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Speaking Guideline
Formal versus informal speaking
Just like in your own language, the way you speak depends on who you are speaking to or with. Informal speaking situations include speaking with close friends, family workers and probably co-workers. Slang, idiom and relaxed pronunciation are more common in these situations. Small talk becomes less necessary when you are speaking with friends, but is considered polite in an informal situation with acquaintances. Sometimes your pace and volume shift when you feel more comfortable.
Formal situations require a different kind of language. Your speaking may even be rehearsed in some situations. You may feel nervous about saying everything properly. You must also consider manners and body language.
10 Speaking Tips
- Listen first. Try not to think about what you are going to say as you’re listening. Focus on listening, then focus on responding.
- Make eye contact. It’s important to make eye contact when you’re listening and speaking. Even if you’re nervous, try not to look at the ground. If you’re doing a presentation, practise enough so that you don’t have to read every word from your notes. Visuals can help you in a presentation.
- Learn transitional phrases and useful expressions. You will keep your listeners’ attention if you know some key expressions that will make the conversation flow.
- Use gestures appropriately. If you’re in a foreign country, take time to learn about body language. Some gestures in your country may mean something different in another country.
- Relax. You don’t have to speak perfectly. Many native English speakers are also nervous when they have to speak out loud in a group or with people that they don’t know. Try not to show that you are nervous.
- Don’t say sorry. If you apologize for your English, people will expect it to be poor. Believe that you are a strong English speaker, and your listeners will believe it too. If you make a mistake, simply keep talking or correct yourself.
- Be yourself. Let your personality out! People will enjoy speaking with you because of who you are, not because of the language you speak.
- Keep it simple. As with writing, it is important to speak in the simplest way you can. Don’t try to impress people with your large vocabulary. Use words and expressions that you are confident using.
- Pause and pace. Try not to speak too quickly, which may make it difficult for people to understand you. Listen to English speakers often to hear where natural pauses occur.
- Practise pronunciation, including word stress. One of the most important aspects of understanding each other’s spoken English is through the natural rhythm of our words and sentences. Native English speakers don’t think about word stress. They just speak. People who learn English as an additional language need to listen to English often in order to be able to use the natural word stress.
Functional language
In speaking we typically perform routine “functions” such as giving advice or apologizing. The vocabulary of this functional language involves various fixed expressions for each function–for example, “if I were you” or “my suggestion is” in giving advice, and “it was my fault” or “please forgive me” in apologizing. It’s worth spending time to learn and remember these expressions so that you can use functional language appropriately when speaking. Here are some more typical functions for you to learn and practise:
- agreeing and disagreeing
- expressing condolences
- expressing opinions
- giving directions
- greetings and farewells
- saying thank you
More speaking skills to practise
- negotiating
- presenting
- reporting
- small talk
- talking on the phone
- telling jokes
How to practise speaking
Finding people to talk to and practise English with used to be a lot more difficult. These days, if you have Internet an English partner or group is just a click away. You do not need to be face to face with anyone to practise speaking, but if you can join a club, attend a class or afford a tutor, you may find the practice more enjoyable.
- Talk to yourself
- Read aloud
- Find a conversation partner
- Take an English class
- Find a tutor or private lessons
- Video chat with other learners or teachers
- Voice chat with other learners or teachers
- Record your voice and upload it to MyEnglishClub
- Sing along to English songs (podcasts with lyrics or videos with subtitles)
- Call a friend on the phone
- Call businesses and ask questions
- Strike up a conversation with a stranger at the bus stop, on an aeroplane, in a cafe
- Use role-play cards with friends
- Try some tongue-twisters
- Travel
Details about Speaking Guideline – English Grammar :