7 ways to immediately improve your English communication skills

English is the most popular language in human history that everyone wants to learn. Learning English or any language is really simple when you practice it regularly. As it's very clear that learning to speak any language is a skill that is acquired by practicing LSRWs - Listen, Speak, Read, and Write.

Many people master the fine points of English grammar, but they struggle in putting grammar rules into practice.

In fact, 2000-2500 words are enough to communicate in English using simple terms and sentences.

In this article, you will learn how to improve your English conversation skills by just following these 7 simple steps.

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Dedicate 30 minutes each day for listening

To learn any language, listening plays a very prominent role in acquiring any language. This is true when it comes to learning English as well. 

If you really wish to learn how English words are pronounced and used in conversations, you need to at least dedicate your 30 minutes time to listen to English speaking. 

Listen to so many audio files available online, watch TV news, and pay attention to listening while watching.

I can recommend you some of the audio files for listening practice. Click here and listen to the audio files of various levels from beginner to advanced with scripts available with each of the audio files.

Remember: "A Good Listener can be a Good Speaker!".

Find a partner - speak and interact

As mentioned earlier, language learning is a skill and it is acquired by practicing regularly. Speak to your colleagues, friends, or family members who are good at speaking English regularly. 

Purposely request them to spend at least 10-15 minutes a day interacting in English with you. Try to use the words or sentences you've already listened to activate your passive vocabulary. This activity will boost your confidence level. Never hesitate to make mistakes!

If you are a teacher, your students are your good partners. Spend time speaking in English with them instead of using your home language. This habit will benefit you and your students as well.

Important: The pace of speaking must be reduced while speaking in English, don't go with 'fast mode', give some time to your brain think and deliver!

Read English newspapers, books, magazines

How can you have a bunch of regularly used vocabulary without reading much? Yes, reading is very important to internalize the structures of sentences, gaining lots of new vocabulary.

I know you are already spending some amount of time reading every day. But, I recommend a slight change in your habit! The change I recommend you is: change the language of reading. Most of you read newspapers, books, and magazines that are available in your home language. But, the change you need to make is, get at least one English newspaper every day and read it. Also, lots of newspapers available online, use them to practice reading.

Reading improves your written English. Children's books are an excellent tool for mastering your written English.

Important: To improve your pronunciation, reading out loud is highly recommended!

Prepare your own dictionary

Every day you come across so many new English words while involving in the above activity. You need to take a notebook, every time you see or read any useful words or phrases, just list them out in your notebook. Not only just note them down in your notebook, but also find synonyms for them. Arrange them alphabetically. After a few months, you will have your own BIG dictionary!

Chat on instant messengers

Nowadays it is almost not possible to find out a person who is not using instant messengers like WhatsApp, Facebook Messengers, etc. These are in fact some excellent tools for improving your English communication, especially written English.

It is obvious that most of you who are reading this article are surely using WhatsApp for instant messaging. Make use of this great platform to improve your English communication.

Find a partner who is good at chatting in English, and do chatting with him/her regularly for at least 10-15 minutes.

Think in English!

Many people who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL Learners), think in their home language while speaking or reading in English. This habit doesn't help them learn English. As every language on the earth has its own features and uniqueness, whenever you read, write, or speak in English, do not try to compare the sentences/words with your mother tongue. You just need to think in English and deliver it in English!

Make mistakes confidently!

Wherever I go to teach English, I use this line, "Make mistakes confidently". 

Do you lose anything if you make a mistake while speaking in English? 

Can you learn anything new without making mistakes? 

Did you learn anything in your life without making mistakes? 

The answer to these questions is a big NO! I know we even did not learn to eat without making mistakes!!

So why do you hesitate to make mistakes while speaking in English? Do not worry about your mistakes while speaking in English with someone. Just put your thoughts out, do not worry about the grammatical errors. If you keep on concentrating on grammatical errors, you can't convey your thoughts in English. Just speak in your natural way. This idea boosts your confidence level and fluency.

Remember the thought: "Mistakes Make a Man Perfect!".

Final word

Learning English is very simple if you practice regularly. One cannot learn any language if he/she can't dedicate time for learning at least one-two hours a day for 3-6 months. You may be very good at English grammar, but using the grammatical rules in your conversation is very important. Speaking frankly, grammar is not very important to learn spoken English.

The one-and-only mantra to learn to speak is, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!