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 ESL
students know more grammar than native speakers. I can confidently say
this with experience. I am a native English speaker, majored in English
Literature, and have been teaching English for more than 10 years.
However, many of my students know more details about English grammar
than I do. I can easily look up the definition and apply it, but I don't know
it off the top of my 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.
Do you want to be able to recite the definition of a causative verb, or do you
want to be able to speak English fluently?
2. Learn and study phrases
Many students learn vocabulary and try to put many words together to
create a proper sentence. It amazes me how many words some of my
students know, but they cannot create a proper sentence. The reason is
because they didn't study phrases. When children learn a language, they
learn both words and phrases together. Likewise, you need to study and
learn phrases.
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.
The English Speaking Basics section is a great example of making
numerous sentences with a single phrase. So don't spend hours and hours
learning many different words. Use that time to study phrases instead and
you will be closer to English fluency.
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.
First Problem
Isn't it strange that schools across the world teach reading first, then
writing, then listening, and finally speaking? Although it is different, the
main reason is because when you learn a second language, you need to
read material to understand and learn it. So even though the natural order
is listening, speaking, reading, then writing, the order for ESL students is
reading, listening, speaking, then writing.
Second Problem
The reason many people can read and listen is because that's all they
practice. But in order to speak English fluently, you need to practice
speaking. Don't stop at the listening portion, and when you study, don't
just listen. Speak out loud the material you are listening to and practice
what you hear. Practice speaking out loud until your mouth and brain can
do it without any effort. By doing so, you will be able to speak English
fluently.
4. Submerge yourself
Being able to speak a language is not related to how smart you are. Anyone
can learn how to speak any language. This is a proven fact by everyone in
the world. Everyone can speak at least one language. Whether you are
intelligent, or lacking some brain power, you are able to speak one
language.
This was achieved by being around that language at all times. In your
country, you hear and speak your language constantly. You will notice that
many people who are good English speakers are the ones who studied in an
English speaking school. They can speak English not because they went to
an English speaking school, but because they had an environment where
they can be around English speaking people constantly.
There are also some people who study abroad and learn very little. That is
because they went to an English speaking school, but found friends from
their own country and didn't practice English.
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. You can
also carry around an iPod and constantly listen to English sentences. As
you can see, you can achieve results by changing what your surroundings
are. Submerge yourself in English and you will learn several times faster.
5. Study correct material
A common phrase that is incorrect is, "Practice makes perfect." This is far
from the truth. Practice only makes what you are practicing permanent. If
you practice the incorrect sentence, you will have perfected saying the
sentence incorrectly. Therefore, it is important that you study material that
is commonly used by most people.
Another problem I see is that many students study the news. However, the
language they speak is more formal and the content they use is more
political and not used in regular life. It is important to understand what
they are saying, but this is more of an advanced lesson that should be
studied after learning the fundamental basics of English.
Studying English with a friend who is not a native English speaker is both
good and bad. You should be aware of the pros and cons of speaking with a
non native speaking friend. Practicing with a non native person will give
you practice. You can also motivate each other and point out basic
mistakes. But you might pick up bad habits from one another if you are not
sure about what are correct and incorrect sentences. So use these practice
times as a time period to practice the correct material you studied. Not to
learn how to say a sentence.
In short, study English material that you can trust, that is commonly used,
and that is correct.
Summary
These are the rules that will help you achieve your goal of speaking English
fluently. All the teachings and lessons on TalkEnglish.com follow this
method so you have the tools you need to achieve your goal right here on