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Speaking English with confidence is an important goal for many. Often, we hesitate because we are afraid of making a mistake or of embarrassing ourselves in front of others. Sometimes mistakes are inevitable. But like any other skill, you can improve your spoken English if you practice it regularly and follow the simple strategies outlined in this article.
In this article, we will look at three main types of communication skills, some examples, and a host of practical tips you can start using today to help strengthen those skills. Here we discuss,
- There are three main types of communication skills: oral, non-verbal, and written
- General tips to improve your communication across all genres
- A category dedicated to each of the three categories in particular
Three Different Types of Communication Skills
Communication is considered one of the most important skills we have for interacting with other people, or the way we communicate and interact with other people. There are three main types of communication skills: speaking, non-speaking, and writing.
Verbal: Verbal communication is when you talk to other people, whether face-to-face, in a video call, or over the phone. Your choice of words is very important, but also the smallest detail, such as the tone of voice and the timing of your expressions.
Non-Verbal: Non-verbal communication, also called body language, is what people see when they watch you during a conversation, face-to-face or on video. Your facial expressions, your eye contact, and your body language. You may not notice that your body language is saying, “I don’t want to talk to you right now,” even though it is an important conversation.
Written: These days, written communications are often seen in emails and chat messages, including an email to your partner or a customer service email for a job. This may also include discussions on forums such as Facebook Messenger or Slack. If you run a remote team, it is important that your communication skills are in one place.
How to Improve Communication Skills: Verbal
- Be brief and clear
Have you ever talked about a long and threatening story with a colleague when you have a lot of work to do? It’s hard. Try to reach the main points quickly so that you do not become that person.
- Don’t be afraid of silence every now and then
Silence may seem unbearable, but it is not always wrong. Do not start shouting just to make silence. (It is difficult, but fight the desire.) Your partner and partner will thank you once you understand when it is best to keep quiet.
- Find a “bridge” if you need to change the subject
Changing the subject tactfully is an art. Try to find a “bridge” that can connect where the conversation is now and where you want it to be. Use connecting phrases such as, “The important thing is …” or “I agree with you, but…” or “Here’s what I know…”
- Get rid of those “um’s” and “uh’s”
This sounds like a good idea, but the average person uses fillers more than they think they do. Try recording a presentation and listen to how often you say it. Then go ahead and keep the fillers in mind and talk less so you can have time to think ahead.
- Plan and practice what you’ll say
Well, there are a lot of unexpected conversations where you don’t have the opportunity to plan and practice. But if you have the opportunity, take even 30 seconds to go over your main points. This can work wonders for your communication skills.
How to Improve Communication Skills: Non-verbal
- Make eye contact while someone is talking
This is the first point to show a person that paying attention to what he is saying. Hold on tight, but do not panic. There is a straight line here.
- Avoid fidgeting or distracting movements
Do not adjust your seat seven times. Do not press your pen open and close too often. You can swipe your papers during the board meeting, or click your browser tabs during the Zoom call.
- Keep good posture
One of those tips seems obvious, but it is surprisingly easy to ignore. While working to improve my communication skills, I set an alarm every 30 minutes for “Stop!” Most of the time, I paddled.
- Don’t cross your arms
Some people think this is “a state of power.” This may be true in some cases, but in others, it may make you look closed. It can give the impression that you can’t wait to get out of there, which is not helpful in a good conversation.
- Pay attention to the same cues from others
Significant symptoms may be unintentional, but they are usually intentional as well. If a coworker does not look you in the eye or laughs at you, ask yourself if it could be your reaction when you tell a long story or make a mistake when he is busy.
How to Improve Communication Skills: Written
- Never respond to messages when you’re upset
He once sent an email when you were angry, then came back to it and thought, “It’s too bad. Why did I say that? ” I’ve been there. If you receive an annoying message, take a five- or ten-minute break to calm down before you reply. This can work wonders in your relationship.
- Write descriptive titles and email subject lines
How annoying it is to receive an email (“no subject)?” Write your emails as briefly and accurately as possible. Tell them what it contains. Instead of “Meeting,” try the headline, “Request to reschedule our 2pm meeting for 3pm.”
- Use active voice
You may remember hearing this tip a lot at school. Instead of “Papers inserted,” say “I inserted papers.” This helps to clear up any confusion about how things are done. In addition to being clearer, effective voice is more involved with your message recipients.
- Keep your words and sentences simple
A common rule is that your sentences should not be longer than two lines long. Look for opportunities to cut them in half or make them shorter. You should also try to avoid making it difficult for you to write in big words that other people may not understand.
- Keep it short and sweet
Similar to not telling a long and threatening face-to-face story, a long and threatening email is not the most exciting thing either. In addition to making others feel like they are wasting their time, it also increases the likelihood that they will miss out on important information because they have been rude or uneducated.
Tips To Improve Communication Skills
Build a Strong Foundation
In order to express yourself fluently in English, you need a variety of vocabulary and correct pronunciation.
1. Expand your vocabulary
Learn New Words Every Day
Collecting new words a day, an exit date is a great way to expand your vocabulary knowledge. Commit to the right goal: either three words daily or ten words daily.
Even if you only have time to learn one new word a day, you still have time to try. By reading one word daily, after one year you will have learned 365 new words in English.
