How to Practice Speaking English on Your Own

Read it out loud to yourself.
This allows you to practice reading and speaking. There are numerous English words that are spelled differently than they sound. Reading aloud is a different type of speaking practice in that it helps you grasp how words are written and pronounced in English.

• To get the most out of your speaking practice, choose a story or article that is appropriate for your reading level. You should be able to read the words reasonably quickly and without having to stop frequently to check something up.
• When reading conversation, try to say the sections that characters would say in the same tone as they would if they were uttering the words. If a character is asking a question, for example, talk with a rising tone at the end of the sentence to suggest an inquiry.

Describe your actions.
Explain what you’re doing or thinking in English. Pretend you’re a character in a story and inform your “reader” about your every move as you go about your day. Don’t stress about getting everything grammatically accurate; instead, focus on expressing yourself and explaining actions.

• For instance, you could say, “I’m getting ready to go to work.” I’m currently taking out the trash. There are clouds in the sky. I’m hoping it doesn’t rain today. Later, I’m looking forward to playing soccer.”

• You may also use this to practice verb tenses and conjugation. For instance, you could say, “I’m taking out the trash.” My brother does not take out the garbage. He’ll take out the garbage next week.”

Record and playback your own voice.
Read a book excerpt aloud, then record yourself speaking. Any type of voice recorder will suffice; most cellphones include recording apps. Listening to your recorded voice can be awkward, but it will help you identify problems with your pronunciation.

• Play your tape first, then play theirs if you have a recording of a native English speaker reading the same passage. Take note of where your pronunciation differs so you know where you need to improve.
  
  
  Sing along with the lyrics in English.
  Learn the lyrics to your favorite English-language songs. Popular music can be beneficial since it teaches you some of the slang and casual speech that most people use in everyday life. The lyrics are also easier to remember because of the rhythm, rhyme, and repetition.
• Listening to English-language music is an excellent approach to become acquainted with the language. You may discover that you may not understand all of the words at first. However, as you continue to listen, you will begin to understand more and more.
• If you have difficulties understanding the lyrics, look them up online. Then you may read while listening to the song.
  
  
  Dictate in English instead of writing.
  If your word processing application has a dictation feature, use it for practice. Many smartphones, including the iPhone, also have dictation apps that you can use for this. You’ll know your pronunciation is clear when the app displays the words you want to say.
• The good thing is that you can see the words in print so you can re-read them and check for grammatical errors.
• If you have a virtual assistant like Siri or Alexa, you can set the default language to English. Then you have to talk to him in English to do something. The way a virtual assistant understands your speech can also help you improve your pronunciation.
  
  
  Read aloud with English subtitles.
  Watch the show with English subtitles and read on. Say the words at the same time as the person on the screen (this can be difficult with subtitle delays). This will help with your speaking speed and pronunciation.
  Remember that subtitles do not always reflect what the person on the screen is saying. This is especially true in films where the actors are often off-script. Even if the words aren’t the same, it’s still good practice!