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Whenever I give advice on how to improve speaking skills, the most common response I get is “But I have nobody to talk to.” So what can you do if you're in this situation? In this post, I’m going to give you some possible solutions.
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People ask me all the time how they can improve their English speaking skills. I’ve also noticed that some people think they are working on their speaking but actually, they are not doing the right things. That’s what today’s newsletter is all about.
In the classroom and on social media, I’ve been called Katie, Teacher, Teacher Katie, Miss Katie, Mrs Katie, Miss, Mrs, Madam, Ma’am, Sir, Mam, Mom, Mommy, Sister, Aunty, dear, honey, darling and many more!
I’m happy for my students and followers to call me “Katie”. I also accept most other names because I understand that there are cultural differences and I know that people want to be respectful. Some of the names in the above list are better than others and a few are unacceptable in the UK. I wonder if you can guess which ones! Keep reading to find out! Do you need a native speaker to practise speaking with or is it possible to make progress with a non-native partner or even on your own? How would you even find a native speaker to talk to anyway? Keep reading for some answers to these questions!
A lot of people really want to speak English but they are scared. Is this you?
Are you shy? Or you don’t know what to say? Or are you worried about making mistakes? Or worried that people won’t understand you? I tried learning Polish when I was living in Poland so I do know that it isn’t easy to get past this fear. But if you really want to speak English, you have to work on it! Here are some ideas. I had an interesting conversation on Facebook recently about the correct way to speak to your teacher. In many countries, it's important to show your teacher respect in the language you use but things are a little different in the UK, especially in adult aducation. Keep reading and learn more!
If you visit an English-speaking country or work with British or international colleagues, you might wonder about the best language to use to be polite. You might even be afraid of being rude unintentionally. If this is you, keep reading! (Please note that I’m English so I’m mainly talking about British culture here.)
Sometimes people talk about learning a language as if it’s a complicated and mysterious thing. There’s a lot of discussion about the best ways to teach and learn English. However, I think there are just three basic things you have to do if you want to speak better English. Keep reading to find out what they are.
"How can I speak English better?" It’s probably no surprise that this is the most common question I get from English learners. If you have the same question, keep reading to find out what I think the first step is. You can also get a free e-book to help you with your speaking.
Are there any mistakes which you keep making over and over? Does it drive you crazy?! If this is you, don’t worry! You are not alone! Most language learners have the same problem. Keep reading for some tips on what to do about it.
I often have students tell me they want to get rid of their accent and speak like a native speaker. Clear pronunciation is definitely important for effective communication but let’s think about whether it is realistic or even necessary to sound like a native.
My first post on tips for improving speaking skills in English is my most visited post so I thought I would do another one with some extra ideas for you! Click here to see the first post.
How do you feel about speaking English? Do you worry about making mistakes? Do you feel uncomfortable or worry that you will look stupid? I completely understand but I hope I can show you that it's not necessary to feel like this.
When you start learning a language, translating in your head is a natural and necessary thing to do. It can even be useful. However, if you are at a higher level and you really want to progress further, it’s a habit you should try to break. Keep reading to find out why and how to do it.
This is usually the number one goal of students, to speak English more easily. Unfortunately, there are no quick and easy shortcuts but you will definitely get better if you work hard and follow my top tips!
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