One of the best ways to help improve fluency is to speak about subjects you know well. Speaking about what you know, you’ll tend to take more risks as you’ve probably picked up related vocabulary along the way due to your interest in the topic. Even if you don’t know all the jargon, you’ll certainly be able to try out some new vocabulary you’ll have seen on numerous occasions. Speaking about something you are "expert" at builds confidence because you won’t have to search for the right terminology.

幫助提高流利性的最佳途徑之一，就是談論你所熟悉的話題。談論你熟悉的話題，你就更有可能選擇相關詞匯、因為你對這個話題感興趣。即使你不了解所有的行業術語，你也會嘗試一些你在許多場合看到過的新詞匯。而談論一些你非常擅長的東西，可以幫助你樹立信心，因為你不必努力尋找正確的術語。

This boost in confidence can lead to a virtuous cycle: The more I speak, the more I’m willing to make mistakes, the more my English improves, which leads to a willingness to speak more, etc.

這種信心的提升會產生一個良性循環：我說的越多，就越愿意犯錯，英語水平也能得到更大的提升，這也促使了我更愿意說。

The Virtuous Cycle

良性循環

A virtuous cycle is a process through which you steadily improve over time. Think of improving your English fluency as not going from point A to point B, but, rather, like a spiral that grows over time as in the graphic. You’ll start off slowly, but you’ll expand, you will become more fluent, which will lead you to want to speak more and so on. The key to improving fluency is to grow slowly over time and take time for the process.

良性循環是一個潛移默化、逐步提高的過程。想提高英語流利程度不是從A到B那么容易，這更像是隨時間變化而變化的螺旋形圖形。開始的時候會很慢，但隨著開口增多、你會講得越來越流利，而這也會促使你更愿意開口。改善口語流利程度的方法，就是隨著時間慢慢提高、并且花費時間去改善。

It doesn’t happen over night, so you need to have the right attitude: I’m going to make mistakes, and I’ll learn from them.

這個過程不是一下子就發生了，所以你需要保持正確的態度：我會犯錯，并從中吸取教訓。

Conversations are a River

談話像是一條河流

Good conversations flow like a river. They go from this topic to that topic, nothing is forced. If you listen to closely to yourself, or are constantly thinking "Is this right?", you’ll block the flow of the river. It sounds simplistic, but I’ve noticed it to be absolutely true. Even if you have difficulties finding the right words, take your time, find the words and participate. Don’t criticize yourself.

良好的對話就像一條河流，從一個話題到另一個話題，沒有什么阻礙如果你過于傾聽自己說的，或者反復思考“這樣說對嗎?”，你就會阻礙這條河流的進程。這聽起來很簡單，但我意識到它絕對是正確的。即使你在尋找正確的詞匯上有困難，你也慢慢來，找到那個單詞并且參與到對話中。不要批評自己。

Here’s a way to think about improving your fluency through conversation.

這是一個通過交談去思考提高流利度的方法。

1.Trust yourself to speak.

1.相信自己可以說。

2.Make a number of mistakes, but continue the conversation.

2.在對話中犯一些錯誤，但還是要把對話繼續下去。

3.Listen to your partner speak on the same subject.

3.傾聽你同伴對相同話題的表達方式。

4.Notice differences between the vocabulary you’ve used, and the vocabulary your partner has used.

4.注意你和你同伴各自使用的詞匯之間的差別。

5.Compare the differences and consider the following questions:

5.對比差異，思考以下問題：

(1) Can you pick up any new vocabulary?

(1)你可以習得這些新詞匯嗎?

(2) Were there any differences in the way your partner used the expressions?

(2)你同伴的表達方式有什么不同?

(3) Why were there differences?

(3)為何會有不同?

(4) Were they differences in grammar usage?

(4)這些區別是語法運用方面的嗎?

6.If you are speaking with native speakers, pay special attention to small things like the preposition used in a phrasal verb.

6.如果你和英語母語人士交談，要特別注意小細節，比如用在動詞短語前的介詞。

7.Start to change your own expressions using the knowledge you’ve gained.

7.開始運用你學到的知識改變你的表達方式。

This process takes place naturally, but thinking about this process consciously will help you make it part of your English learning process. Once you’ve done this, your English will improve much more rapidly. However, it takes time, so have patience and trust yourself!

這個過程是自然而然發生的，但有意識地思考這個過程，會幫助你把它變成你英語學習過程中的一部分。一旦這樣做了，你的英語能更快地提高。不過，這很花時間，所以保持耐心和信心!

I Don’t Want to Speak until I’m Perfect OR I’ll Make Too Many Mistakes!

我不想說英語，直到我(的英語)已經很完美，否則我會犯很多錯誤!

Many students who are unsure may feel like they shouldn’t speak until everything’s just right. Or, perhaps they feel that they’ll make too many mistakes. For me, there’s no such thing as too many mistakes. The more mistakes you make, the better - if you pay attention.

很多不自信的學生可能會覺得，在英語沒有達到很棒的時候，他們不應該開口說英語。或者說，可能他們覺得會犯很多錯誤。于我而言，不可能不犯錯。你越犯錯越好，前提是如果你關注了(這些錯誤)。

Attitude is Everything

態度決定一切

If you worry about making too many mistakes, you’re not paying attention to improving your English. By taking your attention off your own mistakes, and comparing your English to your partner’s you’llbecome more relaxed and better able to speak English.

如果你(一直)擔心犯太多錯誤，你就不會關注提高英語。把你的注意力從自己的錯誤上轉移開，去對比你和他人英語(表達方法)的區別，你會變得更輕松，更能夠說英語。

Putting the Process into Practice

把這個過程付諸實踐

Choose a topic in which you are an expert. Something you really love to do, a place you enjoy visiting, anything you’re interested in. Find a partner, and talk like the expert you are. It’ll build confidence and you can put some of these ideas to practice because you’ll be more relaxed.

選擇一個你非常擅長的話題，你喜歡做的事情、你喜歡的地方、任何你感興趣的東西。找一個同伴，和你談論相同擅長的話題。這會樹立信心，你也能把這些方法運用到實踐中，因為你感到更加輕松。