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How to learn fluent English: Here is list of problems and their solutions to your rescue!

English has become a widely used language all over the world and knowing the language fluently helps us in communicating better with people all around. Communication skills are very essential for every human and knowing the English language fluently helps a lot.

When a person is fluent in any language, this means that he/she is quick with speaking and writing the language. Although people can learn and understand a language at their own pace, they often find it difficult to express themselves. As for the English language, its immense popularity and wide acceptability make people more conscious; that they might be made fun of if they make any mistake.

To be more fluent in the English language, we first need to identify what are the problems that restrict our vocabulary. Identifying and understanding these problems first will help in overcoming them. Here is a list of some common problems that people face while learning English:

Poor Vocabulary: A vast range of words

Since English is a widely popular language all over the world, the language gets updated with new words very often. Words from various other languages get incorporated into the dictionary every year. Hence, it is difficult for even native speakers to know all the English words.

So, how vocabulary will help you in speaking fluently?

Having a good vocabulary in any language comes with the knowledge of about 4000 to 10000 words. The list might seem long but everything is possible with practice, right? A good way to improve your vocabulary is to play word games like scrabble.

Make a list of the new words you come across and write their meanings. You can take four or five words in a day and revise them at your convenience. Repeat this pattern for a few days and you will be benefitted from new words added to your vocabulary regularly.

Pronunciation, confusing spellings, and heteronyms

English is not a phonetic language, so it doesn’t follow the rules of phonetics. For example, the word read is pronounced differently in two different tenses. Also, rules like not pronouncing h in honor add to the difficulty of learning the language.

You know there are a vast number of words in English and a lot of them have confusing spellings; such as those which have similar pronunciations. Homophones such as bolder and boulder;pear and pair have similar pronunciations but are of different meanings.

Heteronyms in English are another hurdle to learning the language. Words like address and advocate are used with different meanings under different contexts. Regular practice, again, is the key to mastering the issues. Saying the words aloud will help in improving pronunciation. Spellings should be spelled out louder and written regularly.

As for heteronyms, make a list of words that you come across, write their meanings, and revise them regularly.

Feeling embarrassed

Feeling embarrassed is a big reason behind the lack of fluency in English; as it prevents you to practice real-time conversations. We generally associate knowing English with smartness. People who don’t know English are often made fun of.

The first step to overcoming this hurdle is the acceptance of the fact that nobody knows everything. Although English is a universal language, there are variations in dialects and pronunciations. So how to be fluent in English to avoid getting into embarrassing situations? Practice! Talk in English to your close friends and family members who won’t judge you or make fun of you for your mistakes.

To be more confident, practice talking in English alone in front of the mirror. Your conversation skills also depend on the confidence displayed in your body language.

Colloquialisms and Slang: a confusion!

Slangs and colloquialisms are most difficult to learn for someone who is not very much exposed to the culture of English-speaking communities.

To learn the commonly used words in daily conversations, one can try following pop culture. Listening to their songs and watching their series, television shows and movies can give a nice insight into the culture as well as the colloquial terminology.

Now that we have identified the various problems that we face while learning fluent English, let’s explore the ways by which we can learn how to be fluent in English and how to improve our communication skills in English.

Hire a personal tutor

An experienced tutor will help you in learning the basics of the language as a whole.

You can learn everything about English; from basic grammar to correct usage of words and right pronunciation.

You can opt for group sessions or 1-on-1 sessions at your convenience.

You can join offline or online classes.

You can also use apps and watch tutorial videos on how to introduce yourself in English or how to learn English at home.

Speak as much as you can

Practicing spoken English regularly is the only and foremost way in improving your fluency. Speak with friends and family members.

Read out English sentences from books, online articles, and newspapers aloud.

Speak with yourself in front of the mirror and observe your facial expressions and body language. Do not focus much on grammar.

Thinking too much will make you overly conscious. As a result, you won’t be able to learn if you don’t speak. Practicing regularly will improve your grammar anyway!

Expose yourself more to English

If you read and hear English regularly, it will be much easier for you to learn the language. Read English articles and newspapers. Listen to English songs, news reports, and podcasts. Watch English

documentaries, series, and movies. These will also help you in knowing about the culture of native English speakers.

You can try some karaoke as well. Try to sing your favorite English songs from your memory or by looking at the lyrics. With this method, you can learn new words and phrases.

Conclusion: Practice regularly to gain fluency

Fluency is not a one-time achievement and requires continuous practice. Nowadays, plenty of resources and study materials are available on the internet to learn any new language. Taking notes regularly, writing down the meanings of new words, revising them, and practicing speaking English regularly are the most essential ways in becoming fluent in English.

As mentioned in the points above, getting to know the native English culture through entertainment is also an amazing way to learn English.

How to learn English at home?

There are many websites and apps (such as Coursera, Preply, FluentU, FutureLearn, etc.) as well as YouTube videos that provide us with a step-by-step guide to being fluent in English. These courses can be taken online from the comfort of your home at your convenient time.

How to improve your communication skills in English?

Practicing daily conversations regularly is the only key to getting better at your communication skills.

To improve your body language and build up your confidence, converse regularly in English with your friends and family members. Speak with yourself in front of the mirror and observe yourself. Regular practice will improve your communication skills.

How to introduce yourself in English?

The process is similar to introducing yourself in your native language. Be honest and choose simple words to describe yourself. Try translating your words into English and speak confidently!

The biggest barrier between you and speaking English fluently?

Overthinking : Most of us are comfortable in our comfort zone. We have already created millions of negative thoughts in our brain that the world will not support us or make fun of us. We are in the world where people are trying very very hard to get somewhere and if we are competing with them then we have have to think like them and compete like them and work hard like them. Never underestimate yourself.