speaking tip: Take notes after each spoken encounter

(February 2023)

An underrated tip to keep in mind here with regards to English speaking is to keep a notepad or a notebook to see what went well, what could be improved upon, and what went poorly. You should be highlighting each encounter in terms of how it went with your speaking. Did you make any mistakes in pronunciation or in choosing the right vocabulary word and how was your clarity as well? You should be noting each time you have a longer speaking occasion or for a conversation how it went overall and where you could you improve your proficiency.

It is very easy to mark the date and time of the conversation you had, who it was with, and what was it about. You should work to highlight any errors, missteps, or mistakes that you were able to point out or the person you were speaking with were able to note, especially if he or she is a native English speaker. When you make mistakes, which is normal, highlight in your notes what the mistake was, how you made it, and how you would fix it for next time.

As always, encourage the person(s) you are speaking with to help you improve as well and to correct you if you happen to make mistakes. The best way to get better at speaking is to know where you went wrong, how you went wrong, and what you can do to fix it. Having written notes after each conversation will help you remember those mistakes more easily and will also give you extra practice on how you can fix those errors so they do not recur.

While this tip is a mixture of writing and speaking, the best way(s) to improve your speaking is to note in your own writing how your spoken English could get better. You need to be honest with yourself and to be thinking about how your English sounds as you speak and where you went wrong after the fact. You should also note after the fact what you did better at whether it was your vocabulary, pronunciation, or grammar in terms of spoken cohesion. Lastly, you should highlight how your past, present, and future tense(s) sound when you speak and if any mistakes were made in that regard and how you can improve there as well.

speaking TIP: Play the game of ‘20 questions’

(January 2023)

A fun game that I would encourage English as a Second Language learners or English learners in general to learn would be twenty questions. The questions can be of various topics mixed together or they can be on one single topic and you can rotate between topics as necessary. The game can be fast paced in terms of the time you have to speak and answer each question can be capped with a time limit to test yourself at a higher level. If you would prefer to take it slow and easy, you can give yourself as much time as possible to answer the questions thoroughly to improve on your speaking without making silly mistakes.

The key point of twenty questions is to speak as much as possible in English on a single or multiple topics that would help to improve your vocabulary in those areas but also to be more comfortable with speaking the language out loud. It can be a very fun game especially when you time your answers so that you’ll have to think quickly in order to make sense without running your time out. The game of 20 questions can therefore range from being 20 minutes, which is a decent amount of time to practice you spoken English each day.

However, if you are a beginner or intermediate speaker, you can increase the speaking time limit for each of the twenty questions. I think it is the right decision to give yourself 2 or 3 minutes per question instead to make it a longer practice and allow you to formulate your chosen words to speak more coherently rather than rushing through a minute per question. In that regard, you could be a beginner speaker and use 3 minutes for each of the 20 questions giving yourself 60 minutes of practice at that level. Once you get comfortable answering the questions well enough, you can make the time limit shorter at 2 minutes only for each of the 20 questions limiting the practice to be 40 minutes at the higher proficiency level.

Make sure to have a friend, a trusted colleague, a family member, or even a private English teacher play this question with you as I believe it will be fun yet useful speaking practice to get you more comfortable with speaking the language while enjoying it in a casual practice setting.

speaking tip: Sit down for interviews where topic(s) are a mystery

(OCTOBer 2022)

A key way to improve in terms of your speaking skills is to have someone ask you questions about different subjects or just one subject without your knowledge in advance. It is good to do an interview that is short in length first with perhaps five questions or ten minutes to start out with as a beginner. As you get more comfortable using your spoken English, you can make the interviews longer with them being ten questions or fifteen minutes at an intermediate level. If you get really good at them, you can step up your approach by doing an interview of twenty questions or an hour total.

I think it is also great to have a friend or a family member or even your English teacher to conduct the interview. They should know you well enough to form the questions themselves and to be prepared to ask you them. I think they can either let you know the general topic or topic(s) of the interview in advance or they can make it a complete mystery to increase the challenge level. Having an interview will test not just your grammar but also your vocabulary in an effort to form complete and correct sentences.

Interviews are great ways to test your speaking proficiency not just about your responses but if they were related to the topic well enough, how well your enunciate your words, and if you are able to answer all of the questions coherently. It is an excellent way to have someone evaluate your speaking skills and can allow you to better understand what you are good at speaking about, what you need to practice more on, and what needs a lot of improvement, if anything.

Lastly, you should not only do interviews with one person but try to get multiple people to interview you over time since they may evaluate your speaking skills differently. It is a good idea to get multiple perspectives on your speaking abilities and to make sure each interviewer is tackling a different topic for each interview so that they do not get so repetitive. Keep working on your English speaking skills by getting interviewed on a monthly basis, if not each week, so you can start to put your abilities to the test and see where you need to improve or get better at as you work on your speaking actively.

speaking tip: Do not be afraid to strike up a conversation

(August 2022)

It can be very intimidating to take the first step. When you want to practice your English but don’t know where to start can be quite the challenge for you. However, often times, you will have to take the initiative when it comes to speaking in English by striking up a conversation. In previous tips, we’ve covered good conversation starters from weather to sports to asking for directions but the key part is to overcome your anxiety and be able to open your mouth to say the first words to somebody else.

You do not have to talk to every stranger to practice your English but if you see someone’s body language and if they are not occupied by something else, that would be the best time to engage them in a basic conversation. While you may already know what the weather will be like or know what direction the store is in, that extra practice to reinforce your vocabulary in those areas will be key. It is definitely intimidating to talk to a stranger especially in your non-native language but it can really make a world of difference in boosting your speaking proficiency.

I would recommend making an actionable goal to strike up a conversation out of nothing with somebody new each day of the week. One person per day may seem a lot but it’s really not a lot of work especially if you’re in a big town or city and you’re easily interacting with different people from the store manager to the transit official to the local park ranger. While you may not seek to interact with them when you go about your daily business; to practice your English speaking, you should be going out of your way to begin a conversation with them to see where your skills are at. You may even find that you learn new words, new phrases, and new sentences just by having an impromptu conversation with them which will put your English speaking skills to the test.

Recognize that there will be some anxiety and nerves with striking up that conversation but I believe if you are polite, kind, and inquisitive, it will work out well for you and help make your day a bit better and your English speaking that much better.

speaking Tip: Making a Toast for someone you know

(April 2022)

On special occasions whether it is a graduation, a wedding, a birthday, etc., it is customary for someone to ‘make a toast’ for someone which doesn’t actually mean to heat up pieces of bread in a oven or a pan but rather to ‘cheers!’ someone you know well. Whether it is a family member, a close friend, or a dear work colleague, being able to ‘propose a toast’ or well-wishes for someone or a congratulations is a great speaking skill to pick up. It is easy to be able to make a toast when you have prepared remarks such as with notecards or with a teleprompter or other visual aid but a true test of your English skills is to do it without rehearsing or prompting.

Even if you make a few mistakes, being able to make a short speech praising someone’s accomplishment or achievement or a new stage in their life is a great speaking skill to pick up. It is more advanced and requires thinking fast on your feet but if you can talk for a minute or a few minutes without anyone helping you or giving you notes will boost your confidence immeasurably. Toasts involving picking up a glass with an alcoholic beverage but can also be done with water or juice too for people of all ages. It should not require any pre-planning or too much thought either as it meant to be done spontaneously.

You can raise your glass in the air, say to other people you are with that “I would like to propose / make a toast to ___________________.” You can then continue by saying expressions or sentences like the following:

“His graduation from college is an immense accomplishment and I wish ___________ the best of luck in his / her future endeavors.”

“I knew that ___________ and _______________ were meant for each other from the first time they met. I’m so glad to be here for their wedding day. Cheers to them both!”

“Age is just a number in my view but I am so happy to be celebrating my father’s 50th birthday with you all today!”

At the end of a formal toast, it’s common to say “Cheers!” to everybody in attendance and to then drink from your glass and maybe clap for that person or give them a head nod. Before you even drink from your glass after saying “Cheers!”, it is often a good idea to touch your glass with theirs and to make eye contact while doing that before beginning to drink. It’s not necessary to finish your drink in one moment after giving the toast but if you are able to, it’s not really frowned on.

Next time you’re in a work party or a friend’s wedding, look into seeing if you can provide a toast of honor or recognition. Even if your English is not perfect, people will appreciate your confidence and will root you on when you make your toasting speech for the guest of honor.

speaking tip: Ask somebody for help if you need it

(February 2022)

It’s key when you are learning how to speak a new language that you should have the ability to reach out for help when you need it. If you have to get that help from someone you don’t know at all such as a stranger, it’s key to know how to approach the situation.

There will be scenarios where you might need the help of a stranger and to speak well enough to be understood. For some examples, you may need help by asking for directions to go to the grocery store, for helping to get your car or truck running again if it is snuck in snow or in rainy conditions, or if you need to get the help of someone who is having a health issue.

