Exposition Text

How to Encourage English Department Students

to Speak English More Often and Confidently

          There are so many challenges when you learn a language but nothing is more harm than mistrust yourself. If doubts continue to hamper your ability to grow, your journey to English will be increasingly frustrating. Here are some tips that can help us improve our confidence when speaking English:

          Firstly, listen and repeat. We all have movies, television shows, even favorite youtube channels. Instead of just watching silently, listen to what the characters or the host say and then repeat the dialogue you find interesting. Keep going, pause, play back, and listen to their conversations repeatedly if needed. Better still if you enable English subtitle settings so you can identify each word. This is the most exciting way to practice your listening and speaking skills by using fun and entertaining materials.

          Secondly, find a friend practice. Practice alone is not easy, especially when you want to develop your speech skills in English. Find friends who have the same goal, ie those who want to talk more confident in English. Implement the "English Only" rule when hanging out together, where everyone should speak English in an hour or two. By having a supportive friend, you will feel more comfortable speaking English without any confidence.

          Thirdly, read aloud. Whether it's reading a novel or a non-fiction book, allocate 30 minutes of your time each day to read, and another 30 minutes to read it aloud. This is a good way to develop your reading ability while practicing pronunciation in English, be it intonation of words or length of sentences. If you are not sure how to say a particular word, you can find out from dictionary, google, or youtube. Do not focus too much on every detail of a word you do not understand. The main point of this exercise is to improve your confidence when speaking and reading aloud will familiarize yourself practicing pronunciation at home.

          Lastly, do not be afraid to make mistakes. Remember, it's okay to make a mistake. If you find yourself struggling to speak a long, difficult English sentence, pause and give a few seconds to breathe, then continue speaking. The fact that you are communicating with a Language that is not your mother tongue is a sufficient reason to be proud of your achievement.

          Just like with any other heavy task, the key to speaking English with confidence is practice, practice, and more practice. Consistent with your English language journey and always allocate daily time to speak English.