Don’t worry. Even if you don’t have a speaking partner, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your English speaking.
1. Use your listening exercises to improve speaking.
As you listen to English speech (be it TV, Youtube videos, audiobooks, or podcasts), turn that into a speaking opportunity. What you can do is to listen to small chunks of speech and repeat after the speaker. You will soon begin to pick up native English intonation, pronunciation, and new vocabulary. This exercise is extremely useful in improving your speaking.
2. Practice speaking to yourself.
You don’t necessarily have to have a speaking partner in order to improve your English speaking. When you are alone, you can practice your speaking by talking to yourself. This is the time to let go of your inhibitions and start expressing your thoughts. Some useful tips:
a) Whenever you feel stuck and are at a loss for a word, try working your way around that word and explain it by using words you already know.
b) Try speaking in front of the mirror. This way, you will gain awareness of your facial expressions and body language.
c) Practice doing impromptu speeches. The way you do that is pick a topic, any topic, and try to speak about it for 2 to 3 minutes. An important part of this exercise is to not stop talking for those 2-3 minutes. Even if you have nothing to say, you have to speak and fill the silence until you gather your thoughts and resume speaking about your topic
3. Try tongue twisters.
Tongue twisters are really great for enunciation. Think of them as English yoga, because not only do they train you to physically pronounce certain sounds correctly, they also train your mind. These diction and pronunciation exercises are designed to help you speak more clearly and become more articulate. Even though they may sound silly to you, don’t underestimate the impact they can have on your speech.
4. Use the Internet to speak to native English speakers
Even if you don’t have favorable conditions to practice your English speaking skills, you can find a perfectly qualified native English speaking tutor online with us at English Ninjas.
We make it as convenient as possible for you to practice your skills. You get to choose your own tutor, and the time and frequency of your lessons.
Moreover, our professionals design your lessons according to your very interests and needs, so that your speaking sessions are as fun as they are useful.