You Can Improve Your English Speaking Skills With Some Simple Steps

By Roger Evans


Mastering the art of speaking English fluently can be difficult. If you are new to the United States, this is a skill you will have to conquer if you intend to get a job with a good future. It usually isn't enough to read and write the language. That won't help you when you sit down for an interview with human resources personnel. You can increase your fluency, and employment opportunities, by following a few steps to improve your English speaking skills.

Those who can already read the language have an advantage. One great way to improve your communication skill is by reading out loud. If you have children, you can read to them, which will give you some good practice. It will have the added bonus of you and your children spending quality time together. When you're choosing books to read, try to find ones with lots of conversational dialog.

You could learn a lot by listening to broadcasters on podcasts and the television news. You might not understand it all, but you can get some good pointers. Newscasters talk for a living. They have been trained to enunciate and use proper grammar. Most of them had professors who taught they how to speak without any regional accents. Instead they are trained to develop a generic speech pattern.

You should never be afraid to join in a conversation with native Americans. Most people are friendly and obliging, especially when they understand you are trying to improve yourself. You could enroll in language classes to get formal instruction. You might also take classes in subjects you enjoy like cooking or painting.

Some English words are hard for foreigners to pronounce. If you have this problem, try watching how a person's mouth moves when saying particular words. Unless you are going to be very discreet about this, you may want to let the individual in on what you are doing. When you are by yourself, you can use a mirror to try and replicate the mouth movements you observed.

Learning English can be frustrating because, instead of being a pure language, it is a combination of Latin, German, and French. Pronunciations don't always make a lot of sense. One great resource for those studying the language is the Phonetic alphabet. It uses symbols that match sounds. In this way, you can begin to pronounce words, spelled alike but pronounced differently or vice versa, correctly.

You shouldn't expect to learn to speak a foreign language fluently overnight. It takes time and plenty of practice. You will have to be patient with yourself and the people around you. It's entirely possible that you will make new friends as you acquire language skills and get used to the customs of a new country.

The best way to take advantage of all America has to offer is to become conversant in the language and familiar with its customs. You will have more opportunities and better chances for financial success. These are probably some of the most important reasons you immigrated in the first place.




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