Surefire Ways to Improve Spoken English

Knowing English and speaking English well are two very different things. This can be particularly frustrating for non-native speakers of English who read and write the language well, but have a hard time speaking it clearly. Fortunately, spoken English can be improved with plenty of practice and a few good tips.

Listen to Yourself

Even though most people hate to hear the sound of their own voice, recording yourself speaking English is an excellent way to figure out what you're doing wrong. Check out a book on tape and its equivalent paper version from your local library and record yourself reading passages from the book aloud. Compare your recording with the same section of the book on tape to hear wha's different.

Build up your English Muscles

Every language uses the muscles of the mouth and face in slightly different ways. If you're not a native English speaker, you'll need to get used to the language's unfamiliar tongue and lip motions. English may have some letter combinations or entire sounds that don't occur in your first language, so getting a handle on how those work should be a top priority.

A good method for getting your mouth used to the way English feels is to read aloud from a book for twenty minutes a day.

This might seem like a long time, but it's excellent practice. Get familiar with the pronunciation guide in your English dictionary, and make sure to look up words you don't know how to pronounce. English spelling is so weird and inconsistent that sounding out unfamiliar words isn't a very reliable way of learning to pronounce them. Singing songs in English is also a great way to familiarize your mouth with the language.

Slow It Down

Sometimes when people are speaking a language that they didn't grow up with, they tend to talk a little too quickly for their skill level. Slow down your talking a notch and focus your attention on correct pronunciation. It's not a race, and people will likely appreciate your slow, clear speech more than a fast jumble of hard to understand words.

Every language has its own rhythm. If you have a favorite movie in English, practice saying the dialogue along with the characters to get a feel for the normal tempo of English. Watch how the characters move their mouths to make certain sounds and where they pause in their sentences.

Slow down your speech and focus your attention on correct pronunciation