language proficiency does not equate to intelligence; it's a skill to be learned and improved upon.
• 👤 Self-assessment is essential; only you can truly judge your personal growth and abilities.
• 🌐 Be aware of your audience and adjust your language use accordingly to effectively communicate.
• 🔍 Vocabulary is the foundation of language; prioritize building it over perfecting grammar initially.
• 🏗️ Use vocabulary as 'sticks' and grammar as 'glue' to construct meaningful communication.
• 🤔 Don't make assumptions about others; seek out those who are willing to engage in conversation.
• 🚫 Avoid asking to 'practice English' outright; instead, initiate conversations naturally.
• 💬 Accept imperfection; mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth in language acquisition.
• 🎥 Practice speaking by mimicking native speakers, using recordings, and engaging in self-talk.
• 🤝 Actively seek out conversation partners, both native and non-native, to practice speaking.
• 🌟 Embrace the adventure of language learning; it's about exploration, not just perfection.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is how to become a better English speaker, with general tips that can be applied to learning any language.

What is the primary reason people do not speak well or at all according to the speaker?

The primary reason people do not speak well or at all is fear, which the speaker suggests must be overcome to improve language skills.

What is the first tip the speaker gives for becoming a better English speaker?

The first tip the speaker gives is to relax and learn how to be at ease when using a different language, as it helps the brain function more efficiently.

Why is confidence important when learning a new language?

Confidence is important because it helps individuals overcome the misconception that a lack of language proficiency equates to a lack of intelligence, and it enables them to communicate more effectively.

According to the speaker, who is the only person qualified to judge you as a person?

The only person qualified to judge you as a person is yourself, emphasizing that external opinions should not affect your self-assessment of your learning process.

What is the speaker's advice on dealing with locals when trying to practice a new language?

The speaker advises not to worry about what people think and to seek out those who are patient and willing to help, while being aware of your audience and adapting your language to the situation.

Why is vocabulary considered more important than grammar in the context of the analogy provided by the speaker?

Vocabulary is considered more important than grammar because, without words (vocabulary), one cannot build a meaningful structure (sentence), whereas grammar alone without vocabulary does not convey meaning.

What should a learner do when they are in a situation where they need to communicate but do not need to construct a perfect sentence?

A learner should focus on getting their message across effectively rather than striving for a perfect sentence, using simple phrases, gestures, or other non-verbal cues if necessary.

What is the speaker's stance on the idea of perfection in language learning?

The speaker's stance is that perfection is not necessary or helpful in language learning; instead, making mistakes is a valuable part of the learning process that leads to growth.

How does the speaker suggest practicing English when there are no native speakers available?

The speaker suggests using recordings, TV shows, movies, or transcripts from sources like TED.com, following along, and recording oneself to compare and improve speech, as well as engaging in role-play scenarios.

What is the final advice the speaker gives to language learners in terms of attitude and approach?

The final advice is to be adventurous, confident, and relaxed, to not fear making mistakes, and to actively seek out opportunities to speak the language with others, regardless of their proficiency level.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Overcoming the Fear of Speaking English

In this introductory paragraph, Adam, an experienced English teacher, addresses the viewers and introduces the topic of improving English speaking skills. He emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear as the primary obstacle to fluent speech. Adam shares his extensive teaching background, highlighting his experience with diverse students and nationalities. He proposes general tips for becoming better speakers and encourages viewers to reflect on what the first tip might be, hinting at a common theme from his previous videos. The paragraph concludes with a personal anecdote about Adam's adventurous nature and his experiences in Tokyo, setting the stage for the rest of the video.

05:03

📚 The Importance of Vocabulary and Practical Communication

Adam discusses the common mistake of prioritizing grammar over vocabulary, using the analogy of building a model house with sticks and glue to illustrate the point. Vocabulary, he argues, is the essential 'sticks' that form the structure, while grammar is the 'glue' that holds it together. He emphasizes the importance of conveying meaning over perfecting sentences, especially in situations where clarity is more important than grammatical accuracy. Adam shares a personal story of getting lost in Tokyo and effectively communicating his needs with limited Japanese, reinforcing the idea that the ability to communicate is more important than linguistic perfection.

