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Topic: The Best way to Practice the English Language [Speech and Writing] (Read 349 times)

copper member
Activity: 2940
Merit: 1280
https://linktr.ee/crwthopia
This is a good way to improve vocal skills but I won't call this a communication as we are talking with the computer and there is no one on the other side to hear what we are speaking. This might create an illusion that we can talk in an effective way but I believe that we should always talk with the real person because we get to understand his expressions or even his real-time response for every sentence that we speak. Since English is not my native language, I am using the app called Opentalk and I have found it useful for the above-mentioned purpose.
Think of it this way, when you are talking to the device that you are using, whether it's a PC or a cellphone when it understands you, it translates to how well you are in speaking. I think it works on how your voice is modulated and to what extent it hears the vowels, etc. In reality, I agree that you are going to be experiencing feelings like anxiety, you might think "am I going to be understood?" I think that's the most thought about the phrase when it comes to your unnatural language. Practicing that way could be an additional plus point towards the improvement of your communication. Just researched Opentalk, and I think it's a greater way to practicing vocalizing your speech with other people, haven't tried it though.



For those who are having a hard time or are still coping with the basics of English language then this tool will surely aid you.
I use this most of the time, whether I'm using Microsoft Office: Word, or just here posting in BTCT. So my current routine is mostly like this

  • Speak towards the device. "Hello World"
  • Check if my grammar is correct. *Change the keyboard to Grammarly and check for errors

That's what I do most of the time when I'm on Mobile. The only pain is when you are quoting someone and it adds to your errors with the Grammarly App.
full member
Activity: 686
Merit: 146
Cool tool. I guess if you're more into speaking, or too lazy to type.

IMO, I find the use of grammarly pretty useful as well. I downloaded a google chrome extension so that whenever I use my browser (whether I'm going to post on bitcointalk or for other purposes) it automatically detects whenever you make a typo or wrong spelling, and even makes suggestions for your grammar. If you're really keen into being better in English, then I suggest using a tool like this. For those who are having a hard time or are still coping with the basics of English language then this tool will surely aid you.

jr. member
Activity: 227
Merit: 3
How to Improve Spoken English (Without a Speaking Partner!): 14 Incredible Methods

1. Think in English
2. Talk to Yourself
3. Use a Mirror
4. Focus on English Fluency, Not Grammar
5. Try English Tongue Twisters
6. Listen and Repeat
7. Pay Attention to Stressed Sounds
8. Sing Along to English Songs
9. Learn Word Forms with New Words
10. Learn Phrases, Not Words
11. Learn Your Most Common Sayings
12. Prepare for Specific Situations
13. Relax!
14. Tell a Story from Your Language in English

In some ways, practicing speaking is even easier by yourself! Now you know exactly how to improve spoken English by yourself and should feel confident doing so!




Source: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/how-to-improve-spoken-english
hero member
Activity: 1190
Merit: 534
This is a good way to improve vocal skills but I won't call this a communication as we are talking with the computer and there is no one on the other side to hear what we are speaking. This might create an illusion that we can talk in an effective way but I believe that we should always talk with the real person because we get to understand his expressions or even his real-time response for every sentence that we speak. Since English is not my native language, I am using the app called Opentalk and I have found it useful for the above-mentioned purpose.
copper member
Activity: 2940
Merit: 1280
https://linktr.ee/crwthopia
Sorry, if you misunderstood my opinion due to my bad expression. Speaking is important in any language, because when we learn a language, the final objective is using that language to communicate with others, so speaking is important, really important. However, what I meant is we should focus on the forum only. It is the same as the forum is the bitcoin forum (despite of the fact that after early years, the forum added boards for altcoins), so things related to bitcoin are more essential things in the forum. And over years, till the born of Grin coin, we have only option for forum payments, that is bitcoin.
Within the forum, there are two utmost important things related to English: Reading and Writing.
I wish you catch my opinion this time.
I didn't mean bad if you might have read it, I'm just stating the fact. Sorry for misunderstanding it. I love discussions too and knowing you should increase the language vocabulary with certain topics. I hope I understood it right.

