Speak like a native

In numerous professional domains, proficiency in English is a cornerstone for success. A significant portion of scientific publications, business interactions, and professional meetings are conducted exclusively in English. Thus, mastering the language facilitates an expansion of your professional horizons, broadens your network, and unlocks new opportunities across various sectors.

Nobody wants to speak in a rigid textbook manner. Outdated phrases, often remembered from school, may feel disconnected from the language used by native speakers in both casual and formal communication. While attaining fluency at the level of a native speaker is an ambitious goal, there are numerous incremental steps you can undertake to sound more like a native speaker.

Enhance Your Vocabulary

Expanding your English vocabulary is an important component of the language learning process, enhancing both your ability to communicate effectively and your comprehension of interlocutors. There are countless tips on how to achieve this.

1. Expand your vocabulary through reading 

Reading is a crucial aspect for increasing the vocabulary of any language, including English. By reading, you can see words in their natural environment, in the context of sentences, dialogues, thematic texts, etc., which allows you to understand not only individual words but also their connection in context. Thus, reading fosters an understanding of how words function in authentic settings. If your goal in reading is to expand your vocabulary to the level of a native speaker, it's better to read contemporary literature, news, social media posts, etc., as they are enriched with  up-to-date vocabulary.

• 2. Enrich vocabulary from contemporary movies and videos 

If your level of English is low, start by watching movies or videos (from Youtube, TikTok, etc.) with English subtitles to help you understand the words and phrases you hear. Watch movies and videos, paying special attention to the use of new words and expressions. You can write down unfamiliar words or phrases that you encounter frequently and look up their meanings or usage context. After watching, try to reproduce the phrases you've learned in different situations to understand their usage and memorize them.

• 3. Use idiomatic expressions 

When listening to native speakers, you'll inevitably come across various  unusual word combinations known as idioms. The challenge with idioms is that they may not make sense if translated literally into your native language. 

• For example, the expression "a piece of cake" has nothing to do with food, as it means that something is easy to do: 

The exam was a piece of cake, it didn’t require a lot of effort. 

• Similarly, the expression "break a leg" bears no relation to injury, as it's used to wish someone good luck (especially before a theater performance). 

Break a leg Sam, I'm sure your performance will be great. 

In informal English, such idiomatic expressions abound, underscoring the importance of grasping their meanings to approach the fluency of a native speaker.

• 4. Learn phrasal verbs 

Phrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in informal contexts. They consist of a verb and one or two prepositions. Phrasal verbs should be perceived as a whole and their meaning should be memorized as a single expression, as the meaning of such verbs often differs from the meaning of individual words they consist of. 

For example, the verb "look" takes on completely different meanings when combined with different prepositions: 

• look for - to search 

I’m looking for my glasses. Can you help me? 

• look up - to try to find a piece of information by looking in a book or on a computer 

Look up this word in the dictionary, I don’t know it. 

• look after - to take care of 

We have to look after our neighbours' cat while they're away. 

• look through - to read something quickly

Can you look through the report and let me know your opinion? 

• look down on - to think that you are better than someone

He looks down on his mates because he thinks he's better than they are.

• 5. Find out more about slang    

Just like idioms and phrasal verbs, slang is used by native speakers almost unconsciously. Most English slang words vary depending on region and generation. They can be used instead of standard English words or phrases to create a sense of identity and belonging to a certain group. Although slang words can be interesting, it is important to understand their context and usage to avoid misunderstandings and offense. Here are a few examples of slang expressions: 

• shook - shocked, impressed 

I was shook when I read the news. 

• basic - boring, unoriginal 

The design of our house was too basic, so we had to hire another designer. 

• on fleek - excellent, stylish 

Her fashion sense is on fleek. 

Remember that slang is generally considered informal. Be careful when using it in professional situations.

Refine Your Pronunciation and Intonation to Match Native English Speakers 

If you aspire to sound more like a native English speaker, it is important not only what you say but also how you say it. There are quite effective ways to achieve this.

• Watch and listen in English 

You should start by enhancing your listening skills. Listening to different accents from various speakers will help you mimic their language habits and express yourself more fluently. Watching movies or listening to the radio is a great way to immerse yourself in authentic English. In this way, you will naturally enhance your English listening skills, seamlessly adopting sounds, stresses, speech tempo, and rhythm.

• Engage with native English speakers

Native speakers serve as living examples of authentic language usage, offering an ideal resource for language acquisition. While traveling presents an excellent opportunity, it is not necessary to leave your country to speak with native English speakers. There are numerous resources now that can help you find an English-speaking companion, including:

https://www.enginprogram.org

https://episoden.com/signup

https://meetup.com/

https://www.conversationexchange.com/

https://www.mylanguageexchange.com/ 

Interacting with native speakers will help you pay attention to pronunciation and intonation nuances, and can also serve as a stimulus for correcting fossilized mistakes. Engaging in live conversations provides immediate feedback, so if you express yourself unclearly, you may not be understood, prompting you to focus on articulation and clarity in your speech.

• Read aloud 

Reading aloud in English is a great way to work on your pronunciation. If you've spent enough time listening to native speakers, try to mimic the way they speak. Allow your voice to rise and fall with the natural flow of speech. You can record your reading for further analysis and goal setting in pronouncing certain sounds.

Use Contractions 

Native speakers often use contractions in speech. Contractions are formed from two words, for example, "I’m" instead of "I am," "shouldn't" instead of "should not." Contractions are informal, so they work well in casual conversations. If you do not use contractions in casual conversation, you will sound too formal.

Break Down the Language Barrier 

Initially, the task may seem challenging, but it is within reach for anyone willing to dedicate sufficient effort and time, employing effective techniques to overcome the language barrier.

• Talk to yourself 

Try speaking to yourself aloud in English, no matter how crazy it may seem. Having learned new vocabulary or grammar in English, try to use new words and employ new grammatical forms in conversation with yourself. You can record yourself speaking and analyze your speech, but avoid fixating on errors. Overcoming the language barrier involves learning to speak without fear of making mistakes.

• Copy others 

Imitating how people speak is another interesting technique for improving speaking skills, which involves repeating what others say and how they say it. This technique helps not only improve pronunciation, intonation, and enrich vocabulary but also overcome the fear of hearing oneself speak English. So: 

1. find your favorite movie, video from Youtube, podcast, etc.; 
2. listen to the entire recording (if it's short) or scene to get a general idea of what's going on and identify key words and phrases; 
3. repeat phrases several times using subtitles, mimicking intonation and pronunciation; 
4. try to reproduce a short excerpt without subtitles.

• Find an English-speaking conversation buddy

Undoubtedly, the most effective method for overcoming the language barrier is through communication. While interacting with a native speaker yields optimal results, it is not essential. Engaging in speaking practice with non-native speakers offers numerous benefits. First of all, you will feel more comfortable speaking with people who speak English at the same level as you do, alleviating fears of making mistakes.

The ability to speak English can have a significant impact on your personality, professional success, and perception of the world, so its importance in the modern world is hard to overestimate. Mastering English to the level of a native speaker is a goal every English learner should aim for. While it's challenging, it's certainly achievable with dedication and sufficient time devoted to enhancing speaking skills.