How to Quickly Improve Your English Speaking Skills

First, start by checking your current level with a 1-minute self-assessment . Here’s a guide:

1. Choose a topic and speak for one minute (e.g., introduce yourself or talk about your day).
2. Count these points: number of words spoken, number of hesitations (um/uh), and number of times you got stuck on grammar.
3. Score yourself: <30 words = 1 pt, 30-60 words = 2 pts, 60-100 words = 3 pts, 100+ words = 4 pts. Deduct points for frequent hesitations.

Based on your assessment, assign yourself the weekly plans in this article (Pronunciation / Repetition / Conversation). To become a confident English speaker, the first steps are to know your starting point and build a short, daily habit.

The 3 Golden Rules for Improving English Speaking

To get results from your English speaking practice, following these three golden rules is key. They are all easy to implement through self-study and are prioritized to deliver effects in a short period.

1. Prioritize Output: While input (reading, listening) is necessary, make speaking your top priority. Speaking out loud every day, even for a short time, is the fastest way to improve.
2. Turn Basics into “Usable” Skills: Instead of just memorizing words and grammar rules, learn them as “usable set phrases” and practice assembling them instantly.
3. Invest in “Understandable” Pronunciation: Rather than aiming for a perfect accent, prioritize pronunciation that is easily understood (vowels, consonants, rhythm). This builds confidence and makes you easier to comprehend.

Why Prioritize Output?

Just listening won’t train your mouth to move. Speaking daily, even for a short time, helps your mouth “get used to” the language. Make daily output the core of your English speaking practice.

How to Turn Basic Knowledge into Usable Skills

Focus on learning “usable phrases” rather than single words. Train yourself to produce them reflexively through exercises like instant composition. Reading common phrases aloud and then immediately applying them is highly effective.

The Priority of Pronunciation

In the beginning, aim for being “understood” rather than perfectly imitating a native speaker. Focusing on vowel and consonant differences, linking between words, and stress/rhythm will yield the best results.

Transform in 4 Weeks! A Daily 20-30 Minute Practice Plan (Weekly Goals)

Focusing 20-30 minutes a day for four weeks can significantly improve your reflexes and confidence. By changing the focus each week and incorporating recording and reflection on weekends, you can clearly identify areas for improvement. Here is an overview of the weekly goals and time allocation.

Weekly Overview (Weeks 1-4)

• Week 1: Solidify Basics & Pronunciation (Pronunciation 40% / Repetition 30% / Conversation 20% / Review 10%)
• Week 2: Build Reflexes with Repetition & Instant Composition (Repetition 40% / Pronunciation 20% / Conversation 30% / Review 10%)
• Week 3: Strengthen Response Skills with Role-Playing (Conversation 50% / Repetition 20% / Pronunciation 20% / Review 10%)
• Week 4: Practical Application & Pinpoint Weaknesses with Evaluation (Conversation 40% / Repetition 20% / Pronunciation 20% / Review 20%)

Week 1: Foundation and Pronunciation

Solidify the basics with a short daily routine. For example: a 10-minute pronunciation drill + 10 minutes of reading words and set phrases aloud + 5-10 minutes of a short monologue.

Week 2: Repetition and Instant Composition

Practice forming sentences reflexively through repetition (mimicking audio) and instant composition (translating from your native language to English). Focus on accuracy first, then gradually increase your speed.

Week 3: Conversation Practice

Increase your time in actual conversations using AI or online tutors for role-playing. Decide on topics beforehand and prepare common response phrases to use.

Week 4: Practical Application & Evaluation

Identify areas for improvement by comparing recordings of mock conversations. Evaluate yourself based on fluency, appropriateness of vocabulary, and clarity of pronunciation.

How to Do Specific Exercises

Here are the steps and optimal time allocations for popular practice methods. Beginners will find it most effective to work in short, high-frequency intervals (5-15 minutes).

Shadowing: Steps and Tips

Play a short audio clip and repeat it aloud with a slight delay. Start with a slow mode, focusing on pronunciation and rhythm. If you don’t understand a part, pause, check the meaning, and repeat.

Repeating: Quick Imitation and Correction

Listen to a phrase, pause the audio, and repeat it accurately. This is effective for training both listening and pronunciation. Record yourself to compare and identify errors.

Instant English Composition: How to Build Reflexes

This is a drill where you see a sentence in your native language and translate it to English instantly. By combining common sentence structures and template phrases, you’ll learn to form sentences spontaneously.

Monologue Practice and Role-Playing

Speaking aloud to yourself becomes practical training when you set a scene. An AI speaking partner like Kippy is easy to use for role-playing and initial pronunciation feedback, making it convenient to integrate short conversation practice into your daily routine. Kippy offers pronunciation assessment, casual conversation, and role-playing, so incorporating it into your weekday practice is highly effective.

Specific Example of Time Allocation

A 20-minute practice session could look like this: 5 minutes of pronunciation drills, 8 minutes of shadowing/repeating, and 7 minutes of instant composition or role-playing. The key to consistency is to break it into shorter sessions if you feel tired.

Short, Efficient Drills to Improve Pronunciation

Short drills focused on common pronunciation challenges are highly effective. Use a combination of self-recording and external feedback (from apps or tutors) to also improve your rhythm and stress.

