Talking to native speakers or a good teacher is definitely the most effective approach if you want to improve your foreign language communication skills, especially if you’re a beginner or an intermediate learner. But what should you do if you have only two classes per week and not many native-speaking friends yet? You know you need to practice more to finally break that language barrier. Well, you can practice by talking to yourself! ?
Note: We mention English in this post, but the same tricks work no matter what language you’re working on!
Tip 1. Think in English
This may sound funny at first, but it is one of the most effective exercises. You don’t have to think in English all the time, but set 15-30 minutes a day to focus on thinking in English only. A good way to do it is to describe to yourself something specific, for example the events of the day or a movie you have recently seen. You can do it whenever you’re by yourself - while commuting to work, walking your dog, or washing the dishes. Try narrating exactly what you’re doing: “I’m washing the spoons now. The soapy water is warm and bubbly.” It will take some time to get used to but, honestly, it brings fantastic results!
Tip 2. Karaoke, Anyone?
Are there some songs that you’ve heard a long, long time ago but somehow still know the lyrics to? Well, that’s how our brain works. Singing helps you get acquainted with language and helps with building ad-hoc constructions, which are hidden somewhere in your subconscious and can stay there for a long time. What a great way to learn new vocabulary! Find the lyrics of a song you like, look up the words you don’t know, and then sing along. Lyrics often contain interesting slang and everyday phrases, which will make it easier for you to start talking like a pro.
Tip 3. Talk to Yourself
If you’re preparing for an English-speaking job or you’re taking an English certificate soon, you will have to learn how to deal with your nerves. Body language can say more than actual words, so learning how to look confident can go a long way. That is why it’s great to exercise in front of a mirror. Imagine you’re about to give a speech (at the Oscars ceremony, a charity ball or whatever). Focus not only on what you say, but how you say it and how you behave while saying it. If you don’t feel nervous, you won’t look nervous and you’ll be able to concentrate better.
Tip 4. Watch Movies and TV series
One of the most important steps to breaking a language barrier is getting familiar with specific vocabulary and constructions which are used by natives. Watching movies and shows in English will help you with that. If you’re below the C1 level, turn on subtitles (in English!) to make it easier to understand and to learn the spelling. Observing native speakers in their ‘natural’ habitat. Try repeating many of their lines. Learning what they say, when and how they say it will give you much needed confidence to finally overcome your fear and start talking. And let’s face it – it’s simply fun!
Tip 5. Eat, Sleep, Repeat
There is no better way to breaking a language barrier than speaking, speaking and then speaking a little bit more. If you want to focus on perfecting your accent and pronunciation, you have to consistently practice. Every day. Try to use every occasion to speak in English. Convince your friend / partner / parent to speak English with you. Or just speak English to them and pretend you don’t understand if they respond in your mother tongue. If you feel this is not quite how you should pronounce some word, try to use Google Translator and practise pronouncing it until you are satisfied with your pronunciation. Another trick, which might require some courage, is to record yourself and then listen and analyse what mistakes you make.
Tip 6. Train Your Pet in English
If you’ve got a good friend at home in the form of a dog, cat, rabbit, snail, or whatever, retrain them in English. It will feel strange at first, but that’s the point - sometimes it feels strange speaking another language. Get over that strange feeling while speaking to an animal, and then you can work your way up to people!
Which strategy do you want to start with? Have fun with it!