Even though they are strangers, most people will be able to help if you ask politely and calmly explain the situation. There are also key words to use when it comes to getting that stranger to help you out. They’ll understand that it is not your 1st language as well and make the effort to help you out even if you mince the words a little bit. Even though it is not easy to get the help of strangers, if you choose not to do anything and you cannot fix the problem, you will be worse off for not having asked for that help.

Here are some examples to use when you request help from a stranger:

1. “Excuse me, sir or ma’am, can you help me with _______________?”

2. “I know you don’t know me but I could really use your help please.”

3. “Hi! I hate to bother you but I am looking for help with ___________. Thank you so much!”

4. Sorry, but can you help me with ___________________ I am new here.”

5. I am so sorry to bother you but I am struggling with ______________ and could use some help please.”

As I have may have mentioned in previous tips, the magic words in English are always “please, sorry, thank you, excuse me, and even using ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’ to be more polite. Make sure to speak clearly, not too fast, and be formal in your tone of voice to elicit the best possible response from that stranger who you are looking to help from. Do not be offended or angry if they say no but rather try to get someone else’s help out before getting frustrated. Again, most folks will want to help you so do your best to frame your issue as well as possible and use these examples above to aid you in getting the help you require!

speaking tip: Try your best to be charismatic

(december 2021)

It’s often said that it’s not what you say, but how you say it that really matters. This is especially true when giving a speech or talking in front of others. Being charismatic, which in other words, means being likable, outgoing, and energetic will come across in your speech most often. Body language plays a huge role in charisma but also how you say something. If you speak in a low, monotone, and with a lack of enthusiasm as some English speakers and those of other languages tend to do, try your best to get rid of this bad habit.

When you speak in English, even if you make mistakes, you still want people to remember how they felt about your speech, which does last longer in their consciousness beyond what you even said. If you come across as likable, enthusiastic, positive, and with a good tone and cadence, you will come off as a charismatic speaker. Especially if English is your second, third, or fourth language, making sure your speech comes off as charismatic will help you both professionally but also personally with friends and acquaintances.

Part of having charisma is not being stiff in your body language, changing your tone of voice to show some emotion and to be seen as caring about what you’re saying, and making sure your eye contact is with the audience and not elsewhere. Some speakers come off as stiff, uninterested, and seemingly bored with what they are saying and that comes across very easily. Those people who stand out in a good way while speaking on any subject show charisma that will help them in terms of convincing others of your argument, getting them to respect and even like you, and educate them as well without boring them.

Charismatic speakers can make for good leaders or executives as well and it is a trait that is difficult to teach well. I would recommend asking others to listen to you speak on a subject and judge you based on if you came across well not just as a speaker but as a person. Being likable is more than what you do but also what you say. You should be aware of how you sound to others and how you come across in your demeanor. Charisma is a key characteristic even when you speak in English as your non-native language. Being seen well will do wonders for you and help open more doors for you that were once closed.

Even if your charisma is low or non-existent, I do believe you can always work to improve on it and maybe work with someone to help you become more charismatic, which will pay off in the long run. Start with asking a friend or family member to hear you speak and take your critique(s) seriously. When you get someone else to evaluate your speaking, you can better adjust or modify your speech to improve on its charisma factor. Charisma is perhaps the most important personality factor in speaking and it’s important to do your best to maximize it.

speaking tip: Highlight a Different Topic Each Week

(October 2021)

A key way to mix up your spoken conversations in English is to try out a different topic each week. Discussing the same topic for a few weeks, especially an expansive one, should be fine but it can get both repetitive and redundant after a while. Once you know enough of the vocabulary and sentence phrases popular with a certain subject, it would be best to switch the subject like going from discussing favorite foods to talking about hobbies and interests.

You can only talk about the same topic for so long without being bored by it, even as a non-native English speaker. Changing the speaking topic is a really good idea because it will not only help expand your vocabulary but also keep you engaged in improving your speaking by discussing new topics that you may not know much about. It’s key to do this after a while as a teacher, a friend, or even a work colleague because it will make the conversations you have much more easy to have and more fluid in terms of clarity.

I would recommend changing your conversation topic(s) every few weeks depending upon how fresh the conversation is and whether all the vocabulary has been covered or not. You can change the topic every week too but that should be done for those smaller, niche topics where you might run out of things to talk about for more specific topics. You can also keep your speaking partner on their toes by not revealing the topic to them ahead of them or they could do the same to you.

It will be a bigger challenge to not know what you’re discussing because then you will really have to think hard on what to say and how to say it. Not knowing the topic but still putting spoken sentences together will make you a much better English speaker and help take you to a higher proficiency level. There will be times in life when you won’t know what you’ll be talking about with someone ahead of time and you can’t prepare for it.

Therefore, it is good to be tested on how to talk about a topic you might not know much about. You will be forced to dig deep into your vocabulary and grammar knowledge to produce a conversation you may not be that prepared for. Being able to do that successfully and after doing it multiple times will set you apart from other English learners in a good way.

speaking tip: Having a Coffee and A Conversation

(September 2021)

It is a bit cliche to suggest this as a tip but it’s really important to take time to speak English with someone new or someone you know well over a coffee. Having a coffee or even a tea really does make the conversation more lively and I often find I am more engaged in speaking with someone with that extra caffeine jolt of energy that a coffee gives.

Coffee and conversation does not have to be just one-on-one too. It can be with a group of people who want to practice their English together who may be classmates, friends, or just are hoping to improve their English. I think it is also a good way for a teacher to get their students to practice speaking not just among each other but with other people at the cafe whether it’s a barista or maybe a stranger to ask them a question or start some small talk.

You also have that atmosphere of being in a public place and being immersed in the English language but it’s also nice to be out in sunny weather or to be outside, which helps make people more comfortable in speaking in my view. Coffee or tea helps people feel more energetic and more outgoing, which is a nice way to spark more conversational practice for English speaking.

It can get tiresome to speak English in a classroom that may not have any windows or to do so in a lecture hall where there are a lot of people around. Switching it up by having a conversational class or a group language exchange involving English at a cafe over coffee and/or tea is a great way to get learners more motivated to improve their English speaking and to engage them more.

Lastly, I would recommend buying coffee for your student or group of students since it’s a nice gesture to do so and it will make them more at ease knowing they won’t have to pay to learn English speaking if they are already paying for a group class there or a private lesson. I do recommend asking them first if they drink coffee or not as they may nor do so or prefer tea or water instead.

speaking tip: Pick up the phone and call someone (Friend, Family, or New Acquaintance)

(August 2021)

In this day and age of social media, texting, and instant communication, the phone call has steadily become less gratifying among young people who prefer to see messages from other people rather than to hear another person’s voice. I tend to think this has some real negative consequences in terms of getting to know one another through their intonation, tone, and speaking style. I think it is a crucial speaking skill to master is to be able to pick up the phone to call someone to talk. It could be for five minutes, thirty minutes, or for an hour or two but it should not be something that is only done once in a blue moon.

For someone who is learning English, being able to practice your speaking skills is crucial when it comes to developing your proficiency. You should try to put yourself out there to call people on the phone whether it is to talk with a work colleague, to ask if a friend wants to hang out, or to check in on a family member if they have some knowledge of English. Non-native English speakers will be tempted to text or chat through social media platforms like their native English counterparts but it is important to avoid this temptation.

Not only will your English speaking skills improve by just having an impromptu, unplanned call each week but it also forces you to think quickly on your feet. You have to be able to pick up on nuance, understand which vocabulary words to use in the context of the conversation, and be able to use both greetings and salutations to respectively begin or end the phone call. You also cannot control the flow of a conversation as there might be multiple topics discussed ranging from work to family to hobbies. When you pick up the phone to call someone, you can begin the conversation in one way with a specific topic in mind for discussion but you may end the phone call talking about something else entirely.

It really is excellent practice to be able to call someone and practice your English speaking. It’s best to do it at least once a week with the other person(s) not knowing that you were going to call them. It is a pleasant surprise that they might not expect but will most assuredly be happy that you called them to talk. It really is best to talk to listen and speak and to hear someone’s voice. You pick up a lot of vocabulary but also emotions and feelings to be expressed in their tone, intonation, and their word choice. I really recommend calling someone you know to practice your English speaking. It is cost free, really effective to improving your language skill-set, and will really help to endear you to that person. Just remember not to call them too early in the morning or too late at the night and to make sure you’re not interrupting them when you call by asking if it is a good time to talk first. Good luck!

speaking tip: being able to repeat and/or memorize song lyrics

(May 2021)

A good way to practice speaking in English while having fun would be to watch a music video or listen to a song and think about practice singing or saying the lyrics out loud. Usually, you can find a lot of English language songs with subtitles for you to practice both speaking and reading. I would recommend that you practice saying these song lyrics out loud due to the fact that it will expand not just your vocabulary but your knowledge of English-speaking cultures.