Focused Vowel and Consonant Drills

Clarify the difference between sounds using minimal pairs like “ship” / “sheep” and practice them repeatedly until you can distinguish them clearly.

Practicing Linking and Reductions

Your fluency will increase by smoothing the connections between words. Repeat simple phrases at a faster tempo to get a feel for how words link together.

Quick Exercises for Word Stress and Rhythm

Where you place the stress in a sentence can change its meaning. Simply reading sentences aloud while paying attention to stress will make you much easier to understand.

How to Get Feedback (Self & Others)

Combine self-assessment by recording and comparing with getting specific feedback from AI or a tutor. Sending short clips (15-30 seconds) makes it easier for them to give you targeted advice.

Using AI, Apps, and Online Tutors Effectively (Practice Examples)

Using tools according to your goals makes learning more efficient. Balance your week by assigning different roles to different tools: pronunciation checks, creating expressions, conversation practice, and corrections. AI like Kippy is great for short conversation practice and initial pronunciation feedback.

ChatGPT-like Tools (Conversation Design & Correction)

These tools are useful for generating variations of expressions and correcting text . Create realistic practice scripts by specifying a role for the conversation partner.

Pronunciation-Focused Apps like Kippy

These apps provide instant pronunciation feedback, making them perfect for repetitive, short drills. Use them to focus on sounds you find difficult.

Online Tutors like Cambly (Real-world Practice)

Live conversations with native speakers provide instant corrections and a real-world feel. To be effective, schedule sessions once or twice a week and decide on a topic that matches your goals.

A Practical Week Combining Tools

Example: On weekdays, use Kippy for 5-10 minute role-plays (e.g., making requests, ordering food). Use Kippy daily for pronunciation drills. On the weekend, have a 30-minute practical conversation on Cambly and check the recording. Kippy is useful for lowering the barrier to conversation practice.

Tracking Progress: Visualize Your Growth with Recordings and Simple Tests

By periodically recording and comparing your speech, you can visualize your progress objectively. Set weekly checkpoints and move forward by achieving small goals.

How to Compare Recordings

Record yourself speaking on the same topic or reading the same text at the beginning and end of the month. Compare them for fluency, vocabulary range, and pronunciation clarity. A smartphone recording is sufficient. Quantifying your evaluation (e.g., number of hesitations, word count) will make the changes more visible.

Weekly Quantitative Checkpoints

• Response Time: Measure the average time it takes to respond in English (aim for <5 seconds).
• Number of Usable Phrases: Set a goal to increase the number of expressions you can use to 10+ per week.
• Recording Comparison: Track the decrease in hesitations and the increase in word count.

Ideas for Simple Speaking Tests

Having easy-to-administer short tests makes evaluation simple. For example: a 2-minute speech followed by a 3-question Q&A.

Learning Methods to Avoid and Their Alternatives

Here are typical mistakes to avoid and concrete actions to replace them with. Sidestep these common pitfalls and build effective habits instead.

Common Mistakes and Why They’re Bad

• Rote memorization only: Fails to build application skills.
• Focusing on grammar without speaking: Leads to insufficient conversation practice and poor reflexes.
• Perfectionism that prevents speaking: Misses out on valuable experience.

Practical Alternatives

• Instead of memorizing: Practice speaking immediately using set phrases.
• Instead of focusing only on grammar: Incorporate mock conversations a few times a week.
• Instead of perfectionism: Aim to be understood first.

How to Handle the Mental Game

Reduce anxiety by practicing positive self-talk (e.g., “Mistakes are learning opportunities”) and setting achievable short-term goals.

Recommended Tools & Resources with Quick Tips

Here are handpicked tools for specific goals, with brief usage notes. For a detailed comparison, check out our article comparing AI language learning apps . Using them in combination enhances their effectiveness.

Recommended Tools by Goal

Quick Tips for Using Books and Materials

When using phrasebooks or instant composition books, the premise is to read “3-5 new phrases daily” aloud and actually use them. Be selective about the material you use from books and focus on repetition.

Sample Weekly Study Schedule

Example for a total of 150 minutes per week: Pronunciation 30 min, Shadowing 30 min, Conversation 60 min, Review 30 min. Adjust according to the tools you use.

What to Do Next (1-Month-Later Checklist)

Here’s how to evaluate your progress after one month and plan your next learning strategy. Build on your small successes and move on to the next cycle.

1-Month Checklist (Action Items)

• Record yourself on the same topic at the beginning and end of the month and compare.
• Measure your response time and check if the average has decreased.
• Count the number of new phrases you can use (aim for 10).
• List three pronunciation points you received feedback on and practice them.

Next Steps and a Plan for Continued Learning

Based on your results, focus the next month on reinforcing your weaknesses. For example, if your pronunciation is weak, increase your time with Kippy and pronunciation drills. If your responses are slow, do more instant composition and role-playing with Kippy. Aim to continue practicing 5 times a week for 20 minutes a day.

A final word: Consistency is key. Create a habit of speaking every day, even for a short time, and enjoy the process of making small improvements. Effectively incorporating tools like Kippy to bring a sense of real-world application into your daily life is the fastest way to become a confident English speaker.