Top Tips on How to Speak English Like a Native Speaker

Since you’re reading this, I can assume that you have been learning English for years (or decades), but something is still missing. Whether it’s your accent or the fact that you seem to forget all those grammar rules when you begin to communicate—you can still improve. But you can’t just continue doing what you’ve been doing till this point. If you’re serious about upgrading your English to the next, native-like level, it is time to change the approach.

This isn’t another article that shares general advice about how to speak English like a native speaker everywhere. We are going to move past truisms like “you need to immerse yourself,” “communication is the key to language learning,” “be patient and persistent,” and “learn a new word every day.” These pieces of advice are definitely true, but they are also completely useless. You know that, right? You’ve been doing it—and the results are still just above mediocre.

The goal and resources to learn how to speak English like a native American or British speaker

Ok, you have quite an ambitious goal, and it is time to assess the current state of affairs and your goals. The main goal is clear, but let’s break it down. To speak English on a native level, you need to master all aspects of language, from flawless grammar to an impressive accent. There are many stops on that road, including reading and listening comprehension, vocab mastery (including the idioms), and speaking practice. Unfortunately, this isn’t a one-way road, and you need to visit all those places simultaneously. In real life, you don’t really get a chance to focus on comprehension without the pressure to respond and express yourself on the same level. Equally, you can’t impress anyone with your flawless pronunciation if your grammar is not on the same level. This works the other way around, and all those verb drills are useless if you don’t put your knowledge into practice. So, where to begin?

I am going to share plenty of tips on how to systematically replace the way of studying English that hasn’t been working for you with one that will. But if you don’t have time or patience, and are tired of wasting time instead of mastering your skills, let’s start with a tl;dr summary: get the right kind of help asap.

TL/DR—Speak with native English speakers

Even if you’re an introvert that prefers doing everything alone, please don’t do that this time. Language is about communication—all aspects of it. No matter how disciplined you are, something will still be missing unless you find someone to learn from and practice with. And it can’t be just anyone. After all, your goal is important, and whoever is going to help you with it needs to be extremely skilled.

To make the situation more complicated, the recommendations you get from friends and family may prove worthless. Maybe your roommate had a great experience with a teacher that helped them finally grasp some grammar concepts. That’s not a guarantee that the same teacher will be able to help you master a particular local accent or improve your ability to convey complex ideas related to your industry. So, unfortunately, sticking to the first teacher that comes your way is not wise (not to mention that it certainly isn’t the best use of your resources, considering the prices of individual tuition).

If you’re unsure how to find one, here’s a checklist that includes all requirements, from basic and obvious to very specific ones.

How to choose a tutor who will help you learn to speak like an English native speaker

1. They are a native English speaker. Obviously.
2. They have a degree in a relevant field. The definition of a relevant field here depends on your very specific needs. If grammar is your most frightening enemy, your tutor’s credentials should be related to teaching English. But if you’re into the economy, robotics, solar physics, or anything like that—and you need to develop an ability to speak, read, write, and listen about such an advanced topic as successfully as you do in your native language—you’ll need a tutor with a roughly equivalent background.
3. They make you feel comfortable. This is another no-brainer, but keep in mind that it isn’t enough to find a generally likable person. I might find someone funny, while you think the same person is annoying. Also, this person has to inspire you and have the capacity to make you do and be your best. There has to be some chemistry (I’m not talking about romantic chemistry, of course), so you can definitely be subjective and choose someone based on your liking - as long as they fit all the parameters listed here.
4. They have the right accent. If you’re moving to London, a tutor from Toronto is probably not the best choice. There are large differences within the United States too. Imagine you’re about to move to Boston. In that case, you definitely shouldn’t hire a tutor from Atlanta or New Orleans. On the other hand, if you work in an international environment where everyone speaks English but only a few are native speakers, you can go with a neutral accent. In that case, a good choice would be a university-educated English teacher from non-English countries (especially Europe).
5. They have experience and references you can check. Obviously.
6. They offer an inexpensive trial lesson. This is crucial because it’s hardly possible to tell if someone fits all the criteria unless you try working with them.

Now, all you have to do is to find the right tutor. Not easy, heh? Well, actually, you can find one right now. Just visit LiveXP, and don’t be intimidated by the sheer number of options.

With just a couple of clicks, you can apply a number of filters to find a tutor who can help you with your particular goals, who shares the same interests with you, lives in the country of your choice, speaks your native language along with English, and is available during the same period of the day as you are.

Once you get the results, you can review their profiles, shortlist them, and book a trial lesson with all of the most promising tutors. Once you get in touch with them, you’ll be able to test the chemistry, and soon you’ll have an invaluable English language learning partner.

When you find a perfect tutor, you can relax and let them plan the lessons for you while you focus on mastering English. But if you prefer having more control of the process and need a breakdown of all elements, keep reading.

How to reimagine your approach to language learning and learn to speak like an English native speaker

The accent is definitely the first thing that comes to mind when we try to assess someone’s or our own ability to speak English like a native. But still, we should always pay attention to other aspects, like grammar, listening skills, and reading comprehension, for example. Let’s go through all the aspects of learning English like a native and how to approach them.

Grammar

Having flawless grammar is not necessarily the ultimate goal of language learning, but if you want to sound like a native speaker, don’t let grammar issues expose your weakness. Now, that doesn’t mean that you’re never allowed to err. Even native speakers make grammatical errors from time to time.

At this point, you need to pay attention to certain grammar errors that can reveal that someone is not a native speaker. For example, misusing verb tenses can often indicate non-native proficiency:

I go to the store yesterday
instead of
I went to the store yesterday

I will going to the party
instead of
I will be going to the party

Also, inconsistencies between subjects and verbs can give away non-native English:

The dog eat the food
instead of
The dog eats the food

They was happy
instead of
They were happy

Furthermore, incorrectly using prepositions is a common mistake for non-native speakers.

