听力、阅读和写作，这些都是可以单独学习的项目，而提高口语能力，最好的办法当然是找个native speaker练练嘴，可是你身边没有合适的人选怎么办？自己一个人练口语就真的不行吗？

当然不是，就像我老板，在公司接待老外，他聊得风生水起唾沫横飞，不知道的都以为他出国留学过，其实根本没有。

他说，90年代上大学，没什么资源，他只不过是默默在自习室里背单词，把整整一本牛津字典嚼烂了而已。

看到这里打算去背字典的童鞋，恭喜你，你有学霸基因！

不过，自学口语也有很多小技巧，它们会让你事半功倍。

Don't worry. You can still improve your spoken English, even without a speaking partner.

1、重要的是流畅，而不是语法正确！Focus on fluency, not grammar

最近办公室同事喊着要学英语，带着巨大的热情开始练习音标，还一定要是BBC口音的。她说，口音不对连单词都记不住，所以要把基本功练扎实了。

另一朋友也是英语爱好者，说出去的每个句子，他都想用放大镜检查，活脱脱一个英语质量控制员。有一次，我刚跟人家聊完，很是得意忘形，他凑过来问我，说：“你刚刚这个recommendation用得不对吧，为什么不直接用recommends呢？”

我不否认语音和语法的重要性，但对于普通交流来说，我认为，流畅不卡壳，能准确表达出自己的意思，远比标准和正确更重要。

我的西班牙语外教，操着一口纯正的西班牙口音英语，激动的时候手舞足蹈，英西混杂，只剩下我呆若木鸡...

不过，大多情况下交流都很顺畅，比起一个说话吞吞吐吐、磕磕巴巴的人，你愿意跟谁一起开友谊的小船呢？

When you speak in English, how often do you stop?

The more you stop, the less confident you sound and the less comfortable you become. Try the mirror exercise, but challenge yourself to speak without stopping or stammering (taking pauses between your words) the entire time.

This might mean that your sentences won’t be grammatically perfect, and that’s okay! If you focus on speaking fluently instead of correctly, you’ll still be understood and you’ll sound better. You can fill in the correct grammar and word rules as you learn them better.

2、 用英语思考，而不是翻译 Think in English

两种语言之间的翻译和切换很难，直接用英语思考，说的时候才能脱口而出。你可以用英语思考今天的安排，用英语想吃的，还可以换用英英词典。英英词典解释更准确地道，还能培养自己的英语思维，赶紧去卸载英汉词典咯！

If you think in your native language and then try to speak English, you’ll always have to translate between languages. Translating isn’t an easy thing to do! Even people fluent in two or more languages have trouble switching between languages.

The solution is to think in English.

You can do this anywhere, anytime.Try to use English when you’re thinking about your day, or when you’re trying to decide what food to order. Even try to use an English to English dictionary to look up words. That way you never have to use your native language and translate words. You’ll notice that when you think in English, it’s easier for you to speak in English.

3、跟自己交谈 Talk to yourself

用英语自言自语，用英语做白日梦，看着镜子用英语跟自己对话，你必须要大声将脑袋里的句子说出来。犯错没有关系，你的首要目的是让自己能说出来，让自己习惯，感觉到说英语是挺自然舒服的事。

Whenever you’re at home (or alone somewhere else) you can practice your English with your favorite person: yourself.

If you’re already thinking in English, try speaking your thoughts out loud. Read out loud, too. Practice is practice, and even if you don’t have anyone to correct your mistakes, just the act of speaking out loud will help you become more comfortable speaking English.

4、对着镜子练习 Use a mirror

不需要很长时间，你每天花2-3分钟，跟镜中的自己交谈，重点是不要停顿！要是被一个单词卡住，不要放弃，换一种说法去表达，结束后迅速查字典，这个用法就一定会烂熟于心了。

Whenever you can, take a few minutes out of your day to stand in front of the mirror and speak. Choose a topic, set a timer for 2 or 3 minutes and just talk.

The point of this exercise is to watch your mouth, face and body language as you speak. It also makes you feel like you’re talking to someone, so you can pretend you’re having a discussion with a study buddy.

Talk for the full 2 or 3 minutes. Don’t stop! If you get stuck on a word you don’t know, try expressing your idea in a different way. You can always look up how to say that word after the 2-3 minutes end. This will definitely help you find out what kinds of words or sentences you have trouble with.

5、练绕口令Try some tongue twisters

反复训练可以让人变得口齿伶俐，纠正一些错误的发音，而且，玩游戏表演节目，你就可以信手拈来了，对不对？

Tongue twisters are series of words that are difficult to say quickly. One example is: “The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.” Try saying this a few times! It’s not easy.