10:03

🚀 Embracing Mistakes and Active Learning for Language Growth

In this paragraph, Adam stresses the value of making mistakes as a means of learning and growing in language acquisition. He argues that striving for perfection can hinder the learning process, as it leads to overthinking and less actual speaking practice. Instead, he encourages learners to embrace their errors as opportunities for learning and improvement. Adam also provides practical advice on how to practice speaking English in the absence of native speakers, such as using recordings, transcripts, and role-playing exercises. He advocates for active engagement with the language, whether through self-practice or interaction with others, and ends with a call to be adventurous and confident in one's language learning journey.

Keywords

💡Speaking

Speaking refers to the act of verbally expressing thoughts, ideas, or feelings. In the context of the video, it is the primary focus as the speaker discusses how to improve English speaking skills. The script emphasizes that fear is the main obstacle to speaking, and the speaker provides tips to overcome this fear and become a better English speaker.

💡Fear

Fear, in this script, is identified as the number one cause preventing people from speaking English. It is the emotional state that inhibits learners from expressing themselves in a foreign language due to anxiety or apprehension. The speaker suggests that the first step to becoming a better speaker is to get rid of the fear of speaking.

💡Relax

Relax is a keyword that signifies the importance of being at ease when using a different language. The speaker explains that when one is relaxed, the brain functions more efficiently, and ideas come together more easily. It is a strategy to overcome fear and to improve the overall language learning experience.

💡Confidence

Confidence is the belief in one's own abilities. The speaker mentions that being confident in oneself is crucial for language learners, as it counters the misconception that a lack of language proficiency equates to a lack of intelligence. It is a key element in the process of improving speaking skills.

💡Intelligence

Intelligence, in the script, is contrasted with language proficiency to clarify that not being fluent in a language does not reflect on a person's intelligence. The speaker uses this term to encourage learners to be confident and not to judge themselves harshly based on their language skills.

💡Audience

Audience refers to the people one is communicating with. The speaker advises learners to be aware of their audience and to adjust their language use accordingly. For instance, when asking for directions, simplicity and clarity are more important than grammatical perfection.

💡Vocabulary

Vocabulary is the set of words known to a person. The speaker emphasizes that building vocabulary is the most important aspect of learning a language. It is likened to the 'sticks' in the analogy of building a model house, indicating that without words, one cannot construct meaningful sentences.

💡Grammar

Grammar is the set of structural rules governing the composition of sentences, phrases, and words. The speaker uses the analogy of 'glue' to explain its role in language construction. While grammar is important, the speaker suggests that vocabulary is more fundamental to communication.

💡Assume

To assume means to accept something as true without proof. The speaker warns against making assumptions about how others will react or whether they are judging the learner's language skills. This advice encourages learners to approach language practice with an open mind.

💡Mistakes

Mistakes are errors made in an attempt to learn or perform a task. The speaker posits that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process and can be more beneficial than striving for unattainable perfection. They are opportunities for growth and improvement.

💡Practice

Practice is the act of performing an activity repeatedly to improve or maintain one's skill. The speaker provides various methods for practicing English speaking, such as listening to native speakers, recording oneself, and engaging in conversations with others. Practice is highlighted as essential for language proficiency.

💡Adventurous

Adventurous describes someone who is willing to take risks or try new things. The speaker encourages learners to be adventurous in their language learning journey, to step out of their comfort zone, and to embrace the challenges that come with learning a new language.

Highlights

Fear is the number one cause of not speaking well in English, and overcoming this fear is essential for improvement.

General tips for becoming better English speakers apply to learning any language.

Relaxation is key to more efficient brain function and better language use.

Confidence in oneself is crucial, as language proficiency does not equate to intelligence.

The only person qualified to judge you is yourself, disregard others' opinions on your language skills.

