Learning to speak English fluently isn’t easy, especially when you’re just starting…
I was born and brought up in a Bengali family, and I didn’t study in an English-medium school.
For a long time, I thought English was only for “smart people” or “big city folks.” I used to feel underconfident while speaking, even though I could read or understand a little.
I knew what I wanted to say in my head, but when it came to speaking, I’d panic. My mind would go blank, I’d forget basic words, or worse- I’d get stuck mid-sentence and stay quiet.
But guess what? You’re not alone, and you can & you’ll definitely overcome it.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through some common spoken English mistakes beginners make (I made many of these too!), and how you can avoid them to become a more confident speaker.
Let’s begin then?
❌ Mistake 1: Translating Directly from Your Native Language
What happens:
You think in your mother tongue (like Hindi, Bengali, or Tamil) and try to translate word-for-word into English.
Example:
“I am having a headache.” (Incorrect)
✔️ Correct: “I have a headache.”
Why it’s wrong:
Some things don’t translate directly. Sentence structure and expressions differ in English.
My Tip:
Start learning simple sentence patterns in English itself. Think in short English phrases like:
- “I need help.”
- “I’m feeling tired.”
- “Let’s go outside.”
The more you practice thinking in English, the smoother your sentences will become.
❌ Mistake 2: Overthinking Grammar While Speaking
What happens:
You try to be “perfect” and get stuck mid-sentence.
My Story:
I remember once during a job interview, I paused for so long thinking about the past perfect tense that I forgot the question itself!
In my initial days, I even switched speaking to hindi from english in an interview because of my underconfidence.
Why it’s a problem:
In conversations, flow matters more than grammar perfection. Most native speakers make grammar slips; but they keep talking.
Fix it:
Focus more on fluency and clarity than sounding like a grammar book. Practice speaking naturally and fix grammar slowly as you improve.
❌ Mistake 3: Using Too Many Fillers or Hesitation Words
What happens:
You say “um… ah… like… actually… you know…” too much.
Why it hurts:
It breaks your confidence and distracts the listener.
What helped me:
I started replacing hesitation with simple pauses. A short silence is better than random fillers. You can also use smart phrases like:
- “Let me think.”
- “That’s a good question.”
- “I’m not sure, but I believe…”
These make you sound confident even when you’re unsure.
❌ Mistake 4: Mispronouncing Common Words
Some tricky examples:
- “Vegetable” is not vege-table; it’s vej-tuh-bl
- “Wednesday” is wenz-day, not wed-nes-day
- “Debt” is det; the ‘b’ is silent
What I did:
I would listen to native speakers on YouTube and mimic their pronunciation. Apps like Duolingo and SpeakX helped too.
Pro Tip:
Record yourself speaking. You’ll catch mistakes you didn’t notice before.
❌ Mistake 5: Avoiding Speaking Altogether
This one’s big.
A lot of learners wait till they’re “ready.” But honestly? You’ll never feel 100% ready.
I waited too. For months.
But improvement came only when I started speaking; with friends, with strangers, even alone.
Do this instead:
- Talk to yourself in English when cooking, walking or doing some activity.
- Record daily 1-minute voice notes.
- Join Telegram/WhatsApp English-speaking groups.
- Speak with friends who are also learning.
You learn by doing, not just reading. Also, you must have heard this- “Learn from your mistakes”.
So, Talk to yourself; understand what you’re doing wrong or you can improve and work on it. Simple, isn’t it?
❌ Mistake 6: Using Too Formal or Textbook Phrases
Examples:
- “I am going to the market henceforth.” 😅
- “Kindly revert back.” ❌
Nobody talks like that in real life.
Use casual and real-world English:
- “I’m heading to the market.”
- “Let me know.” or “Lemme know”.
- “Could you say that again?”
Keep it natural. Speak like how you talk in your native language – simple & relatable.
✅ My Simple Rules to Improve Faster
Over the years (and I’m still learning daily), I created a small rulebook for myself. It might help you too:
- Speak every day, even for 2–5 minutes.
- Don’t fear mistakes — they mean you’re learning.
- Use new words in real conversations (not just in a notebook).
- Watch English content with subtitles, then without. (Follow YouTube channels like- BBC English, etc.)
- Join communities or platforms like TalkEasy English 😉 — where learners like you support each other.
Final Thoughts: You’re Closer Than You Think
If you’ve read this far, take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back. You’re already putting in the effort, and that’s what matters most.
I know what it feels like to sit in a room and feel nervous because you can’t speak “perfect” English. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to be perfect, you just need to be understood.
And the more you practice speaking (even with mistakes), the better you’ll get.
Have a good day 🙂
