Here are some things you can do to improve your speaking ability:

1)      Speak as Much as You Can

This may sound simple, but it is very effective. The more you speak, the better you will become at it.

Ideally, you can find real life opportunities to use English at work, school or out in the community. If this is possible, don’t be afraid to go beyond the necessities of the situation and broaden the conversation to include things you want to talk about.

If this is not possible, try and find a practice partner. This could be a friend, colleague or family member who also wants to make progress in their English or at least support you in yours.

You can also talk to yourself. This may sound silly, but if you give it a chance, you’ll likely be surprised at just how useful it can be. Imagine situations where you are talking to someone. Hold a ‘conversation’ with them. Say what you want to say and imagine what their response might be. Keep it going.

Obviously you shouldn’t talk to yourself in public unless you want people to think you’re nuts. A good time to do this is at night before you go to bed.

2)      Focus

English is big. To “have better English” is too large and general a goal. You need to make smaller, more specific goals so that you can clearly see progress.

Choose an area or topic you want to improve in, and focus on that area until you are very competent and comfortable talking about it. Then move on and choose another topic to focus on.

3)      Interest

When choosing topics to study, select ones that you are really interested in. This isn’t always possible, but often it is. If you have a strong interest in the topic you are studying, you will be motivated to really learn it.

4)      Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

When talking or listening to someone, if they say something you don’t know, ask them what it means. If it’s inconvenient to ask them right away, make a note and ask them afterwards. Write down the new things you learn, so you can study them later. These discoveries often prove to be very practical.