What's the Key to English Fluency?

by Carmen
(Spain)


Hi Robby,

From your blog (which is really great) I see that you know a lot about speaking English with ease.

My question is, what is the key to it all?

Is there just one key or is it like the game dominoes...one key opens the door to the next key?

I am not sure what I think but I'm interested to know your opinion.

I'd like to get my hands on the "skeleton key" of English aka the master key to a house that opens every door. Wouldn't that be something?

Looking forward to hearing your opinion.

Carmen

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Jan 20, 2011
 Key to English fluency
by: Robby Kukurs

Hi Carmen,

I'm glad you like my blog, and thanks for your question!

Well, there is actually a key factor to English fluency, and it's called SPEAKING.

No amount of reading, grammar practice, passive language input and complete language immersion will ever come close to USING English for real-life communication.


It's all about passive vs active vocabulary. All other activities will build up your passive vocabulary, but you won't be really able to use it that well when speaking.

Only oral practice will help you start thinking in English and use expressions/word combinations used by native speakers instead of using directly translated phrases and sentences from your native language.

It's also crucial that you absorb natural 'feel' of the language so that you don't have to keep referring to grammar rules when speaking. Maximum exposure to English is a must, but once again - you have to use as much of English as you can when SPEAKING!

Best regards,

Robby

Robby Kukurs is the creator of www.englishharmony.com, a website he created in 2007 to help struggling foreign English speakers gain real English fluency.

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