International Conference on Education, Language, Art and Intercultural Communication (ICELAIC 2014)

Strategies of Improving Spoken English for Learners

Zhanli Yang
Department of Pre-school Education
Hebei Vocational College of Foreign Languages
Qinhuangdao, China
e-mail: yzl200519751001@126.com

Abstract—With the rapid development of international example, computer terminology for programming,
communication and cooperation in all kinds in China, English presentation skills for management, etc. This is extremely
has become one of international languages. So it is necessary to important, as students who will be expected to speak English
foster learners to grasp more language abilities. It is not only the only with other non-native speakers should not have to worry
main way of acquiring language information, but also the base of as much about listening skills as those who will be expected
improving other skills. During English teaching, it is important to communicate principally with native speakers. An
for teachers to master the strategies of spoken English. Speaking, understanding of the culture might be important if the learner
output of thought and information, is the base for will be travelling and communicating in these countries.
communication, which is the most difficult item for learners
comparing with the other language skills. According to the I’d like to improve my English as a hobby. In this case, it
theory of self-realization, this paper offers the importance of is important to ask yourself the questions: How will you be
spoken English and learning strategies of improving oral using the English? Communication, Reading, Using the
competence based on the analysis the factors that confine Internet, etc.? Do you enjoy typical task type activities? Or do
students’ improvement of oral English. you prefer real-world activities? How much do I want to
improve my English? Do I want to be able to read James
Keywords—strategy; spoken English importance langage skill Joyce? This is of the utmost importance when deciding what
oral competence; oral English type of activities should be pursued. If communication is most
I. INTRODUCTION important, functional English will be preferable to grammar
exercises. If reading Rolling Stone magazine is important,
Why do you learn English? idiomatic language study will be required.
People learn English for many and extremely varied This is basically a question of learning style and is very
reasons. Taking these reasons, as well as language acquisition important. Involved learners will always learn more in the
needs, into consideration when planning a class or individual long run than those who are bored. It’s also important to
instruction is crucial for a successful learning experience. This remember that, if you are the teacher, imposing your learning
is probably as important for the students as for the teacher. preference on the class can, at times, deter effective learning.
When a student understands his/her reasons for learning Understanding the desired language proficiency goal is
English well, he then can better plan his learning strategy. In probably one of the most important aspects of learning well. If
the classroom, he/she can help the teacher identify needs and the learner desires to communicate basic needs by travelling,
desires. If the students is learning alone, he/she can find focusing on the correct use of the third conditional is beside
learning materials based on a better knowledge of what the point. On the other hand, if students strive to higher levels
his/her objectives are. Let’s take a look at two of the more of grammatical understanding, teachers need to accept that
common reasons for learning English and what might work role-play games might not always be the best activity.
well for achieving learning goals.
English is not only the most useful language in the world,
I’d like to improve my English in order to find a better job. it also one of the easiest to learn and use. Because it has
In this case, it’s important to ask yourself the questions: Will a simple alphabet, easy plurals, short words etc.
certificate help the chances of getting a job? Is job specific
English required? Whom will I be speaking English with, II. IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING SPOKEN ENGLISH
native speakers or other English as a foreign language speaker?
In today's modern world, learning spoken English has
This is very important as the need for a certificate will dictate
many advantages. English is fast becoming the international
what is required learning: grammar, functional English,
language of many fields, including politics, business and
writing, listening, etc. If a certificate is required, the learner education. Not only is English used between native speakers
should focus on improving specifics points required by the
and non-native speakers, but it is also used increasingly as a
examination. For example, Cambridge’s First Certificate common language in interactions between non-native
exam will require the skill of sentence transformation, the
speakers.
TOEFL requires the skill of understanding US test taking
skills; If job specific English is required, tasks should be more When you are asked to make a lecture in English, you can
real-world orientated. If possible, tasks should be based on the put it to good use. When you need to make a foreign friend,
exact type of English required in the specific profession. For you just try a little in other ways except for English. If you are

