HOW TO PRACTICE

SPEAKING ENGLISH
ALONE FOR FREE
KEITH O'HARE
About the Author

Keith runs The Keith Speaking Academy. He has

been working in international education for
over 20 years as a teacher, teacher trainer, and
education manager.

He has helped over 40,000 students prepare

for their IELTS Speaking test with his online
courses.

COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY

In this article I will share 13 awesome ways you can practice speaking
English alone at home for free.

Not everyone has access to native speaker friends or colleagues, in

person classes, a teacher or even English groups to practice their
English.

Yet, practice is a key part to improving your fluency and overall

speaking ability.

Practicing some common questions and answers is also a key part of

preparing for IELTS Speaking

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
This is easy because you can do it when you wash your face in the
morning and at night.

It’s most likely a routine you already have.

For example, in the morning, when I was practicing Chinese, I would say
what I was going to do that day,

‘Today I am going to meet Jack. I am going to go to the gym. I am going

to….’

At night, I would say what I had done that day, and how it went.

‘Today was good. I went for a walk, I started reading a new book, I
didn’t burn dinner…’

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
There are lots of audios you can use, such as IELTS sample answers, or
podcasts or Youtube videos.

Here is what you can do.

First, listen to sample answers/audio and pause it, to repeat some

key phrases, or phrases you like

Second, practice re-telling the audio using similar language to what

you heard.

This is not the same as memorising it all. You are just practicing using
some of the key phrases.

Then, try re-telling the episode, and recording yourself.

Finally, listen back and check with the transcript (if there is one) to
see if you got the phrases right (this is really good for learning and
practicing collocations)

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
When you watch a film in English, with your favourite actor, try and
repeat what they say, and try to sound like them. You can even move
like them.

You can always check the words they say, by checking the subtitles.

But, don’t read the subtitles aloud!

You just use them to check what was said.

When speaking – don’t read the words; this will not help your speaking
(even though you think it is easier – it is not helping you).

Why does ‘imitating actors’ work?

Identity is a key part of language speaking.

When you ‘pretend’ to be someone else (in this case an English actor), it
is sometimes easier to pick up the right pronunciation and intonation.

You stop being you, and become someone else.

Try it out – it can be great fun!

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
Instead of texting your friends/speaking partner on what’s app, try
sending audio messages in English.

The great thing about audio messages is there is no pressure, unlike a

phone call.

You have time to prepare, and if you don’t like the message you can
always delete it.

Another trick is to set up your phone in English.

This includes setting up Siri, Google or Alexa (depending on your phone)

in English.

So when you ask Siri – you ask in English.

It also pushes you to get the pronunciation right, or Siri won’t answer
you!

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
You know how English people (or American, or Canadian…) sound when
they speak your native language, right?

Well, try imitating them and their accent.

So first, speak your native language like an English person does.

Then, keep that same crazy pronunciation and sound, and start
speaking English.

It’s almost like you are pretending to be English.

Like, you have a new identity as an English person.

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
Yes, a shadow is the dark area any body leaves when it is between the
sun and the ground.

However the verb, ‘to shadow’, means to follow someone.

Shadowing in language learning, is when you follow someone’s voice.

So, you listen to a short audio (maybe 30 seconds, not too easy, not too
difficult).

As you listen a second time, you try to speak at the same time as the
voice, following it, saying the same thing.

Sounds crazy, but once you practice this a few times, you will start to
get the pronunciation and the fluency of the speaker.

IELTS sample answers, if they have the audio, are good for this.

You can also try some elementary podcasts like these.

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
You can read my complete article about responding, but briefly,
responding is

1. Hearing a question,
2. Quickly getting ideas,
3. Putting the ideas into spoken words

It is an essential skill to practice, but few students do it.

It’s easy to set up.

Go to My Youtube channel

Find the playlist called Responding CITIES

Play the recording in shuffle mode (so you don’t know which
question is coming)

Answer in real time (30 seconds for part 1 Qu. and 50 seconds for
part 2 Qu.)

Repeat everyday

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
Some students try this with thinking.

Think about what you are doing in English at any moment.

Or for example, as you go for a walk, think in English.

Describe what you see, how you feel….always thinking in English.

Well, this is similar, but instead of thinking, you are talking to yourself.

Will I look silly?

No way, hey, people speak into phone microphones all the time!

Simple – but very powerful!

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
Find a song you like in English.

Learn the lyrics (words).

Sing it aloud.

2 great websites / apps to get started with lyrics are

https://www.lyrics.com (free lyrics)

https://lyricstraining.com/ (the coolest, free, game-based approach

to learning a language)

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
These are more about pronunciation practice, but they are fun.

You try repeating a sentence that repeats difficult or similar sounds.

It’s a great gym workout for your mouth.

You can try these simple Tongue Twisters with audio download

Also watch this video with 4 popular ones

And then try making up your own.

Go for it!

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
This Internet is a fantastic source of tools and materials for practicing
speaking English alone at home, and this is one of my favourites.

https://youglish.com

It’s like a search engine that plays a video clip with any word or phrase
you enter.

Most clips are from films or T.V. series.

You can practice repeating any phrase you want, but the really good
thing about it, is you can practice correct intonation.

In fact, for each phrase, there are lots of video clip examples, so you can
see how the phrase is used in different contexts.

Brilliant for idioms!

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
Do a lifestyle audit.

Where do you use your native language everyday?

Maybe when…

using your phone,

using your computer,
listening to podcasts,
self-talking,
watching tv,
listening to music….

Which of these can you use/do in English?

For example, can you change your phone/computer settings to English?

Can you listen to some English songs?

Can you choose some English podcasts?

Look for ways to bring English into your life and surround yourself with
English, and you can practice more naturally everyday.

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COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY
Think about Goals and Habits.

1. Set yourself a short term goal to practice speaking.

5 days, 2 weeks, 30 days, whatever, just don’t leave it open.

Even if you carry on later, as humans, we like boundaries.
Things we can measure.
Boxes we can fit into.

2. Do this everyday

Just start with 5 minutes, no more.

When you are ready, increase the time.
When you don’t feel like it, and there will be days like this, just say, I
will just do 1 minute – and that’s enough.
It will make a difference.

3. If possible, always do your speaking at the same time of day, and in

the same place (this helps create a habit)

4. Language learning is up and down, It is not a linear process.

Some days, you will feel like you are going backwards.
This is normal.

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If you enjoyed this article, you might also find these tips on how to
prepare for IELTS Speaking useful too.

For more tips and ideas to improve your performance in IELTS Speaking,
check out the resources page on this website.

Find out more about my work at

WWW.KEITHSPEAKINGACADEMY.COM

COPYRIGHT © 2022, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY