As a non-native English speaker with a solid grasp of written English, you’ve already accomplished a significant milestone. However, knowing how to develop spoken English skills is equally, if not more, important.
Speaking in English entails using the right words to express yourself clearly and confidently, so your listener fully understands you. Strong spoken English skills can increase your chances of excelling professionally and building great casual relationships .Â
No more beating around the bush. Let's get into it!
1. Practice Regularly with Native Speakers They say experience is the best teacher, and this is especially true when learning how to develop spoken English. When you interact with native speakers you get immediate feedback, allowing you to quickly learn (and unlearn!) in real time.Â
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This dynamic process helps you pick up natural speech patterns, appropriate slang, and expressions that you won’t find in textbooks. You can join language exchange programs or even frequently converse with your articulate colleagues.Â
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Now, we understand that this is sometimes easier said than done. Check out Josh and Eliza, two of BoldVoice's star coaches, discussing tips to help language learners interact with native English speakers to boost their spoken English:
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If interacting frequently with native English speakers isn't possible in your daily life, you still have options. One-on-one accent coaching , for instance, involves dedicated practice time with an educated native speaker who can help you advance your spoken English with professional techniques.
2. Read Aloud Daily More often than not, we imagine yourselves saying carefully constructed sentences, but what we produce when we speak can be quite different. To realistically bridge this gap and master spoken English, try reading aloud.
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By vocalizing the words you'll become more comfortable with the sounds and rhythms of English, making your spoken language sound more natural and confident. Read everything you’re comfortable with other people hearing, including books, magazines, and even billboard signs. Â
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This is an especially great technique if you struggle with intonation or stress in English.
3. Expand Your Vocabulary Instead of sticking to the same set of words, challenge yourself to learn new ones daily and discover how they are used in different contexts. But don’t just stop at memorization; try using these new words in your everyday conversations.Â
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You can also decide to focus on word clusters at a time and feed on them. For example, you’ll find vocabulary set for sales professionals or even common words of endearment to build relationships. This practice will help you familiarize yourself with these words and make them a natural part of your speech.Â
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Choose vocabulary that's relevant to your daily life, and watch your spoken English skills soar.
4. Use Language Learning Apps It's 2024 - there's an app for everything! Language learning apps provide you access to comprehensive and integrated learning programs, and structured lessons that can improve your English speaking skills. Â
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BoldVoice , for example, provides targeted and interactive exercises with a heavy focus on perfecting the General American accent . This app is particularly helpful for improving spoken English because you receive video lessons directly from Hollywood coaches. And as you learn, you receive instant feedback on your speech progress thanks to their advanced AI technology.Â
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5. Listen to English Podcasts If you want to learn how to develop spoken English skills, find a podcast that piques your interest and let it become a part of your daily routine. As you listen, you’ll catch on to how native speakers use words, phrases, and intonation in conversational English. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the language without feeling like you're even trying.Â
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You can listen to your favorite English podcasts while commuting, doing household chores, taking a walk, or just relaxing. The more you listen, the more you’ll find yourself naturally improving your speaking skills.
6. Record Yourself Speaking Recording yourself while speaking is a highly effective method for enhancing your spoken English. It allows you to hear and assess your speech, identifying issues such as mispronunciations or awkward pauses that you might not catch in real-time.
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You can use your phone to record yourself reading, summarizing your day, or practicing a presentation. This method acts as a personal feedback system, providing insights into your verbal habits.
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You may also use BoldVoice’s speech assessment technology to ease the process and gain immediate, objective pronunciation feedback.Â
7. Watch English Movies and TV Shows Just like with listening to podcasts, pick your favorite English movie and listen to how they converse. Also, observe their words, intonations, body language, and even facial expressions.
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More often than not, we tend to pick up pronunciation from these shows and gain insights into cultural contexts. Plus, it's fun!
8. Engage in Role-Playing If you want to refine your spoken English for professional reasons or to enhance your social interactions, role-playing can be incredibly effective. By acting out common scenarios like ordering food at a restaurant or asking for directions while traveling , you can better prepare for real-life situations.Â
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This hands-on practice also helps you become more comfortable and confident in using English in everyday contexts, and incorporating a friend into your language learning is one of the best ways to stay accountable.
9. Learn with Music Music often features everyday language and expressions, making it an enjoyable way to expand your vocabulary. When you sing along to your favorite English songs, you subconsciously also practice pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.
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Look up the lyrics of these English songs to understand the meaning and try to sing along. The catchy melodies make it easier to remember new words and phrases, and you’ll find yourself using them effortlessly in conversations.Â
10. Shadowing Technique Here’s how shadowing works: listen to a native speaker—this could be from a movie, podcast, or news segment—and then immediately repeat what they say as closely as possible.Â
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Start with short clips and gradually move on to longer ones as you become more comfortable. This technique helps you get used to the natural flow of English, improving your accent and rhythm.Â
11. Focus on Intonation Focusing on intonation and stress can make a significant difference in how natural your spoken English sounds. Intonation is the rise and fall of your voice as you speak, while stress is the emphasis you put on certain syllables or words.Â
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Notice how the voices of fluent speakers rise and fall and which words they emphasize, then try mimicking their speech patterns. You can also use the BoldVoice app to specifically target training on intonation and stress for some extra guidance.
