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.

帮助提高流利性的最佳途径之一，就是谈论你所熟悉的话题。谈论你熟悉的话题，你就更有可能选择相关词汇、因为你对这个话题感兴趣。即使你不了解所有的行业术语，你也会尝试一些你在许多场合看到过的新词汇。而谈论一些你非常擅长的东西，可以帮助你树立信心，因为你不必努力寻找正确的术语。

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.

这种信心的提升会产生一个良性循环：我说的越多，就越愿意犯错，英语水平也能得到更大的提升，这也促使了我更愿意说。

The Virtuous Cycle

良性循环

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.

良性循环是一个潜移默化、逐步提高的过程。想提高英语流利程度不是从A到B那么容易，这更像是随时间变化而变化的螺旋形图形。开始的时候会很慢，但随着开口增多、你会讲得越来越流利，而这也会促使你更愿意开口。改善口语流利程度的方法，就是随着时间慢慢提高、并且花费时间去改善。

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.

这个过程不是一下子就发生了，所以你需要保持正确的态度：我会犯错，并从中吸取教训。

Conversations are a River

谈话像是一条河流

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.

良好的对话就像一条河流，从一个话题到另一个话题，没有什么阻碍如果你过于倾听自己说的，或者反复思考“这样说对吗?”，你就会阻碍这条河流的进程。这听起来很简单，但我意识到它绝对是正确的。即使你在寻找正确的词汇上有困难，你也慢慢来，找到那个单词并且参与到对话中。不要批评自己。

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

这是一个通过交谈去思考提高流利度的方法。

1.Trust yourself to speak.

1.相信自己可以说。

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

2.在对话中犯一些错误，但还是要把对话继续下去。

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

3.倾听你同伴对相同话题的表达方式。

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词汇之间的差别。

5.Compare the differences and consider the following questions:

5.对比差异，思考以下问题：

(1) Can you pick up any new vocabulary?

(1)你可以习得这些新词汇吗?

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

(2)你同伴的表达方式有什么不同?

(3) Why were there differences?

(3)为何会有不同?

(4) Were they differences in grammar usage?

(4)这些区别是语法运用方面的吗?

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

6.如果你和英语母语人士交谈，要特别注意小细节，比如用在动词短语前的介词。

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

7.开始运用你学到的知识改变你的表达方式。

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!

这个过程是自然而然发生的，但有意识地思考这个过程，会帮助你把它变成你英语学习过程中的一部分。一旦这样做了，你的英语能更快地提高。不过，这很花时间，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!

我不想说英语，直到我(的英语)已经很完美，否则我会犯很多错误!

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.

很多不自信的学生可能会觉得，在英语没有达到很棒的时候，他们不应该开口说英语。或者说，可能他们觉得会犯很多错误。于我而言，不可能不犯错。你越犯错越好，前提是如果你关注了(这些错误)。

Attitude is Everything

态度决定一切

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)担心犯太多错误，你就不会关注提高英语。把你的注意力从自己的错误上转移开，去对比你和他人英语(表达方法)的区别，你会变得更轻松，更能够说英语。

Putting the Process into Practice

把这个过程付诸实践

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.

选择一个你非常擅长的话题，你喜欢做的事情、你喜欢的地方、任何你感兴趣的东西。找一个同伴，和你谈论相同擅长的话题。这会树立信心，你也能把这些方法运用到实践中，因为你感到更加轻松。