I would start out by listening to the song once or twice without repeating or saying the lyrics in order to maximize your comprehension. Then, the third time you hear the song, you can say the lyrics if you can pronounce the words immediately after hearing them. If you get good enough, you will be able to say the lyrics as the singer or musical artist sings them out loud at the same time.

Another key way to better say the lyrics is to write them down on a piece of paper and try to read and understand them after the song is over. You can also do your best to watch the music video for the song and see if they have captions or subtitles in order to see visually the lyrical words that you can then sing or say out loud.

Being able to repeat and/or memorize song lyrics is a really good speaking skill as enjoying different music genres in English will help immerse you in the language quite a bit and get you more comfortable with the sheer amount of vocabulary, phrasal expressions, and idiomatic expressions you are likely to come across when you listen to different songs. Be sure to sure a music genre and/or artist(s) who you enjoy enough where you would love to sing or speak their lyrics out loud to become better with English as a spoken language.

speaking tip: The art of the five minute presentation (No Notes or visual aids)

(April 2021)

If you really would like to put yourself to the test as an English speaker, I really recommend picking a subject to talk about and present for five minutes. This presentation can be about any kind of topic but if you can research it a bit, know what you’re going to say, practice with notes, and eventually give that presentation in front of a friend, a work colleague, or a group of people, you will be able to improve your English speaking skills quite a bit.

The important thing to keep in mind is you want to feel comfortable eventually with speaking off the cuff without the use of PowerPoint slides or notes. In this case, you will need to do a lot of research, practice each day, and even record your voice multiple times in order to feel comfortable with presenting your topic without any notes. You can make yourself almost an expert on any topic when you are able to present for five minutes without any visual or written aids.

Your comfort level speaking English will definitely be put to the test when you prepare for an oral presentation of five minutes on a topic of interest or of necessity for your work or school. I really recommend practicing multiple times to get your pronunciation, tone, and your style of speaking down so that people listening will understand what you are saying. Please make sure to take care in listening to the comments and critiques of those people who are listening to what you are presenting about regardless of what kind of topic it is.

Make sure you can do a five-minute spoken presentation as much as possible. You want to feel comfortable enough presenting on a number of different topics in English and not just one sole topic that you have practiced and gotten better at memorizing but are unable to pivot from when you are asked to move on to a different subject.

speaking tip: How to give your opinion to someone

(February 2021)

There are some times in life when you have to be able to express your opinion about someone or something in English. There are a number of ways to do this but it’s important to at least know how to show your opinion properly, especially so as to be honest yet avoid offending someone.

What is an opinion exactly? A view or judgment based on something, usually based off of the news you are seeing or listening to. Opinions are not necessarily based on facts and/or knowledge and can be based on the gossip you have heard or your personal beliefs as well. While the news should be based on facts, opinions are formed based on the news you receive leading you to have your own worldview.

Opinions are held by everyone and it is important to express how you feel and how you view different subjects in order to become a better English learner regardless of the topic. However, know who you are speaking with and be polite and respectful in expressing your opinions. Sometimes, it is best not to say them as well.

It is okay to give your opinion and it is a big part of becoming more comfortable as an English language speaker. You can talk with your friends and colleagues more comfortably to give your opinions on things related to work or school as well. While news is an easy way to give your opinion, it is far from being the only way to give yours.

Giving your opinion will boost your confidence, allow you to broaden your vocabulary, and even boost your grammar knowledge. It is important to maybe wait a bit until others in your conversation begin to talk about the subject and give their opinion before you jump in because usually it is expected for everyone to give their opinion then.

It’s not exactly what you say in your opinion that matters most but how you say it so make sure you use the right kind of tone in your voice whether you’re discussing your opinion with your mother, your friend, or a complete stranger. An opinion is natural to be voiced but you have to make sure it’s done in the proper phrasing, which I will give a few examples of below:

•“I think that this crisis will end eventually if we use the right measures and stay calm.”

•“I believe that we should establish good public schools for all children.”

•“It is important to realize that we need to verify news sources before spreading that information as factual.”

•“I know that giving quality health care to all people is a human right.”

The more confident you are, the more your vocabulary should reflect that when speaking in English. “I know” is much more confident than “I think.” If you give your opinion, you should also consider giving a reason or two why you think the way that you do. A key part of the sentence should include a “because” or “due to” or “since” to back up your argument. Lastly, make sure that when you backup your opinion with a reason that it is is factual and not just speculation.

speaking tip: giving a good presentation on a topic

(January 2021)

A Presentation is a way of giving out relevant information, data, etc. to your audience in a formal context on behalf of your company, organization, or business. Presentations are given orally with a speaker delivering the information in a conference room and usually in front of a podium.

Presentations are also known as briefings too because you are presenting on a topic(s) that your partners, shareholders, or clients will want to know about. When you make a presentation of any kind especially for business purposes, you should ask yourself the following questions in advance:

Questions to focus on:

•What are the leaders / principals (CEOs, managers, stakeholders) interested in?

•What do the bosses know ahead of time? What can you add to their knowledge?

•What is the agenda of your presentation?

•What is the setup / logistics of where you will be presenting?

•How many people will be there for the presentation? What are their expectations as well?

Two essential facts to keep in mind: Develop the structure of it ahead of time and be organized and ready to go when the time comes to present.

The Structure of the Presentation:

•1. Your Purpose in being there

•2. Your Objective / Goal (What’s your agenda?)

•3. Your Benefits / Ideas / Recommendations

•4. The Next Steps / The Action Plan

Keep it short and simple (KISS) – If possible with your spoken presentation. 95% of what you present will eventually be forgotten by the audience. Re-state the main points consistently.

•The Opening: Tell them immediately what the purpose of the presentation is. (45 seconds to 1 minute)

•The Body: Tell them your ideas in greater detail.

•The Conclusion: Re-tell them what you just told them for increased retention.

The last part of your presentation should be the most impactful of all the sections. Have smooth transitions, use anecdotes and stories to connect with the audience well. Make sure your content is relevant and insightful. Watch your delivery to make sure it is understandable. Use correct body language in order for the audience to follow you easily.

Other Key Points:

•People can be shallow (be wary of your appearance). Make sure you are dressed appropriately so as to not be distracting to the audience or take away from you words.

•Arrive early to the presentation and don’t carry too much with you.

•You have to care about the subject matter or no one else will care.

•Anticipate pauses and use them for the audience to absorb the presentation better.

•Have a backup plan in case there are technical difficulties with your presentation.

speaking tip: asking for help at the store (Customer service)

(November 2020)

Getting help at a store or shop is not easy sometimes. You often have to flag down somebody or seek them out. It can be frustrating to find someone who knows what they are doing or is even happy to help you but it does happen so make sure that you put your best put forward with speaking out loud to get somebody in the store to help you either when you’re trying to get some good help with what you need done.

There are customer support numbers for Amazon and other online retailers, and you can also reach out through a contact form or to talk with the seller when you buy through a third party. Physical stores are easier to get help from since the staff is there to assist you should you need it.

In the United States, there is a culture of ”the customer is always right” so they should be friendly or at least helpful if you can say what you need help with clearly. Customer service tends to be pretty good compared with other parts of the world.

You can help from a store greeter right away or signal someone to help by asking them and it’s likely they will have a nametag or some kind of store uniform too. The main thing to keep in mind is to be polite, respectful when asking for help.

Here are some phrases / sentences in the form of questions usually when it comes to getting the help you need at the store:

•“Excuse me, can you help me something? I am trying to find ________ (item), which aisle is it located in?

•“Hello, how are you? I have a question. What is your return policy on this item?”

•“Hi, can you tell me what are your store hours for today?”

•“Do you think my coupons will be valid for this purchase? I printed them out.”

•“How long is your refund policy in effect for? Is it for a week or a month?”

•“Excuse me, do you mind helping me locate the computer paper? I have never been to this store before.”

•“Good afternoon. Do you all have a fitting / changing room in the store? I would like to try these clothes on.”

•“Sorry, but I can’t seem to find what I am looking for. Is it in stock today?”

Remember to smile, be polite, be patient, and use your English vocabulary especially ‘excuse me, please, and sorry’ in order to make getting help at the store as easy as can be by speaking to the customer service assistant or store associate.

Speaking tip: Make sure to repeat yourself to improve pronunciation

(September 2020)

An underrated tip for speaking that is often overlooked is writing down a sentence or group of sentences that you want to get better at and setting an amount of times to repeat yourself. You will not look weird doing it and you can practice through repetition with a teacher, a tutor, or a good friend.

If you want to get better as a speaker, it really key is to repeat yourself more than once to get better at your overall speaking pronunciation. You can also stop at certain words in the phrase or sentence to repeat that word(s) in particular if it is particularly long or complex. The way you repeat yourself is almost as important as how you repeat yourself. Don’t rush into these repetitions and speed through them quickly. You should instead go slow, enunciate clearly, and don’t be afraid to do these spoken repetitions more than twice if necessary.

