Tip 1: Get chatting!
Use every opportunity you can to chat in English. It might be at the café or perhaps the supermarket – wherever you find yourself speaking as part of the experience. It sometimes helps if you pre-learn a few phrases for use in a particular situation. For example, if you plan to visit a cafe with an English-speaking friends, perhaps learn a few expressions from Conversations in English so that you can talk about the food that you like and don’t like. Perhaps more importantly, you’ll be able to ask your friend what they like to eat, which restaurants they often go to, etc.
Tip 2: Learn from your conversations
After a conversation, try to remember what you said and what the other person or people said. Focus on any phrases that they used that were new to you. (You might find them useful in future.) Also – and this can be very useful – try to remember anything that you wanted to say but didn’t know how to say. For example, perhaps the person told you about something bad that happened and you were able to say ‘I’m sorry’ but felt you wanted to say more. (For more information on this, see I’m sorry to hear that. (Showing kindness and sympathy in conversations)) Maybe they said they liked your jacket. You said, ‘Thank you!’ but wanted to add something else. You can then ask an English speaker what they would say in this situation – or find the right phrases in our book Conversations in English. Get into the habit of doing this after conversations, perhaps even keeping a ‘conversation diary’. You will soon get an idea of the sort of conversational phrases you need to learn.
Tip 3: Make use of films and podcasts
Watch films, soap operas and chat shows. Listen to the radio and to podcasts about subjects that interest you. In other words, pay attention to any programme in which people are speaking. Listen out for phrases that you’ve recently learnt and make a note of any expressions you don’t know. Try to make a habit of this, for example while you’re working out at the gym or walking to work or school.
Tip 4: Read more
It might sound strange to read more in order to improve your speaking, but reading can actually be very helpful. Some novels are full of conversation, giving you the opportunity to ‘listen in’ on other people chatting from the comfort of your own home!
Tip 5: Ask for help
Ask for help. If you regularly chat with a native English speaker (or a non-native speaker who speaks English very well), ask them for feedback on your English. Explain that you would like to know when you’re using a phrase wrongly or when there is a better, more natural way of saying something. Unless you explain this, people often think they’re being rude when they correct your English.
For more tips on improving your conversation, see Everything you need to know about conversation in English
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