How do I improve my English speaking?

"How do I improve my English speaking?"

This is the most common question I'm asked. The truth is...most people already know the answer to this question.

I'm sure you already know the answer, too. The key to improving your English speaking is no secret: practice, practice, practice!

It's the same for anything you want to get good at.

If you exercise, you'll gain muscle.

If you cook, you'll make better dishes.

And if you speak English, you'll improve your speaking skills. It's that simple.

Every step you take towards practicing your English speaking skills will bring you one step closer to your goal.

Yes, you'll make mistakes at first, but that's okay. Remember, everyone starts somewhere. With patience and practice, you'll become more confident in your abilities and your mistakes will soon be a thing of the past.

To quote the wise words of the American cartoon Adventure Time,

"Sucking at something is the first step to being sort of good at something."

So don't be afraid to make mistakes. They are a natural part of the learning process.

Here are some quick and easy ways to start practicing your English speaking skills today:

• Sing along to your favorite English songs, paying attention to the lyrics and trying to imitate the singer's pronunciation.

• Watch English-language movies with subtitles, pausing to repeat the lines of dialogue you find interesting or useful.

• Join an English-speaking club or group, where you can participate in group discussions and practice your speaking skills in a relaxed, social setting.

So what are you waiting for?

Start practicing, embrace your mistakes, and watch your English speaking skills soar!

Do you know about Tag questions?

They are statements to which we add a final "tag" or question. For example:

• You speak English, don't you?

• The movie wasn't that bad, was it?

• He can join us, can't he?

Many learners do not like using tag questions since they can be more confusing than regular questions (which, let's face it, are already damn tricky on their own!).

Even so, it's important to give tag questions a shot. They can really take your English conversational skills to the next level.

Using tag questions can:

• show that you are listening and interested in what the other person is saying

• confirm or deny information quickly

• keep a conversation going

• make you sound friendlier and more confident.

If you're confused about how to use tag questions, check out my new YouTube video. You'll learn why we use tag questions, how to properly form them, AND how to respond to them.

FYI*

Check out the meaning of the expressions/words in bold that I used in this post:

Let's face it (expression): to admit that something is true or real

tricky (adj): difficult to do or deal with

give something a shot (expression): to try or attempt to do

* fyi: This is an abbreviation of "for your information" which is another way to say "just so you know."

Happy studying!

Gabbie

Key words Americans use to talk about shopping

Here are some key 🔑 words Americans use to talk about money. If you plan on going to the store, you'll need to know these.

💵 cash: Cash always refers to paper money. It is quite common for some small restaurants to post signs that say "Cash only" because they don't accept credit cards.

💵 bill(s): Bill(s) refer to different dominations of paper money. For example, you may have a 1-dollar bill, 5-dollar bill, 10-dollar bill, etc.

💵 buck(s): Bucks can refer to both paper and value. However, it is more commonly used to refer to paper money.

💵 change: Change refers both to the money you get back after a purchase and coins. In some places in the US, some places still require you to feed a meter if you want to park. In this case, you will need to bring change (coins).

💵 to come to: In terms of money, this expression means to cost. At checkout, it is more common to hear "that comes to x" instead of "that costs x."

Have you heard these before? If not, please familiarize yourself with them - you will hear them every time you go shopping!