How to Build Up Confidence in Speaking English

Learning a new language is a challenging undertaking. IELTS examinees, particularly those who have seldom utilized the English language before, are hard-pressed to grasp and apply it for the test. Reading and writing are often considered easier to learn compared to listening and speaking. The first two skills allow individuals to adapt to a given text whereas the latter provide little time for internalization.

Of the four, speaking is the most difficult to master. It often requires an immediate response and entails having enough trust in your knowledge, pronunciation and verbal structure. Whether it is to present a speech or to engage in a small talk, oral communication demands confidence in delivery and expression.

IELTS test takers must become fluent in this language component to acquire their desired band score. To improve your speaking skills, here are five ways to build up your confidence and ace your IELTS exam:

1. Immerse yourself in the English language.
Surround yourself with English-using media. The constant exposure to the language can subconsciously improve your listening and speaking abilities.

Include English songs in your playlist and sing along. Singing can develop pronunciation to the language’s distinct quality and accent. However, make sure to choose singers who enunciate lyrics clearly.

Watching English movies, television series and news programs are also recommended. Pay attention to how each character or reporter deliver their lines and mimic them. Determine what tone and diction to use in various settings.

2. Read everything aloud.
Pay attention to how a word’s “Rs” roll in your tongue or how the “Fs” gently pass wind through your teeth. Verbally articulating each term that you encounter establishes familiarity and mastery. Thus, to achieve fluency, read everything out loud.

Recite anything, from the passages of a book to a ketchup bottle’s label. Practice forming the words in front of a mirror then move on to reading aloud in front of your family and friends.

3. Engage in conversations and discussions.
Utilize your speaking abilities. Though polishing your pronunciation via recitation is good, talking in English with another person is the best preparation. Reading aloud can neither practice your information-internalization skills nor your impromptu response development. With this in mind, you do not have to start by discussing technical issues and academic topics.

Find someone you trust who possesses adequate English speaking skills and talk about a familiar topic. Schedule habitual conversation sessions. The relaxed pace, coupled with the regular application, can help speaking in English sink in to your natural verbal communication skills.

4. Enroll in English classes.
Consider attending training facilities for a more formal study regimen. A traditional classroom-based setup is recommended for outspoken learners. Its only disadvantage lies in the students’ competition over their teacher’s attention.

Enrolling in a test-focused study facility, such as an IELTS online review program, is more beneficial for its learner-centered arrangement. The IELTS online coaching system follows a one-on-one (teacher-student) ratio. Instructors can guide, correct and assess your review progress. Moreover, the coaches of an IELTS online review course are experts when it comes to the exam format and contents.

5. Always check your pronunciation.
The long-term application of the English language instills certainty in your oral communication skills. However, do not let your confidence prompt complacency in your pronunciations.

Every time you encounter a new word, check its proper pronunciation. Consult a dictionary. Or, if you are enrolled in an IELTS online coaching course or a traditional review center, ask your teacher. Record your first attempts in enunciating a term, listen to yourself and adjust accordingly. Documenting your speaking efforts in audio recording is a good way of keeping track of your progress.

As shown above, you can develop your verbal abilities through various techniques. Regular exposure to relevant audio-based materials and constant application of the English language in different situations are foolproof ways of boosting your speaking abilities. Other confidence-elevating techniques include studying under the guidance of a competent English-speaking teacher and subjecting all unfamiliar words to verification. All in all, confidence is the key to oral communication mastery.