[h=2]The following tips helped me
improve my spoken English and overcome my hesitation in the language. Hope they are useful for you too.
1. Don't study grammar too much
This rule might sound strange to many ESL students, but it is one of the most important rules. If you want to pass examinations, then study grammar. However, if you want to become fluent in English, then you should try to learn English without studying the grammar.
Studying grammar will only slow you down and confuse you. You will think about the rules when creating sentences instead of naturally saying a sentence like a native. Remember that only a small fraction of English speakers know more than 20% of all the grammar rules.
Many of us are interested in knowing the grammar perhaps more than the native speakers. I can confidently say this with experience. I am an undergraduate student in English Linguistics, and have been taught English sometimes by the native speakers. From his observation, he's been clear to a commitment that students know more details about English grammar than he does. He can easily look up the definition and apply it, but he doesn't know it off the top of his head.
I often ask my native English friends some grammar questions, and only a few of them know the correct answer. However, they are fluent in English and can read, speak, listen, and communicate effectively.
Now, this is the struggle to recite the definition of a causative verb, or the question of being able to speak English fluently!
2. Learn and study phrases
It amazes me how many words some of my friends knew when we first met in a Form Five class, but still they could not create proper sentences that reflected their abilities. The reason I later noticed was because they didn't study phrases. We're told, particularly in learning language acquisition, that when children learn a language, they learn both words and phrases together. Likewise, you need to study and learn phrases, my friend.
The untold fact is that, if you know 1000 words, you might not be able to say one correct sentence. But if you know 1 phrase, you can make hundreds of correct sentences. If you know 100 phrases, you will be surprised at how many correct sentences you will be able to say. Finally, when you know only a 1000 phrases, you will be almost a fluent English speaker.
My University don for Semantics course used to ‘technically play with words' in a manner that he could complicate hard your mind, but then when coming to analysis. They were only phrases. The strange things was perhaps we did not know them before. So, keep learning them.
With me, the other best way I employed was to learn as many synonyms as I could. This was because I was interested in writing, and thus I had to master a wide range of native vocabulary of English. I am, in fact, counted as one of the best writers in our finalist class. This, however, does not hold water to the fact that I am also the best speaker of English.
Don't translate
When you want to create an English sentence, do not translate the words from your Mother tongue. The order of words is probably completely different and you will be both slow and incorrect by doing this. Instead, learn phrases and sentences so you don't have to think about the words you are saying. It should be automatic.
Another problem with translating is that you will be trying to incorporate grammar rules that you have learned. Translating and thinking about the grammar to create English sentences is incorrect and should be avoided.
3. Reading and Listening is NOT enough. Practice Speaking what you hear!
Reading, listening, and speaking are the most important aspects of any language. The same is true for English. However, speaking is the only requirement to be fluent. It is normal for babies and children to learn speaking first, become fluent, then start reading, then writing. So the natural order is listening, speaking, reading, then writing.
You don't have to go anywhere to become a fluent English speaker. You only need to surround yourself with English. You can do this by making rules with your existing friends that you will only speak English.
I am happy that I found you here. I am a native of Lindi region (Southern zone) studying English Linguistics at the University of Dodoma (UDOM).[/h]
