well first of all. i seem to have a lot of problems with coming up with sentences or forming sentences in general. for example when i’m talking to americans or whatever i usually don’t really know what to say. but i fully understand them!! and when i’m about to say something. it’s almost as if i didn’t know any words… like. i don’t know any other english words other than the basic stuff. how can i improve?? please help me. thank you

    • davepleasebehave@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      your vocabulary is fine. your active vocabulary needs to grow. that’s why you can passively understand most of what you read and hear. your production of the language is what you need to improve.

      that’s practice. Speak as much as you can.

    • neamhsplach@beehaw.org
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      4 months ago

      I teach English as a foreign language and if any of my students wrote the same way you do I’d cry with joy. You have no problems with accuracy but if you’re having trouble speaking then it’s fluency you need a hand with. Conversation classes would be a good place to start or as someone mentioned just chatting to someone over the phone or zoom.

      Also if you really want to expand your vocabulary, try learning lists of phrasal verbs. Even my most advanced students find them difficult, but native speakers use them all the time so it helps with understanding and will make your English sound more natural.

      • adrrdgz@lemmy.todayOP
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        4 months ago

        noooo i don’t have a problem with fluency. i just don’t know what to say!! when i think of words in my mind. i have no idea how to say them. i don’t know of any cool or good phrases in english and when i read in english. i usually struggle with reading some words and i end up reading something else entirely. hmmmm… and thank you so much for that

        • Fizz@lemmy.nz
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          4 months ago

          Maybe watch some movies and steal good lines. When I hear someone use a phrase that I like I steal that and try to add it into my vocabulary.

    • Scubus@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      I don’t know what language you natively speak, but I would love to learn! Pm me if you’re interested and we can call and just talk. That’s typically the best way to learn the finer details of a language, just speak with a native speaker regularly. As far as grammar and vocabulary, though it doesn’t always show in my comments, I’m quite adept.I also used to be a tutor for a ton of people, although I never taught anyone English, so I’m quite good at teaching and communicating as well.

      • adrrdgz@lemmy.todayOP
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        4 months ago

        thank you very much!! i speak spanish natively. and that’s really good. i hope those years of being a tutor have given you a lot of knowledge and experience!!!