How to Hone Your English Communication Skills?

Do you struggle with speaking in English to your friends, colleagues or clients despite having a good grasp of the language? Many learners master the intricacies of English grammar but are at a complete loss when it comes to conversing with native speakers. In reality, the only way to become fluent in another language is to do a lot of listening and speaking. The following are some pointers to help you improve your English speaking skills.

1. Start Speaking In English

This comes as no surprise. To get better at speaking in English, you will have to first speak to and practice with as many people as you possibly can! Don't be afraid to make mistakes. The more you practice, the better and more confident your pronunciation and vocabulary will become. Remember that speaking is a skill, just like learning a musical instrument or a new sport — the only way to improve is to practice!

2. Read Aloud

Read a newspaper or a magazine aloud to yourself. You can even act out a script from your favorite TV show! This is an excellent way to practice pronunciation because you can focus on how your English sounds without having to worry about sentence structure or grammar.

3. Record Your Conversations

When a conversation is over, take a moment to reflect on how it went. How much do you believe you understand? How much at ease were you with the subject matter? Did you come across any unfamiliar words? Simply thinking about it in this way will boost your confidence the next time you speak.

4. Find Your Practice Partner

It is critical to find a practice partner, ideally a native English speaker. If you live in an area with a high concentration of English speakers, try incorporating casual conversations into your daily routine. If that is not an option, consider hiring a private tutor whom you can meet online using tools such as Skype or Google Hangouts, among others.

Conclusion

Practicing your public speaking skills in front of the mirror or recording it on your camera or smartphone will give you a broader perspective on which areas you need to improve. And always remember: practice makes perfect.

Would you like us to recommend the perfect practice partner? Enroll yourself in Board Infinity's Spoken English Course and practice your English skills with your own personal mentor.