Word games like this will help you find the right placement for your mouth and tongue, and can even help your pronunciation.

6、跟读 Listen and repeat

选一些合适的影视剧，对台词进行跟读，尽量模仿演员的语音语调，跟不上没关系，不要管那些漏掉的单词，假装自己就是native speaker！

Choose a short part of a show and repeat it line by line. Try to match the tone, speed and even the accent (if you can). It doesn’t matter if you miss a few words, the important thing is to keep talking. Try to sound just like the native speakers on the show.

注意重音

进行模仿跟读的时候，不仅要模仿语音语调，还要注意重音。某些单词，重音不同，表达的意思就不一样。

Listen to where native speakers place the emphasis when they speak. Try to repeat it the same way.

This won’t only help you speak well, it might even reduce misunderstandings. Sometimes the placing the stress on the wrong syllable completely changes the word. The word ADdress, for instance, isn’t the same as the word adDRESS. ADdress refers to a physical location where someone lives, and adDRESS means to formally speak to a group of people.

7、唱英文歌 Sing along to English songs

神马？你已经能唱Taylor Swift了？你唱Eminem试试？

Once you can sing along to Taylor Swift and Jason Mraz, you can test your skills with something a bit more difficult: rap!

Rap is a great way to practice English because often the words are spoken like regular sentences. However, the rapper uses a stronger rhythm and faster speed. Some of the words might not make sense, but if you can keep up with the rapper then you’re on your way to becoming fluent!

8、背诵地道短语、句型 Learn phrases,not words

你的单词计划剩余多少天完成？我的还剩169天。一年前，是175天…

但是背过的人会明白，不管是背单词还是短语，收获是很大的。有人说，单词死记硬背是死的，不会用也枉然，但背过以后，阅读时候碰到，印象会非常深刻，“死”单词也很快能变成脑子里的“活”单词，效率很高。

那么口语的短语、句型也一样，说过一次就忘不了。不说了，我要重新开始背单词了，学习啊，一点也偷懒不得。

An even better idea is to learn word phrases, not just words.

You might be using correct grammar and vocabulary, but it’s still not how a native speaker would say it.

For example, you can say “how do you feel today?” but a native speaker might say “how’re you doing?” or “what’s up?” instead. Phrases and expressions can be helpful for sounding more natural when you speak.

9. 学习自己的惯用语 Learn your most common sayings.

想一想自己常用的中文说法，然后找出对应的英文句子，记住，用它，当然，一定要地道。

Take some time to really notice how you speak in your native language.

What words and phrases do you use the most often?

Learn how to say your most commonly used phrases and words in English. Knowing them in English will help you speak as well in English as you do in your native language.

10. 特殊场景，特殊准备 Prepare for specific situations.

如果你要出国旅游，那就学习与机场、酒店、饭店相关的对话；如果你是要准备一场英文面试，那就多学与面试有关的词汇用法。

Are you learning English for a specific reason? For example, are you learning English so you can get a job in an English-speaking company? In that case, practice English that will help you in an interview. Are you learning English so you can make friends in America? Then you would need a different kind of English.

You’ll feel more confident if you’re prepared!

11.用英语讲故事 Tell a story from your language in English

用英语讲一个自己熟悉的故事，比如梁山伯与祝英台，就算是没有人做听众，看到自己能说这么长一段话，自信心是不是有多了一些呢？

Here’s a fun way to test how well your spoken English has developed: choose a story that you know really well and tell it in English.

Remember to think in English as you’re telling your story. Focus on speaking fluently instead of correctly. Say every sentence out loud to yourself.

Even if you have nobody to talk to in English, you can still build confidence and master fluency on your own time.

12. 放松 Relax!

担心自己说不好，是说英语最大的敌人。你觉得自己说得不好，嘿嘿，那谁说得特别好呢？

有几个人没有口音的？

有几个人不会犯错的？

有几个词汇量超过2万的？

英语国家日常交流的词汇量4000就差不多了，你的那点存货，完全够用啦！

You can be your best helper or your worst enemy when learning to speak fluently! We know it’s hard, but you should try not to worry about how you sound when you speak. Just relax!

If you get stuck or confused, just take a big breath and start over. Speak slower if you have to. Take time to pause and think about your next sentence.

Do whatever it takes to become more comfortable with speaking English.

啧啧，这么多实用的方法，随便拿几条去练，下一个坐在咖啡馆跟老外聊得唾沫横飞的人就是你啦！

by YULIYAGEIKHMAN

图片来自网络