Start thinking in English
First tip, start thinking in English. It is essential to bear in mind that languages are not only about the grammatical rules, but also they are bound to cultural aspects. So, have an English mindset. In short, be minimalistic and have clear ideas.
Translating from your native language can’t help. Let’s say translating is a full time job. So, if you don’t want to be stuck in translation, just focus on the situation and learn from the context of each situation.
Remember, even polyglots may have difficulties switching from one language to another. So, be patient with yourself and start using an English-to-English dictionary from the first day.Notice the stressed sounds
Second tip, notice the stressed sounds. In fact, in English you need to stress or emphasize certain words and syllables to convey different meanings. Try to listen to and imitate native speakers. It may feel strange at the beginning but trust me imitation is a great way to improve your pronunciation. It certainly takes your speaking skill to a higher level.
Remember, placing the stress on the wrong syllable can completely change the word. For instance the word ADdress, it isn’t the same as the word adDRESS.
ADdress refers to a physical location where a person lives, whereas adDRESS means to formally speak to a group of people.Talk to yourself
The third tip is probably the weirdest but also the strongest. Talk to yourself out loud. Be your own favourite person.
Remember, you are already thinking in English, now it is time to speak it out loud. If you find talking to yourself difficult at the beginning, start by reading out loud. This technique allows you to hear yourself and feel more aware of your own voice. It works even better, if you record your voice and listen to it several times. Moreover, Singing along to your favorite English songs is a useful and joyful practice.-
Using a mirror
Next tip is using a mirror. Take a few minutes every day and choose a topic, set a timer for two or three minutes and just talk. The goal is to watch yourself as if you are talking to someone else.
Try to continue even if you get stuck on a word. If you have difficulties in expressing your ideas clearly, try to explain it chunk by chunk. To put into practice this technique helps you to find out what kinds of words or sentences you have trouble with.
The key factor is to focus on fluency not grammar. When you speak English, how often do you stop?
The more you stop, the less confident you sound and the less comfortable you become. Try the mirror exercise, but challenge yourself to speak without stopping or taking pauses between your words the entire time.
It is true that your sentences won’t be grammatically perfect all the time, but that’s alright if you focus on speaking fluently instead of correctly. The point is you can be understood and you can communicate more effectively. Gradually, you will fill in the correct grammar rules as you will learn them better.
