For non-native speakers, English can be really difficult to learn. But if you thought that you or your kids should learn and speak the English language, this means you are already well aware of the demands of the highly globalized world. There are many controversies regarding the best way to create and keep the habit of English speaking. I will discuss some basic, easy, and best techniques for non-native speakers of English to keep up with the learning process. But my prime focus is on kids today because inculcating a habit in kids is quite a simple and easy to go process.
How To Improve And Create The Habit Of English Speaking
Developing speaking habits in kids is never too difficult because their young minds can accept and learn many new things. Here are a few ways to do this:
1. Reading English Books Or Magazines
Reading stimulates the learning ability in our minds more. And when you let your kid read English magazines or storybooks with animation and their favorite characters, they’ll learn it unknowingly. You can make a habit of bedtime stories to them in English to increase the effective practice of English speaking.
2. Playing Word Games With Family
The playful learning process appeals more to kids than forceful learning, even for a mere minute. Use this engaging and exciting method to increase vocabulary and enhance the knowledge of words in your kids. They’ll learn new words gradually while enjoying the time together as a family.
3. Watching English Cartoons Or Sequels
Technology has made it a lot easier for anyone to learn anything. Parents can choose some English cartoons for their kids to watch on YouTube, but they must keep them in check so that it does not become YouTube addiction later on. Watching English cartoons or poems would interest kids into speaking more.
4. Speaking In English With Friends
Encouraging kids to speak English at home and conversate with their friends would ingrain English-speaking habits from an early age. And they would not hesitate or stutter while Speaking in English when they grow up. You can correct the wrong sentences you heard later by reviewing those in the right way.
Tips To Learn English The Right Way As Non-Native Speakers
Some things should be kept in mind while learning or teaching English speaking skills. A few tips to improve your English best for you are:
1. Learn Grammar And Vocabulary
Some people often overlook grammar; others get too deep, both of which are bad for proper English-speaking skills. Grammar isn’t some bad monster you need to run away from. Non-native speakers of English should learn how to use knowledge of grammar in speech and increase vocabulary by reading, listening, and practicing.
2. Write Diary In English
Writing down triggers the mind and makes you able enough to learn better. If your kids like to pen down the whole day’s event and express thoughts on dairy or a notebook, you must advise them to write in English. At first, there will be a lot of mistakes, but gradually they’ll get better. The same applies to adults as well.
3. Never Stop Listening
Depending on whether you want to learn British English or American English, you can listen to and watch the relative movies or series. But keep in mind to never stop listening. Even if you can’t understand some of the words at once, you must not get discouraged and continue to develop the habit of English speaking.
4. Practice What You Have Learned
Practice makes a man perfect, and without actual practice, you cannot even speak average English or even be perfect at it. Repeat the words and phrases aloud after the ones you listen to or read. This applies to both young kids and adult people. The difference lies only in the time and effort of learning.
Mistakes While Creating The Habit Of English Speaking In Kids
Learning English isn’t easy, but it can become messier if you don’t go on the correct way to learn it. Here are some mistakes that parents make while wanting their kids to have English speaking skills.
1. Merging The Two Languages
Teaching half of a phrase merging with the rest of the sentence in their mother tongue isn’t fruitful. Indeed, kids can’t learn long sentences at once, but encouraging them to speak like that makes it difficult for them to keep up with their culture. This will restrict their vocabulary and create a habit of speaking using two languages.
2. Speaking In Your Own Accent
Whether you teach your kids a word, a phrase, or a sentence in English, just keep in mind pronouncing them in either a British or American accent. Not being able to drop the accent becomes a significant concern for non-native speakers because they never practiced like the original one. So, teach your kids the English accent.
3. Putting Too Much Pressure To Learn
Parents want their kids to learn better than the day before and, in turn, end up putting too much pressure on kids. Understandably, you are anxious to create learning habits in your kids, but home-schooling your kids should never get pressurizing to your kids.
As far as I know and observed, learning English writing is never too difficult except for memorizing a good set of vocabulary. But using that learning in actual speech is what makes people anxious because they haven’t practiced ever since they were young. So, instill the habit of English speaking in your kids as early in life as possible.
Also Read: Here are some tips that may help you practice speech therapy with your toddler; besides worrying, it is better to work on speech therapy for toddlers at home.
