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.