Your speaking is fluent if you can speak correctly and easily at a reasonable pace without any hesitations to find words or grammar. Your speech should also include a variety of grammar structures and vocabulary items so that you sound natural to a native speaker. Many people believe that the only way to achieve fluency is to live in a country in which the language is spoken, but that is not the only way. The following tips can help you speak English like a native speaker if you put in enough time and effort.
Find little opportunities to use English on a daily basis.
Language skills are like muscles in the sense that the more you use them, the stronger they become. Suppose you are doing a Google search to find the answer to your question. Do it in English. When you are thinking about your plans, do it in English. Things like these may sound very simple and funny, but they are really effective.
Learn something new in English.
This tip works for the ones whose language levels are intermediate or higher. If you are reading this post and understand it, then you can do this. For example, you want to learn how to play the guitar by watching YouTube videos. Then choose the channels in which the instructors speak English well. Follow the instructions, and you will enjoy learning something new in a language that you didn’t understand a few years ago. This will motivate you to work harder and feel good about your language skills. However, if you find someone with poor speaking skills and lots of hesitations, look for someone else.
Find a good speaking partner.
This tip is very, very important. Find a native speaker or someone with fluent English and speak with them regularly. You can make friends with such people on social media. If you have a relative or friend who speaks English, ask them to speak with you whenever possible. However, if this is not an option for you, you can always take English courses and speak with your teachers and friends in those classes. Having a speaking partner and doing some other activities to practice speaking alone will set you on the right path toward better fluency.
Avoid translation!
Many learners are used to translating words and sentences in their minds before they speak, but they never achieve fluency even though they try very hard. To tell you the truth, translation is in contrast with the definition of fluency. One cannot exist with the other. So the next time you speak English, don’t translate. It may sound impossible for some people at first, but there are millions of non-native English speakers that will tell you the same thing.
Watch lots of English movies and TV shows.
Learning a language requires a lot of intake before you are able to use it. English movies and TV shows will provide you with tons of high-quality intake. To prove the importance of this kind of intake to you, let me remind you that newborn babies spend the first two years of their lives just listening to the people around them so that they can talk to people one day.
Learn idioms, collocations, and proverbs.
These kinds of vocabulary items are the ones that make your speech sound natural to a native speaker; therefore, they are essential for your fluency. Read books, magazines, and online articles; watch movies, TV shows, and news broadcasts; and listen to podcasts, the radio, and songs in English. Remember that you should write down those items and review them later by making a new sentence for each one so that they become a part of your long-term memory. Finally, try to use those vocabulary items in your daily speaking practice to facilitate the process of them becoming a part of your active vocabulary.
Focus more on content than grammar.
We all make mistakes from time to time when we speak. Grammar is very important if you want to speak correctly, but without getting rid of the fear of making mistakes, you won’t be able to deal with annoying hesitations when you talk. Speak with confidence and seek feedback. Work on your weaknesses until they become your strengths.
Start thinking in English.
Try not to think of this language as one of your school subjects or a foreign language. You need to start thinking in English. This way, you tell your brain that English is not foreign to you anymore, and it should be the default language.
Try to use a variety of sentences and vocabulary items in your speaking.
Take a look at this example:
No variety in grammar structure or vocabulary: You need to watch a lot of movies to be able to speak well. You also need to write down the new words and idioms. And you need to use them in your daily life. This helps you make them a part of your active vocabulary list.
So, let’s fix it.
with some variety in grammar and vocabulary: You should not only watch a lot of movies to be able to speak well but also write down the new words and idioms you hear. Such vocabulary items need to be used on a daily basis in order to become active.
Final Note: Fluency cannot be achieved overnight. Follow the expert opinions and be patient. Have fun with the language, learn jokes in English, and make friends with the people who use it well. After all, it’s a means of communication.
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