Advices to speak English
Hello everyone
I'm a little bit scared because I have a oral exam next Thursday and I don't know what to study and what to do to try gto pass it. Because I think in a oral exam, teacher evaluate your level and you can improve your level in days, either in few months.
I'm listening the radio in English and I can understand many things. But I watch films, and it's the worst for me because, I only understand short sentences or very clear sentences. Specially this discourage me a lot. Another thing is that is very difficult to me understand American English (they speak different than british and faster)
I have to say, that I have a intermediate level of English (I can understand written English and to write quite well) but when I have to undestand or to speak English is when I can't think right.
I get very nervious when I have to speak, I feel ridiculous, I think i'm pronunciating bad and I get more and more nervious. This is why I failed my oral exam in June, and I think I'm going to fail it again. I don't know what to do.
Thanks to listening to me
10 Answers
For films try watching foreign filmed dubbed in English, for example "Crouching tiger hidden dragon." Usually things that are dubbed don't have the strong accents you'll hear in a film (like for example the Boston accents in "The Departed")
Don't feel nervous! Just breathe deeply and relax, I don't know about the exam you're doing, but in FCE and CAE Cambridge exams most of the points are going for your ability to communicate what you are trying to say without stumbling or getting to a point where you just can't speak. What matters is that you can talk about what they want you to talk about, don't change the subject, don't freeze up. You won't loose marks for each mistake, just smile, correct yourself, and keep going!
It's not like a written exam where they will be writing down every mistake, your grammar does not have to be perfect and at intermediate level they don't expect it to be!
Also make sure you learn plenty of set phrases like "It is my opinion that" "Most people think.." "on the other hand" "well..." "I suppose.." and that you know when to use them (don't keep saying "i think, i think, i think" all the time.)
Watch your pronunciation as well. (you could do some of the speaking exercises on Live Mocha and ask native speakers to correct them for you)
Speaking exams should actually be the easiest, but schools don't practise speaking enough and that makes it seem very scary. The best thing you can do is relax, your English is clearly very good and they will hear it.
Time to find a partner to practice S P E A K ing. Listening at this point is probably just increasing your anxiety and is not the skill they are testing.WRite out some things you think might be discussed and use them while you are practicing if you need to.
A little late now but I know I would be willing to get on SKype with you and practice my English listening skills for a future test if you would like.
Hi, NeNuN. I have a foolproof plan for you.
Step 1. Don't panic. This is the most important step.
Step 2. Identify why you don't do well on oral exams. (You say you get nervous, worry about your pronunciation, etc.)
Step 3. Address the weaknesses that make oral exams hard for you. For example, if speaking English makes you nervous, practice with someone you feel very comfortable with; this can be a friend, or just yourself, or even a cat. The idea is to know that no one is judging you. Because, in an oral exam, you'll be doing most of the talking, the proficiency of your conversation partner is not important. Just talk to yourself aloud in English (out of earshot of others, of course!). Making the words come out easily and without anxiety in English is a matter of practice. Then, onto pronunciation. First, work especially on your pronunciation, imitating the radio, perhaps, or just trying to perfect a few common, difficult words. Then, no matter how successful you are in that, when you get to the oral exam, know that even if you mispronounce stuff, it's okay. He or she will understand you. Your teacher deals with students at your level all the time and is probably very good at understanding your mispronunciations or your accent.
Step 4. Ace the test. 
I've made a list of resources here that involve particularly slowly-spoken, easy to understand English, which may help you. They speak slowly but with American accents, so this may help you start to understand American accents better, which you say is difficult for you.
It may require a bit of acting ability, but you must stop feeling self-defeated and start feeling some confidence in the things that you know. Trust yourself, relax, and talk. Talk as if you are talking not to a judge, but to someone who is completely on your side.
Ask yourself, what's the worst thing that could happen. Well, you already know that if you fail the test that you won't die. They don't hit you, or laugh at you, or throw paint on you to mark you as a failure. The worst thing that happens is that you beat up on yourself. Well, you've already done that, too. And here you are, better prepared and ready to try again. And you will do much better this time than you did last time.
I am a dog obedience judge. Believe it or not, I can get a pretty good idea of who is going to do well and who is going to fail before they even start the exercises. I can tell by the way they walk in my ring...by if they are breathing or not...if they look like they are going to throw up or faint. Those folks ususally don't do well because so much of their attention is occupied by simply managing their fear and maintaining consciousness! Others come in relaxed, confident. They make me feel relaxed. Even if you have to "fake it", try to be part of the relaxed group. If tomorrow's judges are anything like most of the judges I know, we are secretely rooting that the folks we are going to see that day do well. The vast majority of us are "on your side", and I'll bet the same is true about the panel you will face next Thursday.
I wish you the best and will pray for your success. Please let us in the Forum know how it goes!
The only advice I can give you is: Practice makes perfect. I would suggest finding someone you can study with and practice speaking with. Perhaps there are some videos on youtube that you can watch that will help.
I would like to add some advices to these great answers they may help you as well
Understand what is important to your test. Typically, you will be graded on your overall pronunciation, vocabulary, fluency, as well as the content of your answers. The more you understand what is expected of you during this exam, the better you will perform.
Be prepared to answer the test by including a part of the question you have been asked. By doing so, you will be more likely to answer the question in a complete sentence. More importantly, that will force you to answer the question in the proper tense, a factor that will impress the interviewer. Moreover, that will help you answer the question more accurately, and that will improve your ability to speak English.
Give complete answers to the questions you are asked, rather than a simple “yes” or “no.” Your test will be endeavoring to grasp your command of English, so give expansive answers to the questions you are asked. One trick is to include reasons why you have answered the question as you have. This will allow the test to see your command of the language as well as your ability to “think” in English.
Practice speaking in English often before your Exam. The more you converse in English, the more fluent in the language you will become. Have someone ask you questions in English, and then attempt to answer them with complete, well-thought-out answers. Not only will you be better prepared to impress your examiner during your Oral Test, you will be more likely to increase your use of English long after you have become a citizen of the United States.
I hope this helps you 
Best wishes with your test
Fear of public speaking speaking is a very common thing. There are some things that can help take the presure off a bit.
Talk to the people casually before the test. A small friendly conversation can be a good warm up. You may even want to tell them about some of your presentation concerns. Take your time answering.. it is not a race. Ask them to repeat or clarify the question if necessary. Focus on the points you want to get across and don't worry so much about your accent. Don't forget to breathe Before you start, take 3 slow deep breaths. This will help to relax and focus as well as supply a little extra oxygen to your brain. Also don't forget to breathe throughout your presentation. Things will generally go better, your voice will be more relaxed and you will sound more composed.
I hope you'll tell us how it went. And if you don't make it this time, please don't give up. You've come so far and are so close to success!
Welcome to the forum, NeNun.
Some of the advanced video lessons may interest you. They can be found at the top of this page under "Learn Spanish." You will see a link that says "Aprender Inglés."
It's good to have you here and I hope to see you around.
Fear of public speaking speaking is a very common thing. There are some things that can help take the presure off a bit.
Talk to the people casually before the test. A small friendly conversation can be a good warm up. You may even want to tell them about some of your presentation concerns. Take your time answering.. it is not a race. Ask them to repeat or clarify the question if necessary. Focus on the points you want to get across and don't worry so much about your accent. Don't forget to breathe Before you start, take 3 slow deep breaths. This will help to relax and focus as well as supply a little extra oxygen to your brain. Also don't forget to breathe throughout your presentation. Things will generally go better, your voice will be more relaxed and you will sound more composed.