© 2014. The authors - Published by Atlantis Press 334

skilled in spoken English, you can have more access to when you go to see English films, try not to read the Chinese
knowledge. For example, traveling abroad to know more subtitles.
western customs and culture personally, making friends with
Watch for notices of English activities and join in
foreigners because you can communicate freely with them in
English, enjoying more classic western plays, films and whenever you can.
literatures and so on. Seek out lectures in English on topics of interest to you.
Having a good grasp of spoken English helps you to Try to take notes—just for your own use.
improve your chances of employment. These days, there are Learn the words to some popular songs (warning: don’t
many foreign companies operating from China, and many depend on texts provided on Chinese channels or in Chinese
Chinese-owned companies have trade links with foreign magazines!)
partners. These companies require speakers of English with
sufficient language skills to ensure smooth business Find books-on-tape in your local library. Listen while you
transactions. are relaxing at home or while commuting if you have a
walkman.
Spoken English also provides the chances for you to
communicate socially with people from many other Watch for plays or dramatic performances given in
countries. It gives you a window into other cultures, and other English on campus—or get the student ticket for the public
perspectives of the world. It also gives you access to foreign performances.
films, TV programs, music and news. Exchange taped messages with a classmate. Record a few
Therefore, spoken English is an important and fundamental minutes and then ask your classmate to respond later on the
tool in today's global village. same tape.
III. HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR ORAL ENGLISH Choose a famous person whose accent you admire, and if
you can get recordings of him or her, imitate the way he or
A Some effective methods to improve your spoken English she speaks.
One of the English teachers at our university got into a
taxi one day, and as she talked with the driver, she noticed that Practice situations when you are alone, perhaps in front of
he had very good spoken English, better, in fact, than that a mirror. Imagine introducing yourself, disagreeing with
some of her students! “Where did you learn your English?” someone’s ideas, being interviewed or asking for information.
she asked. “Oh,” he replied, “I never went to secondary If you can get someone to help, assign parts and do
school. I drive a taxi every day, but while I’m driving around, role-playing.
I listen to English radio stations. And if an English-speaking Make friends with the exchange students on our campus-
passengers gets in, I try my best to start a conversation with they are here because they want cross-cultural communication.
them. That’s how I learn my English! ” Communicate with them.
There are many things which contribute to good spoken Take part in a play in English—start out with a small part
English, but an important question for you is this: to what if you feel shy.
extent are your attitudes similar to those of the taxi driver?
Are you willing to try to start a conversation with an English Find a friend or two and agree to speak English at certain
speaker? Or do you feel as if “the cat did get your regular times—after a class together, at dinner every Tuesday,
tongue”–that whenever you try to speak in English, your or riding home on the train.
tongue won’t behave itself and you can hardly make a sound? Practice reading aloud—get someone to check your
How then can you improve your spoken English? How pronunciation and intonation, or record yourself on tape and
can you try to put your resolution to improve into practice? analyze your own speech. Set goals of specific things you can
Here we will suggest some concrete things you can do on work on improving ----for example, differences between
your own (for little or no money) to improve your words that contain “l” and “n” or “w” and “v”. Keep notes of
English-spoken English in particular. words you often mispronounce and practice them.
Listen to the radio, you could get up five minutes earlier If you have a chance to travel, take advantage of the
and listen to the news in English. opportunities to use English – airlines and immigration
personnel, hotel and restaurant staff, fellow travelers and
Try watching the news in English instead of Chinese. If passengers. Visit a former English teacher either from
you watch a movie and it has subtitles, try taping a paper over secondary school or from a course you took at university.
them. Teachers like to hear how their students are doing.
Invite your English teacher to lunch! Find a friend who Everyone knows that the only really effective way to
also wants to improve his or her English and have lunch of improve on language skills is to use the language. In reality,
dinner together to speak English of course. however, we know that there are many reasons why people
Check out books, records, cassette tapes, and other don’t want to speak in another language – they are afraid of
materials in English from your local library. Look especially making mistakes, they can’t express their real meaning easily,
for books which have lots of dialogue in them. Read plays they are shy, they are afraid people will laugh at them. We all
feel this way some of the time, but if you really want to

