Greetings Lesley, I am presently teaching in the Henan province at a senior middle school. If you wish, I would be happy to help you anytime. Please understand that it is very common to experience anxiety about your oral English skills. I believe that it may be the most difficult skill of the 4 basics for learners to master. But take my advice and don't try to master this skill. I always emphasize to my students that the key lies in communication. When you speak to me, you need to satisy your needs, your desires. You need to be understood and I need to understand you to be able to respond. If we can understand each other, then we have communicated. English is an international language. Most students learning English as a second language will never be able to speak like a native speaker and should not make this their goal. The Chinese will speak Chinese English, the Japanese, Japanese English, etc. etc. The citizens of each country will all have their own brand of English which they are comfortable using. The satisfaction comes in being able to communicate, not in the perfection of your speaking ability. Certainly it is OK to strive for improvement in things like pronunciation and enunciation, and most students do, attaining different levels of proficiency. But make communication your first goal, and when you are speaking with someone in English and they are able to understand you, be proud of that, be happy you have been able to help someone with their needs or they have been able to assist you. And always remember, you will never learn nor increase your level of proficiency in this area by not speaking. Good luck to you and to all others learning to speak. Don't be afraid to speak. Look for opportunities to speak. Build on all of your little successes each day. Enjoy the challenge of it all. If I can be of any specific help to you, you may write to me at the email address I have provided. I also invite you to view my website: www.spaces.msn.com/nomorespaces to see my fotos relating to my Chinese experience and to read my blogs.
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