Sounding Good in English
Practice your language skills in Toastmasters
With Toastmasters’ rapidly growing presence in 106 countries, many members are not native English speakers. Some may initially feel this puts them at a disadvantage, especially in clubs that have both native and non-native English speakers. But being a Toastmaster offers an opportunity to become more proficient in English vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
“Put aside your fear that you are worse than native speakers. That's not the truth! Maybe a native speaker knows more words and is more fluent than you, but it doesn't mean that she or he is a good speaker. You may have more potential in the field of public speaking. Use it!” – Monika Krolak, ACB, ALB, Warszawa, Poland
In a recent discussion that took place in the official Toastmasters group at LinkedIn.com, the question posed was, “What tips and helpful hints could you offer to a non-native English speaker when practicing his or her English? What tips or helpful hints could you give the listener?” Below are a few helpful suggestions that emerged from that discussion.
For the Speaker
- Slow down.
“Many people who speak English as a second language often speak very quickly, making it harder for them to be properly understood. Slowing down gives them more time to consider what they’re saying and encourages the use of pauses.” - Jamie Noble, ALB, ACB, London City Tall club, London, Canada
- Don’t be afraid to use one-syllable words or short sentences. One-syllable words are very impactful and common in the English language. Short sentences in English keep your thoughts succinct and focused. Toastmaster John Zimmer of Geneva International Toastmasters Club offers this advice:
“At our club in Geneva, Switzerland, half our membership is not mother-tongue English. English is written best and spoken best when it is written and spoken ‘short.’ Long sentences in English should be treated like a fine spice. Use them to enhance your speeches here and there but not to overpower them.”
- Write down words you are mispronouncing, and access an online dictionary such as Dictionary.com, which offers correct audio pronunciations for standard English words. Toastmaster Zaldy Co, CC, CL, from Emperor Mandarin Toastmasters Club in the Philippines, also suggests visiting the language learning and exchange site italki.com, a free site that enables a non-native speaker to practice foreign language grammer with a native speaker.
- Record your own speaking voice and listen to it. Melanie Ghazarian, DTM, a member of Conejo Valley TM’s Club in Westlake Village, California, USA suggests:
“One tip is to record yourself and play it back. Since most people are their own worst critic, they will recognize what to improve.”
While listening to your recordings, you will want to focus on pronunciation, grammar and volume. You may even wish to record yourself repeating tongue twisters such as, “She sells sea shells by the sea shore.” Simple exercises like this allow you to practice shifting from one sound to the other. Recording them will allow you to track your progress.
- Practice, practice, practice. Join a Toastmasters club where English is the main language and actively participate. Monika Krolak, ACB, ALB, a member of Toastmasters Polska SA in Poland suggests:
“Stage time and Toastmasters activities help. The more often you speak in English the more confidence and experience you will gain. I actually joined Toastmasters in order to practice my speeches in English.”
Overcoming English grammar and pronunciation puzzles may not be the only challenge in a mixed-language group. Listening to a non-native English speaker can prove challenging as well. As a listener, it is important to help speakers who have heavy accents or other language problems. Here’s how to listen actively and support a speaker using a language other than her native tongue:
For the Listener
- Encourage the speaker to slow down his or her delivery.
- Promote diversity of accents. Louise McGrady, a member of The Amsterdam Toastmasters Club in Amsterdam, Netherlands, says:
“Our club is English-speaking. At a typical meeting, only 3-5 people are native English speakers. We promote diversity of accents, as grammarian and in evaluations.”
- Ask questions about words you do not understand. By acting as grammarian, you can ensure the rest of the group understands what is being said. Toastmaster Shelley Ashfield, AC, from Boeing Helicopters Club in Pennsylvania, USA, offers this helpful tool:
“Listen with a piece of lined paper in front of you, with three column headings: "Problem Word," "As I Heard It," and "How to Say It." Each word you have difficulty understanding goes in the first column. Then, as he reads the list of problem words, write down his pronunciation. Analyze the particular difficulty of each problem word. For instance, a word like "ancient" has so many diphthongs, it needs to be written in the "How to Say It" column as "aye-ee-en-chee-ant" for the Toastmaster to speak it understandably. At first, the list of words generated may be long, but as weeks pass, the list will rapidly grow shorter and shorter.”
- Offer positive, helpful feedback and evaluations that provide specific examples of words or phrases to improve. Be sure to include encouraging remarks and congratulate the speaker on parts of the speech that went well.
- Promote volunteering for speaking roles. The ability to speak off the cuff is important for members who are developing English skills. With your support, this person can take on roles such as grammarian and enjoy opportunities for spontaneous speaking. Here is a real-life example from Toastmaster Shelley Ashfield, AC, from Boeing Helicopters Club in Pennsylvania, USA:
“Spend time going to the grocery store and the Laundromat, and participate in discussions on the Internet, building up a concrete vocabulary to critical mass by talking, talking, and more talking, about cars, and bookkeeping, chili sauce, food, and rules of fasting during Lent, etc.”
Interested in taking the first step to improving your English speaking skills? Find a club near you – or start your own! To read more tips for non-native english speakers please read the complete article Sounding Good in English by Katherine Meeks.