If you’ve been struggling with soaring to the next level of the spoken English language, you may have already been asking yourself, “What are those students who are excelling in this area doing that I’m not?” 

And you’re right to ask that question. That’s the only way you can diagnose what you’re doing compared to what they’re doing. Here’s a surprise. Usually, it comes down to one exercise. One simple ten-minute exercise, to be exact. This habit helps to immerse these individuals in the language thoroughly. This chapter explains how you can use this potent tool to soar to the next level of fluency in speaking English.

Read a Book (Yes, in English!) out loud.

What if you knew there was a straightforward exercise that could transform how you spoke English? If you participated in this routine every day for as little as ten minutes, you’d be building your English speaking ability, unlike an athlete who improves his skill through daily practice. 

Imagine what it would be like to speak English like a native speaker without having to converse with other people. If that sounds too good, think again. You’re about to be introduced to a simple ten-minute daily method that will do just that. Not only that, but this simple method can help you keep up with that conversation among native speakers who ordinarily speak so fast that most students get lost and even discouraged. 

You are simply reading a book written in English out loud. Yes, that’s all there is to it. However, there are some criteria for this exercise. The first caveat is scanning the words while retaining proper pronunciation. At first, this may seem like you’re reading at a snail’s pace, but as you continue to practice, you’ll find yourself getting faster and comprehending the words more quickly. 

Part of the key to this is the careful and deliberate pronunciation of words. Remember that pronunciation depends on you to open and move your mouth correctly. When you pay attention to the movement of your mouth, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the improvement In your pronunciation. Many individuals try this suggestion but are a bit sceptical of it. They’re unsure how reading a book aloud – to no one, in particular, could increase their skill. So why does it work?

This exercise does nothing less than create an oral atmosphere around you.

If you’re anything like the average student learning English as a second language, English is probably seldom, if ever, spoken in your home. This exercise is an excellent way to practice speaking the language when you aren’t in touch with others who say it, even on a rudimentary level. 

Invest at least ten minutes daily reading out loud five days a week. In fact, why not try it for a month? At the end of the month, check to see if your language skills have changed.

Reading out loud increases your opportunity for retention.

Not only does it increase your chances to retain more of what you read, but you also increase this opportunity by approximately 100 percent compared to reading silently. When you read silently, you use two parts of your body – your brain and your eyes. While this is good, reading out loud doubles the number of body parts involved in the process. This activity forces you to use not only your brain and your eyes but your ears and voice as well. 

Scientists have discovered that this does double your retention of the material. You’re thinking about the language, seeing it, and hearing and saying it. 

There is no better way to immerse yourself in the English language. While reading, you’re subconsciously soaking up the thinking and speech patterns of the language. But that’s not all; you’re also enhancing your ability to remember in English and communicate in the language.

You’re exercising your facial muscles.

Yes, this isn’t the most exciting result of this habit, but it is more important than you think. The sounds involved in speaking English are formed by passing the air through a particular segment of our facial organs. As you probably already know through your studies, sounds are formed through your lips, nose, teeth, tongue and other facial features.

When you’re learning a new language, there are many new sounds you need to learn to speak it properly. At first, it may seem that you can’t pronounce certain sounds. Many individuals whose first language is Spanish have difficulty enunciating the letter “z” in English. Spanish doesn’t contain that sound. But just for your information, native English speakers sometimes have a hard time with the “RR” sound of Spanish. This is not a natural sound for them to use. In each case, the individual must develop specific muscles for proper pronunciation.

You’ll learn how to become responsible for correcting yourself.

You’ve been studying the Business English language, and you’re already reasonably proficient in the proper pronunciation of it. Don’t be surprised that as you read out loud, you’ll slowly begin to “police yourself.” Eventually, you’ll hear yourself pronounce one or more of the words incorrectly. When you first start this habit, you may slide by this. After you’re established in this habit, you’ll discover yourself stopping and pronouncing it again correctly. That’s precisely one of the goals of this exercise.

Reading out loud increases your oral fluency.

There’s no way around it; reading a book or newspaper out loud must improve your fluency in English. Ideally, you’ll want to take time out of your morning to read out loud. And yes, I mentioned it for good reason. This simple exercise loosens your speech organs, getting them accustomed to making the sounds of English. 

Also, doing it before class jogs your memory of the sounds necessary for the language. You’ll soon discover that your fluency will be significantly enhanced when you take the time to do this exercise. The great thing about this exercise is choosing a book that interests you. Choose a novel you’ve always wanted to read or one of your favourite authors. For example, if you’re a sports fan, you could read an autobiography of your favourite athlete or read the newspaper's sports section daily. 

Remember that you’ll learn most from this exercise when reading actively or observing. What do I mean by that? Be involved in what you’re reading. Use your mind to note not only the material being presented but the structure of the sentences and the order of the words in sentences. Ideally, you’ll transfer these observations into your daily practices. And the next thing you notice is that you speak English as if you were born with it.

In conclusion, becoming a fluent English speaker may seem daunting, but with the right mindset, dedication, and strategies, it's achievable for anyone. By implementing the tips and techniques we've shared in this blog post, you can develop the skills to speak English confidently and fluently. Language learning is a journey; enjoying and celebrating your progress is essential. So, take these secrets of fluent English speakers to heart, put them into practice, and watch your language skills soar to new heights. With the right tools and resources, becoming fluent in English can open up new opportunities in your personal and professional life. Start your journey today and see where your language skills can take you!

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