Improve Spoken English – Stop Translating While Speaking!

By Robby

If you are new here please read this first.

Improve English FluencyOnce you’re speaking fluently and confidently using your mother tongue’s accent it is the right time to start minimizing the accent and gradually move into a state of speaking English as you normally would.

The most important factors to watch out for are – slowing the speech down, the clearness of thoughts and simplicity of speech. ❗

Because of the traditional English studies you first form the English sentences in your head (unlike native speakers who use word combinations instead!) and you also try to use the native English accent thus completely messing up your English speech!

On top of that your mind which is very well trained in the English classroom to do the translation job keeps on doing it the same when you speak in the real life! Real English speech isn’t the grammar-book-English you’ve been studying for years, right? There’s a huge difference between English class stuff and colloquial English you have to speak when facing native English speakers… The result – inability to speak fluently! 👿

I know this feeling very well myself and it feels so uncomfortable!!! It destroys your confidence, drains away your self esteem and you feel like you are some complete beginner English student despite having been studying and speaking it for years! So at this stage it is very important to get rid of all the thoughts in your own language and leave only pure English.

But how to accomplish this goal if your mind works in a mode of looking up the words from your virtual vocabulary as you’ve been doing for years when passing English tests and exams?

💡 Here’s the trick – you have to slow down when speaking English, control the speech and allow yourself time to think of the right word and eventually your English fluency will improve and you’ll slip into a perfect fluent English speaking mode!

And while you’re doing so, remember the thing I’ve already told you about – don’t you ever be afraid of using simple words! Way too often people feel embarrassed about that and will try to put in a word that sounds more professional.
Let’s say, you speak and you want to say that “playing soccer is something that really ….” and then you stop for a split second not being able to find the appropriate word. Well, don’t hesitate to finish off the sentence by saying “…makes me happy” or “…is so enjoyable for me” if you can’t find the right word “…excites me”.

I have often noticed that people whose native language isn’t English will try to say things using more sophisticated words. It will sometimes be hard for even native speakers to understand, so don’t be afraid of speaking simply.

Yes, your mind makes wonders and is capable of nearly everything so the less you worry about something the better you will perform – that’s for sure!;-)

Robby

P.S. Are you ready to get on the fast track to spoken English fluency? Check out my English Harmony System HERE!



English Harmony System

P.S. Are you serious about your spoken English improvement? Check out the English Harmony System HERE!

English Harmony System
  • Hi Deiopei,

    Thanks for your comment, what you're saying about naming things etc. is a very powerful technique. When I worked in a warehouse, for example, I used to name all product codes in English (the ones that I was picking up). That way I had English going on in my mind constantly!

    Thanks,

    Robby

  • Deiopei

    I agree with Tin's comment. Instead of trying to find a word in English that it comparable to a word in another language, you have to use what you know. Having a large vocabulary is a way not to translate. I have been trying to get achieve a conversational level of French, but it is very hard. Having a solid foundation can go along way, then building on vocabulary will allow one to express themselves with more than simple phrases. But, like this person's article says. Don't try and find an elaborate word. Another good exercise is, can you name all the things in your room in a certain language? While you are walking down the street and you see an object, what is the name of it in a certain language? That will get you to think in terms of that language rather than translating. I like the idea of speaking slowly because it's deliberate way of speaking. I think that will be a big help.

  • Tim

    Hi
    I just wanted to say thank you for posting this because although a native
    English speaker, I study four other languages. With one of them, Korean, I often find that because I translate what I say in English, my Korean comes out stilted
    and awkward. I know I can speak it well if I could stop translating first. I will make
    a better effort to speak slower and gradually pick up the pace natirally.
    I am very glad that I was not the only one that does this. I apologize that this is
    not related to English per se but being that it is relevant to language I felt
    compelled to write you. Thanks again.
    Tim