Learn English Fluent Speaking

English is the most commonly spoken language in the world. Many people across the globe learn English as a second language and use it to communicate, write and read. Learning English is not easy, but with good practice and learning methods you can improve your English fluency.

Learning English can be a daunting task. There are hundreds of resources available to help you learn, but they all have one thing in common: they are either overly simplistic or too difficult to comprehend. Here is our list of some excellent resources that will help you learn English more effectively.

Learning English has never been easier than it is today. Thanks to the internet, it is now easier than ever to learn any language you desire. Learning English can be achieved in many ways: online, through books, and by interacting with native speakers.

12 tips for speaking English fluently

1. Start speaking English as much as possible

The one thing you absolutely have to do to speak English fluently: get more speaking practice. Almost all advice on achieving your fluency goals will eventually come down to this. Nothing else you can do is as effective, or as important.

2. Get a personal tutor

If you are serious about achieving fluency, invest in a personal language tutor. Talking to an expert English tutor even just once per week can dramatically boost your progress.

You’ll be able to ask questions about English regularly, discuss new words relevant to your own life, and will receive constructive feedback on your English conversation skills in real-time. It’s a highly efficient path to fluency.

3. Interact with English every single day

If you want to speak fluently, it’s vital to get as much exposure to English as possible. You should be doing something in English every single day, even if you’re not actively studying. There are simple changes you can make to your environment to help with this:

  • Change your phone / social media/tablet settings to English
  • Set your radio to play an English station by default
  • Listen to English music
  • Read the news in English
  • Commit to watching half of your TV shows and movies in English

This technique is called “language immersion.” It’s a great way to get used to the sounds of a new language and to reinforce what you have learned.

4. Use resources made for your level

If you’re determined to reach fluency, it can be tempting to skip over resources made for intermediate-level English learners and jump straight into content made for fluent English speakers.

Every ambitious language learner has done this at some point or another! However, the reality is that you’ll get a lot more from your study hours if you use resources made for your level.

For instance, instead of watching the latest American blockbuster with the subtitles on in your own language, try watching an episode of an English-language children’s show without any subtitles. You will understand far more and will gain more new vocabulary from context.

Not sure what level of English you’re currently at? There’s a free test you can take when you sign up to Preply.

5. Work on your pronunciation

Working on your pronunciation is helpful for a few reasons. Firstly, if another English speaker finds your accent hard to understand, they might underestimate your level of English which will be frustrating.

Secondly, some of the work in becoming fluent is physical. If your native language sounds very different to English, then you will need to pay attention to moving your mouth and tongue in a new way.

6. Learn phrases, not words

Fluency is being able to speak without hesitation. If you learn English words one at a time, it will be very hard not to hesitate when constructing sentences. That’s because you’ll have to translate every English sentence in your head from your native language, word by word. There is another way: learning new words as part of a common phrase can ease mental strain when speaking.

To take a very basic example, if you are learning the word “tonight,” it would help to try and learn the whole phrase “tonight, I am going to.” This way, when you need to discuss your plans for the evening, your brain has half of the reply pre-prepared — there’s less pausing and thinking involved.

Learning lists of phrases in a new language is also known as “sentence mining”. Fans claim that it makes them able to use new vocabulary faster, and memorize its grammar more naturally.

7. Accept that you will feel uncomfortable speaking English

For almost everyone, speaking any new language means fighting through a fear barrier. This is completely normal! Your native language is a very precise tool for describing concepts. You are completely aware of subtle implications your words carry, how to use irony and humor, and how word stress can slightly change the meaning of what you’re saying.

By comparison, speaking in any new language feels like using a blunt axe. You can’t say exactly what you mean. You might offend someone, or make a fool of yourself. You certainly won’t seem as smart as you really are. It’s intimidating! Few language learners talk about how much it sucks

8. Consider a big lifestyle change

It almost goes without saying: the fastest way to become fluent in English is to move to an English-speaking country. If you are determined to speak fluent English and can relocate for a few months, this will save a lot of time.

However, for most people, this just won’t be possible. Don’t worry if that applies to you because there are other big lifestyle changes you can make to boost your English level, including:

9. Plan your conversations when you can

This might seem like a silly tip for people who want to gain fluency. After all, fluency means being able to talk easily about anything you like! Well, that’s true — but if you aren’t there yet, then a bit of planning might boost your confidence.

10. Don’t focus too much on English grammar

Native speakers disobey the rules of their own language all of the time. This is something you’ll know if you’ve ever had to type out a recording of a spoken conversation. Many British high school students don’t know what a phrasal verb is, even though they use them all the time.

11. Make the most of technology

Many students (and even adults) consider translation tools like Google Translate and Sign Language Interpreter to be “cheating”. However, they are a valuable resource! Using these tools will improve your English much more than simply memorizing vocabulary lists.

12. Try some karaoke

Did you know that most languages including English had a myth about people who spoke the wrong way and made up stupid accents to try and appear clever? Well, if this is something which has affected your confidence, then don’t worry! There are many other ways that you can boost your Spanish level. Learn more in our Diploma in Hispanic Languages Course .