In terms of length, you can start with speaking one sentence out loud multiple times and get comfortable that way. It helps in building your confidence up if you can get the phrasing and pronunciation of one sentence down before you move on to multiple sentences or a full paragraph. It is best to write these sentences down that you want to work on speaking for each tutoring or teaching session that you have ahead of time. You should always come prepared to speak at length and to do so as many times as necessary regardless of length.

The most important thing to keep in mind if to take it slow, don’t feel embarrassed, and do your best to improve your spoken proficiency with these repetitions that can only help your understanding of both English grammar and vocabulary. Repeat, repeat, and repeat some more until your pronunciation is at a high level. It will take your speaking skills that much further much more quickly.

Speaking TiP: Speak with authority on topics you care about

(August 2020)

I’ve discussed the importance of practicing your speaking on various topics and to expand your vocabulary as an English learner. However, everyone has a topic or two that they particularly want to get good at or to focus on. That’s why I want to discuss why it’s important to speak with authority or conviction on the topics you really care about. It is going to be nearly impossible for you to master different subjects right away. While it is necessary to have a foundation in the speaking vocabulary for different topics such as weather, sports, news, hobbies / interests, I do believe it is a good thing to be an expert or to be really proficient in a subject you care about, especially an advanced one.

Every English learner will have different priorities when it comes to their speaking preferences but every one has their own particular interests that they prefer to talk about. When you are learning the language, it’s good to have a priority on those subjects that you enjoy discussing on a daily basis or at least on a weekly basis. For some learners, it could be sports, for others, it could be travels, and for a few people, it could even be current events. You want to narrow it down to those one or two subjects that you want to become really good at so you’ll never run out of things to talk about.

If you can hold a conversation with someone for an hour or two discussing your favorite subject, your vocabulary will become better as a whole. You’ll also be introduced to new words especially when you practice with a native English speaker to help you build up your proficiency in that subject you enjoy. Getting that practice in remains to be the key but make sure your speaking practice is geared towards a topic you look forward to discussing and that you like talking about. If you dislike talking about economics or clothes, for example, stay away from those subjects as much as possible. You should have a basic ability to speak about those topics in general but it’s not necessary to be an expert in all topics when you’re learning the language. Some familiar with the vocabulary and the meanings of the words is important but don’t feel like you need to have 100 topics to speak about at the ready.

When you get to know someone, if you have five topics that you can rely upon that you enjoy and which you can at least hold a thirty minute conversation about, you will be well on your way to becoming proficient in speaking English and having fun while you do it.

speaking tip: One Hour of good conversation without distractions

(June 2020)

Have you ever had a conversation be cut short when you were just starting to get into the flow of it? Life is filled with different distractions causing it to be difficult to really connect with another person whether it’s a friend, a family member, or even a language partner. I find it really key when you are improving your English language skills to find a way to have an uninterrupted conversation for at least an hour, preferably with a native speaker who can correct you when you make mistakes but also to encourage you to keep going when you do.

It can be hard to have an uninterrupted conversation especially nowadays when you have the Internet, cell phones, cats and dogs walking by, etc., by in order to really put your English skills to the test, I find it key to get rid of any and all distractions to truly have a productive conversation. The conversation does have to be an hour at least to really make a positive impact on your grammar and your vocabulary. You and the person you are speaking with must know that distractions are to be absolutely done away with and that it should be you, him / her, a piece of paper to write down corrections and other notes, and just you practicing the language without referring back to your native language.

This is an intense form of practice but doing away with the distractions and being forced to use English to discuss one topic or a variety of topics for an hour is a really great way to become more comfortable speaking the language. While practicing with a friend or a family member is great, I would recommend finding a language partner in your neighborhood or city who has some experience working with non-native speakers and can help correct your mistakes. They don’t have to be the world’s most experienced teacher but if they can help you and improve your pronunciation or give you some advice on vocabulary, it will be well worth it. Try not to do the conversations in loud public spaces like coffee shops or bars. It really is best to find a study room or a private room in a library for a conversation like this one where you are practicing without looking at your phone or getting hungry half way through and ordering a sandwich.

I really believe this is a surefire way to improve your English skills and I recommend finding that one hour per week where it’s just about speaking English without outside help or distractions getting in the way. Feel free to make mistakes but if you’re putting in an hour a week or even per day, you will become a great speaker in a shorter amount of time than not practicing speaking at all.

speaking tip: try your luck at podcasting

(May 2020)

Podcasts have become a powerful medium that has changed the world of news, politics, culture, and sports. What used to be a new and unfamiliar form of media has become mainstream in a number of ways. In addition to its growing popularity, the technology surrounding podcasting has also developed in the past decade to make it more accessible and widespread.

If you are an English language learner, I really recommend getting into podcasting for a number of reasons:

1.) It gives you a great chance to develop your speaking skills. Podcasts focus on a number of topics especially in the span of an hour or two and whether you create your own podcast or are a guest on another podcast, both options will help you develop your vocabulary, your grammar, and your ability to speak freely to an audience. It does not have to be a big podcast like The Joe Rogan Experience or This American Life, which have millions of viewers.

You should start small with a friend or family member’s podcast and volunteer to be a guest. Depending upon your expertise, you will be able to practice your English on a spoken topic of your choice for a good amount of time and there will be less pressure because even though you are speaking to an audience, there is only you and the host in the studio and it can also be done remotely.

2.) It is a creative way to be heard. Without podcasts, most people would not have a voice so if something matters to you and you want to express it to others in the same field or interest, podcasts are a great way to do so. Instead of trying out general media, you can focus specifically on an area that you want to practice your English-speaking skills on and then go from there. You can start with a small podcast and work your way up. If you have a new book or a new article out, podcasts are a great way to get your work out there to an English-speaking audience.

3.) It teaches you a new and valuable skill. Podcasts are here to stay as a form of media and they are only going to get more popular. To be able to guest on a podcast or to be a host could set you apart in your career or in your business. You will be able to help yourself in a number of ways and by honing your English skills through this medium, you are opening yourself up to a new audience who will appreciate your effort to speak the language in such a powerful medium and to spread the word about whatever you have going on in your life.

Podcasting in English is a really great way to test your speaking skills and I hope you will consider doing so in the near future to practice your English language skills as a guest or as a host.

Speaking tip: getting involved in debating

(April 2020)

If you really want to put your Speaking skills to the test, I recommend signing up for a debate. For an intermediate or advanced learner of English, debating is a great way to test both your vocabulary and grammar especially when going up against native speakers. You can discuss different topics or just one topic in general over a set period of time. Debates can range from a couple of minutes to a few hours depending upon the guidelines. A debate involves arguing on behalf of yourself or even a small team on an agreed upon topic in a formal manner.

It is a discussion but often involves a rebuttal from the opponent or opposition and you have to defend your arguments especially during a question and answer session. You have to think quickly, speak with near fluency, and use positive body language to be able to win debates especially in a competition. In a debate, time is of the essence so you have to be quick and to the point with your vocabulary. You also have to watch your tone and your pitch to make sure you are not speaking too loudly or too quickly.

Debating is an excellent way of practicing your English speaking skills but it is not for everyone. You have to practice a lot, have at least intermediate proficiency, do deep research about the topic(s), and even get your own debate coach if you are able to and can afford the cost. However, it is an excellent skill to develop and your English will improve much faster when you have to respond quickly, effectively, and with as few errors as possible.

Lastly, debating will teach you a lot about personal psychology, behavior, and how to read body language. You have to concentrate not just on yourself but your opponent(s), your judges, and your audience. In debates, you will learn a lot of new information on a number of topics so it is also a great educational endeavor. What you lose in free time, you gain in terms of knowledge, language development, and personal confidence when you step up to that stage and begin to debate. If you have the chance to join the debate club or organization and you want to improve your English, debating is an excellent opportunity to do just that.

speaking tip: talk to your uber or taxi driver to practice your abilities

(February 2020)

An underrated way for you as an English language student to practice your speaking skills is to go out of your way to speak with your taxi drivers or Uber drivers if you feel like it to make small talk. I know it may be best to keep silent and enjoy the view but if you are traveling to an English speaking country on vacation or for work or business, it really is to your advantage to converse with them to practice not only your vocabulary but your grammar and intonation.

It can be about any topic as long as the conversation is both cordial and polite. You do not have to force it if you or him/her are not feeling up for an in-depth talk. However, I am sure that they will at least appreciate your effort to speak English and will want to commend you on hard work and effort. It will also make the ride go by faster. You can be sure that they will try to help you here and there with a few words or phrases as to make sure you know what you are saying is correct.

When you are in an Uber or Taxi ride, it is easy to talk about the traffic situation, the weather today, what the city is like, how long you are in town for, and perhaps where are some good places to go during your stay, They are likely to be curious about your accent when you speak English and may inquire about where you are originally from. You may still be shy about talking to a stranger but the driver is likely to be polite, curious, and a nice person. It is a good chance to practice speaking English with a neutral person and to discuss a few different topics in a safe setting.

