How do you practice oral English if you are not a native speaker?
By May2008
@May2008 (179)
China
December 9, 2008 7:20pm CST
Though I have learnt English for many years, I can not chat with an English-speaking person freely and fluently. I find it is so hard to choose proper words to express my own feelings. Day by day, I get to know that to write is one thing, to say is another. Many English learners here can catch the speakers, but somehow we have to call them mute. The town I live in is a very small city. We rarely see a foreign friend. So the chance to chat with English speakers face to face is impossible to some extent. If you are not a native English speaker, how do you practise speaking? If you are, could you give me some advice?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Richard_Uther (229)
• Argentina
10 Dec 08
I use MSN's video chat feature to talk to people form the US, Canada and the UK, at first it was hard but then I started getting used to it.
I'm not really fluent yet, and I'm still very self conscious about my accent, but I'm getting better at it. Or at least I think I am.
I think that's the best thing you can do, talk to people from English speaking countries.
Rich
@kaka135 (14927)
• Malaysia
17 Feb 09
As I am staying in a multi-racial country, so I always have opportunity to speak to others in English. Also, most of my colleagues are speaking in English, hence I always have chance to practice my English speaking. If you are really keen in practicing your English speaking, perhaps you can consider chatting with foreigners online. I used to voice chat with some foreigners, and I think it's a good method for us to practice our speaking and also listening skill. It'll be good if you can find some nice friends from foreign countries and they can really help you to improve your English skills. 
@May2008 (179)
• China
20 Feb 09
Thank you for your response. I know that it is a nice way to chat online with the foreigners, but it seems that it's unavailable to find a foreign friend here for we have no overseas searching function in our chatting software,such as MSN. Anyway, thanks for your response.
@anitajayakumar (1202)
• India
10 Dec 08
Practice and exposure. Speak it as much as you can with native speakers. If you don't have this option, watch American (or English) television and pay close attention to the pronunciation. Try to repeat. Also, read books in English.
English is my second language and, until I began to THINK in English I wasn't very good. The more exposure and practice you get, the better you'll become. There is no INSTANT method (if you find one, patent it, you'll be a millionaire).
@ladynetz (968)
• Canada
10 Dec 08
Traveling to an English speaking country, live for few years - that's the best scenario.
Otherwise, you can have a "skype" phone and make friend in forums that are willing to talk to you over skype.
Or read loud an English novel, practice to hear yourself speaking.You can also tape yourself reading, or tape yourself having a conversation with yourself.Choose a topic, and than when hearing it, check yourself out.
For sure you'll pay attention to problems.
@legend4u (1019)
• India
10 Dec 08
i am not a native English speaker. but i have went to some spoken English coaching centers. i must say i really have helped me. and what i have understood is that how ever i tried we can't get it good unless we communicate with person who can speak very good English
@geetnx (51)
• Kuwait
10 Dec 08
go to a chatroom for english speaking people and instead of communicating thru typing, try to use phone calls. that way you can practice speaking english.
