5 Tips to Become Fluent in English

Stop comparing yourself to other English speakers. In my last year at college, when I was struggling to keep up with an internship, job, my assignments, and a social life, my professor told me something I'll never forget: compare and despair. In other words, if you measure your success next to someone else's, you'll always find someone "better" than you. Everyone learns at their own pace; everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Instead of envying someone else’s success, keep a diary of your own achievements. Did you use a new vocabulary word in a conversation? Write it down! Did you use less filler words in this weeks’ presentation than last week’s? Write it down! When you compare your present self to your past self, your progress will be apparent, and not outshined by your peers.

Set small, achievable goals. Long-term goals can seem overwhelming when we can't see the finish line. Break them down. If you plan to reach a new level of English proficiency in 3 months, for example, define your objectives at the beginning of each month. Decide how much time you can dedicate to learning English and stick to it. Check to see that you're meeting your goals each week and celebrate your accomplishments often.

Stop translating! We often hear that we need to start thinking in English, but how? The truth is, there is no how. There is only do. You will have to force yourself at first, but eventually it will become natural. (I’m speaking from experience with my target language.)

Limit memorizing - it’s true that some parts of English must be memorized, but fluency is best achieved in a useful context. Instead of memorizing grammar, learn chunks of language- phrases collocations- and immediately start using them in conversation.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Say it with me: mistakes are GOOD. We learn from mistakes. And they are unavoidable. The only way to avoid mistakes is to never speak English…and that’s not what you’re here for.