Even if you are not an extrovert, I recommend striking up a conversation with a Taxi or Uber driver when you can. A simple “Hello, How are you today?” will get the ball rolling and help you on your way to better English speaking skills.

speaking tip: test your luck at question and Answer (Q+A) sessions

(december 2019)

Speaking English well is not just about comfort and fluency but it is also about versatility. When you are a versatile speaker, you will be able to handle different kinds of topics regardless of what the vocabulary could be. A great way to become a more well-rounded speaker is to be able to answer questions on a variety of topics. If you can only make a speech about one subject or stick to the script of what you are given all of the time, then you are not actually a fluent speaker.

A true fluent speaker will feel comfortable fielding questions that are random in nature and have not been reviewed or known about beforehand. A fluent speaker will be able to use their grammar and/or vocabulary knowledge to fill in the gaps to answer these random questions whether they are about tomorrow’s weather or today’s sports headlines. You won’t be able to get stumped when you are conversational in a number of areas and have been able to practice speaking about different subjects.

Whether it’s at your job when you have to hold a Q+A session about your latest presentation or if you have to talk about what your plans are for running for public office at a town hall session, you have to put yourself in challenging situations where your English knowledge would be tested through these random question and answer sessions. You can practice this as well with family members and close friends who would not mind compiling a list of random questions for you to answer on a wide range of subjects. Just make sure that you do not know what the questions are ahead of time as they would be a form of cheating really.

A key part of being a better English speaker is thinking quickly on your feet and speaking off the cuff, meaning you have to be prepared for anything. You can plan and write out a speech but when you do not have a script in front of you, speaking English fluently becomes that much harder. Because of this challenge, you will have to work extra hard to prove yourself. The good news is that it’s easy to prepare for Q+A sessions at work or elsewhere with help from family, friends, or a teacher / tutor willing to help you. You will be glad to prepare ahead of time as it will make you not just a fluent speaker of English but a versatile and flexible speaker of the language too.

speaking tip: hand gestures - helpful or hurtful?

(November 2019)

When it comes to the idea of hand gestures while giving a speech, making a statement or just using carefully prepared remarks, there is some debate about whether it is useful to have them or whether they are distracting. I believe that it depends on a number of factors including how often the gesture is used, how much you extend your arms, and whether it is used with every word that you utter.

There is also something to be said for the fact that your hand gestures should depend upon who your audience is and what the topic you are talking about revolves around in terms of expressing emotions. For example, if you are giving an address at a political rally where you want to appeal to the audience’s emotional cues, then it would be a good idea to use more emphatic or exaggerated hand gestures. However, if you are giving a serious speech behind a podium that focuses on an issue such as climate change or economic development, then the chances are likely that you would want to use more muted hand gestures and less often.

The context of the speech or address when it comes to the use of hand gestures is critical. Some English speakers are likely to use hand gestures more often and others are likely to use it less. You have to experiment and see what fits naturally to you. However, you want to make sure that your hand gestures are used in the right places, aren’t distracting from the rest of your body language, and are actually driving the point home regarding the focus of your speech.

Hand gestures are part of every major language these days but it is important to do what is appropriate depending upon the audience and their culture that you are delivering the speech too. Another piece of advice to keep in mind is you should watch the hand gestures used by popular speakers who do a good job of presenting themselves well and understand the context of their speeches in order to use the correct hand gestures and movements time after time. Taking notes, following the examples of others, knowing your audience well, and figuring out what movements work well for you are all keys to mastering the art of using hand gestures when it comes to English speaking.

speaking tip: put emphasis on your vowel and consonant sounds when practicing

(SEPTEMBER 2019)

Slowing your pronunciation down will do wonders for your English speaking. Instead of going way too quickly with your words and sentences, don’t forget to take the added step of enunciating your letters. Whether the letter is a vowel or a consonant, make sure you sound them out slowly so you can see whether the pronunciation is correct. An added tool that comes in handy is to follow along with YouTube videos that sound out different English vowels and consonants. It is really easy to follow along with those kinds of videos and they can help you to improve your speaking proficiency immeasurably.

Some English speakers want to start practicing seriously with conversations and dialogues right away but when you’re a beginner, I would advise against doing that. Instead, have a friend, preferably a native speaker, work with you on sounding out your vowels and consonants one by one. It’s best to take the time to practice individual letters and words especially the sounds involved for each syllable.

By practicing the consonants and vowels individually, your ability to speak well will definitely improve. In addition, you will gain more confidence and will be able to tackle longer sentences and conversations with ease. I recommend practicing vowels and consonant sounds when you’re a beginner each day and as you improve, keep working on them even when you reach the intermediate or advanced levels.

speaking tip: use appropriate vocabulary words as much as possible

(July 2019)

A key part of becoming an accomplished English speaker is knowing when and where to use the correct vocabulary words. Your main goal in improving your speaking proficiency is to make yourself understood by those people listening to you whether it’s a small group of friends or a large audience. You know your level of vocabulary better than anyone else so it’s important to go over your head when trying to find the right word(s) to use in your spoken sentences.

It’s always better to use the right word even if you want to get to the next step in your spoken proficiency. You want to play it safe with using the correct vocabulary words especially when you are giving a speech or talking to your boss or giving directions to a stranger. In order to use the right words, think carefully of how to phrase your sentences correctly. You will also want to slow down your cadence as I mentioned in a previous tip so that you will be better understood. It is much better to be slow and right in your spoken words rather than fast and misunderstood.

The next time you’re getting ready to speak; first, think of the right words to say and see if it all makes sense before saying it out loud. Depending upon the situation, the words you say will be very important and could be misinterpreted if you don’t use the right vocabulary. Be comfortable enough in your current speaking proficiency to ace that speech or ace that presentation. It’s important to not overdo or overthink the words you say but to choose them carefully and make sure that you are being understood above all else by your friends, your colleagues, or your audience.

speaking tip: modulate your tone of voice

(May 2019)

When you are speaking to someone especially a stranger or a person whom you don’t know, it’s best to be aware of your tone of voice and to be expressing the right attitudes or emotions through how you speak. A key part of mastering a language is knowing not only what you are saying but how you are saying it. For any culture, there are different norms and values when it comes to your tone of voice. However, there are a number of commonalities that cross cultures especially when it comes to expressing yourself in the spoken language. I will list some of these common traits to be aware of when it comes to how to speak in an appropriate tone with different people and in different situations.

1.) Be polite with strangers whom you don’t know: This is a key point to be aware of in that you want to be courteous and polite in your language and in your tone with strangers in public. In addition to using the right vocabulary, it’s important to be firm but not too direct or blunt especially when you’re asking for directions or seeking help. Your tone has to be polite and accommodating as they might not be able to help you but it’s worth trying to see if they would be open to it. You do not want to raise your voice at them or be impolite above all else.

2.) Be straightforward and moderate your tone with authority figures: Whether it is a policeman or a security official or a doctor, you should be measured and respectful in your tone. Your vocabulary usage should be straightforward and transparent with any authority figure. You also should not be too loud or too quiet with how you speak to them so as to not offend them. You should do what they say when they say it and express yourself politely at all times to avoid any confusion.

3.) Don’t be too loud in public: If you are out and about with friends or just by yourself, it’s best to not speak too loudly as it may disturb others who are trying to read a book or listen to a phone call. You should be aware of your tone of voice in public and not try to disclose too much information about yourself. It’s good to err on the side of caution and talk in a low voice in public especially if you are going from one place to another. You may irritate others around you when you are loudly talking on the phone, singing out loud, or just chatting with a friend. Many people will find it offensive to not use a lower tone of voice when you’re speaking and it’s important to self-regulate your voice in public.

There are a number of other points I could make when it comes to your tone of voice and how to best care for it to avoid any social faux pas. These three items that I cited above are perhaps the most important in English speaking cultures to be aware of. While some native speakers forget these points, you will earn respect and receive adulation from others if you are able to follow these unwritten rules as you improve your English speaking abilities.

speaking tiP: Study Great Orators and speakers by watching their speeches

(March 2019)

If you want to be an excellent speaker, I find it is important and necessary to learn from those who have come before you. Because of the Internet age, it is easier than ever to watch speeches by native English speakers who were great orators. If you want to become a better speaker, you must always learn and study others including their cadence, their tone of voice, and their mannerisms.

There are numerous historical and modern examples of men and women who are great English speakers. Because of websites like YouTube, Vimeo, etc., it is easier now than ever to watch endless hours of speeches from those politicians, social movement leaders, and influential people who made a difference in the lives of millions. If you can deliver a great speech, you can change both people’s hearts and minds. If you are able to give a great speech in a language that is not your own, you will definitely be ahead of the game and earn the respect of your foreign audience.

