Activities for Spoken English

Chatting with friends is a relaxed way to learn spoken English.

Spoken English is often more relaxed and informal than written English. Native English speakers take shortcuts, leave words out, run words together and make up colorful metaphors and similes that are not encountered in either written English or vocabulary lists. Learning to converse confidently with native English speakers takes practice. Gaining confidence in spoken English is simply a matter of pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and taking part in games and activities where you are encouraged and required to speak.

Role-Playing and Quizzes

1. • For groups or classes that wish to practice spoken English, role-playing exercises can give the opportunity to push their understanding of language to the next level. Role-play is probably best for more advanced students who can already communicate in English but works well for teaching some of the subtleties of the English language, such how to use tone of voice and inflection. Play guessing games, such as those based on "20 Questions," with groups of four, and keep them simple by the teacher giving out a short list of items to be guessed before the activity starts.

   Online Pronunciation Practice

   • Learning to speak in English requires confidence as well as a basic understanding of grammar and vocabulary. Find the confidence to practice and overcome a fear of making mistakes and looking or feeling foolish with online learning sites. As well as basic lessons in how to use English, spoken exercises give examples by a native speaker. Hearing how the words are spoken and then practicing in private give the confidence to practice with others.

   Spoken Games

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     Team activities with an element of competition put energy and motivation into the classroom. Games such as Chinese Whispers sometimes produce humorous results when the whispered word gets distorted as it travels along the line. For this type of activity to work, the students need to feel safe and secure in their ability to speak. Establish ground rules beforehand regarding casting blame on the student who speaks the given word at the end of the line.

   Clubs and Conversation Groups

   • There comes a time when formal English classes are not enough for the student of spoken English. English-speaking clubs, or conversation groups, introduce you to like-minded people who are also trying to improve their spoken English. Online clubs and groups give a level of anonymity for those who are still building their confidence, while in face-to-face groups, there is chance to make real friends and share interests. A tip if joining a conversation group is to find friends who share your interests. That way you can practice talking in English about something you both find meaningful.