I am studying in the university
instead of
I am studying at the university

I am interested about learning English
instead of
I am interested in learning English

Misusing articles is another telltale sign. Non-native speakers might struggle with when to use “a” versus “an” or omit articles altogether:

I saw elephant in zoo
instead of
I saw an elephant in the zoo

She is engineer
instead of
She is an engineer

Native-like proficiency is all about sounding natural, being able to convey ideas accurately, and having a good command of idiomatic expressions and collocations. That means that you need to have a solid grasp of the grammar—but instead of burying yourself in textbooks, you should put all your knowledge to use. Instead of creating passive knowledge, practice those grammar rules with a tutor who will guide you through the language acquisition process. You can pick from more than 2,000 tutors on LiveXP.

Rather than just memorizing grammar rules, strive to use grammar in real-life situations. Engage in meaningful conversations with your friendly online tutor, get feedback from them, and learn as you go.

Reading and listening comprehension and communication

Understanding what you hear or read is a crucial part of communication. Additionally, it plays a significant role in developing the ability to think in English. To practice it, you should read regularly and actively while paying attention to the context, but that’s only the first step. To be able to show your comprehension skills in real life, you should also practice them during one-on-one sessions with one of the certified tutors.

Once you’ve read an article or listened to a podcast episode, talk about it with your LiveXP tutor. Engaging in conversations about the text allows you to solidify your understanding, express your thoughts in English, and develop the ability to think and articulate ideas in the language. Furthermore, doing so with a supportive tutor who understands the topic of the content you’ve just consumed will help you practice communicating your views with confidence and sound natural as you speak.

Pronunciation and speaking

Correct pronunciation is the key ingredient to sounding like a native speaker. When it comes to this aspect of the language learning process, there are certain things that you can only do with help, like reading out loud, listening, and mimicking, but conversational practice is different.

On LiveXP, you can engage in conversations with native English tutors from any country in the world. To speak like a native English speaker, you need to practice speaking regularly, even if you make mistakes. The more you speak, the more comfortable you become in expressing yourself and using English naturally. Moreover, a tutor will be able to provide feedback and correction to refine your pronunciation and fluency.

How to speak English with a British or American accent

A British or American English tutor can help you sound more like a native speaker of either accent. First of all, they can teach you the specific sounds and phonetic patterns that are characteristic of British or American English. For example, they can help you understand and produce sounds like the British “r” or the American “rhotic r.”

Since British and American English have distinct intonation patterns and stress placements, you probably need some help to master the rising and falling intonation used in both accents, as well as emphasize the correct syllables and words in sentences. Luckily, our tutors are experts in this area, so you’ll never have to worry about your accent again. Also, British and American English have different vowel sounds. A tutor can teach you how to pronounce vowels in a more native-like way.

Within both Britain and the United States, there are variations in accents and pronunciation. A tutor can help you understand these differences and guide you toward a specific British or American accent. Furthermore, they can introduce you to regionally specific vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and cultural nuances in both British and American English. This will help you sound more natural and fluent in your chosen accent.

Another value you can get from our tutors is contextual guidance. A tutor can offer insights into the cultural nuances, etiquette, and social norms of both British and American English. Understanding these cultural aspects will enable you to sound more natural and confident when speaking with native speakers.

The secret sauce: slang and idioms

When it comes to mastering English slang and idioms, utilizing the services of a live tutor from our platform offers several distinct advantages.

LiveXP tutors are well-versed in the ever-changing landscape of slang and idiomatic expressions. They possess a deep understanding of the current trends and regional variations, ensuring that you learn the most relevant and up-to-date language. Through interactive sessions, they can introduce you to colloquial phrases, idioms, and popular slang terms used by native speakers in everyday conversations.

Additionally, online tuition offers cultural insights and a contextual understanding of slang and idioms. They can shed light on the cultural references and background behind certain expressions, helping you use them appropriately and effectively. This deeper understanding of the cultural context enhances your ability to connect with native speakers on a meaningful level and ensures that you communicate in a way that resonates with the local culture.

In summary, tutors provide targeted and personalized instruction that specifically focuses on English slang, idioms, and achieving a native-like accent. They offer expertise in the latest trends, provide real-time feedback on pronunciation, and provide valuable cultural insights. By utilizing their guidance, you can confidently incorporate slang and idiomatic expressions into your speech while sounding like a native English speaker with an authentic accent.

How live tutoring supports your efforts to speak like a native

Taking live tutoring sessions through LiveXP can make a significant difference in focusing your language learning efforts. Tutors can tailor their instruction to your specific needs, adapting the lessons to your proficiency level, goals, and learning style. They can identify areas for improvement and provide targeted guidance to address your individual challenges.

Our tutors offer immediate feedback on your language skills, including pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and fluency. This instant feedback helps you correct mistakes, refine your skills, and build confidence in your abilities.

Live tutoring provides an interactive learning experience where you can engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and actively practice your language skills. This active engagement fosters faster progress and builds practical communication skills.

Regular tutoring sessions establish a sense of accountability, helping you stay committed to your language learning goals. Tutors provide encouragement, track your progress, and offer guidance to keep you motivated and focused on your language-learning journey.

On top of that, live tutoring enables you to experience cultural and linguistic immersion: Tutors who are native speakers or have extensive cultural and linguistic knowledge can offer an immersive experience, exposing you to authentic language use and cultural insights. This immersion accelerates your language learning and fosters a deeper understanding of the language and culture. Most importantly—there is no better way to learn to speak English like a native.