Anyways, I do believe that we are really social people and regardless of who we have to consider to communicate with, anyone could be a chance to practice the language. I think while speaking, you are increasing your knowledge in it also. Having been able to know the language plus addition of understanding the Bitcoin technicalities, it would be fun to discuss it by speaking.
legendary
Activity: 2310
Merit: 4085
Farewell o_e_l_e_o
Don't you think that once you have learned how to write, you wouldn't get to speak? Speaking and communicating with someone who is good at it could help you develop the consistency that is needed for you to be efficient in English. The big effective reason that I could think about when doing this method is that you are hitting two birds with one stone. Speaking, like how you are going to communicate IRL and forming thoughts like in writing instantaneously.
Sorry, if you misunderstood my opinion due to my bad expression. Speaking is important in any language, because when we learn a language, the final objective is using that language to communicate with others, so speaking is important, really important. However, what I meant is we should focus on the forum only. It is the same as the forum is the bitcoin forum (despite of the fact that after early years, the forum added boards for altcoins), so things related to bitcoin are more essential things in the forum. And over years, till the born of Grin coin, we have only option for forum payments, that is bitcoin.
Within the forum, there are two utmost important things related to English: Reading and Writing.
I wish you catch my opinion this time.

Best,
Tran Thi Dzung
copper member
Activity: 2940
Merit: 1280
https://linktr.ee/crwthopia
Thanks OP for an useful topic. In term of speaking only, I usually talk to Siri as a way of practicing. It's interesting to see Siri can understand my speech and give me proper answers. I'll try downloading and using this G-board software. However I don't think it can much improve my academic writing skills. I prefer old school method (with pencil and paper) to enhance my writing.
In my experience, G-Board was the best response to my speech. Regards to the android phone, they are the best response when speaking.

I don't have anything against what you are saying "old school method", but this is not so much related to my topic.



Great method, i would never think that google assistant could be an english teacher, but you are right, it could be a smart way to practice the spoken english. I have Siri configured on english with the same intention, but i never use it. So, i will try to use your method this week and see if i have some good results.
It won't be a teacher but you could improve yourself personally by practicing how you speak. Duoling, IIRC, could teach you.
legendary
Activity: 3346
Merit: 3125
Great method, i would never think that google assistant could be an english teacher, but you are right, it could be a smart way to practice the spoken english. I have Siri configured on english with the same intention, but i never use it. So, i will try to use your method this week and see if i have some good results.
jr. member
Activity: 113
Merit: 2
Thanks OP for an useful topic. In term of speaking only, I usually talk to Siri as a way of practicing. It's interesting to see Siri can understand my speech and give me proper answers. I'll try downloading and using this G-board software. However I don't think it can much improve my academic writing skills. I prefer old school method (with pencil and paper) to enhance my writing.
copper member
Activity: 2940
Merit: 1280
https://linktr.ee/crwthopia
Picking-up an English accent (British, American, etc.) in one of the most difficult things to do, since you have often have to train your vocal cords on pronouncing phoneme that are not natural to your mother tongue.
Having to practice your voice and your tongue would be hard because it would be unnatural. I think with practice, it could still be done, just like British actors doing American accents, etc.

Speaking English regularly is part of the path to improve pronunciation, but more often than not, that is not on the day-to-day agenda.

I think this is the one that needs to be done. If you want to really practice, doing it every day would make your progress much faster.



However, I mentioned in a much narrower range, in the forum, people don't need to speak (actually the bitcointalk.org has not had features like livestreaming, etc. so far) so the first two important things for members whom want to improve their English and communicate better in the forum are: Reading and Writing.
Don't you think that once you have learned how to write, you wouldn't get to speak? Speaking and communicating with someone who is good at it could help you develop the consistency that is needed for you to be efficient in English. The big effective reason that I could think about when doing this method is that you are hitting two birds with one stone. Speaking, like how you are going to communicate IRL and forming thoughts like in writing instantaneously.



