How to speak better

Put these English skills into order of importance:

o   Speaking

o   Reading

o   Writing

o   Listening

Speaking is first, right? We all want to be good at speaking. We say, “I’d like to speak a foreign language,” but never, “I’d like to listen or read in a foreign language.” That’s because when we imagine using a foreign language, we see ourselves speaking, probably laughing at a trendy party with a glass of wine.

Speaking is how we present ourselves to the world and the people we meet. Anyone who has spent time in a foreign country will know how frustrating is when you can’t show the real 'you'. I love the line from Gloria in Modern Family:

How can we improve?

Let's think about speaking through the eyes of an English examiner. When an examiner is listening to your spoken English they are concentrating on four key-areas, and if we focus on these we can get some great tips to help improve our spoken English for an exam, for work, or for a trendy wine party.

The four pillars of spoken English, and how to improve them.

1. Fluency.

What does it mean?

Fluency is your ability to communicate your ideas easily. It’s not about perfect grammar or amazing vocabulary (although these are useful) it’s about your ability to share what is in your mind.

Why is it important?

Communicating easily (fluency) is the skill that allows you to work, show your personality, have relationships, speak your mind, take part in meetings and discussions, and generally participate in life.

How can we improve it?

Speak more. There’s a reason that you can easily tell someone your name, what you do and where you are from — it’s because you’ve done it a hundred times before. Like shooting a basketball, if you do something 1000 times, you can do it without thinking. The more you speak, the quicker you speak. So, speak with friends, speak alone, speak to your dog. Describe your actions to yourself as you go about your daily business.

And try to concentrate on communication; forget about grammar or vocabulary for now, just try to make yourself understood. Another tip: Remember that a lot of communication is non-verbal. Smile, keep eye-contact and use your hands as much a necessary to get your point across.

2. Vocabulary.

What does it mean?

We can think of this on two levels. On a basic level, you need enough vocabulary to avoid a breakdown in communication. On a more advanced level, we are introducing subtlety, precision and feeling to our message.

Why is it important?

Most importantly, it’s about simple communication. If you don’t know the word for water, you’re going to be thirsty. In a professional situation, clients and employers are impressed by a range of vocabulary. They know that a broad vocabulary range will allow you to solve problems and unfamiliar situations more easily.

How can we improve it?

There are many ways to grow vocabulary. For readers of this blog, I would suggest that the main thing is to talk about different topics. We are all familiar and comfortable with the subjects we talk about every day, but strong speakers will be able to discuss a range of topics. This is also necessary in a speaking exam.

Speak about different areas. IELTS Liz has a range of topics typically used in the IELTS exam. Again, you can do this alone or in a group – but speak! And this time, when you find a word you don’t have, look it up. Reading and listening, of course, also help a lot.

3. Grammar.

What does it mean?

Examiners talk about Accuracy and Range, i.e., being able to use grammar correctly, but also having a range of grammar you can use flexibly. This is also connected to your ability to use difficult things like prepositions and articles.

Why is it important?

It gets confusing if you can only speak in the present tense. “Last year I go to work. Next year I go to work,” does not sound great. Good grammar sounds professional, and it’s essential for passing exams. Grammar mistakes are very noticeable and often confusing.

How can we improve it?

This is where a teacher earns their salt. A good teacher will help you identify specific problems and help you resolve them. We often learn to avoid using grammar we’re not sure about. If you are quite fluent, you can avoid difficult grammar, like avoiding a puddle. But this won't allow us to improve. We need to confront our weaknesses, seek out the difficult grammar, understand it and practise.

4. Pronunciation.

What does it mean?

The main thing is clarity. You don’t need to speak like the King, you just need to be understood. Accents are okay, good even, they give us our individuality. Pronunciation is only a problem if other people don't understand what you are saying. Also, rhythm, stress and intonation are also important in order to add emotion and feeling to language.

Why is it important?

Basically, clear pronunciation allows people to understand what you are trying to say. Perhaps more importantly, people judge the value of your ideas based on how well you communicate them.

How can we improve it?

Again, this is where a teacher can really help. It’s hard to hear yourself and to identify the areas you need to improve, but a good teacher will do this for you. Another trick is to record yourself. Listen to the way you stress words and sentences and compare this to speech you hear on the television, in podcasts or from friends. With a bit of practice, you will start to notice speaking patterns more and become more conscious of how to improve your own.

The key point for all the speaking skills is, of course, practice. People learn to speak more quickly when they live abroad because they have to use the language. They have to speak. The more you can practise, the more your spoken English will improve in all four of the areas mentioned.

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If you're interested in improving your English, get in touch. I'm happy to chat, free of charge, and discuss how I can help.