Five Ways to Improve Your Speaking Skills: Make Your Language More Fluent

### Difficulty in getting to the point when speaking, always running out of words? Here's a super simple solution! Recently, while chatting with a friend, she mentioned that she felt her language skills have been declining in the past few years: 🧠 "I have no problem with everyday communication, but when it comes to occasions like meetings or interviews where I need to express my views, my words become incoherent and my brain freezes." 👀 "After reading many popular science articles, I feel like I've learned a lot, but when I try to explain it, I can't articulate my thoughts clearly." 🦻🏻 "What's even more terrifying is that when I listen back to recordings of meetings, I realize that I speak with a stutter, at a fast pace, and without focus. I really envy those who can express themselves calmly, systematically, and with clear logic!" Her experience is not unique. In 2019, Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, conducted a social survey and found that 76.5% of the respondents felt that their language skills were becoming increasingly impoverished. When encountering something funny, they could only say "hahaha," and when they saw something impressive, they could only say "wow!" Some people who live alone have also found that their ability to express themselves deteriorates when they spend a lot of time at home without speaking. This is not an illusion. Research has found that the social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the phenomenon of "linguistic laziness," including a decrease in vocabulary, a decline in expression skills, and a lack of precision. Therefore, language skills, like muscles, become stronger the more they are used, and they deteriorate the less they are used. Therefore, it is necessary to speak and express oneself more in daily life to train language skills. I also found that there are many more benefits to speaking than we imagined when I searched for information. ### Speaking more helps organize your thoughts We often have vague thoughts and feelings that become muddled in our minds if we don't express them. In his work "Aspects of the Novel," writer E.M. Forster wrote an interesting maxim: "How do I know what I think until I hear what I say." This reveals a phenomenon: we often further understand our thoughts through speaking. That's why, even if the ideas are still vague, as long as we try to speak them out, it's like pulling a thread from a tangle, and the thoughts become clearer and clearer with each expression. Sometimes we even say thoughts that haven't fully formed in our minds, and speaking them out gives us a sudden realization of "Oh, so that's what I think." Richard Swedberg, a sociology professor at Cornell University, believes that this is because speaking touches on thoughts that we were previously unaware of, and this process is creative, helping us gain insights that we didn't notice during thinking. So when a person is stuck in deep thought without inspiration, it may be helpful to talk to someone, as creativity often bursts forth during conversations. Translating thoughts into language is also a process of transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge refers to automatic knowledge held in the subconscious, and we lack conscious awareness of this knowledge, similar to a state of "I don't know that I know this." Explicit knowledge refers to knowledge that can be transmitted through language, writing, and other media, as in "I know that I know this." Explicitizing tacit knowledge allows us to have a clearer understanding of "what I know" and "what are my thoughts and opinions." This process is like mining in the brain, where we can discover treasures that we hadn't even realized were there. So, don't always think that you have no ideas, no opinions, and only know how to nod and say "yes, yes, yes." Perhaps your ideas and opinions are hidden in your subconscious, not yet explicitized. Try speaking them out loud. ### Speaking more also reduces mental exhaustion Sohu CEO Zhang Chaoyang emphasized in a talk show that people who live alone should speak more. The brain is like a swamp, and we are easily immersed in certain emotions. What may not be a big deal can become a deep obsession. Indeed, our mood may only be slightly off, but when we brood over it alone, it further intensifies. We start reflecting on past failures, analyzing others' opinions, and worrying about the future... until the negative emotions completely consume us. At times like this, if we can write it down or speak it out, it's like poking a hole in the continuously fermenting emotions, giving them a chance to pour out. A study published in the Journal of Emotional Psychology showed that expressing anger through writing temporarily increased anger and hostility in individuals, but in the long term (one week later), it improved their insomnia and anxiety, as well as positive changes in their life satisfaction [6]. Another study also showed that people who try to suppress their emotions may have poorer mental and physical health because they have to expend energy to "control their emotions," making them more prone to feeling depleted [7]. It's no wonder that in uncomfortable social situations, even if we don't speak, we feel exhausted. Our willpower is depleted from suppressing emotions, making it very challenging. Expressing our feelings not only alleviates pain but also helps us better understand our own feelings, gain new insights and realizations about ourselves, and even helps us create new meaning from suffering [8]. Perhaps many people think it is "overly dramatic" or "making a big deal out of nothing" to speak out, but unexpressed emotions do not disappear; they will come back in a different form one day. It is necessary for us to build a "safe base" where we can speak freely, whether it be a non-judgmental friend or becoming our own listener. ### Speaking more enhances language expression skills Many people describe themselves as "not good with words" or "having a poor mouth." However, based on the principle of brain plasticity, language expression skills can be greatly improved through practice. Neuroplasticity is like a gym for the brain. When we learn something new or practice a skill, the brain starts "exercising." Neurons become stronger through repeated use, and the connections (synapses) between them become tighter and more efficient, resulting in faster and better information transmission. The essence of learning new skills is repeatedly activating relevant neurons, connecting them together, and ultimately forming a solid pathway. For example, taxi drivers have larger hippocampi to memorize complex routes [9]; the cortical area responsible for finger control in musicians is also larger [10]. Long-term training changes the brain's structure to adapt to specific needs. It can be said that our every action and movement in daily life are actually changing the brain. In a simulated study on the treatment of aphasia, researchers had participants learn unfamiliar vocabulary, and they had to practice repeatedly until they fully mastered it. