Speaking English fluently is a goal for many learners of English. Fluency means being able to communicate your ideas without having to stop and think too much about what you are saying. However, many learners also have the goal of spoken accuracy. Speaking accurately means that you speak without errors of grammar and vocabulary.Which is more important – and more difficult – for you? It might depend on how you have learnt English in the past. Here is Jinping from China, talking in Better Speaking.
I have learned English for almost 15 years. I have no problem with reading and listening but speaking has always been a problem for me because, when I was at school, we always focused on grammar, vocabulary and exams. Now I really want to improve my spoken English to a new level, to achieve that freedom in speaking in the near future. I would try anything to help me achieve this.
Question a) What does Jinping think is the cause of the problem? Do you agree?
Question b) Do you have the same problem?
Answer
So, which is more important – fluency or accuracy? If, like Jinping, you have a very strong focus on accuracy – on getting the grammar and vocabulary correct – you may find that you worry about making mistakes.This can make you shy about speaking in English and, as a result, your spoken fluency might not improve.This means that, although you know English well, you might not be able to have a conversation.
On the other hand, you may be someone who really likes to talk, and you are willing to try out language even though you make mistakes.This can help make you sound very fluent. However, if you make too many mistakes which you do not stop to correct, you can find that it is difficult to make others understand your ideas.
Speaking a language well requires both fluency and accuracy. So how can you make sure that you develop both?
Identify your learning style What kind of learner are you? Think about situations in which you have used English and how you felt about making mistakes. Is being correct when you speak the most important thing for you? Or do you always take risks, trying out new language even though it might not be correct? The first step towards improving your spoken English is recognising what is easy for you – and then working on what is difficult.
Focus on one area at a time When you speak English, do you notice any mistakes which you make quite often? Maybe you make mistakes with tenses, or with question forms? Or do you sound slow – as if you are always searching for words and correct grammar? Next time you speak with your friends, try to work on the problem you have noticed. If it’s fluency, try to focus on making sure your friend understands what you’ve said, not on avoiding mistakes. If you have a problem with tenses, try to correct yourself only when you make a tense error – don’t think about other mistakes. By choosing an area to work on, you can help yourself overcome problems.
Vary your practice If you are a member of an English club or Learning Circle, make sure you vary the types of activities you do so that you get practice both in fluency and in accuracy. Discussions are good fluency activities, as long as you don’t stop each time a mistake is made!
TASK Being aware of fluency and accuracy
Take a cassette recorder and record a conversation with a friend – don’t worry, no-one else is going to hear it! Two or three minutes of recording is all you need.When you’ve finished, listen to yourselves again. Can you identify – and correct – any errors? How fluent did you sound? Make this a regular feature of your practice. The more you record yourselves, the more confident and natural sounding you will become.
I have learned English for almost 15 years. I have no problem with reading and listening but speaking has always been a problem for me because, when I was at school, we always focused on grammar, vocabulary and exams. Now I really want to improve my spoken English to a new level, to achieve that freedom in speaking in the near future. I would try anything to help me achieve this.
Question a) What does Jinping think is the cause of the problem? Do you agree?
Question b) Do you have the same problem?
Answer
- Jinping thinks that too much emphasis was put on written English and grammar when she was at school. She didn’t have much opportunity to speak.
So, which is more important – fluency or accuracy? If, like Jinping, you have a very strong focus on accuracy – on getting the grammar and vocabulary correct – you may find that you worry about making mistakes.This can make you shy about speaking in English and, as a result, your spoken fluency might not improve.This means that, although you know English well, you might not be able to have a conversation.
On the other hand, you may be someone who really likes to talk, and you are willing to try out language even though you make mistakes.This can help make you sound very fluent. However, if you make too many mistakes which you do not stop to correct, you can find that it is difficult to make others understand your ideas.
Speaking a language well requires both fluency and accuracy. So how can you make sure that you develop both?
Identify your learning style What kind of learner are you? Think about situations in which you have used English and how you felt about making mistakes. Is being correct when you speak the most important thing for you? Or do you always take risks, trying out new language even though it might not be correct? The first step towards improving your spoken English is recognising what is easy for you – and then working on what is difficult.
Focus on one area at a time When you speak English, do you notice any mistakes which you make quite often? Maybe you make mistakes with tenses, or with question forms? Or do you sound slow – as if you are always searching for words and correct grammar? Next time you speak with your friends, try to work on the problem you have noticed. If it’s fluency, try to focus on making sure your friend understands what you’ve said, not on avoiding mistakes. If you have a problem with tenses, try to correct yourself only when you make a tense error – don’t think about other mistakes. By choosing an area to work on, you can help yourself overcome problems.
Vary your practice If you are a member of an English club or Learning Circle, make sure you vary the types of activities you do so that you get practice both in fluency and in accuracy. Discussions are good fluency activities, as long as you don’t stop each time a mistake is made!
TASK Being aware of fluency and accuracy
Take a cassette recorder and record a conversation with a friend – don’t worry, no-one else is going to hear it! Two or three minutes of recording is all you need.When you’ve finished, listen to yourselves again. Can you identify – and correct – any errors? How fluent did you sound? Make this a regular feature of your practice. The more you record yourselves, the more confident and natural sounding you will become.
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