In the study of a new language there comes a point when you successfully express your thoughts on something that is important to you. You feel a sense of triumph.
Unfortunately this happy moment is often followed by another encounter where you find yourself tongue-tied and unable to really say what you want to say.
Comfortable fluency takes time and practice. It is the ultimate goal and is certainly achievable for everyone.
To express yourself in a new language you must first absorb the language by listening, reading and learning vocabulary as explained in our previous articles.
These activities will always account for about three quarters of your effort while you are working to achieve a basic level of fluency. But from the beginning you also have to work on your skills of expression: pronunciation, writing, and conversation.
Developing these skills requires a conscious commitment to regular and patient practice.
And remember, people who can express themselves well don’t have a different gene; they have the techniques:
– Formulate your ideas in advance until you don’t need to anymore
– Don’t overexplain & avoid redundancies (like overly complicated grammar structures)
– Speak in bullets (focus on the few important things you really want to say)
– Don’t be afraid of the pause while speaking (pausing is natural)
– Start with the bottom line & avoid using too many details
– Be relaxed (everyone has their own way of relaxing, find yours!)