For a few examples of great orators from history, I would recommend people like Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Each of them gave inspiring speeches in English that you could learn from and for which are renowned for their ability to move people in their countries to commit to noble and powerful action that changed the course of human history. Thankfully, due to the Internet, you can read and watch these speeches and use it to become a better speaker yourself. In addition to speaking, you can develop your listening and reading abilities through means of comprehension.

I have listed a recent example below of a great speech in English from a non-native speaker in President of France, Emmanuel Macron. He delivers an important address to Congress fully in the English language for which he does an excellent job in reaching his audience. I recommend that you listen, take notes, and study the vocabulary that he uses in this speech. President Macron’s speech is one modern example that you can learn a lot from in terms of someone who studied English for years and was able to give an important speech in a foreign country and pull it off beautifully.

Here is the link to his speech on YouTube below and I hope you will learn a lot from it:

speaking tip: watch your body language and your eye contact

(February 2019)

While it’s not often mentioned as being important, to become a better speaker, you must not only measure your words and your cadence but also different aspects of your body language. A lot can come across in your body language to signal to your audience whether or not you actually care about what you are talking about and whether you are receptive to who you are talking with. There are a number of aspects to body language and that includes eye contact, standing up straight, and making gestures that resonate with the audience. If you are not able to use positive body language while speaking, it will negatively affect your speaking and your presentation as well.

1. Eye Contact

When you are speaking to an audience, it’s necessary to make eye contact at times with different people to get your points across. You should not be looking at the floor or looking at your notes during the presentation. You should always be giving the audience your full attention so that they are invested in you and the topic you are speaking about.

2. Standing up Straight

When you are speaking, you should always be standing up straight with your feet out, your shoulders back, and not be leaning over or leaning back. These are common sense tips when giving a presentation but there are many people who forget how to maintain good posture when it’s the easiest thing to do. The main thing is to be self-aware about how your body posture is coming across to the audience and to remind yourself of how to look when giving your presentation. It might also be helpful to have a friend or a family member watch you when you are giving your speech to see if you are standing up straight or not.

3. Making Gestures

To get your point(s) across, it’s not a bad idea to use your hands and your arms in gesturing to the audience. You do not want to do this all of the time but it’s best to do so to keep the audience engaged and to highlight a particular thing that you want them to remember. Gestures are a good idea for speaking but they cannot be too animated or too crazy as to distract from what you are saying. It’s best to keep the hand gestures minimal and only use them when you are at a critical high point in the speech.

These three body language tips may not involve English speaking directly but they will help you in terms of giving a spoken presentation in the language. While people will definitely pay attention to your diction, grammar, and vocabulary, they will also care about your body language so it is important to make sure it’s attractive and easy to follow so as to make your presentation professional and worthwhile.

Speaking tip: time yourself using different intervals (1 Minute, 5 Minutes, 10 minutes, etc.)

(January 2019)

On top of being able to make speeches, it’s key to time yourself to make sure you know how to present your topic when you have a time limit in mind. It is rather easy to get someone to help you in terms of timing. You could have a friend, family member, or work colleague time you while you make your speech or give your presentation. If you go over the time limit, you’ll know that it is necessary to cut down your speech even more and limit the amount of words that you need to say.

Being able to give a speech or a presentation in a certain amount of given time without going over or under is a key skill that can help you immensely. Not only will you hold people’s attention more but your cadence will flow better when you know that you do not have unlimited time to speak. You will be forced to edit your writing as well because you know that you only have a minute, five minutes, ten minutes, etc. to make your speech or otherwise you will be cut off.

Sometimes, outside peer pressure or pressure from your colleagues or supervisors will spur you on to do a better job as a speaker and as a writer. It is recommended to create, write, and edit speeches that you need to give at different time intervals. Being able to speak about different topics for one minute, five minutes, fifteen minutes, etc. is crucial to developing your speaking proficiency at both a personal and professional level. As is the case with other speaking tips, practice makes perfect, and you will need outside help from others who can listen to your speech and time you to see if you are on time or if you are going under or over.

Keeping track of time is a key part of being a great English speaker. You have to know that you will not have unlimited time to make your points and flesh out your argument. You will have to be able to write, edit, and present with that time limit in mind despite your wish to have more or less time. Be sure to bounce your ideas off others, edit your writing when it is too long or short, and measure your cadence so that you are not speaking too slow or too fast. It will take some time but this is a key speaking tip that you can use to your advantage.

speaking tip: Try your hand at public speaking by making speeches

(NOVEMBER 2018)

In a previous tip back in July 2018, I discussed the utility and benefits of joining a Toastmasters club. Beyond that idea, I’d like to go into the possibility that you as a student learning how to become more proficient at speaking English should know how to make a speech. This tip involves writing as well because I think it would be doubly beneficial to write a short speech in English and then use the speech to practice your speaking skills afterwards.

Being able to create your own speech about any topic in particular will dramatically boost your confidence as well as being able to give the same speech in a spoken form to friends and family. If you also really want to test yourself, you should be giving speeches if you are a student in college or in graduate school, if your boss needs someone to give a presentation at work, or if you’re promoting your business as an entrepreneur and are looking to pitch your idea(s).

The best audience for giving a speech is not to family or to friends or even a Toastmasters club but to random strangers who will not be biased in terms of their opinion of your English speaking abilities. Giving speeches that you have written and prepared yourself will propel you to having more confidence and definitely to have a more professional level of English proficiency. Beyond just controlled environments like the family dining room, the Toastmasters club, or among friends, you should want to put yourself in situations where you are giving speeches to strangers or people that you don’t know very well.

More often than not, they will be the best at giving you feedback about your English speaking and it’s likely to be both positive and negative. It may hurt to hear that you need to improve in certain areas like pronunciation, cadence, and vocabulary usage but you will only get better after receiving this feedback from your speeches. The more speeches you give, the better your speaking will be along with your writing. Beyond just your English proficiency improving, you’ll feel more confident and will be able to take on bigger and bigger challenges in your personal and professional lives.

speaking tip: put those flashcards to good use (Pronunciation and sounds practice)

(September 2018)

A key part of mastering a new language especially English is using flashcards to your advantage. For those of you reading this home who aren’t aware, flashcards, otherwise known as index cards, should be your best friend when it comes to language learning.

They’re white, rectangular cards of sturdy paper material which you can take with you on the road or if you’re on your way to a class. Some learners may use them for vocabulary words and for understanding what those words mean in terms of their definition. Others can use them to practice their pronunciation by sounding out the phonemes of each word to get better at speaking the language.

It doesn’t have to be words alone that you can put on a flashcard. You can write down sentences and even small paragraphs to sound out to better your speaking as well. Using flashcards are a great way to practice with other English students one-on-one or in small groups. If you’re shy about speaking on your own, you can create flashcards on different speaking topics to create words and sentences that you can sound out after writing them down.

The more flashcards you have created, the more vocabulary you’ll be able to practice for speaking and other purposes. It’s normal when learning a new language to have a couple of hundred flashcards and the key thing to remember is that flashcards allow you to practice on your own or with a friend or classmate.

Flashcards are a great learning tool but they are portable so you can take them with you and study wherever, easy to use for different purposes including speaking and vocabulary practice, and they’re a fun way to study with other learners one-on-one or with a small group. Flashcards are very cheap to purchase and last for a long time so you can always go back to them if there’s a word, phrase, or sentence that you need to better remember or memorize for learning purposes.

As an English as a Second Language Teacher, I highly endorse the use of flashcards and hope that you consider making a purchase of them to help you succeed with becoming a better English speaker and for other learning purposes.

speaking tip: make sure to pace yourself (intonation and cadence)

(August 2018)

When you're first beginning to speak in a second language including English, you'll need to take it slow at first in terms of the actual speed of your speaking. When you're first beginning to compose words and sentences together, it's really important to speak slowly and pace your words so as to make fewer mistakes. You are going to make mistakes and that's natural but you'll be better off speaking slowly so that you'll get a better feeling for the pronunciation of the sounds and letters associated with the words you're saying. 

There's no reason for a beginner or even an intermediate English speaker to be talking so quickly. It's best to take it slow that other English speakers will better be able to understand and communicate with you. You may think that they won't be patient with your spoken English but they almost will always be fair and kind to you. It's likely that they will compliment your hard work and effort in learning English as a second language. 

Another thing to be aware of in pacing your speaking is to watch your intonation and cadence. Essentially, cadence in speaking measures how rhythmic your words sound when you speak and if they have a good flow to them that will make you more easily understood. It's important to be aware of how fast or slow you are speaking especially in front of a bigger audience. The most important thing to get across with your English speaking is to make yourself understood as much as possible rather than speak too quickly and having no one understand you. There's a delicate balance that has to be struck between fast and slow cadence and it's important to try to be in the middle with your speaking rhythm as much as possible.