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improve your spoken English, try some of the suggestions we being said. Building up reflexes right from the beginning will
have made here. Once you try putting some of these ideas and help you later when your skills are good enough top
principles into practice, the cat will have a very hard time participate in a conversation.
getting your tongue!
How do you communicate successfully when you only
B. How to speak more accurately have basic language? It can be done! Don’t rely on vocabulary
From a learner’s point of view, the problem with English and sentence structure alone. After all, what you probably
is that it is too rich in constructions and vocabulary, i.e.: There want most is to be understood, not to dazzle anybody you’re
are numerous words and constructions which have similar your command of grammar. Here are a few tips to get you
meanings. Mistakes occur when learners remember half of communicating right off.
one construction and half of another; they end up with a Relax! No one is judging you except you! Look at each
hotchpotch which is at best “incorrect but understandable” communication experience as an adventure. If you are relaxed,
and at worst “nonsense”. Choose English for use or you will pick up on small details, body language, etc. That
recognition purposes only English people do not use every you might miss if you are writing your hands and sweating.
phrase and word in the English langue. They have favorite
phrases which they use time and time again. I recommend that Context is your friend. What is the subject, setting and
when you are taught more than one way of saying the same situation? Use these to make intelligent guesses about what is
thing, choose only one version to learn accurately for future being said. A lot of language can be eliminated when you
use. Then store the other one vaguely in your mind for future consider context. You will feel much more comfortable and
recognition purposes only. At the same time you should avoid receptive if you remember that you don’t have the entire
pitfalls. Native English speakers modify their language Spanish language to consider at once.
according to their situation, just as you would do in your own Memorize clarifying questions. After you have proudly
language. Unless you have constant exposure to English over stumbled through a request for tickets at the train station, the
many years, you cannot expect to do this. The trick therefore clerk rattles off a long sentences about Vichy and Tuesday.
is to choose the best English for universal speaking purposes You may be a little unclear or have only understood a portion
and to recognize other version of English, so you are not at of what was said. Rather than staring blankly, have a list of
disadvantages. By doing so, you will avoid misunderstandings memorized clarification questions such as, “Did you say
and you will be able to judge the quality of another person’s ______?” and “Would you repeat that more slowly?’ that you
English. deftly use to move the communication forward. By employing
Although a knowledge of the following is essential for these questions, you build on what you can say and
understanding English (and possibly for some exams), I understand instead of starting over with each utterance.
recommend you avoid them as much as possible when Besides improving your communication in your school
speaking in normal situation. Avoiding grammatical errors language, you improve fluently and feel confident and in
when speaking. Many students experience difficulties with the charge.
use of the present perfect, because the use of it does not Employ body language. Use gestures and facial
correspond with a similar-looking tense in their own language. expressions to accompany your words. Don’t be afraid to be a
If it helps you, it is possible to avoid the present perfect little exaggerated. The person you are speaking to wants to
altogether by using SIMPLE PAST + SPECIFIC TIME. understand, and will be carefully observing and listening. As
E.G.: you become more proficient in your second language, you
will rely more on oral exchange and less on body language,
I have been to Beijing. (Time unknown) but there is no shame in supporting the language you can use
I went to Beijing some time ago. (Exact time when you are a beginner. The alternative is to wait until you
unknown) are an intermediate speaker to have meaningful interactions,
and this is far too long to wait.
I have just finished my homework. (Recent, but
time unknown) D. Move your mouth
Do not confuse pronunciation of words with their spelling!
I finished my homework a short while ago. (Recent, For example, “threw” and “through”, although spelled
but exact time unknown) differently, are pronounced the same. Also, identical letters or
English is such a rich and versatile language, It is possible letter clusters in words do not always produce the same sound.
to say what you want to say in more than one way. For example, the “ough” in “though” and “through”
represents a different sound in each word. Learn to practice
C. How to speak more fluently what you hear, not you see.
Translation is a very difficult exercise—which is why
professional interpreters make a lot of money. During a Imagine a sound in your mind before you say it. Try to
conversation, we don’t really have time to translate what we visualize the positioning of your mouth and face. Think about
understand. When you use translation to understand a foreign how you are going to make the sound.
language, you don’t develop the necessary reflexes needed to Listen to and try to imitate the speaker. In addition to
speak and understand fluently. In other words, you don’t listening for specificsouds, pay attention to pauses, the
always need to translate everything to understand what is intonation of the instructor’s voice and patterns of emphasis.

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This can be just as important as the pronunciation of sounds.
The English language has many different dialects, and
words can be pronounced differently. It is important, however,
that you pronounce words clearly to ensure effective
communication.
Finally, you must practice what you are learning!
Remember that you are teaching your mouth a new way to
move. You are building muscles that you do not use in your
own language. It is like going to the gym and exercising your
body. Don’t forget to exercise your mouth a little bit each day.
IV. CONCLUSION
We need more time to improve our spoken English and
we should practice more. Spoken English plays an important
role in English learning. And a good level of communicative
competence is the final aim of English learning. How to
cultivate and improve the learners’ competence of spoken
English has become the focal point. By using these methods,
the learner can achieve his ideal goals.

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