Mind your language

Knowledge has been overwhelmed with requests from students for tips to improve spoken English. Undoubtedly, it is a skill that the young workforce should equip itself with. A few experts provide the pointers

English is a very funny language. It is, however, also the language of the world! Despite many protests in the name of the regional languages or moral policing in the name of Indian culture, English remains to be the language synonymous to ‘progress’ in the country. Whether it is a job interview or a meeting with colleagues or other professionals, the knowledge of English is a must. Many students suffer difficulties due to the lack of English skills, but there are trainers who swear that the skills can be acquired at any age, by anyone. A little bit of dedication and lots of hard work is required. Here’s a few things that you can do, in fact, make it a part of your daily life.

Build vocabulary

Words are the building blocks of any language, so you will need to build your vocabulary in English as well. You should start with making a list of words that are used often in the language and learn them, learn their meaning and context. Keep adding to this list, and when you add a new word, make sure you know how to use it in a sentence. Once you try and remember the word, you can try and use that word in your everyday language, so that your vocabulary expands. Another thing you could do to build vocabulary is tape these words and record them, and listen to them regularly so that you learn how to say them.

Observe and copy

Experts believe that the phonetics of any language is important, and for that a learner needs to move his or her mouth to learn the sounds needed by the language. When someone is talking to you, or on television, pay close attention to the way the mouth of the speaker moves. Then, try to repeat the words of the speaker imitating the movements of the mouth and try to maintain a similar rhythm of speech.

“Even the sound of the words is important, so pay close attention to that. Where the word stretches, and how the word begins and ends is essential. You can also refer to sounds of words on dictionaries online to learn the proper pronunciation. You also need to take it slowly till you learn the proper sounds and pronunciations, so talk slowly. Remember, it is a process,” says voice and accent trainer Jigna Mehta, who used to work on both Australian and British processes.

Read aloud in English

You should read out loud so that you can listen to your voice, at least for 15 to 20 minutes every day. This is a very helpful practice, according to English language trainer Amrita Sagar. She has been training teenagers and adults in the language at all levels, and reading aloud in English forms an integral part of her training. “When you listen to the sound of your own voice, you realise what it sounds like when you talk English. This helps build confidence. Sitting in the corner sulking about not knowing the language is not going to help,” she says. Sagar also says that you could record your voice when you read, and then listen to the tape for mistakes and areas of improvement.

Watch English TV programmes and movies

Most trainers are offering this tip, and they recommend watching with subtitles. “It is simple. Subtitles help you catch up, and learn the language quite fast. There are many who can manage reading, but cannot talk. This practice helps them a great deal,” says phonetics teacher Sharmila Batra. She vouches for the fact that after a few days of doing this, a student will definitely see the difference.

Apart from these, there are a few more that you can observe when you have the time. You know that you need to invest time in a dictionary to look up the meaning of every word that you do not know or are confused about. Don’t wait to ask anyone, refer to the dictionary! Also, if you start writing a diary about learning English, it will give you time to write your thoughts, and words in peace. Try not to do it in a competitive or a fast-paced environment. Learning takes time, and you need to keep your patience! You will see improvement within a few days, and that should be your encouragement to march on!