Ordering the perfect Italian pizza and getting the toppings you actually wanted...
complimenting a stranger on their outfit on the metro and getting the address to their favorite Parisian boutique...
Or hopping in a New York cab and not ending up on the opposite side of town from where you're going...
None of those things would be possible if you don't work on honing your speaking skills
in the foreign language you're learning.
But all of them are within reach, even for beginners.
Welcome to our beginner's guide to improving your spoken language skills, I'm Abbe!
If you're interested in working on other skills, or if you're past the beginner stage
be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel
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Now, let's get into it!
Learn common set phrases and sentences
If you watched my last video in this series, a lot of the same tips I gave you
for working on your listening skills as a beginner also apply to speaking.
Like learning full sentences based on topics that you'll definitely need to talk about
instead of just random, isolated words.
Plus, this way you don't really have to know how grammar works just yet
to be able to use the language you're learning correctly.
Grammar is a big turn off for lots of learners, so if you can avoid it for as long as possible, do it!
Having basic repetitive conversations based on practical situations that you're likely to encounter
like the ones I mentioned at the beginning of the video, is a good way to prepare yourself for the real thing.
You can even listen to dialogues, like the ones in your MosaLingua app, and try to play one of the roles.
As a beginner, if you can see your speaking skills in action right away and feel like you can actually communicate
you'll be much more likely to stick with it, and much less likely to develop a complex about speaking.
Which is a nice segue into my next tip:
Don't be shy, embrace mistakes
Perfectionism can be a good quality to have, for lots of things. But language learning is not one of them.
Beginners in particular need to let go of any perfectionist tendencies
at least while practicing their speaking skills
because it can keep them from improving as quickly as they otherwise could.
Get comfortable with the idea that mistakes are actually your friends, your allies
when it comes to learning to speak a language.
Sure, being corrected doesn't always feel great, but don't take it personally.
Yeah... you will likely make the mistake again
but next time you'll probably be able to catch it and correct it yourself.
And eventually you'll stop making it (and start making new mistakes!)
If you're not a perfectionist, but are shy or afraid that you might not be able to express yourself how you want to
there are solutions for that, too, such as preparing yourself beforehand.
Write out scripts and practice in the mirror, a technique called self-talk or self-conversation.
Speak up!
There's only so much prep work you can do before you need to get your boots on the ground
and start digging into real-life practice, no matter how intimidating it may seem!
However, if you are shy or don't think you'll have enough to talk about with a conversation partner
since you're just getting started, we suggest seeking out a one-on-one tutor.
Tutors are used to working with language learners
so they'll be very understanding when you inevitably make those mistakes
and they can correct your vocabulary and pronunciation on the spot.
That will keep your mistakes from becoming ingrained
like they might if you only practice with yourself and never get any feedback.
These days, it's super easy to find tutors online or via mobile apps
so you don't ever have to leave your house to practice!
Some of you might be hesitant to pay for someone's services
but actually, making a small financial commitment is a great way to keep yourself motivated to practice
even when you don't really feel like it, and on track toward your goals
since you won't want to waste your money or the tutor's time.
We put links to our favorite services and apps in the video description
so you can find an affordable tutor who's right for you.
Make pronunciation a priority
Finally, don't forget pronunciation.
As I've said before, it's easier to get it right the first time
than to go back and fix it after it has already become a bad habit.
Even if you think you know how something is pronounced
don't be tempted to skip the pronunciation step when you learn a new flashcard.
Listen carefully to the native speaker's recording
try it out for yourself, and then compare.
Do your research and focus on 3 or 4 sounds in your target language
that speakers of your native language tend to struggle with.
By making sure you get those right, you'll really stand out from your peers.
Shadowing is one accent training technique that I made a video about not too long ago
and that even beginners can do.
So check that video out next if you're interested.
Another way to practice your pronunciation on your own
is to test it out on a virtual assistant, like Siri or Alexa.
Set your device to the language you're learning
and try out some of the sentences you've been practicing.
If it doesn't understand you, that might be an indication
that you need to keep practicing certain sounds.
You can also use the voice-to-text, or voice typing feature
to double check that the machine "understood" what you meant to say.
So those are my four best tips for improving your speaking skills as a beginner:
Number 1: learn common set phrases
2: embrace mistakes
3: get a tutor for conversation lessons
and 4: don't forget about pronunciation
That's all I have for you today.
I hope you'll take some of these tips and techniques out into the real world
and that your speaking skills will reap the benefits!
Happy learning and I'll see you again soon!
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See you next time!