While learning English, we may focus too much on technical aspects of the language, such as grammar. We tend to neglect the most natural part of the language: speaking!
We tend to use books with images and exercises and forget about real life. Then, when we go out and face life scenarios with real people, we may find ourselves in trouble expressing what we want.
As children, we learn languages naturally. We listen to the voices of people close to us and imitate what they are doing until we manage to say one word, then two, and so on. Then we manage to build sentences and create our own form of expression.
Learning a language should be just as instinctive as children do. Children aren’t usually afraid of making mistakes when they learn how to speak. But when learning a new language as adults, we are often overwhelmed with fears and prejudices, we tend to worry excessively!
Many people are crushed by nerves when it comes to speaking. Instead of accepting the stammering, and the mistakes, we shut ourselves down and start consuming grammar in excess, hoping it will improve our English.
However, what most commonly happens is that people develop skills in reading and writing the language before speaking it. But what's the point of it? Isn't speaking one of the most important communication skills?
There is nothing wrong with reading and writing and being a know-it-all of grammar rules. But now your job is to bring all that knowledge into real life, so you can improve your speaking ability and enjoy everything you have learned so far by giving it a practical sense!
There are many ways to practice conversational English. If you are one of those who enjoy books, here is a short list we made especially for you. Go ahead and challenge yourself to improve your speaking skills.
Check them all out and enjoy your reading for speaking!
- Practice makes perfect – Jean Yates
If you want to get acquainted with phrases and words to be used on different occasions in your daily life, this book will be your great ally!
This book from Jean Yates contains complete dialogues that serve as examples to reflect day-to-day situations and how to engage in conversations! You will find the most common phrases of the English language, as well as explanations on how to use them. These phrases will be very useful to communicate.
But that’s not all! You will not only have dialogues, many examples and explanations. You will also have exercises to improve your skills and to practice your English until you become as fluent as you can be!
Besides the improvement you will achieve in your conversational skills, this book can also offer you written exercises and several appendices including a list of verbs and conjugations, which will help you take your English to another level! It is definitely a great option if you want to sound like a native speaker.
- 101 Conversations in Simple English: Short Natural Dialogues to Boost Your Confidence & Improve Your Spoken English – Olly Richards
Speaking English doesn't have to be complicated and tedious! This book offers more than 100 English conversations for you to learn the terms you should use to talk to somebody else!
“Real English-speaking people don’t speak like your textbook”
This book is specifically aimed at teaching you how to speak as we do in real life, with authentic phrases and words that you can use in everyday situations, without making it more complicated than necessary! So check it out if you want to learn functional, straightforward English.
- 102 Simple English Conversation Dialogues For Beginners in American English: Gain Confidence and Improve your Spoken English – Jackie Bolen
Jackie Bolen believes that much of learning a language is about culture. And she’s right!
You may have knowledge about lots of words, grammar and all. But be aware! When facing real-life conversations, you may find situations that you don’t fully understand because of the cultural baggage involved.
Therefore, it is important for you to know not only words but also expressions specific to the language and culture you are trying to learn and live in.
If you want to learn American English, this book is the perfect fit for you as it contains phrases used in everyday life, common sayings, and forms of expression that will make you feel like you own the place!
- Nice talking with you – Tom Kenny/Linda Woo
There is no minimum level of English to start speaking. If children begin to communicate by babbling, you too can learn little by little from scratch!
This book is designed for different levels of students. Part 1 will help you if you are one of those who have been studying English but have never spoken it before. On the other hand, the second part is ideal for those who have an intermediate level of conversational English.
The educational tools presented by Cambridge in this book will allow you to enhance your communication in English. Use it and thank us later!
- Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics – Eric Roth/Toni Aberson
As we have already mentioned, you can improve your conversational skills regardless of your level. However, this book is for those who have an advanced level of English and just want to improve their skills with more conversation topics.
It contains 45 thematic chapters, over 1400 questions, 500 vocabulary words, 250 proverbs and American idioms, and 500 quotations. This book will definitely take your language conversational skills to the sky.
Wrapping Up
It's never too late to develop your conversational skills. If you have already started or if you are one of those who write and read but don't talk, it's time for you to spread your wings!
Check out the material we have prepared for you, we promise you will not regret it, and you will see real results in your English very soon! In the meantime, don't forget to have fun!