12. Work on Your Body Language To develop your spoken English skills and communicate effectively, you need to combine both words and nonverbal delivery. Native speakers tend to tilt their heads, round their lips, or gesticulate with their hands when they talk.Â
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For example, imagine you’re in a physical job interview and need to answer a question. If you sit up straight with your shoulders back and your head held high, your posture conveys confidence, allowing you to project your voice. By learning American gestures and body language , you can significantly increase your in-person communication.
13. Practice Tongue Twisters Tongue twisters are a fun and quirky way to improve your pronunciation and fluency. Think of it as going to the gym, but for your speaking muscles.
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Imagine trying to say, "She sells seashells by the seashore" five times fast, without tripping over your words. It’s a challenge, but that’s the point!Â
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English tongue twisters force you to pay attention to the sounds you’re making and can help you playfully master the tricky pronunciation. You might stumble and laugh at first, but with practice, you'll notice a real improvement in your speaking skills.
14. Practice Pronunciation with Phonetic Exercises To truly master spoken English, you must first master the phonetic representation of difficult sounds. This will help you see tricky words beyond their spellings, and understand their sounds instead.Â
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You’ll find all of the 44 distinct English phonetic sounds on BoldVoice . These include all English consonants, pure vowels , and diphthongs .
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Take tricky words and break them down into their individual syllables. Prioritize mouth and tongue movements for each syllable, making sure to take it slowly and perfect your form. Consider practicing in front of a mirror to make sure that you're executing the movements correctly.
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You can take it a step further and isolate difficult sounds with minimal pairs exercises . If you struggle with the V sound , for instance, you can practice with pairs like "pave" and "pain" where each word is pronounced exactly the same, except for a single sound - the V sound.
15. Practice Storytelling When you craft stories and narrate them, you practice organizing your thoughts comprehensively. Storytelling also involves responding to feedback, which contributes to refining your conversational skills and periodically boosts your confidence.
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Start by describing something, anything, then form a story with your natural speech and try to show emotion through what you say. You can talk about your day, a movie you saw, or anything else you find interesting.
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If you're really looking to challenge yourself, consider joining your local Toastmasters club. This will give you a platform to practice your storytelling as you boost your English pronunciation and public speaking skills.
16. Learn Idioms and Phrasal Verbs Native speakers use idioms and phrasal verbs in everyday conversations often enough that they are regarded as common terms.
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There are idiomatic expressions for different contexts, although not all idioms are appropriate in professional environments. You simply need to master the right ways to use them. Don't worry - this comes with time and exposure.
17. Practice Emphatic Stress For clearer communication that flows like that of native speakers, take time to practice and master how to emphasize different aspects of your speech. This is because, like intonation, stress emphasis can affect general communication.
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For instance, saying "I never said he lied" with stress on different words can alter the focus and implication of your statement:Â
"I never SAID he lied" (emphasizing that you didn’t make the claim, someone else did). "I never said HE lied" (emphasizing that you claimed that someone else lied, not him). "I never said he LIED " (emphasizing that you said something about him, but not that he lied). ‍
Knowing how to improve English speaking skills means understanding the right way to manipulate emphatic stress. It helps you communicate more clearly and effectively, ensuring your message is delivered as intended.Â
18. Take an English Course Enroll in a course specifically focused on how to develop spoken English skills. Look out for courses with experienced tutors who focus on grammar and offer practical speaking exercises and personalized guidance as you progress.Â
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Taking an English course doesn't have to be a huge burden on your schedule or your budget. With BoldVoice , you can go through lessons at your own pace for about the price of a cup of coffee each month.
19. Engage in English Social Media Social media is a powerful tool for learning how to improve your English speaking skills, helping you to engage in real conversations online. Social media plays a big role in our lives, and it's an effective way to discover and practice techniques for enhancing your spoken English.
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Join English-speaking groups on Facebook, stream English-speaking content, and participate in discussions. By interacting with native speakers and others learning English, you can pick up new vocabulary, understand slang, and get a feel for natural conversational flow. You might even find a language exchange partner to practice with regularly!
20. Develop Confidence Easier said than done, but confidence has an astounding affect on the way we speak and interact - even native speakers. Without confidence, you might hesitate, stumble, or avoid speaking opportunities, which limits your practice and fluency. Even with a strong grasp of English, a lack of confidence can prevent you from speaking out.
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To develop confidence in speaking, you first need to practice speaking regularly in low-pressure settings before taking part in public discussions. Try to develop a practice plan to ensure consistency, and soon enough, you’ll find yourself leading presentations at work without thinking twice.
Boost Spoken English Skills with BoldVoice Strong speaking skills are essential for effective communication. However, developing those skills is often one of the most challenging aspects of learning a new language.
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While achieving a native-like level of proficiency is certainly challenging, it is achievable. Follow the tips mentioned above, and don't be afraid to use all resources at your disposal during your English language journey.
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For an all-in-one accent-learning platform that can significantly accelerate your progress, download BoldVoice and enjoy a 7-day free trial.
