How to improve your speaking skills on your own or with some help

As you already know when you want to learn a foreign language effectively and excel in it you need to practise all skills like:

reading – writing – listening – speaking.

Speaking is by far the most difficult skill to master for many students. There are some people who find it natural, and try to speak after the first lesson no matter if they do grammatical mistakes. These people also find it easier to understand as they are fully open to the foreign language and don’t feel under any pressure.

This doesn’t apply to everyone though. Majority of students are shy or feel afraid to talk. They are scared that they would make mistakes, other people would not understand them and they would feel exposed. This a totally natural feeling, your body and mind reacts against potential stress like that. Some people face it easily and overcome the initial stress fast while others take more time.

What shall you do to accelerate the process and start speaking? What are the activities and tools you can use to practice speaking? Let’s have a look at them:

Here are those you can do on your own:

• Listen to any audio or video and try to repeat aloud as often as you can. It can be only one or two sentences to start with. Repeat it several times and play it further. Gradually you will get feel of the target language and it will be easier and easier to used to its sounds and repeat them. When using language apps (e.g. Duolingo) you can also repeat what they say aloud.

• Take courage and record yourself when you speak. It can be a voice or video recording, you can start with repeating a sentence or short text you have just listen to. Record yourself every day for several days in a row and you will be surprised by the progress you have made.
  

Tips for audios or videos you can be recording, make short recordings about:

• what you are doing right now

• your daily routine

• your house/place where you live – describe your house/place where you live in details (to be more authentic you can go around and show things, too)

• yourself – imagine you need to introduce yourself to a person you just met or a business client

• If you are not happy with what you have just recorded, have a break and try it again another day.

• Record short voice messages for your real/imaginary friends.
  

Of course, it is better when you can speak to/with someone.

• Find a speaking buddy – look for someone who speaks/learns your target language and speak together.

• Send each other voice messages or call each other regularly.

I believe you find some of these tips useful and start practicing your speaking skills, on your own or with someone. Good luck!

If you would like get more confident in speaking and need a speaking buddy you can try our new WhatsApp lessons – you get a dose of English or Czech on daily basis! They are short but very effective, and perfect for summer!