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Back to Speak English With Vanessa

Learning Foundations

How to improve your English Speaking Skills

Improve speaking by practising aloud in manageable ways—with a partner, group, teacher, or on your own—and remember that mistakes are part of getting better.

Read the full lesson summary

Vanessa's central advice for improving English speaking is straightforward: speak. Understanding grammar or listening to lessons can help, but speaking itself is necessary if learners want to communicate with other people. She says understandable, natural speech matters in situations where spoken communication is part of everyday life, work, or travel.

The lesson suggests several ways to practise. Learners can answer a conversation question aloud at home, make and share a short video, join a local meetup group, speak with a teacher, or find an online partner. A speaking partner does not need to live nearby. Vanessa describes a student who met someone online and talked on Skype for three hours, asking questions and exercising their “speaking muscles.” Another pair spoke for 30 or 40 minutes and enjoyed expressing themselves. These examples show that practice can happen remotely and does not require a formal class.

Vanessa stresses that perfect grammar is not a requirement for practice. Learners may make mistakes, but that does not erase the value of speaking. A conversation gives them a chance to use English, respond in real time, and build confidence. The goal is to speak as much as possible in a way that is manageable: on your own, with a group, with a teacher, with someone in your city, or online. Start with an option that feels comfortable and repeat it regularly, then notice what becomes easier.

She encourages viewers to use the internet and say something out loud today. Her closing question asks learners when they last spoke English. It might be right now, while answering her prompt, or in a conversation with a client or tourist. The question makes the advice immediate: choose a small opportunity to speak, even if it is only one spoken answer. Consistent practice helps learners become more comfortable expressing themselves and communicating naturally.

S2.1
Speak English With VanessaAmerican English04:31

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Transcript

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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00

Vanessa introduces the common question of how to improve English speaking and says spoken communication needs practice.

Hi, I'm Vanessa from Speak English with Vanessa. How can you improve your English speaking skills? Let's talk about it. I probably get at least two emails every day asking me the same question: “Vanessa, how can I improve my English speaking skills?” That's a great question, because speaking is important for communication. If you communicate only by email or writing, you may not care about speaking. But if you need to talk with other people, your speaking needs to be understandable and . So how can you improve your speaking skills? There's one answer...

Try it: What does Vanessa say spoken English should be like for communication?

Phrase cheat sheet

All phrases at a glance

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12 phrases

Showing 12 of 12 phrases

as natural as possible

Vanessa introduces the common question of how to improve English speaking and says spoken communication needs practice. · expression

As close to ordinary, fluent-sounding speech as you can manage.

Tone and use: Encouraging goal, not a demand for perfection. Use as + adjective + as possible to describe the desired degree.

May not fit: Do not confuse natural-sounding speech with having no accent.

Example“Try to make your reply as natural as possible.”

you have to speak

She gives her short answer: speaking itself is the way to improve, and she lists different practice options. · expression

Speaking practice is necessary if you want to improve your speaking ability.

Tone and use: Direct and motivational. Use have to + base verb to describe something necessary.

May not fit: It is advice about practice, not a claim that every learner must speak in one particular setting.

Example“If you want to feel more confident, you have to speak regularly.”

answer a conversation question every day at home

Learners can practise alone, answer questions, make videos, or join a local group. · expression

Practise speaking by responding aloud to one conversation prompt each day.

Tone and use: Practical suggestion. Use answer a question to describe responding to a prompt.

May not fit: The practice does not need to be long; a short response still counts.

Example“I answer a conversation question every day at home to build fluency.”

meet up with a local meetup group

Learners can practise alone, answer questions, make videos, or join a local group. · expression

Get together with a nearby organized group for an activity.

Tone and use: Friendly and informal. Use meet up with + person or group to describe arranging or joining a meeting.

May not fit: Meetup may be written as one word for the event or group name.

Example“I met up with a local meetup group to practise English.”

speak as much as possible

She encourages learners to speak in any setting available and repeats that practice is the key. · expression

Speak frequently and take the opportunities that are available to you.

Tone and use: Motivational. Use as much as possible to encourage the greatest manageable amount.

May not fit: It does not mean you must speak constantly or ignore your other needs.

Example“Try to speak as much as possible during your language exchange.”

exercise their speaking muscles

A student found an online partner and practised for hours, even though neither speaker was perfect. · expression

Practising speaking so the ability becomes stronger, like exercising a muscle.

Tone and use: Encouraging metaphor. Use exercise a skill or muscle figuratively to describe regular practice.

May not fit: It is not literal physical exercise.

Example“Short daily conversations are exercising my speaking muscles.”

it didn't matter

A student found an online partner and practised for hours, even though neither speaker was perfect. · expression

It was not important in this situation or did not prevent success.

Tone and use: Reassuring. Use it didn't matter to show that a detail did not change the main value or outcome.

May not fit: It does not mean mistakes never matter; here the practice was still valuable.

Example“I made a few errors, but it didn't matter because we understood each other.”

a great time expressing themselves

She shares another example of partners expressing themselves for 30 or 40 minutes. · expression

Enjoyed communicating their thoughts and ideas.

Tone and use: Positive and conversational. Use have a great time + -ing to describe an enjoyable activity.

May not fit: After have a great time, use the -ing form.

Example“We had a great time expressing ourselves in the discussion.”

you have no excuses

Vanessa says learners have access to the internet and encourages them to speak aloud today. · expression

A strong encouragement that you have a way to take action.

Tone and use: Forceful, motivational; can sound demanding. Use it to push someone to act when an option is available.

May not fit: Use gently; it may sound insensitive if someone faces real barriers.

Example“You have no excuses—your partner is ready to practise online.”

out loud

Vanessa says learners have access to the internet and encourages them to speak aloud today. · expression

Audibly, using your voice rather than only thinking or reading silently.

Tone and use: Neutral. Use it after a verb such as speak, read, or say.

May not fit: It does not mean loudly; it means audibly.

Example“Read the dialogue out loud to practise pronunciation.”

when was the last time that you spoke English

She asks when viewers last spoke English and lists possible everyday situations. · expression

Asks about the most recent occasion on which someone used spoken English.

Tone and use: Neutral and conversational. Use when was the last time + subject + past verb to ask about a recent experience.

May not fit: Use did you last speak for a shorter, more direct question.

Example“When was the last time that you spoke English with a new person?”

be sure to download

The remaining captions promote Vanessa's e-book and sign-off. · expression

Remember or make certain to download something.

Tone and use: Direct reminder. Use be sure to + base verb as a reminder.

May not fit: It is a reminder, not a guarantee.

Example“Be sure to download the worksheet before class.”

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What it means · “you have to speak”

What does Vanessa say is necessary to improve speaking?