Getting Comfortable with Spoken English: A Beginner's Guide
A new venture like Spoken English can be simultaneously exciting and intimidating for
beginners. Every year millions of people start learning spoken English with the common
motto of becoming fluent in less time. Some learners focus too much on grammar
that they fail to see the bigger picture called Nativity. If you could strike the right balance
among Accuracy, Fluency and Nativity, you would get comfortable with English
conversations. Fortunately, anyone can achieve this with the comprehensive guidance and
perseverance.
This beginner guide – "Getting Comfortable with Spoken English" - is a straightforward
corpus of solid dos and don'ts to help you adapt to English-speaking environments.
Rule 1: Basic Vocabulary is Enough!
Yes, you heard it right. Before learning all the bombastic words, listen to the basic English
vocabulary repeatedly and practice pronunciation at once, as it will help you lose the
mother tongue influence.
Do: Revise daily words, especially verbs, that you can use in daily conversation.
Don't: Setting a false goal – "I will memorize 5 new hard words everyday. Let me start with
abominate, abstruse, affidavit, aggrandize, …."
Beginners can better spend time revising the words that they already know and can use in
daily English conversations.
Rule 2: No mixed Language please!
Once you know the basic sentence structure, start talking in English…only in English. At least
for an hour every day. Make it a point to start and complete a sentence with the same
language.
Do: If you start a sentence in Tamil / your mother tongue complete it in Tamil. Likewise, if
you start a sentence in English, complete it in English.
Don't: Starting a sentence in Englisha and ending it with Tamil/other language is not
advisable, as it notably affects your English Fluency.
Rule 3: Little Grammar will Do!
Many Second Language Learners firmly believe that learning all the grammar portions would
be a great start in their Spoken English Journey. But it is not. All you need is a little Grammar
and a lot of practice.
Do: Learn a few basic sentence structures (like SVO) and practice them thoroughly. We
strongly recommend using them in every context.
Don't: Please avoid memorizing sentences, as it will not help you create any sentences
independently.
Rule 4: Make Reading a Routine.
Learning a language is an Art, which demands inspiration and imitation. If you want to get
comfortable talking in English, try to read every day. Don't get greedy at the start. Start with
simple kids' stories like Famous Five, Judy Moody, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, or even Danny and
the Dinosaur.
Do: Select books based on your level and read a story daily. Try books by Ladybird and the
Hey Jack series.
Don't feel embarrassed to read picture books and Graphic novels. It does not matter what
you have in hand. It is all about continuous reading.
Rule 5: Try Writing.
If you find it hard to construct basic sentences in English, try writing them first. Studies done
by BBC show that most Adult learners learn to speak English through Reading and Writing.
So, help your mind sequence the words in the order by writing simple stories that you have
heard recently using basic structures.
Do: Try writing one-page stories maintaining one individual tense, for example, simple
present. If nothing comes to mind, start with kids' stories like Jack and the Beanstalk.
Don't start with complex sentences if you are a beginner, and do not underestimate the
power of story writing.
Rule 6: Watch short videos in English.
Next comes listening. Remember, if you want to sound natural in English, you should listen
to the natives. Beginners can start watching 3-5-minute short videos with clear
pronunciation. Select videos with one narrator, as you may find it hard to listen to multiple
voices.
Do: Try watching 2 minutes motivational videos in English, TED talks, etc.
Don't threaten yourself by watching web series with heavy accents.
Rule 7: Don't Give Up!
Practicing Spoken English is just like solving Rubik's cubes. All you need are patience and
practice. Consider joining Spoken English Classes or conversation groups in your locality or
online. Interacting with others can surely boost your confidence and prepare you for real-
life situations.
Do: Practice, Practice, and Practice with the proper guidance.
Don't expect immediate results. Nobody can master a language in a month or two.
Remember, the more you practice, the more you become fluent in English. The more you
become fluent, the more you get comfortable with Spoken English. As already stated, it's
okay to make mistakes but you should not get used to it. With time and effort, you will find
yourself comfortable in the English-speaking world.
