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Learning English is a major accomplishment, but retaining fluency is another challenge entirely. As an international student, maintaining spoken English can feel especially tough if you’re no longer immersed in an English-speaking environment. However, with consistent practice and the right strategies, fluency can be yours to keep.
This blog outlines 15 ways to help language learners retain (and even improve) their English fluency.
1. Practise speaking and listening
4. Expose yourself to English regularly
8. Listen to podcasts and audiobooks
11. Follow the News in English
13. Visit English-speaking countries whenever possible
14. Study or work In a transnational environment
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Practise speaking and listening
Fluency starts with practice. Regular conversations with native English speakers or fellow learners help reinforce English vocabulary and improve pronunciation. You can join English-speaking clubs in person or online, where the emphasis is on casual, real-life communication. Consistent, focused practice of your English speaking skills can go a long way.
2. Work with a personal tutor
A personal tutor can offer targeted advice, correct mistakes, and provide the kind of personalised feedback about your language skills that’s hard to find elsewhere. There are a range of platforms which connect students worldwide with tutors specialising in one-to-one English lessons, whether with British or American English focus, helping you strengthen specific areas like pronunciation or English grammar.
3. Try using English idioms
The English language is full of idioms such as “break the ice” or “touch base” (often used in a business context), and being able to use them correctly not only helps you sound like a native speaker but also deepens enhances your conversation skills. Incorporate one or two into conversations each week, and soon they’ll become a natural part of your vocabulary.
4. Expose yourself to English regularly
Image source: Shutterstock/FellowNeko
Consistency is key when it comes to retaining fluent English. Make English a part of your daily life—whether it’s labelling household items in English, journaling in English, or setting your phone’s language preferences. These small yet meaningful exposures add up.
5. Expand your vocabulary with intent
Always be on the lookout for new words. Write them down, learn their meanings, and practise using them. Flashcards, spaced repetition tools, or simply maintaining a “word-a-day” notebook can work wonders. Challenge yourself to start using these words in your conversations or writing.
6. Use language learning apps
Apps like Duolingo and Babbel can reinforce your English grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary skills and help maintain or even improve your English level. You can practise for 10 minutes a day—even during a coffee break—and see noticeable progress.
7. Talk to yourself
While this might feel odd at first, it can be a highly effective way to practice fluency! Narrate your daily routines, describe your feelings, or debate with yourself on trivial topics—all in English. This keeps your brain actively thinking and processing in the language, and gives you English speaking practice.
8. Listen to podcasts and audiobooks
Podcasts and audiobooks are great for fine-tuning your listening skills while picking up new language and vocabulary. Choose a range of options—grammar-focused podcasts, conversation-based formats, or even fictional stories. Some good options include "The English We Speak" from the BBC or “ESLPod” for language learners.
9. Use online resources
Explore free and paid resources, from YouTube grammar tutorials to ESL blogs and online forums. Websites like Grammarly also provide excellent tools for improving both spoken and written English.
10. Put Netflix to good use
Image source: Shutterstock/Kaspars Grinvalds
Watching TV shows and movies in English can make learning fun, and with so many online streaming platforms (Netflix and Disney Plus to name just a couple) today there are endless options for anyone who wants to hone their English skills in this way.
Turn on English subtitles to pick up new words while observing how sentences are naturally structured. Whether you’re looking to focus on conversational English by watching shows like Friends (American English) or more formal English through programmes like The Crown (British English), there will be plenty to choose from.
11. Follow the news in English
Stay updated on global events while boosting your English. Reading or watching the news provides exposure to real English and English pronunciation. Popular platforms like BBC News or CNN also offer simplified versions of their content for English learners.
12. Enjoy a sing-along
Singing along to English songs improves pronunciation while making fluency practice enjoyable. Pick songs with clear lyrics and practice regularly—it’s like language karaoke!
13. Visit English-speaking countries whenever possible
Whilst circumstances, or finances, may not allow very frequent trips to an English speaking country, take the chance whenever possible to do so. Whether it's a holiday, work trip or even a short-term language course such as those offered by Kings, using your English language skills for English conversation, in a real-world context, and being surrounded by English 24/7 will give your fluency a huge boost.
More about English programmes with Kings in the UK and USA
14. Study or work in a transnational environment
Surrounding yourself with English-speaking colleagues or peers is a surefire way to maintain fluency. If relocation isn’t an option, consider virtual opportunities where English is the primary communication language. While some English communication in a professional setting involves small talk, often it can be worth advancing your Business English skills for use in more formal work situations. If your work is in another field, such as Medicine, or Aviation, there are also English courses or tutorials that can help you communicate within these specialisms.
15. Take regular tests
Periodic testing keeps your skills sharp and identifies areas for improvement. Organisations like Cambridge English provide standardised testing options to assess fluency, vocabulary, and English grammar knowledge.
Read more about the different types of English tests
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here, we look at some of the most commonly asked questions about English fluency.
What are the benefits of being fluent in English?
Fluency in English enhances your ability to communicate across boundaries, making it easier to build international connections. It boosts career prospects, improves access to global news and entertainment, and fosters intellectual growth through diverse cultural interactions.
How long does it take to achieve fluency in English?
Fluency timelines can vary based on consistency, dedication, and prior exposure to English. However, with consistent effort, many learners achieve conversational fluency in 1–2 years.
What is the difference between fluency and proficiency in English?
Fluency refers to the ability to speak and understand English naturally. If you speak English fluently you can communicate successfully, accurately and without hesitation. In general, fluency is most often associated with spoken language.
Proficiency, however, involves a deep understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and structure, making you largely indistinguishable from a native speaker in both written and spoken English.
What role does accent play in English fluency?
Accent doesn't inherently affect fluency but can influence how others perceive your English skills. Strive for clarity and correct intonation rather than aiming for a perfect “native” accent.
Does fluency in English improve career prospects?
Yes. As the primary language of communication across the globe, proficiency in English is a highly sought-after skill in the international workplace and one of the benefits of learning English is therefore that it significantly boosts your job opportunities.
Job applicants with fluency in English on their CV/resumé are statistically proven to have increased hiring potential.
Read more about the benefits of learning English
Looking for English courses?
At Kings, we offer a wide range of English courses across our locations in the UK (Brighton, Bournemouth, London or Oxford) and the USA (Boston, New York or Los Angeles). Whether you are learning English for life, for exam success, for university success or for career success, there is a course to suit your needs.
For a full list of courses and detailed information on all please click here
If you’re ready to book, you can do so via the Kings Booking portal.
If you have any questions about our English courses, please get in touch with us at enquiries@kingseducation.com.
