The English language is often referred to as the lingua franca of today, a term often used to define a language used among speakers as the common tongue to communicate between different parties. Yet, the definition goes beyond this simple explanation and often refers to a language used as the common language in medicine, science, technology, economics, and other areas of knowledge.
In every case, the importance of knowing English in the midst of globalization has proven quite resourceful to non-native speakers opening new job prospects and opportunities. Yet again, to use the language in such a manner one must show proficiency and a vast understanding of the language itself, which brings us to our little guide as we’ll try to introduce six effective tips on how to become more fluent without much effort.
The more you speak the better you become
One cannot stress enough the importance of speaking the language as often as possible to become more fluent. Fluency is a matter of time and practice rather than theoretically approaching the learning process.
We naturally become better as we speak, children who were not exposed to the language as frequently have shown to be less fluent as opposed to children who spoke regularly, and therefore the simplest tip yet most effective one is engaging in conversations as much and as often as it is possible. There are several ways at achieving this, one way is to simply pair up with a friend or peer interested in acquiring the same skill and exchange words, engage in discussions, and simply talk until you become more articulate.
The tactic is even part of modern teaching approaches as the old “ grammar-translation method” has proven to be ineffective in preparing learners for “ real life” situations where they have to put the language to use. You can pay for online classes, which is another option, or you can simply make use of the many apps available where you engage in conversations with an AI though you cannot hope for elaborated discussions rather simple talk. Explore your options and do not forget to practice.
Hire someone to teach you
Another approach to becoming more fluent is simply learning the rules and trying to apply them while speaking. A tutor is effective as he or she can engage in conversations with you and are always open to answering any questions you might have. Furthermore, tutors can give you step-by-step instructions for improving your skills, they’ll keep track of your progress and make sure to regularly keep you busy with homework. I
n your free time between classes, you can always try to find something out on your own. There are various sites you can visit for this purpose such as www.grammarhow.com where you also can find articles on topics not specifically regarded to fluency but rather on rules and other topics that can contribute to you becoming more eloquent than before. For example, you can look up the use of the, etc., re., e.g., and other short words quite common in writing.
Or you can educate yourself on other interesting topics you’ll need at one point. The advantage of having a tutor precedes the reasons we mentioned, as the most important part is having someone to give you proper feedback you can later use and work with.
Expose yourself to the language
You know you have become better once you start thinking in English. And no, it is not an overstatement as people are showing signs of progress once they start using the language more than the native tongue. To achieve this, you’ll need to expose yourself to the language regularly, meaning you’ll have to speak it, listen to it, and hear it as much as possible. You have probably heard people telling you “ I learned English playing video games”, and though it might seem ridiculous it is actually one of the most effective methods of learning.
Our brains make links and associations the more we are exposed thereby adapting and acquiring new words, phrases, and even rules. We do this often unintentionally as we are simply programmed to do so, one of the many adaptive skills of our brains, enabling us to swiftly get accustomed to a new language. The more the better, and as you are trying to become more fluent the last thing you want to do is shut yourself away from the language, or simply restrict yourself to those 45-minute classes with the tutor twice a week.
Expand your vocabulary
The more words you know the more will you’ll have to engage in conversations and express your intended thoughts. If you restrict yourself to simple phrases and words, you’ll limit the ways in which you can convey or talk about your feelings and thoughts. It is not only frustrating, but it also greatly influences your motivation to learn and speak. One new word and phrase per day amounts to 365 new words and phrases at the end of the year, which is quite a number.
Have the confidence to talk
You’ll have to work on your pronunciation and to do so you’ll essentially need to engage in conversations that often require confidence. But, without you’ll never become fluent or speak the langue as desired. Therefore feel free to talk, and make mistakes as you are a student and you have every right to fail. Once you have freed yourself from such limitations you can easily become fluent in no time.
Know your level
Once you have established your proficiency level you can work on becoming better by using the right material. This though is done much faster and more effectively with the help of a trained tutor who’ll introduce you to the right books.
It is a process, and like every process, it requires time and dedication. Again, our brains are quite adaptive when it comes to acquiring language ( it is simply one of those reflexes we have inherited and taken for granted), and the only way to become better is to persist and motivate yourself until you do.