If you’re learning a language, chances are you want to speak in that language and be understood. And it’s not always easy to figure out what you need to focus on to actually speak better in another language.

In this episode, we’ll look at the broad picture of 5 key areas that will help you speak better, so you can figure out which areas you need to focus on.

Before we begin…

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How to Speak Better In Another Language

Vocab & Grammar Make Speaking Easier…But Not Alone

Of course, the more vocabulary and grammar you know, the better you’ll be at speaking. But the good news is that you can become a better speaker now, without needing to wait until you know all the words and all the grammar. Because, if you wait to speak until that point, you’ll never speak. There’ll always be more to know.

So one of the best things you can know about becoming a better speaker in another language is to consider all of the other factors that personally impact your speaking confidence and fluency beyond just vocabulary and grammar.

In Language Life, you’ll be introduced to the most beneficial ways to maximise both Intentional & Incidental Vocab & Grammar. Without adding more to your plate, you’ll be able to keep your vocabulary and grammar learning happening regularly.

Related:

How To Learn Vocabulary Better In Any Language (& Remember It)

Non-Verbal Communication & Pragmatics

A big part of that is paying attention to non-verbal communication and pragmatics. In other words, getting better at understanding what’s being said beyond spoken words.

This includes some vocal elements – things like intonation, how fast you speak, how loudly you speak.

But it also includes plenty of non-vocal elements, such as body language, gesture, your distance from who you’re speaking with. All of these things impact your meaning, or at least the interpretation of your meaning.

And yes, lots of these elements are the same or similar cross-culturally, but there are some that are culturally unique. So it’s always worth observing how native speakers use these non-verbal elements to see if it aligns with your expectations.

Related:

Intercultural Communication: How to Communicate More Effectively with Shahidah Foster

Become a Better Listener

When we’re speaking with others, so much of how well we respond depends on how well we listen. If we don’t understand what’s being said to us, we can’t respond at all.

Becoming a better listening improves our speaking because we’re able to understand more of what’s being said to us so we can actually respond appropriately.

And, of course, knowing more vocabulary and grammar helps here too but there’s plenty of other factors that affect our listening beyond that. Things like our sound discrimination ability and affective factors too.

In Language Life, you’ll learn all of the Listening Success Factors and how to improve them so you can become a better listening, and boost your speaking confidence.

Related:

Developing Better Listening Skills for Language Learning

Improve Your Mindset

It’s an often ignored factor when it comes to speaking advice, but mindset plays a biggest factor that you might expect.

The “Speak more! Speak now! Do it even if you’re embarrassed! Just do it!” Shia LaBouf-esque advice that has become so commonplace is great. Of course, if we want to speak better, we need to speak more.

But often, it gets reduced to a soundbite and there’s little room for appreciating the role our mindset can play in our speaking confidence.

This is why there’s a Module dedicated to Motivation and Mindset in Language Life. Because it’s a crucial part of successful language learning.

When we understand and can better control these factors, we’re able to actually learn languages quicker and easier because we’re able to tailor things to our own needs, wants, and current situations.

Don’t skip mindset work if you want to speak better in another language.

Related:

4 Essential Mindset Shifts for Language Learning

Develop a Solo Speaking Habit

Finally, develop a Solo Speaking Habit.

Imagine Lang Lang, the amazing pianist, steps on stage and tackles a song for the first time. He’s fluffing all the notes, making all the mistakes, hitting all the wrong keys. No one is paying to see his next concert.

It’s the same with speaking.

Us language learners are so prone to skipping the solo speaking practice. And we shouldn’t be.

You don’t need to wait until someone is stood in front of you to speak.

Solo speaking can be anything from speaking your daily routine aloud to recording yourself speaking in your phone.

Give yourself a prompt and get speaking.

You can prepare or you can go straight into it.

You can review it after or you can leave it as soon as you finish speaking.

You’ll be speaking more because you’re making it a habit.

Once it’s a habit, then you can begin to focus on speaking better, one bit at a time.

When we develop a Solo Speaking Habit, we get comfortable with our speaking in a safe environment, where we’re not worried about being observed, or evaluated, or judged. Because it’s just us.

It’s truly one of the most useful ways to speak better in another language.

Related:

How to Start Speaking a New Language For The First Time

Join Language Life for the Speak 28×28 Challenge

If you want to speak better in another language, the easiest way to develop that Solo Speaking Habit is inside of Language Life.

The Speak 28×28 Challenge is a 28 day challenge that gives you Daily Video Lessons and Speaking Prompts to speak every single day.

Even if you’re a beginner, even if you’ve never spoken the language before, even if you don’t think you have time to get better at speaking right now.

The Challenge is always inside the program for you to take on at a time that suits you, and finally become a confident fluent speaker of the language you’re learning.

And, just like the entirety of Language Life, the Challenge works for any language too. So you can do it for multiple languages, a language you have no one to speak with, or a language you can’t find any resources for.

If you’re ready to become the best multilingual version of yourself, the one who everyone else envies at parties when you effortlessly switch languages, then this is for you.