If you are planning to study abroad, especially in an English speaking country, you will require basic English skills, beyond your TOEFL scores to survive. It is often a massive challenge for students whose first language or medium of instruction are not English. Forward Pathway is of great help to aid in getting you prepped up enough for admission, but speaking fluent English in a country of native speakers requires practical experience, which no one can teach you beforehand. Here are some tips to improve your speaking skills.
Watch English Shows With English Subtitles
English TV shows and movies are a great way to learn the language, its accents and inflections as it is common with native speakers of the region. English subtitles will help you focus on the dialog and ensure that you do not miss out anything owing to a difference in accents. You can also learn new words, idioms and phrases, which you can start incorporating in your everyday conversations with the people around you.
Practice Reading Out Loud
In order to improve your reading and speaking skills alike, read a piece of English writing out loud in front of a mirror every day. At first it will seem odd and uncomfortable as you will be inevitably stutter and be slower, particularly with new words. Gradually with practice you will pick up pace and read as well as speak much faster than before. This will also help boost your confidence, and prepare you better for interviews and oral assignments.
Observe And Imitate Native Speakers
Your aim is to speak fluent English just like the native English speakers of the country do, and the best way to do that would be to observe and imitate their way of speaking. There are certain tones and accents, which are specific to certain regional speakers, and that can be confusing, but with time, you will start getting a hang of it. While you might not pass as a native English speaker, you will soon definitely become fluent enough to converse with people without a hitch.
Join A Local English Speaking Course
if you have some time at hand, you can look into local English speaking courses for adults or foreign individuals that you can join. This will offer you a great chance to learn and practice English, mostly from native speakers, interact with other students and even get a certificate for it. You will also have a chance to make new friends. Often these people, just like you, are also new to the country, and can help you find cool stuff around.
Be Open To Learning From Your Mistakes
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as every mistake is a learning opportunity. Initiate conversation with people, and if you make any errors, be open to learning from them. If you have some friends around who are close enough, ask them to correct your errors and explain where you went wrong. This is an effective way to understand the language better.
Picking up a whole new language as an adult might seem an intimidating task at first. However, with a little bit of mindful practice and effort, it can be surprisingly easy, especially in a new country you would be surrounded by native speakers all the time.
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