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brain, it was visually evident that during the learning stage, certain areas of the brain (such as the bilateral caudate nucleus and specific regions in the right brain) were particularly active, with neurons in these areas actively learning new words [11]. After a period of learning, other areas of the brain (such as the anterior cingulate cortex in the left brain and certain regions in the right brain) became more active, and neurons in these areas consolidated the new knowledge. The entire process is like a relay race within the brain, with teamwork and each neuron performing its role. The principle of brain plasticity allows us to fully understand the importance of practice. Steve Jobs once expressed that the secret to his speeches was: practice, practice, practice. As the mouth practices, the brain is also rapidly "exercising," with neurons growing and connecting, gradually forming strong pathways that make speaking effortless. The difference between masters and ordinary people lies in this. Seeing this, perhaps many people will think, there are so many benefits to speaking, but I don't have anyone to talk to, and ordinary people don't need to give speeches all the time. What should I do? If there is no opportunity, let's create one. Below are some practical methods for everyone. ### If you don't talk much 1. Deliberately practice expressing yourself in daily life Spend 3-5 minutes every day, open the voice recorder on your phone, and improvise speaking. It can be a summary of your day, or you can retell an article or a piece of knowledge. Maybe the first few times your mind will go blank, but don't give up, just open your mouth and say something. If you need a sense of dialogue, try sharing a small observation with people around you every day or talk about something that happened to you. After practicing for a while, you will notice a significant improvement in the conciseness and fluency of your expression. 2. Replace silent reading with reading aloud Reading aloud is a common method in speech training. It helps improve pronunciation clarity and allows us to develop a natural pace and intonation [12]. For people who always unintentionally speak too quickly in daily conversations, I highly recommend replacing silent reading with reading aloud. Reading aloud also helps us remember and understand the content of what we read more effectively, killing two birds with one stone [13]. 3. Talk to yourself at any time Talking to yourself is an excellent way to regulate emotions when under pressure and stress. It can also reduce defensive reactions and improve adaptability to challenges [14][15]. If you are too lazy to use your phone to record, and there is no suitable material to read aloud, you can try talking to yourself at any time. Dump any thoughts, emotions, and things you are going to do out of your mind in a verbal manner. It can be illogical, allowing your mouth and thoughts to wander together. ### If you talk a lot but still lack organization If you talk a lot but still lack organization, it may be due to a lack of structured expression skills. Here are two small methods to assist in expression during deliberate practice. 1. Start with the conclusion, list arguments, and provide details The Pyramid Principle is a writing tool commonly used by McKinsey & Company. It helps people quickly distill key points and express them clearly. When expressing opinions in daily life, you can use this model: start with the conclusion + list arguments + provide details. Disorganized expression: "This movie is really good, the acting is amazing, and the visuals are stunning. Seriously, you should watch it, it's so good." Organized expression: "This movie is really good (start with the conclusion); the plot is very engaging (argument 1), it is based on an award-winning novel, which itself has received high praise (detail); and the casting is excellent (argument 2), the actors truly bring the characters to life, exactly as I imagined while reading the novel (detail); the overall audiovisual effects of the movie are also stunning (argument 3), it uses the latest CGI technology, and some complex scenes and special effects are very satisfying to watch (detail)." 2. Distinguish facts, feelings, and needs When we are overwhelmed emotionally, we are easily led by our emotions and cannot distinguish between facts, feelings, and needs, making it difficult for others to understand what we expect them to do. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is very useful in such situations. It helps us differentiate between facts, feelings, and needs, not only aiding our understanding of our own thoughts but also enabling us to better convey our ideas and be understood. Violent communication: "Why do you come back so late every day? You don't even answer your phone, is it that difficult to reply to a message? I think you don't want to come back home at all, just say it." Nonviolent communication: "You have been coming back home later than usual this week, even after 10 p.m. for two consecutive days, and you haven't answered my calls (fact); I feel really worried each time you come back late, and it makes me restless at home (feeling); can you tell me what's going on and if you can send me a message when you're going to be late in the future? (need)." Of course, facts + feelings + needs don't need to be expressed all at once. In practice, they can be gradually addressed in a back-and-forth conversation. In the book "The Invitation to Linguistics," which explores the role of language in human life, it is stated that language is not only a tool for communication but also the underlying code of human thought. We use language to organize thoughts, express concepts and emotions, and in turn, language influences our cognitive processes and worldview [16]. This inseparability of language and thought makes expression crucial. Often, when we seem to give up on expressing, we have actually given up on thinking. If you also realize the importance of expressing more, feel free to share this article with more people so that we can all speak more together. ### Combining Eastern Energy Solutions In addition to the aforementioned techniques, we can also combine the wisdom of Eastern energy to enhance our language expression skills and inner strength. 1. Feng Shui adjustments Improve mental and physical health and enhance language expression abilities by adjusting the energy field in the environment. Clear clutter and keep the environment tidy to ensure smooth airflow and improve overall energy levels. Increasing light and placing green plants can improve mood and energy levels. 2. Taoist health practices Achieve a balance between the body and mind through internal cultivation and external adjustments. Practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and qigong exercises can relax the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote inner peace. Tai Chi combines gentle movements and deep breathing to effectively relax the body and mind and regulate emotions. 3. Gemstone therapy Use the energy of gemstones to harmonize the body's energy field and alleviate symptoms of depression. Wearing red tiger eye can enhance confidence and insight; red agate can enhance creativity and motivation; red jasper represents vitality and enthusiasm; amethyst helps calm the mind, alleviate anxiety and stress; lapis lazuli enhances intuition and mental insight; rose quartz symbolizes love and harmony. 4. Traditional Chinese colors (lucky colors) Choosing a lucky color that suits you can subconsciously regulate emotions and enhance mental well-being.