"Why can't I speak English?"

People often ask me questions like this:

• I’ve been learning English for years so why is it still difficult to speak?
• I know lots of words but when I try to speak, I can’t! What’s wrong with me?
• My reading, listening and writing skills are good so why is speaking so difficult?

There isn’t just one answer because everyone is different but here are a few possibilities. You can decide which ones are true for you.

You don’t practise speaking enough
The problem:
You don’t have time, you don’t make the time to practise speaking or you don’t have many opportunities to speak English. If you’re busy or if you don’t know any other English speakers, it’s not easy, but it is possible.

The answer:
Try to practise speaking for at least 10 minutes a day. You need to either find somebody to talk to (a teacher, a practice partner or a friend) or you can practise speaking out loud even when you’re on your own. I’ve written more about this problem here.

You don’t read or listen enough
The problem:
Maybe you practise speaking but you never spend time reading or listening to English. You’re practising what you know but you’re not learning anything new.

The answer:
If you want to improve your speaking, you have to keep learning new vocabulary and grammar. The more language you put into your brain, the more language you can get out of your mouth when you speak. Reading and listening help you learn new words and grammar, plus they remind you of what you’ve learnt before. It keeps the language in the front of your mind instead of buried at the back so you can find the words more easily when you speak.
 
You’re practising the wrong things
The problem:
Some people read a lot or watch Netflix shows in English. They understand a lot of English but they still can’t speak. Part of the problem is that these activities make you feel like you’re doing something useful but you might not be doing the thing you need most. 

The answer:
Watching Netflix and reading in English are good things to do but they won’t magically help you with your speaking. They will only help you to speak better if you practise speaking as well. Here’s a suggestion: try talking about what you’ve been reading or watching. 

You’re not regular or consistent
The problem:
You only practise English once a week. Or perhaps you practise every day for a week and then don’t do any English for another week.

The answer:
Try to get into the habit of doing a little bit of English every day. Even a few minutes of practice every day will make a big difference.

You don't know enough words yet
The problem:
When you try to speak, you get halfway through a sentence and realise you don’t know the right words to say what you want to say.

The answer:
Build your vocabulary. The best way to do this is to read a lot. Don't know what or how to read to improve your vocabulary? Read this post.

You forget the words when you speak
The problem:
You do know the words but you can't find them when you speak. Perhaps you have a good passive vocabulary (words you understand) but your active vocabulary (words you can use) isn’t as good.

The answer:
This is very normal. It’s even true for native speakers as well as for learners. But of course, you want to turn your passive vocabulary into active vocabulary. The only way to do this is to use the words. When you get stuck for a word, make a note (probably in your own language). Then find the word in English and make a sentence using the word. Try to get the word into a conversation. You could also make some flash cards.

You're not sure about the grammar
The problem:
Maybe you know the words but you don’t know the grammar you need to make a good sentence.

The answer:
There are lots of websites, apps and books which will help you to learn and practise grammar. When you learn a new grammar point, remember to practise it in real conversation as well.

Your speaking is slow because you’re translating
The problem:
You think in your language and then translate it into English before you speak. This makes your speaking slow.

The answer:
Practise thinking in English! This is hard but it can be done! You can read more here.

You haven't been learning for long enough yet
The problem:
You've been learning English for 6 months or a year and you still find speaking the most difficult thing.

The answer:
It takes a long time to really master another language so be patient with yourself. Even a year is not that long actually. I recommend setting yourself some smaller short-term goals. This will help you to see your progress. You might like this post.

You want to be perfect
The problem:
You don’t want to make a mistake. You don’t want to get the grammar wrong or use the wrong word. So you stay quiet and don’t say anything.

The answer:
Remember that your English doesn’t have to be perfect in order for you to communicate well. Focus more on what you want to communicate and worry less about trying to be perfect. People will still understand you, even if you make a mistake. And if they don’t, they can always ask. People won’t even care that you made a mistake. They will be listening to your meaning and not your mistakes.

You're better than you realise
The problem:
You're aware of the things you don't know yet. You still make mistakes and you worry that you're not making progress.

The answer:
It easier to focus on the negative than on the positive. Try to notice the things that go well and celebrate your wins! And remember that the ability to recognise the gaps you still have in your knowledge is actually a sign of progress.

You’re worried about your accent
The problem:
You realise that you don’t have the same accent as a native speaker and you’re worried that people won’t understand you.

The answer:
You don’t need to have a British, American or other native accent in order to communicate effectively. People can understand a wide variety of different accents as long as you speak clearly. Practise any problematic sounds until you feel more confident and don’t worry about your accent.

You're nervous or scared so your brain freezes
The problem:
You can speak English just fine when you’re talking to a friend or to your teacher but as soon as you have to speak English in a meeting, for example, you get nervous and can’t find the words you need. It’s like your brain freezes up.

The answer:
This is just a problem of not having enough confidence. The good news is that the more you practise, the more your speaking will improve. And the more you make yourself speak even when you don’t want to, the more confident you will become.

Conclusion
If I wanted to summarise everything I’ve said above in just three points, I would say:
1. Practise speaking
2. Keep learning
3. Don’t let fear get in the way.

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