Common mistake: Not speaking enough

Not speaking enough, or at all, is a mistake that many language learners make.

Learning lots of vocabulary and reading will indeed help you progress but you need to combine this with output. Otherwise, you’ll be a ‘fluent’ reader and listener but not a fluent speaker.

How to fix it:

When learning new words, try to put them into sentences as soon as possible – even if it’s just saying one sentence.

It’s a great way of memorising vocabulary in context while practising your speaking skills at the same time.

There are also lots of different ways in which you can practise your speaking skills even if you have nobody to talk to. You can describe the world around you, comment on the news you’re watching in your target language or give little presentations to yourself on a topic of your interest.

Or, you can find a language partner or tutor online – any platform where you can connect with native speakers. A language meet-up where you live is another option, but requires the courage to actually get there.

A few other options:

Talk to yourself in your target language, which is one of the best things you can do to practice speaking. This can be done pretty much anywhere and anytime. Try to describe your day, your surroundings, or your thoughts. You can also imagine yourself going to a store to order something and recreate that small dialogue in your target language.

Read outloud, along with subtitles. Watching TV shows or movies in your target language with subtitles can help you improve your pronunciation, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Imitate what you see and hear from native speakers, which is a great way to improve your pronunciation and intonation. You can practice imitating the way they speak and the expressions they use, down to lip and tongue movement. Try to also record yourself and listen back (potentially with a tutor) to check for pronunciation errors.

Make sure you speak as often as you can – it will help you progress but also improve your motivation!