When interacting with locals, be aware that patience levels will vary and don't let it affect you.

Know your audience and adjust your language complexity accordingly.

Vocabulary is more important than grammar when learning a new language.

An analogy of vocabulary as sticks and grammar as glue in building a model house illustrates their roles in language.

Use all available means, including gestures and facial expressions, to communicate effectively.

Avoid making assumptions about people's willingness to help or judge you based on language skills.

Starting a conversation with a genuine query is more effective than asking to practice language.

Imperfection is normal and necessary for growth; embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.

Practice speaking by recording yourself and comparing with native speakers, focusing on intonation and pace.

Engage in role-play with interviews to practice both asking and answering in English.

Speak to mirrors or create conversation groups to practice language actively.

Avoid sticking to your own language group in language learning environments to maximize exposure to the target language.

Be adventurous in language learning by stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the learning process.

The importance of practice and seeking out opportunities to speak English in various contexts.

EngVid.com offers a forum for questions and a review quiz to reinforce the video's points.

Transcripts

Hi. Welcome to www.engvid.com. I'm Adam. Today, I want to talk to you about speaking. Speaking

in English and how you can become better speakers. These are very general tips, but I'll start

by saying that I have been teaching English for almost 20 years. I have taught in four

different countries. I have taught students of dozens of nationalities. So, I've seen

all kinds of things, and I've discovered all kinds of reasons why people don't speak well

or don't speak at all. Okay? Now, the number one cause of not speaking is fear. So, one

of the things we're going to have to work on first is getting rid of your fear of speaking.

So, I'm going to give you a few general tips on what you can do to become better English

speakers. And keep in mind, this applies to any language you're going to learn. If you're

learning how to speak Spanish, this will help you become better Spanish speakers. If you're

learning how to speak Russian, this will make you better Russian speakers. Okay? So, that's

a few things to keep in mind based on my interaction with students.

Now, I've put number one out, I left it blank for now because I just want to give you guys

a chance to think what is tip number one. If you've watched my videos before, you probably

already know what I'm going to say, but, you know, say it for yourself, say it out loud

anyway. It's good to say it out loud. Okay? Tip number one, if you want to become a better

English speaker or a better English writer, reader, etc., relax. Learn how to relax when

it comes to using a different language. Okay? When you are relaxed, your brain functions

more efficiently, your ideas come together more easily, everything works. When you're

in a panic, nothing really registers because everything... Your brain is, again, it's in

self-defense mode. When you're in a panic, your brain thinks there's something wrong,

and it's sending all kinds of ideas into your head to try to fix whatever the perceived

problem is. Right? If you're relaxed, you're putting all your ideas together, your thing

comes out more naturally. Next, part of being relaxed means to be confident. Be confident

in yourself. Now, I know that a lot of people, and I've experienced this with tons and tons

of students, a lot of people think that somebody who's not speaking well might be, you know,

an idiot. That's not the case. A lack of language does not equal a lack of intelligence. Okay?

Now, if I go to China and I try to speak Chinese to people, I'm going to sound like an idiot.

Does that mean I'm an idiot? No. It means I don't know Chinese. I can learn Chinese,

I can practice Chinese, and eventually I will be a good Chinese speaker. But at the beginning,

I'm going to sound like an idiot. Okay? So, that's the one thing. Along with being confident,

there's one thing I want everybody to understand, and I know you know this, but I will say it

to you anyway. There's only one person on this planet who is qualified to judge you.

Of course, employers can judge your qualifications for a job, a sports coach can judge your qualifications

or your skills to be on a sports team, etc. Only one person in the world can judge you

as a person, and that one person is you. So, it doesn't matter what other people think

about you. It doesn't matter what other people think about the way you're speaking. You know

who you are, you know what you are, you know where you are in your learning process. So,

don't worry about what other people think.

Now, another thing. When you go... And again, this is a part of people's human nature, but

if you go to another country and you will meet some people, some locals, some of them

will be patient, some of them will not. Some of them will look at you like struggling with

the language and not want to talk to you. Some of them will try to help you. Okay? Don't

worry about what people think. If somebody's not nice to you, go to the next person and

try again.

