Speaking English can be scary when it isn’t your first language. You can be misunderstood, and at the very least, feel embarrassed. When you want to fit in, the last thing you want to do is stick out like a sore thumb by speaking the language incorrectly!
It’s also important to know that appearing to be a native English speaker means more than the actual words you speak. You can have the language down and still seem like a foreigner.
Whether you’re still working on learning the language or you want to look like you belong after you have mastered the language, just follow these tips.
Work on Improving Your Pronunciation
One of the biggest issues language learners run into is pronunciation. You can know the words to say, but if you don’t say them the right way, it’s obvious that English isn’t your first language.
Pronunciation can be a difficult thing to improve, but it isn’t impossible! A few keys to improving your English pronunciation include:
- Focus on phonemes
- Practice some tongue twisters
- Speak slowly to practice
One of the most important things you can do is listen to the pronunciation of words as you’re learning them. Don’t try and guess, then correct yourself later. It’s much better to know how a word is pronounced from the very beginning.
Not sure how a word is pronounced? Most online dictionaries have an audio icon you can click to hear a native speaker pronounce the word.
Watch TV
When you imagine learning a new language, you probably envision attending classes, reading books, and filling out worksheets. Although those are some ways you can work on your language skills, you could learn English even better if you watch TV!
Although watching movies and the news can help, surprisingly, sitcoms are the best choice if you want to learn English like a native speaker. With repetitive storylines, it’s a lot easier to catch on to what’s happening as you’re watching.
To get the most out of your time spent in front of the TV, make sure you choose a show that is fun for you to watch, and turn on the subtitles, at least at first, so you can follow along.
Immerse Yourself
Many people learn a language but never master it. If you want to sound like a native English speaker, you have to master the language, which means immersing yourself in it. You have to drop your first language and living life in English, at least temporarily.
A few ways to immerse yourself in the English language include:
- Create a meal from an English recipe
- Train your dog using English words
- Set the video games you play to English
- Change the language setting to English on your phone
- Listen to music in English
- Always write in English
Know Some Slang
One of the biggest ways others can tell whether you are a native English speaker or not is the slang you know. There’s a lot of slang, it changes all the time, and common slang in one area of the country may not be popular in another area. However, if you don’t master the slang, it will become obvious pretty quickly that you’re still learning the language.
Take the time to learn some common slang terms, and make sure to pay special attention to the slang that is used by the people where you live or where you’re staying. If you aren’t confident with slang terms yet, hold off on using them. It’s perfectly acceptable to speak properly and avoid slang while you’re learning.
Find a Native English Speaker to Practice With
There are a lot of great ways to learn how to speak English from the comfort of your home, but at some point, you’re going to have to practice. It’s a lot more comfortable to practice with a person that you trust.
Find a native English speaker to practice with. If you attend a University, this may be relatively easy. If you don’t, consider asking a local community college or community center if there is anyone in the area who might be willing to help you learn.
You can go online too! Not only can you find tutors, you can also find new friends and pen pals who would be willing to have conversations with you over video chat.
Act the Part
It isn’t always about the words that you speak and how you speak them. The English language exists in a unique culture, and without knowing the culture, communicating can become difficult.
For example, it’s perfectly fine to say no if you are offered something to eat, even if it might be considered offensive in an Arab home, or you may want to consider changing up your style while you’re stateside.
From learning offensive and polite gestures to differences in how each gender and difficult people are treated, it’s a good idea to study the culture and find ways to live it to the best of your ability if you want to appear like a native English speaker.
Don’t Be Afraid of Making Mistakes
You can master every single tip on this list and still stick out as a second language learner when you’re hanging out with others who are native English speakers. It all comes down to confidence.
Even if you don’t feel that confident, you have to act confident. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, which means speaking in English with the same gusto that you would use when speaking your first language. It’s true that you might make a mistake, but it’s the only way you will learn to speak English comfortably and confidently.
There’s nothing wrong with not being very good at speaking English when you’re learning, but there are a lot of benefits to appearing like you speak English as your first language. Whether you’re attending school, the United States is your new home, or you’re traveling, these tips will help you learn the language inside and out.