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How to Speak English

Master English speaking skills with confidence and fluency at every level

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A1-A2: Beginner Speaking Skills

Basic Pronunciation
Essential Sounds
  • English vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u)
  • Consonant pronunciation
  • Word stress patterns
  • Basic intonation for questions
Common Challenges
  • th sounds (think, this)
  • r and l distinction
  • v and w sounds
  • Silent letters
Essential Phrases
Daily Greetings
  • "Hello, how are you?"
  • "Nice to meet you"
  • "Thank you very much"
  • "Excuse me, please"
Basic Needs
  • "I would like..."
  • "Can you help me?"
  • "Where is...?"
  • "How much does it cost?"
Simple Conversations
Introducing Yourself
  • "My name is..."
  • "I am from..."
  • "I work as a..."
  • "I like..."
Asking Questions
  • What, where, when, why, how
  • "Do you like...?"
  • "Are you...?"
  • "Can you...?"
Building Confidence
Practice Strategies
  • Start with familiar topics
  • Practice with yourself in mirror
  • Record yourself speaking
  • Use simple sentences first
Overcoming Fear
  • Don't worry about mistakes
  • Focus on communication, not perfection
  • Use gestures to help express ideas
  • Practice in low-pressure situations
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B1-B2: Intermediate Speaking Skills

Fluency Development
Connected Speech
  • Linking words together smoothly
  • Using contractions naturally
  • Reducing hesitation and pauses
  • Maintaining natural rhythm
Expressing Ideas
  • Explaining opinions and reasons
  • Describing experiences and events
  • Telling stories and anecdotes
  • Comparing and contrasting
Conversation Management
Interactive Skills
  • Taking turns in conversation
  • Asking for clarification
  • Changing topics smoothly
  • Showing interest and agreement
Functional Language
  • "What I mean is..."
  • "Could you repeat that?"
  • "That reminds me of..."
  • "I see what you mean"
Advanced Grammar in Speech
Complex Structures
  • Using conditional sentences
  • Passive voice in conversation
  • Relative clauses for description
  • Reported speech
Time and Aspect
  • Perfect tenses for experience
  • Continuous forms for ongoing actions
  • Future forms for plans and predictions
  • Modal verbs for possibility and advice
Formal and Informal Register
Formal Speaking
  • Business presentations
  • Academic discussions
  • Professional meetings
  • Public speaking basics
Informal Speaking
  • Casual conversations with friends
  • Slang and colloquial expressions
  • Humor and wordplay
  • Cultural references

C1-C2: Advanced Speaking Skills

Sophisticated Expression
Nuanced Communication
  • Subtle meanings and implications
  • Diplomatic and tactful language
  • Abstract and theoretical concepts
  • Persuasive and argumentative discourse
Stylistic Variation
  • Adapting style to audience
  • Using rhetorical devices
  • Varying sentence structure
  • Employing precise vocabulary
Professional Communication
Leadership Speaking
  • Chairing meetings effectively
  • Delivering compelling presentations
  • Negotiating and mediating
  • Inspiring and motivating others
Expert Discourse
  • Specialized technical discussions
  • Academic conferences and seminars
  • Media interviews and debates
  • Cross-cultural communication
Cultural and Social Fluency
Cultural Competence
  • Understanding cultural context
  • Appropriate humor and references
  • Sensitive topic navigation
  • Regional accent awareness
Social Dynamics
  • Reading social cues
  • Managing group discussions
  • Building rapport quickly
  • Handling conflict diplomatically
Spontaneous and Prepared Speech
Impromptu Speaking
  • Thinking on your feet
  • Handling unexpected questions
  • Improvising presentations
  • Participating in debates
Prepared Presentations
  • Structuring complex arguments
  • Engaging diverse audiences
  • Using visual aids effectively
  • Handling Q&A sessions

Essential Pronunciation Guide

Vowel Sounds
Short Vowels
  • /æ/ - cat, bat, hat
  • /ɛ/ - bet, get, red
  • /ɪ/ - bit, sit, hit
  • /ɒ/ - hot, got, lot
  • /ʌ/ - but, cut, run
Long Vowels
  • /iː/ - see, bee, tree
  • /uː/ - blue, true, new
  • /ɑː/ - car, far, star
  • /ɔː/ - saw, law, draw
  • /ɜː/ - bird, word, heard
Consonant Sounds
Challenging Consonants
  • /θ/ - think, three, bath
  • /ð/ - this, that, mother
  • /ʃ/ - ship, wash, nation
  • /ʒ/ - measure, vision
  • /tʃ/ - chair, watch, teach
Common Confusions
  • /r/ vs /l/ - right/light
  • /v/ vs /w/ - very/worry
  • /b/ vs /p/ - bet/pet
  • /s/ vs /z/ - rice/rise
Stress and Intonation
Word Stress
  • PHO-to-graph
  • pho-TOG-ra-phy
  • IN-ter-est-ing
  • COM-fort-a-ble
Sentence Stress
  • Content words (stressed)
  • Function words (unstressed)
  • Rising intonation (questions)
  • Falling intonation (statements)

Essential Conversation Skills

Skill Function Examples CEFR Level
Initiating Starting conversations "Hi, how's it going?", "Excuse me, could I ask you something?" A1+
Turn-taking Managing conversation flow "Well...", "Actually...", "That reminds me..." A2+
Clarifying Ensuring understanding "What do you mean by...?", "Could you explain that?" B1+
Agreeing/Disagreeing Expressing opinions "I completely agree", "I see your point, but..." B1+
Interrupting Polite interruption "Sorry to interrupt, but...", "Can I just add something?" B2+
Concluding Ending conversations "Well, it was great talking to you", "I should probably get going" A2+

Building Speaking Fluency

Practice Techniques
Solo Practice
  • • Shadow reading aloud
  • • Self-recording and analysis
  • • Mirror conversations
  • • Describing daily activities
Interactive Practice
  • • Language exchange partners
  • • Conversation clubs
  • • Online speaking platforms
  • • Role-playing exercises
Overcoming Barriers
Common Fears
  • • Fear of making mistakes
  • • Worry about accent
  • • Lack of vocabulary
  • • Grammar anxiety
Solutions
  • • Focus on communication
  • • Practice in safe environments
  • • Use familiar topics
  • • Build confidence gradually
Fluency Strategies
Speed Building
  • • Timed speaking exercises
  • • Tongue twisters
  • • Rapid response drills
  • • Storytelling practice
Natural Expression
  • • Filler words and phrases
  • • Natural pausing
  • • Emotional expression
  • • Spontaneous responses
Essential Speaking Tips
  • Practice daily: Even 10 minutes of speaking practice helps
  • Think in English: Train your brain to process in English
  • Use gestures: Body language supports communication
  • Learn phrases, not just words: Chunks of language are more natural
  • Listen to native speakers: Imitate natural speech patterns
  • Don't translate: Express ideas directly in English
  • Accept your accent: Clear communication matters more than perfect accent
  • Join speaking groups: Regular practice with others builds confidence
  • Record yourself: Self-monitoring helps identify areas to improve
  • Be patient: Speaking fluency develops gradually with consistent practice

Want to check the CEFR level of speaking vocabulary?

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