A few years back, my spoken English was pretty shaky. Expressing myself in English felt like a challenge. However, I discovered some effective methods that helped me become fluent—even while living in Thailand! And guess what? You can use these techniques from anywhere in the world. Let’s dive in!
The Secret to Fluency: Unconscious Knowledge
The biggest secret to speaking English well is to develop unconscious knowledge in the language. So, what is unconscious knowledge? It’s the ability to do something automatically, without having to think about it. Think of riding a bicycle or playing a musical instrument. You don’t focus on the mechanics; you just do it!
When you speak your native language, you don’t think about grammar rules or sentence structures; everything just flows naturally. This is because you have a high level of unconscious knowledge in that language. To speak English fluently, you need to increase your unconscious knowledge in English, making it feel just as natural.
How Do You Acquire Unconscious Knowledge?
Unfortunately, gaining this type of knowledge isn’t easy. It can’t be taught in a traditional sense or learned from grammar books. If you spend too much time studying grammar rules, you’re likely only acquiring conscious knowledge, which requires you to think about what you’re saying—definitely not ideal during a conversation!
So, how can you learn English unconsciously? By immersing yourself in the language, just like you did with your first language. Here are the two methods that helped me:
1. Listening
Listening is key! Even if you’re primarily focused on speaking, you need to listen to English regularly. Why? Because the language is complex. Without frequent exposure, you’ll find yourself confused when trying to form sentences or practice new words. Regular listening helps your brain get familiar with English, making speaking much easier.
Consume a variety of content like YouTube videos, podcasts, audiobooks, movies, and TV shows. It’s best if you enjoy the content you choose—if you’re bored, you’ll lose motivation! For example, I love Japanese culture, so I listen to related channels and podcasts. I also enjoy fantasy series like Harry Potter, and I’ve listened to those audiobooks many times!
2. Input-Driven Speaking Practice
What if you don’t have anyone to practice speaking with? Talking to yourself can be a start, but it has its limitations. You won’t learn new words or correct mistakes this way. Instead, focus on input-driven practice. This means engaging with English content, like podcasts or videos, and imitating what you hear.
Here’s how to practice the Imitation technique:
- Find an audio or video of a native speaker that isn’t too fast.
- Listen to it to familiarize yourself with the speech. Make sure you understand everything!
- Repeat after the speaker, word for word. Don’t wait for entire sentences; pause and repeat a few words at a time.
- Copy the rhythm, pronunciation, and emotion. Try to sound as much like the speaker as possible.
As you get better, challenge yourself by memorizing and repeating longer sentences. If you can’t recall the exact words, express the meaning in your own way. For example, if the original sentence was “Walking alone in a dense forest at night is absolutely terrifying,” you might say, “Walking alone in a forest at night is very scary.”
Make It Fun!
Remember, the best content for learning English is what you enjoy. Whether it’s travel vlogs, business podcasts, or thrilling movies, choose things that pique your interest. Avoid content that focuses on grammar, as it can lead to overthinking and hinder your fluency.
Practice Makes Perfect
How much should you listen? The more, the better! Aim for at least 30 minutes a day, but listen whenever you can—whether you’re working out, commuting, or doing chores. Just avoid distractions that require your full concentration.
The Bottom Line
To become fluent in English, focus on a lot of listening and speaking practice. Immerse yourself in enjoyable content, imitate native speakers, and watch your English skills flourish!