For the concept of intonation, it relates to the pitch or tone of your voice and making sure that your voice rises and falls naturally under the right circumstances. When you practice your speaking intonation, you should make sure you're speaking at an appropriate tone of voice depending upon what you're talking about. If you're talking in a quiet cafe with your English tutor, you'll want to modify your voice to speak at a lower intonation. There's also the instance where you and your English tutor could be at a baseball game together and you will need to speak at a louder intonation to make yourself understood by your tutor and other people because it's a loud stadium environment.

A lot of being able to measure both your cadence and your intonation comes with experience so please make sure to give yourself plenty of opportunities to practice your English speaking. Whether you're at a cafe or at a baseball game, practice your speaking and also learn from others in how they pace themselves as they talk to you. You'll learn a lot about the right kind of speaking pace by following the lead of other English speakers in various situations.

speaking tip: try out your skills in front of an audience or group (toastmasters club)

(JULY 2018)

When English is not your first language, it can be discouraging to even try speaking in front of another person. It can be even more intimidating to practice in front of a group of complete strangers. However, being able to do some public speaking in front of an audience who are impartial or unbiased to you is a great idea to improve your English speaking skills. While speaking English is a great idea in front of your family or your friends, it can be even better to practice in front of people who you do not have any connection to and could just be strangers.

It's likely that these random people will give you their unbiased opinion and/or advice as to how you can improve your speaking abilities and skills. They will be able to tell you if your grammar is correct, whether you are talking too quickly or too slow, and whether or not you are using the right vocabulary in you speech. There are many ways to practice speaking but doing so publicly in front of an audience can be the most rewarding albeit the most difficult at the same time. 

The best way to practice speaking in front of a public audience is to join a toastmasters club. There are hundreds of these toastmasters clubs in the United States and around the world. Usually, you practice speaking about a chosen topic in front of the group and they can then give you some feedback as to how you can improve in the future. You can find a list of Toastmasters clubs in your area here: https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club. Note: Toastmasters does have a membership fee if you would like to join a club so please be aware that it is not free.

Speaking in front of an audience or group won't just improve your English but it will also improve your confidence and your drive. You will also meet new people who you can practice your English speaking one-on-one with and maybe make a new friend or two. Being able to receive quality feedback and comments from random strangers will give you a good sense of what you are doing well in speaking and what you still need to work on. Showing up is half the battle so once you've made the effort to be there, you're on your way to begin improving your English speaking skills in a fundamental way. 

Speaking tip: The power of an interview

(june 2018)

A key overlooked part of getting better with becoming a better speaker or in improving your English speaking abilities to play the role of an interviewer or that of an interviewee. Not only will you gain more confidence in your speaking abilities but you'll also have to be able to think on your feet and be able to respond to different questions in a short amount of time.

As an English student, immersing yourself in playing the role of an interviewer by drafting a list of questions on a specific topic such as 'staying healthy' or discussing your hobbies' is a good way to put the vocabulary and grammar topics you've been focusing on to good use. Interviewing somebody else allows you to be more creative and to also give the interviewee follow-up questions and to engage them on a deeper level.

Conducting an interview as a learning activity is a great way to get to know your classmates and to improve your confidence when it comes to boosting your English speaking skills. Instead of using pre-written dialogues that may get repetitive after a while, the student can use their knowledge to draft questions up about a particular speaking topic that they can then pose to a classmate whom they don't know very well. This kind of speaking practice is invaluable and can help prepare the student for real world situations where they may have to conduct an interview an English for a job candidate or for another purpose. 

An even better role for the English learner to play for speaking purposes is to be the person interviewed. The interviewee won't know which questions are coming about the topic so they will also have to think quickly and be able to come up with a verbal answer that has correct grammar and vocabulary. It's an excellent chance that the interviewee has to boost their confidence, remember more words, and be able to get to know their classmates better. 

Lastly, you don't have to be in a classroom or have a teacher around to do an interview activity. You can practice questions and answers with a friend or a family member. They can print out a list of questions and you can try answering each of them as best as you can. When you use English in a spoken context with various topics, you will improve over time but it is important to practice your speaking on a daily or weekly basis. You can learn all of the English grammar and vocabulary in the world but if you don't use it, you will definitely lose it over time. 

Speaking tip: Use reading materials to practice your speech

(May 2018)

There are many different types of English language media out there. There are newspapers that you can get on the street for a dollar or less. There are an infinite amount of written articles that you can read because of the Internet. Lastly, you have dozens of books at the local library that you can rent in order to improve your proficiency. 

When you have so much written information out there, you'll be able to absorb a lot of knowledge when it comes to building your proficiency in the English language. It's not only your reading and vocabulary that will improve but your speaking as well. You may be puzzled at this suggestion but it's clear that you can practice your speaking by reading the words out loud to practice your pronunciation. 

By practicing your speech using these written materials whether its a newspaper or a book, you'll be able to better your pronunciation and your proficiency. You can pick up a lot of new words that you wouldn't know otherwise and you'll be able to understand what you're reading a lot more easily because you'll be speaking it out loud. 

You can start off slow by speaking about a small article that you've read that could be 400-500 words and see how you sound when your talking out loud about the article. I would recommend getting a friend or a family member whose English level is high enough to hear your speech and see where your pronunciation could be improved and which words you are still struggling to master.

After starting off with using your speech to read small and easier articles, you can move on to longer reading passages and eventually a full-length book. It's not only will your speaking abilities improve but you'll remember a lot more vocabulary words as well. When it comes to becoming both a better reader and a better speaker, you should be aiming to read out loud by speaking a different article per day. 

As with anything, you have to practice, practice, and practice some more to improve your speech but one of the best ways to do it is to take a newspaper article or a short book and read it out loud to boost your speaking proficiency. 

Speaking tip: use written dialogues about different topics with friends and/or family

(April 2018)

One of the ways in which you can improve both your vocabulary and your speaking abilities is to use pre-written dialogues on different topics. If you would also like to add on some writing practice, you can create your own dialogues for two or more people to use. 

These dialogues can be on a variety of topics and you can use them to practice your English pronunciation and also boost your vocabulary. There are hundreds of possible dialogues that you can use for practice and they are easily found through different ESL materials found on the Internet. 

Whether these dialogues are pre-written or taken from a reliable source, it's important to practice with someone whose English proficiency is high and is someone who you are close to. If it's a friend, a work colleague, or a family member, they should have no problem taking the time to help you develop your English speaking skills by using a dialogue together.

The dialogues can focus on speaking topics such as going to a restaurant, checking your luggage at the airport, going to a job interview, etc. There is quite a limitless variety in terms of the dialogues that you and somebody else can practice together in order to improve your spoken fluency. 

With further practice, it's important for you and your speaking partner to switch roles with the dialogues in order to be able to comprehend more vocabulary and phrases. Each dialogue will at least have two speaking roles so it's necessary to switch them with your partner so you're able to get more practice and boost your proficiency even more.

Listed below is an example speaking dialogue that you and a speaking partner can use to further your skills and better yourself as an English speaker: 

Example Dialogue

John: Do animals talk to each other?
Jimmy: Of course they talk to each other.
John: What do they talk about?
Jimmy: They talk about other animals.
John: What else do they talk about?
Jimmy: They talk about food and the weather.
John: Do they talk about us?
Jimmy: Of course they talk about us.
John: What do they say about us?
Jimmy: They say that we are funny-looking.
John: Ha! We're not funny-looking; animals are funny-looking.
Jimmy: We're funny-looking because we wear clothes.

(Source: ESLFast.com)

speaking tip: practice, practice, practice

(March 2018)

If you don't use your knowledge of the English language especially when it comes time to speak, you're going to lose it over time. You have to practice your spoken English at least on a weekly basis if not every single day in order to not forget the vocabulary that you have learned.

When it comes to remembering the vocabulary words and phrases that you have picked up during your studies, it may be beneficial to make sentences with those words you have studied. When you learn new words, train yourself to insert them into sentences. You can write down these sentences first but be ready to speak them out loud so you know in which context and/or setting that they can be utilized. 

Being able to express your thoughts, emotions, and feelings clearly is key. By learning words and phrases such as sentences that can be used for 'small talk', you'll be able to put them to good use right away. It's really important to take the time to practice over and over again so that you'll feel more comfortable with your newfound speaking abilities. 

Whether it's striking up a conversation with a family member, a friend, or a stranger on the street, make sure to practice, practice, and practice your speaking some more. Your English speaking skills will be sure to develop if you're able to put your vocabulary and your phrases to good use. 

SPEAKING TIP: THE UTILITY OF MAKING SMALL TALK

(February 2018)

Sometimes, the best way to become a better English speaker is to make small talk. Now, when we say 'small talk', we usually refer to general topics such as today's weather, last night's sports game, and an upcoming holiday. These are topics that most everybody has a familiarity with and can hold a conversation about.

When you're learning English or any foreign language, it's best to be able to learn the speaking skills necessary to have a basic conversation using 'small talk.' These type of conversations are not controversial at all and are based around making simple observations about the world around you. 

