Hello my fellow working mom,
How are you today? I hope you're doing well.
This post is inspired from my colleagues in Sabah. After one of our meeting with vendors, he given compliment on my confident to speaking in English 😊😊 and he shared with me that he is not confident to speak English and this has been his issue in his career for so long. Due to this, he became lack of confidence in his workplace.
As you aware, most of Malaysian are able to understand English but some of us, still lack of confident to speak in English. Able to speak in English is really important in most of companies/workplace in Malaysia.
I started to confident to speak in English back in my university day. My best friend and ex boyfriend 😆 , they are communicate in English daily so this make me push myself to learn and be confident to speak in English. I am so grateful I've met them and God bless them always.
So, here are several learning tips that can help you build your confidence in speaking English:
We all have a favorite movie, television show, songs or even YouTube channel, right? But instead of just watching them silently, listen carefully to what the characters or hosts are saying and repeat the dialogue that interests you.
Go ahead and pause, rewind and listen to the lines several times if you must. Or better yet, turn on the English subtitles setting to help you identify each word. This is a fun way of practicing both your listening and speaking skills with materials that are both enjoyable and entertaining.
I first learned about English language using Westlife song, My Love! I memorized every single words in this song. From this song, I learned how they pronounced each words.
In today's word, it's getting so much easier to find resources to listen English, just you need to be confident to talk in English at your workplace.
2. Practice speaking daily
It’s always difficult to practice by yourself, especially when it comes to improving your speaking skills. Therefore, find a likeminded group of friends or colleagues who shares your goal of becoming more confident in using English.
Get together and implement the “English Only” rule while you hang out, meaning that everyone must only speak English for the next hour or two. With such a support system, you’ll feel more secured to open up and speak English without being hampered by insecurities.
Don't be scared to speaking in English, no matter how's the sound like, just be brave to speak in English. You will not going to able to speaking in English if you not speaking it. Just do it!
3. Read out loud
Whether you prefer a novel or a piece of non-fiction text, spend at least 30 minutes every day reading, and then another 30 minutes reading out loud. This is a great way of developing your reading skills while practicing pronunciation as well as intonation of various words and lengths of sentences.
If you are unsure of how to pronounce a specific word, simply consult a learner’s dictionary, Google or YouTube. But don’t get too caught up on the details of every single word you don’t understand.
The point of this exercise is to enhance your confidence in speaking, and reading out loud allows you to practice pronunciation in the privacy and comfort of your own home/room.
Remember: it’s okay to make mistakes. If you find yourself stumbling across long or complicated words, simply stop and give yourself a few seconds to breathe, then continue speaking.
The fact that you’re communicating in a language that is not your mother tongue is reason enough for your to be proud of your accomplishments.
As with every difficult task, the key to speaking English with confidence is to practice, practice and practice some more. Be consistent in your language journey and make sure to set aside some time every day to speak English!
5.Speak slowly and clearly
Take your time while speaking English. When you speak too fast, you might make mistakes or say the wrong thing.
So, say the words to yourself first and then speak clearly. If needed, ask the listener if they understood you to improve your spoken English language confidence.
%20(8).png)
Here are several tools that can help people improve and practice their English speaking skills! Here are some popular ones:
1. Language Learning Apps
- Duolingo: Has interactive lessons focused on speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
- HelloTalk: Connects you with native English speakers for language exchange.
- Busuu and Babbel: Both offer structured lessons, including pronunciation and speaking practice.
2. Conversation Platforms
- Tandem: Matches you with native speakers to practice speaking.
- Speaky: Another language exchange app to practice English in real-time with others around the world.
3. AI Chatbots and Voice Assistants
- ChatGPT: Can help you practice English conversation and improve fluency.
- Google Assistant and Siri: You can ask questions, practice speaking, and even have simple conversations with these assistants to build comfort in speaking.
4. Speech Recognition and Pronunciation Tools
- Elsa Speak: An AI-powered app that helps you improve your pronunciation by listening and giving feedback on accuracy.
- Google Pronunciation Tool: Just search “how to pronounce [word]” on Google, and it provides a demo along with feedback on your pronunciation.
5. Online Tutoring Platforms
- Italki and Preply: Connect you with English-speaking tutors for personalized speaking practice. You can have one-on-one sessions tailored to your skill level.
6. Immersive Practice Websites
- BBC Learning English: Offers listening exercises and conversations in English with transcripts.
- TED Talks: Watching English TED Talks can help improve listening and understanding, and you can repeat phrases to practice speaking.
Many of these tools offer both free and premium options, so you can explore and see which one fits your learning style best!
Conclusion
Remember, improving your spoken English language will take time and effort.
Take your time and enjoy the learning journey. Have fun trying out these tips and tricks, and soon you'll see your spoken English skills reach the next level!
Sources:
https://www.britishcouncilfoundation.id/en/english/articles/speaking-with-confidence
0 comments