Write the number down to remind yourself regularly. If you have a classmate, join him to check on your progress.
Other good word resources are news, songs and TV shows, depending on your daily routine. If you like listening to music, pay attention to the words and mark the words you do not know. Songs often contain a lot of useful vocabulary, phrases and expressions, and therefore, they are very good at learning English.
2. Improve your pronunciation
You may know many words, but if you fail to pronounce them correctly, you will not be misunderstood. That sounds like a waste of time, isn’t it?
When using online dictionaries make use of the little speaker symbol to check the pronunciation of any word that you are not sure about. There are English pronunciation tutorials on YouTube or podcasts to teach you the many aspects of American English pronunciation.
3. Learn the natural flow of English
Being able to say individual words correctly is good, but the secret to speaking English fluently is in the flow of sentences. Whenever you read a piece of poetry, listen to a beautiful song or watch a beautiful sitcom, consider the following:
- Linking. Notice how native speakers link words together: joining two sounds, making a sound to disappear or changing a sound for a better flow.
- Contractions. Contractions are shortened forms of two words. For example:
- I + am = I’m
- he + will = he’ll
- they + have = they’ve
- do + not = don’t
- Stress. There are stressed syllables in a word and stressed words in a sentence.
- Rhythm. The rhythm is the overall result of stress, contractions, and linking. It is the ups and downs, the musical feature of English.
4. Build English speaking confidence
One of the biggest obstacles to developing English speaking skills is confidence. It really is something that all language learners have a problem with and one of the best ways to overcome this is to get out there and practice.
If you think you already have what it takes, get out there and practice English with strangers!
Well, by following the tips in the video, you will be able to focus on the sometimes forgotten part of learning language: self-confidence! After a while, you will completely eliminate any fear of speaking English by building a solid foundation on the language.
Techniques to Improve English Speaking Skills
Now that you have a solid foundation, you can use some techniques to hone (improve) your English speaking skills.
5. Speech shadowing
In short, this process is all about imitation. You listen to how the native speaker says something and then try to copy it.
- Pick your favorite video with subtitles. Make sure that it is something you enjoy watching because you will…
- Listen to it many times. Listen to the video once and read the footnotes to get a better understanding of common content and flow. While playing it again, complete the next step.
- Imitate the narrator sentence by sentence. Play. Listen. Pause. Speak. Record (optional). Copy the speech pattern as best as you can.
With enough shade, you will naturally approach the speaking as a native speaker. Just make sure you choose videos with the same type of English pronunciation!
6. Self-talk
Speak alone in English aloud. It could be anything like a suggestion like, “Shall we get a glass of water?” or a reminder, “I need a lot of laundry today.”
Alternatively, pick up the book and read a few pages aloud. This activity may delay your reading, but it will speed up your speaking ability.
You can also record yourself, listen to recordings and be aware of any incorrect pronunciation. If possible, ask for feedback from the native speaker.
7. Think in English
If you are already thinking in English, it takes less time to produce or respond to everyday conversations. No translation required!
A good way to start thinking again is to keep a diary in which you express your daily thoughts in English. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s about expressing ideas in English with a little effort.
8. Retell a story in English
Take the next step by re-telling the story. You bring back other people’s thoughts line with your words.
I’ll start with a story I know of your culture. Your translation requires not only conveying the meaning of the words but also all the rhetorical and cultural manners.
Or, you can choose different words to re-tell a simple story in English. Start with the basics, learning something like a fairy tale or myth. Either way will be beneficial to your English communication skills.
Frequently Practice to Improve Your English Speaking Skills
Practice makes perfect, so speak English often. Some people think they do not have the opportunity to practice speaking because they do not live in the US or in another English-speaking country. They may also be discouraged because English is not used in the workplace, or they do not know the native speaker.
There is some truth in those reasons, but do not let them hinder your reading. Due to the growth of global trade and technology, you have more opportunities than ever to become accustomed to speaking English. You will find more ideas below.
9. Participate in public speaking events
Large universities, theaters and cultural communities organize events such as open debates, word-reading and enhanced storytelling circles. These are places where you can come in and meet like-minded people and practice speaking English.
10. Using apps
Another option is to use the app to talk to native speakers online, in the comfort of your own home. The most popular app is Entri. For start your preparation Join Entri Now.Basically, you sign up for an account, and introduce yourself, your native language and hobbies. The app will find you the same thing — people who speak English and want to become proficient in a fluent language. All you have to do is press a few buttons and you can start talking.
The Best-Spoken English App in Kerala
You Are In The Right Place!. If you are a student who loves to speak English quickly and effectively, then the “English Padikkyam with Inverted Coconut” course by the App ENTRI is for you. The ENTRI – Learning App is a unique app designed for everyone, at the same time, designed for individuals. Wondering how ?! The ENTRI app is explicitly designed with the user’s reading ability in mind. Therefore, it provides you with personal reading content with excellent videos and illustrations. With its unique, user-focused features, the ENTRI Learning Appis considered one of the best learning apps in Kerala. It allows you to set goals, find a personal trainer, analyze your learning situation with detailed analysis, and give you an informed answer. As an advanced step, the ENTRI App identifies the learning gap and offers practice lessons that help you achieve your goal.