If you're having trouble meeting people to practice English with, sometimes it makes sense to start talking to strangers. If you're not okay with doing that, making some small talk with shopkeepers, waiters, bartenders, and store clerks are all good ideas. Sometimes, these folks can be bored at their jobs so they may be willing to make some small talk which will help to improve your English. 

In order to be able to make some small talk, you have to know some key phrases and conversation starters to begin talking. Listed below are some of those phrases and sentences that you can use as an English student in order to develop your speaking proficiency: 

Talking about the weather

• Beautiful day, isn't it?

• Can you believe all of this rain we've been having lately?

• We couldn't ask for a nicer day, could we?

• How about this weather?

          Talking about current events

• Did you catch the news today?

• Did you hear about that fire in the neighborhood?

• I heard on the radio today that they are finally going to start building the new bridge.

• How about those Yankees? Do you think they're going to win the game later?

At the office

• Are you looking forward to the weekend?

• How long have you worked here?

• I can't believe how busy / quiet we are today, can you?

• You look like you could use a cup of coffee / tea.

At a social event

• So, how do you know _________ (name)?

• Are you having a good time?

• It looks like you could use another drink.

• I love your ________ (clothing item). Can I ask where you got it?

Out for a walk

• How old's your baby?

• What's your puppy's name?

• How do you like this park?

• Nice day to be outside, isn't it?

Waiting somewhere

• I didn't think it would be so busy today.

• The doctor / dentist / lawyer must be running late today.

• It looks like we are going to be here a while, huh?

• How long have you been waiting for?

As you can tell, there are many instances where 'small talk' can be utilized and for different situations in life. You can use this short list as a guide as to how best to begin a conversation to improve your English speaking skills. It's important to use these phrases / sentences for specific situations as they may not be applicable for other times to be used. You shouldn't ask about a puppy's name when you really want to talk about the current weather, for example. This list above will help you when starting small talk and making it sound both friendly and outgoing.

SPEAKING TIP: IT'S NATURAL TO MAKE MISTAKES

(January 2018)

When an English learner first starts out with speaking, they're going to make mistakes either with misusing grammar or misplacing vocabulary. Perhaps you aren't using the correct sentence structure or you're not utilizing the correct verb for the sentence, these mistakes are going to happen. 

The first thing an English as a Second Language student could do is to stop speaking and to give up on practicing. As the old idiom goes, 'practice makes perfect.' If you don't practice speaking English, you're never going to improve in developing this particular skill. 

If you decide to practice with a work colleague, a friend, or a family member, you don't have to be embarrassed or ashamed if you make a mistake(s) with them. They're not going to laugh at you, make fun of you, or think less of you. If you're practicing your English speaking with them and they do those things to you, you should get up, leave and not see them again because it's not worth your time to practice your English skills with someone like that. 

Instead, taking the time to practice, make a few mistakes, correct those mistakes and improve with the help of a teacher, work colleague, friend, or family member will cause you to be a better English speaker.

Speaking from my personal experiences, I have made numerous mistakes in my studying of foreign languages and I still kept going, corrected myself, and become a better speaker. You have to let go of your ego a bit and let others help you to speak more fluently. In order to speak with fluency, you have to make mistakes in order to get better and improve. 

SPEAKING TIP: KNOW YOUR ENGLISH PHONEMES

(december 2017)

There are 44 different phonemes or speech sounds in the English language. While that may be a lot, it is easy to study and know them especially with the help of this phonemic chart above. It's important to remember that a phoneme is simply a speech sound and each one is different from the other. 

The two categories that make up the 44 phonemes are vowels and consonants. Vowels include English letters such as 'e, i, o, u, a, and sometimes y.' Consonants are every other letter in the English alphabet such as 'n, m, l, r, w, s'. Vowels are different from consonants in that the sound a vowel makes is unobstructed in terms of its' air flow whereas a consonant sound will happen as the airflow is cut off completely or partially. The sounds both vowels and consonants make are the music of the English language and it helps form the foundation for speaking with proficiency. 

The phonemic chart above includes both voiced and unvoiced sounds and is divided between monophthongs and diphthongs. Monophthongs are those vowels and consonants that have a singular auditory sound where as diphthongs are those vowels and consonants that have a plural auditory meaning in that they represent two or more sounds being made.

When you learn about phonics, you learn about the relationship between the English letters and their respective sounds. There are hundreds of words that are used with each of these 44 phonemes but the most important thing to keep in mind is to memorize the sound as best as you can. All of the twenty-six letters are represented by these 44 phonemes in the chart above and can be used individually or in a combination with each other. 

The grapheme, a written representation of each sound, can help you to create the sound verbally when you know which letters make which sound based off of the chart above. All of the 44 phonemes are part of International Phonetic alphabet. The chart above along with learning about phonics is a good study resource for those English students who want to start saying the words and sentences verbally by using the right sounds and the right letters involved. 

SPEAKING TIP: study the phonics rules (Vowels, consonants, and syllables)

(November 2017)

A major part of being able to speak fluently in English is having an understanding of the sounds that each letter in the alphabet makes. The rules of phonics are important to study and master over time in order to become a better English speaker. While there are dozens of rules when it comes to English phonics, these ten rules listed below are perhaps the easiest of them all to study and remember. 

Vowels: The English vowels are "a,e,i,o,u"; and also sometimes "y." This also includes the 'diphthongs' such as "oi,oy,ou,ow,au,aw,oo,ee", which make unique sounds of their own when combined with one of the six vowels. 

Consonants: The English consonants are all of the other letters which stop or limit the flow of air from the throat in common speech. They are: "b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,m,n,p,qu,r,s,t,v,w,x,y,z,ch,sh,th,ph,wh,ng, and gh." The letters of the English alphabets are separated into two categories: consonants and vowels. 

1. Sometimes, the rules don't apply. 
There are many exceptions in English because of the vastness of the language and the many languages from which it has originated from. The rules do work however, in the majority of the English words you study and memorize. 

2. Every syllable in every word must have a vowel. 
English is a "vocal" language which means that every English word must have a vowel and/or a consonant. 

3. "C" followed by the letters "e, i, or y" usually has the soft sound of "s." 

Examples: "cyst", "central", and "city."

4. "G" followed by the letters "e, i or y" usually has the soft sound of "j." 

Examples: "gem", "gym", "gin", and "gist." 

5. When two consonants are joined together and form one new sound, they are called a 'consonant digraph'. They count as one sound and one letter together and are never separated.

Examples: "ch,sh,th,ph, rh, and wh." 

6. When a syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel, that vowel is short. 

Examples: "fat, bed, sit, dim, fish, spot, luck."

7. When a syllable ends in a silent "e", the silent "e" is a signal that the vowel in front of it is long. 

Examples: "make, gene, kite, bike, rake, rope, and use." 

8. When a syllable has two vowels together, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent. 

Examples: "pain, eat, boat, say, bait, sea, coat, rain."

Note: Diphthongs don't follow this rule; In a diphthong, the vowels blend together to create a single new sound. The diphthongs are: "oi,oy,ou,ow,au,aw,oo" and other examples. 

9. When a syllable ends in any vowel and is the only vowel, that vowel is usually long in its' pronunciation. 

Examples: " me, I, my, to, be"  

10. When a vowel is followed by an "r" in the same syllable, that vowel is "r-controlled". It is not long or short in its' overall sound or length.

'R-controlled' vowels like er, ir, and ur often sound the same such as ending with the same "er" sound but this is not always the case so it's important to sound out the word. 

Examples: "term, sir, stir, fur, far, for, sugar, popular, order, eager, tiger."

While there are dozens of phonics rules to be aware of, these ten rules are a good place to get started when it comes to learning the phonetics of the English language. 

Speaking Tip: SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY

(october 2017)

When you're first learning English, it can be tempting to speak quickly and loudly so that everybody else can hear you. However, it's been proven that you're likelier to make more mistakes when you do that. 

Instead, you'll want to do the exact opposite in terms of your speaking style. It's much better for a new English speaker to speak slowly and clearly so you'll be better understood. Learning how to pace yourself when speaking English is an important aspect of the language to master. By speaking slower and enunciating your words clearly, you'll be able to have longer and better conversations. You'll also be likelier to make less mistakes when it comes to your pronunciation of the letters and sounds that make up each word. Your sense of the correct sentence structure and grammatical flow will be much better too. 

In order to take this advice into account, remember the next time when you're talking with a friend or family member in English to slow down, sound out the words, and then pause to take a breath before continuing on with your sentence. 99% of people won't mind slowing down the conversation especially when you're learning English as a second language. They should be happy to help you and will want to slow themselves down as well so that you can better understand what they are saying to you.

As the tortoise once said to the hare in the famous literary story about their foot race, "slow and steady wins the race." The same meaning could be given to a student when they are learning the fundamentals of speaking properly in English.