Stop Rushing! How Speaking Slower Will Boost Your English Confidence

Are you having trouble being understood in English, even when you know the words? 

Maybe people often ask you to repeat yourself, or you feel like your words are getting tangled up.

You might be speaking too fast without even knowing it! This often happens because:

• You're Nervous: It's your brain's "fight or flight" mode—you rush to finish speaking before you get interrupted or forget your thoughts.

• It's a Habit: In your first language, you may speak faster, and that speed naturally carries over to English.

• Focus on Content: Your brain is racing to share the news, and your mouth is trying to keep up!

When you speak too quickly, two things can happen:

1. You make more mistakes. Your brain doesn't have time to check the grammar or pronunciation, and your words bump into each other!

2. People have trouble understanding you. This makes you feel frustrated and less confident about speaking English.

The secret to speaking clearly and correctly is simple: Slow Down.

Why Speed is NOT Your Friend (and What to Do Instead)

Imagine a river. When the water rushes, it’s noisy and messy. When the water moves slowly, it’s clear and beautiful. Your speaking should be like the slow river!

Here are three simple steps to practice speaking slower and clearer:

1. Breathe, Then Start

Before you say your first word, take a small, quiet breath in. This pause is your brain's "Start Button."

• It calms your nerves.

• It gives your mind a second to organize the first sentence (so you don't accidentally start talking about yesterday's dinner when you meant to talk about today's meeting!).

Try this: When someone asks you a question, count "one thousand one" in your head before you answer. This one-second pause is magic!

2. Stretch Your Words

In English, it's okay to stretch out important words just a little bit. This gives you time to focus on the sound.

Instead of: Ihavetomeetmyteacheratnine. (Sounds like one fast, confusing word!) Try saying: I have to meet (pause) my teacher (pause) at nine.

When you practice, focus on saying only three or four words at a time, then take a tiny pause. This makes your message much easier for the listener to understand.

3. Record Yourself (no fancy gear needed!)

Many students hate hearing their own voice, but this is the fastest way to improve! (Think of it as recording your own little private podcast that only you can judge).

Use your phone to record yourself reading just one paragraph from a book or an article.

1. Read it the first time at your normal speed.

2. Read it the second time much slower than you think is necessary.

3. Listen to both recordings. The slower one will always sound clearer and more professional—and you might realize you weren't "too slow" after all!

Confidence Boost

When you slow down, you show the person you're speaking to that you are in control of the conversation. You will make fewer mistakes, and people will listen more carefully.

Speaking slowly doesn't mean you speak English badly, in fact quite the opposite - it means you have confidence and clarity!

What's the next step? Join our "Practice Place" to use these tips during 60-90 minutes of no-cost and easygoing fun - you'll gain confidence, learn new skills, and make new friends, all using the English you've worked so hard to learn.

Text/WhatsApp “SPEAKING” to 902.817.9341 for your free link to join us on Wednesdays at 5pm Eastern Time!