Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Absolute Niro]

Today I realized that I suck at speaking English. I stumble over words a lot, and I often mix up consonant sounds. It's not that I don't know how to pronounce words, or have insufficient knowledge of the grammar, I simply can't seem to get the words out when I speak. I do just fine in my native language.

So does Bay12 have any tips on how to become more fluent? I'd like to at least be able to keep up with a native speaker, and at the same time be understandable.

[Askot Bokbondeler]

you need to use it more. move in with someone who doesn't speak your language! or do something less radical, like live video\audio chat with internet friends form abroad

[XXSockXX]

I think hearing the language helps a lot, try to watch movies/tv and such in English.

Simply speaking the language is the best way of course. I don't actually speak English that often, and when I do I need some time to adjust, but over a conversation it gets a lot easier. So try to find a nativer speaker you can talk to regularly, that should help.
If you study at a university or even live near one, it should be easy to find some English speaker, who may want to learn your language, and you can help each other practice.

[Vector]

Livestream.

[scriver]

Sing along to songs

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I've heard many tales about how non-English speakers got the hang of the language by having to play video games in English. No idea if that'll work for you, but it's worked for some people.

Not being able to get the words out is normal. In three years of German classes I never got to the point of being able to flow without pauses and hesitation.

[Askot Bokbondeler]

that works for written english, it doesnt do much for speech

[Blargityblarg]

that works for written english, it doesnt do much for speech

I imagine games with spoken dialogue (and a significant amount of it) would be good for spoken English in the sdame way as English music and video, though I can equally see a lot of games that would be no help at all.

[Askot Bokbondeler]

nah, unless you have to use voice commands, but i'm not sure such a game exists. that's my experience anyway, i learned to read and write and understand spoken english long before i was able to speak the language comfortably. that only came when i got to actually interact with people

[DJ]

Teamspeak.

[Gervassen]

Be handsome. Acquire foreign girlfriend.

[anzki4]

Games, movies, etc. don't help speaking, because... you aren't actually speaking. It helps you to read, write and understand English speech, but doesn't help speaking. Well it does help you in a way, because you know how to say what you want to say, but it doesn't help your pronunciation. To train that you need to actually speak, and for that you have already few good suggestions on this thread.

Speaking as someone who learned the very basics at school and the rest from music/movies/games/internet. (English classes have been pretty much useless after grasping the basics.)

[DJ]

Multiplayer games where you use voice chat definitely help.

[Owlbread]

Try to live in an English speaking country for at least a month where you will speak only English and be immersed in English. Language immersion is the way to go.

[Sergius]

I learned english by playing Space Quest I to III.

Then I learned spoken english by watching cable channels with no subtitles (I didn't have cable so a friend taped Deep Space 9 eps for me).

Later I polished my pronounciation by living a month abroad.