Did I saw only applicable to a mobile phone? (how about on laptop?).
I think it works with a laptop too, knowing that it also has a mic. There are some software examples but I haven't tried it all the way. Mobile phones are like everywhere and most people have it, that's why I think it's necessary that I focus on that one.



Be careful, using the phone while driving "even if you use this method" is illegal and may expose you to accidents.

Duolingo & Grammarly will give you better results.
You shouldn't really use your phone. I'm doing it handsfree, so I could keep my eyes on the road every time.

I haven't tried Duolingo but I saw it has good reviews learning a different language.
legendary
Activity: 2702
Merit: 4002
  • You can increase the chances of receiving merit
Things are getting better now, there are so many merit sources and do not have to learn English to get Merits, but learning English increases your knowledge (the way you write.)
So what do I mean by Speak and Write at the same time? I mean to use the speech to text function on your mobile or your PC using your microphone.
It's a good way to make it easier to speak but you will not progress unless there are challenges. "You say & someone answers you."

This is not just for posting here on the forum but I use it when I am driving, makes it safer than typing (if you really needed to reply)
Be careful, using the phone while driving "even if you use this method" is illegal and may expose you to accidents.

Duolingo & Grammarly will give you better results.
legendary
Activity: 2492
Merit: 1232
I admit it here the English language is not so easy for me to spoke (or even write), in short, I am very noobs on this because that is not my native language but still forcing my self to know more and to educate my self on this universal language. Besides, I've learned a lot here in the forum by reading other's good posts that they wrote.

Very informative OP, I will try this strategy to improve my learning skills on how to speak and write the English language. Did I saw only applicable to a mobile phone? (how about on laptop?). As of now, I usually have been watching a Hollywood movie that having an English language subtitle I think it will help a lot for me in building my skills on and practice the English language and reading also here is a great practice.
legendary
Activity: 2310
Merit: 4085
Farewell o_e_l_e_o
I think one way to greatly practice your English is speaking. If you are going to practice it might as well do it in speaking and writing at the same time. I think that's a great way to do it.
Generally, English speaking skill is the most important one when people learn English. Because, the final goal of learning English is communicate with others, and without speaking, we will be lack of the most effective method of communication. However, I mentioned in a much narrower range, in the forum, people don't need to speak (actually the bitcointalk.org has not had features like livestreaming, etc. so far) so the first two important things for members whom want to improve their English and communicate better in the forum are: Reading and Writing.
Practice two skills first. Then if they want to move further (in case they have to make direct talks via Skype, etc.) they should learn and improve their Speaking skill.
legendary
Activity: 2338
Merit: 10802
There are lies, damned lies and statistics. MTwain
Picking-up an English accent (British, American, etc.) in one of the most difficult things to do, since you have often have to train your vocal cords on pronouncing phoneme that are not natural to your mother tongue. Even if you have a great command of vocabulary, spelling and grammar, pronunciation becomes that last cherry you want to place on the cake.
Speaking English regularly is part of the path to improve pronunciation, but more often than not, that is not on the day-to-day agenda.

Appealing to technology can be a fun way to take a step in this direction. Interacting with Alexa/Siri/Google assistants can have a marginal contribution in this sense, although nothing like interacting with multiple native English speaking people. One think I’ve found rather entertaining though is using these voice assistants and setting their locale to different values (i.e. English from Britain, North America, and so on).
copper member
Activity: 2940
Merit: 1280
https://linktr.ee/crwthopia
Also, It's get when internet connectivity is good
I agree with this one, if the internet connection is not that good, then it's not going to catch the words you have said. I experienced that in during mobile data.



