How to Speak English Confidently — 6 Simple Steps That Actually Work (English Podcast)

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Hello everyone and welcome back to the English learning podcast. I'm Lucy.

[00:00:06]Today I have a very special guest, Mark, an English communication coach with over 10 years of experience. Welcome to the show, Mark.

[00:00:14]>> Thank you so much, Lucy. I'm really happy to be here. I love talking to English learners here. You all work so hard and I respect that a lot. Okay, Mark, let's jump right in.

[00:00:23]>> Yeah. Many of our listeners want to speak better English, but they don't know where to start. What is the very first thing they should do?

[00:00:34]Great question. The first thing is to just start speaking. Many people wait until their English is perfect before they open their mouth, but there is no perfection. The only way to get better is to actually speak, even if you make mistakes. Mistakes are your best teachers. Speak English for at least 5 minutes [music] every day.

[00:00:53]Talk to yourself in the mirror if you have to.

[00:00:55]Just start. That makes total sense.

[00:00:58]>> Right. But a lot of students feel very shy or embarrassed.

[00:01:02]>> Mhm.

[00:01:03]They are scared of making mistakes in front of others.

[00:01:07]>> Mhm. How can they overcome that fear?

[00:01:10]Mhm.

[00:01:13]This is so common, Lucy. I tell my students this, nobody is judging you as much as you think. People are usually focused on what you are saying, not on your grammar.

[00:01:23]Also, change your mindset. Instead of thinking I might make a mistake, think I am brave because I am trying. Mhm. That small shift in thinking makes a huge difference. Whenever you feel scared to speak, [music] just take a breath and remember the more you talk in English every day, the better you get at it. I love that.

[00:01:45]Now what about listening? Is listening connected to speaking better?

[00:01:55]Absolutely. Listening is like charging your battery. The more you listen to natural English podcasts, movies, YouTube videos, the more your brain learns how English really sounds. You pick up the rhythm, the pronunciation, the phrases, and then when you speak, those things come out naturally. You don't even have to try. Mhm.

[00:02:17]Whenever you feel scared to speak, just take a breath and [music] remember, the more you talk in English every day, the better you get at it.

[00:02:26]That's such smart advice. What about vocabulary? Students often feel they don't know enough words. How should they build their vocabulary?

[00:02:37]Here's a secret. You don't need thousands of words to communicate well.

[00:02:41]You need the right words. Learn words that you use in your daily life. For example, if you work in a hospital, learn medical English. If you love cooking, learn cooking vocabulary. Yeah.

[00:02:53]Learn words in context, not from a long list. Use them in sentences right away.

[00:02:59]Learn three new words every [music] day.

[00:03:02]Use each word in a sentence before you go to sleep.

[00:03:05]>> [music] >> The next morning, try to use those words in a real conversation. That's very practical. Mhm. Now, many students speak slowly or they stop a lot in the middle of sentences. Yeah.

[00:03:16]>> How can they speak more smoothly and fluently?

[00:03:21]Fluency comes from practice and comfort, not from studying grammar books.

[00:03:26]One great exercise is called shadowing.

[00:03:29]And you listen to a native speaker and repeat exactly what they say at the same speed with the same tone. Another thing, stop translating in your head from your native language. Try to think in English directly. It takes time, but it works.

[00:03:44]Pick a 1-minute [music] clip from a podcast or TV show. Listen once, then speak along. Repeat [music] it three times.

[00:03:52]This is shadowing and it works like magic. Love that.

[00:03:55]>> Yeah. One last question, Mark. Many students study for a few days and then stop. How can they stay consistent and keep improving?

[00:04:06]Consistency is everything. I always say, 10 minutes every day is 100 times better than 2 hours once a week. Make English a habit, like brushing your teeth. Connect it to something you already do. Drink your morning coffee and listen to an English podcast.

[00:04:22]Walk your dog and describe what you see in English.

[00:04:25]Small habits done every day lead to big results over time. Set a tiny daily English goal. Something so easy you [music] can't say no.

[00:04:35]Even just reading five sentences counts.

[00:04:38]Show up every day. Progress [music] will surprise you. Mark, this has been absolutely wonderful. You've given our listeners so many simple, powerful tools. Thank you so much for being on the show today. Yeah, it was my pleasure, Lucy.

[00:04:50]>> Yeah. And to everyone listening, remember, you already speak one language perfectly. Mhm. You can learn another.

[00:04:58]Yeah. Believe in yourself, be patient, and keep going.

[00:05:03]You've got this.

[00:05:05]And that's a wrap for today's episode.

[00:05:08]If you found this helpful, please share it with a friend who is also learning English. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Until next time, keep speaking, keep learning, and keep growing. Bye for now.