How to speak English confidently

Speaking English fluently continues to be a dream and a vital requirement for many Indians on the path to improving their job, and hence subsequently their life, prospects. Despite the presence of the English language in the Indian subcontinent for over 400 years now, first on the periphery and later as a language of power, prestige and progress, it is estimated that, even today, less than 10 per cent of Indians speak English fluently and with the correct grammar. Of these, probably even fewer feel fully confident about their English skills. Thus, it would be accurate to say that language learning, particularly with respect to English, hasn’t penetrated to all sections of the population. Over the years, with the economy opening up and the ability to connect with people from all over the world socially and professionally, more people have begun to feel more confident about trying to express themselves in English; yet, there still remains a large chunk of the population which is afraid to speak the language for fear of ridicule or coming across as incapable or unprofessional.

It is universally acknowledged that confidence is a very attractive trait for one to possess; it instantly elevates you in the eyes of the perceiver and sets you apart as someone who will not be hesitant or indecisive when confronted with obstacles. Many, if not all, of us would have seen for ourselves how confidence works wonders in most situations, social and professional, and how it sees one through a lot of tricky situations even in cases where one may not be fully equipped knowledge- or skill-wise. The same holds true for English-speaking skills, particularly when it comes to interviews and networking, where you have relatively limited time to create a favourable impression. This is not to suggest that other qualities, traits and strengths are not important, but the fact of the matter is, all things being fairly equal, the one who articulates their case most confidently stands a better chance of succeeding than the others.

How then does one build the confidence to speak confidently in English? Patience and a determination to improve your English are non-negotiables; however, there are a few key steps that can help you emerge from your shell and feel more confident about expressing yourself in English:

1. Focus on the input: read, listen and absorb

A language is not a theoretical concept or a mathematical theorem or hypothesis that can be remembered or solved; it is an invented device for the purpose of communication and as such, is a skill to be mastered. Unlike other skills such as, say, driving or swimming, where there is minimum theoretical input and maximum practice, language learning involves a fairly equally-proportioned combination of training and practice. Reading and listening are the only ways to consume content in a language. A rigorous programme of exercises involving both activities will stand you in good stead when it comes to speaking English fluently. Absorb the language from whichever source it emanates – books, magazines, newspapers, TV, the Internet, podcasts, native English speakers – and in whatever form, be it movies, shows, interviews, sports commentary, conversations, fictional stories, non-fiction writing, news reports etc. The only way to then ascertain whether you’ve absorbed your lessons is to practice regularly.

2. Practice purposefully – and casually

Any skill, once introduced in our life, needs to be practised in order for us to attain some level of mastery of it. Speaking, whether in English or any other language, is no exception. If you have a problem with the very act of expressing yourself, one good idea might be to start practising small speeches in your native language and then gradually move on to English, the idea being to shed any inhibition or nervousness you might have with the basic act of expression. The first steps in acquiring any new skill after a certain age in your life will have to be taken consciously and with some definite goals in mind. Once you have attained a certain level of comfort, try and be less conscious of when you speak the language and in what situations; use it for a variety of communicative functions, from making a formal request to sharing a secret with a friend. Ever noticed how native speakers of English seem to be subconsciously using the language for communication? That’s because they’ve picked up its nuances from childhood without being too conscious about it.

3. Cultivate appropriate company and be observant

If you don’t already have friends, relatives or acquaintances who speak the language fluently, then it is worthwhile to meet and engage with people who are fluent English speakers. This doesn’t always have to be a friendship or anything forced; it could involve joining a group that meets regularly for a leisure activity such as a sport. When in their company, try and pick up the little nuances that go into making one a fluent English speaker – the sentence structures, choice of words in different situations, pronunciation and intonation of certain words, pauses etc. This will help you improve your English overall and go a long way in equipping you to be a more confident speaker of the English language.

4. Make sure not to fall back

It pays to ensure that you are always progressing, however slowly and incrementally that may be. Making mistakes is a part of this process, and not something that you need ever be ashamed about – after all, you are attempting to improve your speaking skills in a language that is radically different from your native language. Be sure to monitor and, if necessary, record progress though – every new word, every new turn of phrase, different sentence structures. The more consciously you track and use these initially, the greater the chance that they will become part of your subconscious later.

5. Do not hesitate to ask for help

Contrary to what you may think based on hearsay and a few unpleasant experiences, trust us when we say that there plenty of people out there in the world willing to help you. Do not be afraid to speak up and voice your need for a little help from time to time, whether it’s asking people to slow down if you can’t follow their speech or requesting them to act as an audience for something you want to express. Don’t forget your most trusted helper – yourself! There’s nothing like taking up a topic and arguing for or against it (sometimes both!) with no one to hear what you’re saying, except maybe just a mirror!

Potential problems

While errors will be a part and parcel of any learning process, it might help to watch out for a few traits or habits that may hamper the smooth flow of your English speech. These include things like obsessing about fancy vocabulary at the expense of grammatical structure and correctness, the overuse of fillers (ahh, umm, actually, basically, what I mean is…etc.) and speaking too fast, among other issues. While using higher-order vocabulary and complex-sounding sentences may make you appear impressive in rare cases, most times, if it occurs at the expense of sound grammar, you will be found out. Start slowly, build simple sentences and then move on, by all means, to bigger words. Similar is the case with fillers – while they may buy time for you in some cases and help you extend your speech, if overused they might end up exposing your lack of confidence in your overall English proficiency. The other side of the problem is talking too fast. It might be tempting to talk fast to demonstrate confidence but a moderate speed of talking helps in making you seem more assured.

Being aware of these issues from the beginning and making an effort to root them out early before they become ingrained in your manner of speech will go a long way in making you come across as a confident English speaker.

A final check

Finally, how do you test where you have reached with your proficiency in English, in a quantifiable manner? Friends, relatives and colleagues might provide a mirror but if you wish to ascertain for yourself where you stand, there is no better way than to take one of the many tests that are available, such as the IELTS and other English language tests that form a mandatory part of going abroad to study or work. It is worthwhile to attempt a comprehensive test such as the IELTS, which rigorously tests all facets of English proficiency and includes a thorough speaking component.

So go ahead, read, listen, absorb, practice - and test. The world of English awaits its next confident member!