Stage 6 of 7 · 7 lessons · ~2 weeks

Speaking English as a second language

Many people go quiet because of their English or their accent. Aim for clarity, not a native accent, and build a short daily routine that improves pace, pronunciation and confidence.

Start: Clarity matters more than accent

Lessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order

Do this

Record a one-minute explanation of your project as a starting point
Practise shadowing with a BBC Learning English clip for ten minutes
Look up the stress in ten technical words you use often
Write a list of 15 useful phrases for meetings and class
Keep the 15-minute daily routine for four weeks
Have one real conversation in English each week
Record the same explanation again after four weeks and compare

Start with

PlatformFree
BBC Learning English
BBC
Free short lessons on pronunciation, stress and everyday English, with transcripts

Practise

Toastmasters InternationalPaid
Supportive clubs, many with members who speak English as a second language
Claude
Practise phrases and role-plays by text or voice when no partner is around

Keep handy

Grammarly
Checks the written follow-ups that back up what you say in English

Before moving on: Four weeks of a 15-minute daily speaking routine, a list of 15 work phrases you can say without thinking, and two one-minute recordings of you explaining your project, four weeks apart, with one clear improvement you can hear.

Tauseef's advice

Your accent is part of who you are, and plenty of respected engineers, teachers and leaders speak English with strong accents. What listeners need is clarity: slower speech, clear stress and pauses. Fifteen minutes a day with free material, done every day, will change how you sound within a few months.

Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).