English is one of the most important languages today. For this reason, it is necessary not only to understand it, but also to speak it correctly in order to be able to converse fluently and appropriately in English. Therefore, in today’s article we will give you some useful tips on how to sustain a conversation in English and not fail in the attempt.
Tips for sustaining a conversation in English
The decisive moment to determine whether you have learnt English well comes when you have to hold a conversation in English, either in the language school where you are learning, or with a stranger in a foreign country.
However, we know how fearsome this can be. That is why we have prepared a series of tips for you that can help you overcome this personal obstacle:
Don’t be afraid to try
This may sound like far-fetched advice, but the reality is that the fundamental advice for sustaining a conversation in English is not to be afraid to try and, therefore, to make mistakes. It is only natural that when you try for the first few times, you may make some mistakes that will improve with practice and time.
You are neither the first nor the last person to start conversing in a language other than your mother tongue. This also happens to native English speakers when they want to learn another language, so there is no need to worry.
There is no problem if you have to repeat a sentence to yourself.
In the beginning, the main obstacle to sustaining a conversation in English is often the fact that people with a little more knowledge speak too fast. Obviously, this makes it difficult to understand certain words and you risk losing the main idea of the topic of conversation.
For this reason, we advise you not to be afraid to ask them to repeat what they have just said, or even to ask them to say it a little slower. This happens even to the most experienced people.
For your part, control your speed and volume.
The success of a conversation in English depends not only on the effectiveness of the interlocutor, but also on your own. It is therefore natural to feel nervous at the thought of making a mistake or that the other person does not understand you.
The best way to deal with this problem is to have control not only over what you say, but also over how you say it. It is advisable to control the speed at which you speak, because speaking too fast can make it difficult to understand what you are saying. You should also speak in an appropriate tone of voice, neither too low nor too high.
Think about conversations in English
The best way to be prepared for a conversation in English is to have practised it beforehand.
While it is impossible to think of the exact words and expressions for the conversations you will have to face in order to prepare and respond, it is also true that by expanding your vocabulary you will have a better chance of getting by.
The best thing you can do to achieve this is to think in English whenever you have the opportunity. A very useful tip is to think, when you have some free time, about some conversations you have had during the day in Italian and think about what they would be like in English and what you could have answered.
How to start a conversation in English?
Undoubtedly, one of the greatest difficulties in holding a conversation in English is starting a conversation. Although, by learning English with a trusted teacher or language school, you should know the best ways to start a conversation, many people are afraid to take this step.
In order to be able to carry on a conversation in English, the main thing is to start, without worrying too much about the topic or first expressions. However, it is always advisable to worry about the other person and start by asking questions such as “How are you?” or “Where are you from?”.
Once you have started, you will realise that it is very easy to follow the thread: the important thing is to try and have the courage to take the first step.