But again, very important, know your audience. Know who you're talking to. Now, if you're

going to try to basically put together a good sentence, if you're going to try to improve

your English, there are people you're going to try hard to have a good sentence with,

and there are people you're just going to try to get an idea across. Okay? Let me give

you an example. If you're getting on a bus, you go to New York City, your English is still

a little bit, you know, high beginner, low intermediate. You're getting on a bus in New

York City. Don't try to tell the bus driver a perfect sentence. Don't try to make your

question perfect. Just get the idea across.

Let me give you an anecdote. Okay? A little story from my experience. I lived in Tokyo

for a bunch of years, and at the beginning... I'm a very adventurous... Sorry. I'm a very

adventurous guy. I like to travel around, you know, I like to go get lost in a city

and find my way back. So, I would go get lost. I had very few words, then, in Japanese. And

I got lost in this one little town in, you know, like one little suburb of Tokyo. And

I was getting a little bit tired and I wanted to go home. So, I didn't know where the train

station was, I didn't know which way to go. There's no such thing as north, east, south,

west. It's just... Everything's a big sprawl. So, I went looking for a Japanese person,

you know, one who wouldn't run away from me because they didn't want to practice their

English. I found a Japanese person who would stop and listen to me, and I would say, "Sumimasen.

Densha doko?" That's all I would say. "Excuse me. Train. Where?" And, of course, this person

would point out the way or even walk me to the train station. I get on the train, I go

home, I take a nap, I'm happy. Right? But if I was so worried about getting a full sentence,

like saying the full sentence perfectly, "Excuse me. Can you tell me how I can get to the train

station?" I would still be lost in that little suburb today. I went, I got my message across,

I got home.

So, I'm actually going to jump around with all these tips. Build vocab first. Vocabulary

is the most important thing you can do in terms of learning English. A lot of people

worry so much about the grammar that they can't put together a sentence and they get

panicked and they get nervous. So, let me actually stick on to the vocab a little bit.

I want to give you an analogy, okay? Like, I'm going to compare learning English to doing

something else. Let's say you want to build a model house, and you have, you know, those

lollipop sticks, like little sticks, and you have some glue, and you're going to glue all

your sticks together, and you're going to build yourself a house. Okay. I want you to

think of the sticks, the little wooden sticks, okay? They kind of... You know, you have all

these sticks, you can... The doctor has them and your popsicles have them. You have all

these sticks. The sticks are vocabulary. The glue is grammar.

Now, imagine trying to build a house and all you have is glue, and you're putting glue

everywhere and all you have is, like, a sticky fingers or sticky hands and a big mess. If

all you have is vocabulary and no grammar, you can build... You can still build somewhat...

Something that looks like a house. Grammar gets you nothing. Vocabulary gets you something.

Of course, you want to have both together at the end so you can have good English. So,

don't worry about just having vocabulary. Throw out your few words, use your hands,

use your face, use things around you, get your message across. But be confident and

know who you're talking to. If the person doesn't seem to be patient, okay, thank you

very much, go to somebody else. Go to somebody sitting in a park enjoying the sunshine. "Hi.

Would you like to talk?" "Yeah, sure. Let's have a conversation." Bus driver in New York,

don't think about it.

Don't assume anything. Now, what does it mean to assume? To assume means to think something

is true without having the facts. So, don't assume that everybody's nice. Some people

are not nice, and that's okay. Walk away from the not nice people, find yourself a nice

person. Don't assume that everybody's going to try to help you. Don't assume that everybody

is judging you. Don't assume all kinds of things. Don't make assumptions about people.

The only thing you need to understand is that you know who you are, you know what you need.

Keep going until you find somebody who will help you, okay?

Now, the worst thing you can do, and I... Don't do this. I'm just saying to you now.