Interesting suggestion. But as user above said, to do that you need good English skills to do that. Accent also can be a problem. And G-Board isn't working perfect from my own experience. I have tried it both in English and my native language and even if I try to speak as clear as possible, it still often pick different words than I say.
This won't work if you're in office, cofe or in front of TV because you have to be in quiet place to uce Google voice assistant. And personally, I don't want that people around me would hear what I'm posting on Bitcointalk.
That's the reason why you should do it. Practicing vocally would make you better in thinking in English and making yourself possible to speak spontaneously. And I didn't suggest on using it publicly, I don't do it, just when I'm alone and practicing.



I will suggest you a shortest path and benefit of that path is that you will have some real discussion  with the members of bitcointalk.

Join Fittotalk.
I didn't get to be active with that but I joined there a while ago. This could be another way to practice it.



Reading and Writing is more important for communication in the forum, till the day theymos launch he forum Youtube channel.
Collections for someone who would like to improve English skills
That one is full of books which are good for Reading & Writing practice.
I think one way to greatly practice your English is speaking. If you are going to practice it might as well do it in speaking and writing at the same time. I think that's a great way to do it.
legendary
Activity: 2310
Merit: 4085
Farewell o_e_l_e_o
Reading and Writing is more important for communication in the forum, till the day theymos launch he forum Youtube channel.
Collections for someone who would like to improve English skills
That one is full of books which are good for Reading & Writing practice.
sr. member
Activity: 742
Merit: 395
I am alive but in hibernation.
I will suggest you a shortest path and benefit of that path is that you will have some real discussion  with the members of bitcointalk.

Join Fittotalk.
legendary
Activity: 3234
Merit: 1375
Slava Ukraini!
Interesting suggestion. But as user above said, to do that you need good English skills to do that. Accent also can be a problem. And G-Board isn't working perfect from my own experience. I have tried it both in English and my native language and even if I try to speak as clear as possible, it still often pick different words than I say.
This won't work if you're in office, cofe or in front of TV because you have to be in quiet place to uce Google voice assistant. And personally, I don't want that people around me would hear what I'm posting on Bitcointalk.
copper member
Activity: 2114
Merit: 1814
฿itcoin for all, All for ฿itcoin.
That method helps if the person posting knows spoken English and if their accent is good enough to be picked up by the google voice assistant but if their spoken English is not very good, then it will be a mess  Wink

Also, It's get when internet connectivity is good
copper member
Activity: 2940
Merit: 1280
https://linktr.ee/crwthopia
First things first we all want to communicate with the universal language English because it's a great skill to have. Whether in writing or in speaking.

Why has this become the universal language?

  • Historically speaking, it's the language that has been spread to colonized places by the UK.
  • Relatively, it's a language that could be easily learned but hard to master.

History is not what I want to talk about but instead, I'm going to teach you how I practice it in the forum. There has been a lot of discussion with how to improve your English grammar with the links below


Reasons to improve your Speaking and Writing skills
  • You can increase the chances of receiving merit
  • Efficiently post and practice speaking at the same time
  • There's something to learn every day

So what do I mean by Speak and Write at the same time? I mean to use the speech to text function on your mobile or your PC using your microphone.

Benefits of utilizing the speech to text function
  • You get to practice how you speak what you are thinking at the moment
  • Additional time to practice speaking (this is helpful when you don't get to practice regularly)

How to utilize this?
When I'm mostly on my phone, I use this keyboard whenever I don't feel like typing. This is not just for posting here on the forum but I use it when I am driving, makes it safer than typing (if you really needed to reply)

One of the best application that I have used when using Speech to text is G-Board. It is supported by Android Phones and iPhones

This is for iPhones

1. When installed, you could change keyboard here.


2. When opened, hold the spacebar


3. Then Speak!


Tell me if this helps you in making more efficient posts and learning how to speak properly so that your device could understand you clearly.



[1] Why is English the Universal Language
[2] Voice to Text Softwares
[3] Set up GBoard

This is for educational purposes for personal improvement.
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