Don't go up to a stranger and say, "Can I practice speaking my English with you?" That's

not going to work. That person gets nothing out of the deal. If you go to somebody, "Hi.

I'm from wherever country I'm from. You know, can you tell me where something is?" It doesn't

matter what you say, start a conversation. If that person is interested, he or she will

continue the conversation. But if you go to somebody, "Can I practice my English with

you?" "Well, no. I got to go. Bye." Okay? Don't do that, it doesn't work.

Again, don't try to be perfect. If you were perfect, you wouldn't be an English learner,

you'd be an English speaker. Remember, you're an English learner. You're building up to

a certain level. Now, another thing to keep in mind. Do you think that my English, that

when I speak English with people, I speak perfect English? I don't. Nobody does. There

is no such thing as perfection. I make mistakes, other native speakers make mistakes, right?

Perfect is just not necessary. So, when you're trying to create a perfect sentence, all you're

doing is thinking too much and not speaking enough. Just speak, just get whatever ideas.

The most important thing is to be understood, not to be perfect, which means that mistakes

are good things. If you're not trying to be perfect, you're going to make mistakes. Mistakes

will teach you more English than perfection. If you're perfect, you have nothing to learn.

If you make mistakes, you have something not to repeat. Okay? And something to figure out

how not to repeat it. Perfection doesn't exist, doesn't help you. Mistakes, they're good for

you, that's how you grow. Okay? And, of course, the most important thing, practice.

Now, how do you practice speaking when there's no... When there are no native speakers around

you? First of all, find a recording or find a TV show or a movie or something like TED.com,

etc., where you can listen to talks given by native speakers. Find transcripts. Scripts.

See? Not perfect. Nobody's perfect. Find transcripts for these talks, and then just follow them,

and then record yourself speaking. Then compare your speech to the one you heard. See where

the intonation is, where the pace changes, pronunciation, all kinds of things. Record

yourself again, and again, and again, until you get as close as possible to the native

speaker's speech. Also, record yourself and find out your grammar mistakes.

If you find an interview, like a news interview or an online interview or a TV interview,

try to take one side of that interview. So, you are the interviewer, ask the person the

questions, and sort of pretend you're having a conversation with this person. Then switch.

That's the interviewer, you are the interviewee, answer the questions, and then answer with

your own answers if possible. But basically, just play, play, play. Speak. Speak to the

mirror. Stand in front of the mirror and have a conversation with yourself. You know, it's

not very comfortable and it's not very interesting, but it's practice.

And as much as possible, engage other people. Find native speakers, speak to them. Find

non-native speakers, speak to them. Create a group of your classmates or your friends

or your local people, and just, you know, speak. Now, the thing I find very common in

language schools, you'll have all the Brazilian students and you'll have all the Korean students

and you'll have all the whatever students, and they're all staying in their little groups

and they're speaking their languages. That doesn't help. Do not speak your language when

you don't have to. When you go home, speak it all you want. In school, outside, speak

the other language.

And tying all of this together, be adventurous. Life is an adventure. If you're trying to

make everything perfect all the time, there's no fun. Once in a while you have to fall flat

on your face, right? So that way, you can pick yourself up, dust yourself off, grow.

Become somebody new. Become something new. Go to different places. If you're going to

be afraid of speaking in English, you should probably just stay home, right? You don't

want to stay home. There's a reason you're learning English. You want to watch movies

and understand them. You want to meet new people. You want to go new places. You want

to get an education, a job, whatever. You're going to have to speak. Be adventurous, be

confident, relax. Okay?

Those are my, you know, two cents worth of tips on how to speak better. I hope they helped

you a little bit. If you do have any questions, please go to www.engvid.com, and in the forum

there, you can ask me questions about this or anything about English speaking. There's

also sort of a quiz. It's not really a quiz. It's more of like a review that you can take

there, make sure you understand the points I've made here. I hope you liked this video.

If you did, please subscribe to my YouTube channel, and come back for more tips on how

to speak better, listen better, be better with English, in English, with... For English.

Okay? See you soon. Bye.