Not all people who are not native speakers have problems communicating in English. Many know how to speak as if they were, others do not. The ability to communicate with those with limited knowledge of the language can actually be developed over time by practicing. Whether you often or rarely deal with people who don't chew English very well, these tips will help you communicate more effectively and smoothly.
Steps
Step 1. Speak clearly and pronounce the words correctly
A too strong pronunciation will not help your interlocutor and could cause more confusion. However, it may be helpful for you to say some words as he would. This is especially true if the correct pronunciation is very different from yours.
Step 2. Recognize that people mistakenly think that raising your voice brings about instant understanding in one way or another
Avoid this cliché (however, don't speak excessively softly).
Step 3. Do not cover or hide your mouth, as your interlocutors will prefer to see how you pronounce the words
This will help them understand what you say in many cases.
Step 4. Don't use childish language or incorrect English
This will not allow you to make yourself understood more easily. It will confuse your interlocutor and may give the wrong idea of your competence.
Step 5. Avoid joining words (Do-ya wanna eat-a-pizza?). One of the biggest challenges for listeners is figuring out where one word ends and where the next begins. Insert a small pause between words if the interlocutor seems not to understand.
Step 6. If possible, opt for simple words instead of complex ones
The more basic a word is, the better the chance of it being understood (big is a better choice than enormous, make is easier to understand than manufacture). However, with a person who speaks a Romance language (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian), these "complex" terms can be useful, as their root goes back to Latin.
Step 7. Avoid phrasal verbs, which tend to sound very similar to a non-native speaker
Look out resembles look for, and both are reminiscent of look out for. In various cases, you can use another word (example: look out can be replaced by be careful, look for da search for, look out for da watch for).
Step 8. Avoid using fillers and colloquialisms as much as possible (um …, like…, Yeah, totally), because people who are not native speakers, especially those with lesser knowledge, might be caught off guard and think that filler language is made up of words they don't have. Colloquialisms are hardly known, especially if they are not easy to find in the dictionary.
Step 9. If you are asked to repeat something, the first time you repeat it the way you just said it
And repeat it again. Maybe he didn't hear you. If your interlocutor still doesn't understand, however, change a few keywords in the sentence. Maybe he missed a word or two. Also, repeat the entire sentence, not just the last two terms. It will take time, but it helps prevent confusing moments.
Step 10. Your dialect may not resemble the English a person learned in school
For example, people who don't speak the US variant of English typically expect the second t of twenty to be pronounced.
Step 11. Paraphrase and use synonyms
If you know a word similar to the one you don't understand, then use it. By knowing better the foreign language that the interlocutor speaks, this will become easier.
Step 12. Avoid contractions or short forms
Go for the long ones. Can't is a single word to replace with the full form. It is difficult for a non-native speaker to tell the difference between can and can't in a sentence. Example: I can't take you on Friday and I can take you on Friday. Use the long form, cannot: I cannot take you on Friday.
Step 13. Decrease the use of the words that fill your sentences
The idea is to remove unnecessary parts from your speech. Imagine turning on the radio and listening to two children talking in a room. They will play and shout. The result? Family of… car… on vacation… in Arizona. If your oral communication is filled with um, like, you know, or other fillers, understanding is more complicated. Right is a word that commonly fills conversations. Do you prefer to use Yes, that is correct. A person who is not a native speaker may not understand what right means and confuse it by associating it with its opposite, left.
Step 14. Be explicit
Say Yes or No, don't say Uh-huh or Uh-uh. These words are not found in grammar books!
Step 15. Listen and avoid forming your own response while the other person is talking
Wait until he's finished so that he can clarify if necessary and give correct information based on what he said.
Step 16. Remember that other cultures have different standards regarding physical and eye contact and personal space
A person who gets too close to his interlocutor or who does not look in the eye is simply following a cultural standard, has no intention of offending.
Step 17. Be patient and smile
The more relaxed you are, the more control you have over your communication. Don't let all the commitments and distractions you have affect your communication skills. Think as you speak, don't speak as you think.
Step 18. Don't shout
Unless you have to, it is useless: speaking out loud will not promote understanding and could be offensive or embarrassing.
Advice
- Speak slower than usual. It is not immediate to master a foreign language: give your interlocutor time. This goes hand in hand with patience and a clear articulation.
- If this person speaks very little English, keep in mind that one way or another he will "translate" this language into his own. His English words and expressions are influenced by his language, so what might be uneducated does not really start from this intention. For example, a simple No might seem too sharp, while I don't agree, if said politely, keeps the doors of communication open. Try to read between the lines before judging the attitude of your interlocutor.
- Write what you want to say. Sometimes it is easier to understand the written language than the spoken one.
- Try to be sociable. Impatience will inhibit your ability to communicate and can alienate the interlocutor.
- People who "translate" from English to their language in their head often take a little longer to formulate an answer. Give them a chance to do this before you intervene and try not to show impatience while you wait for them to respond.
- As for requests, even if you think you are polite using indirect questions (like Would it be possible to …?, I was wondering if you could …?, If you wouldn't mind terribly to …?), It is best to avoid asking too long questions. A simple Can you X…? or Is it Y…?, followed by a please and a thank you, which are universal, should suffice.
- He gestures a lot more than normal when you speak. It is often possible to understand by catching just a couple of words and observing the gestures.
- If you just can't make yourself understood, find another common language. For example, if your interlocutor is German, but more fluent in French than English (and your French is better than your German), you may understand each other better.
- If you have trouble with verbal communication, try drawing an object on a piece of paper.
- If you can't communicate with this person in any way, try speaking even slower and even more distinctly (especially if you know you tend to murmur).
- If a sentence was not understood, think about it (did you subconsciously use a distracting metaphor, colloquialism or strange conjunctions?). Try again with a simpler sentence, without complex structures.
- If the interlocutor did not understand you, repeat what you said the first time.
- In some cases, the use of big words doesn't change anything: when you interact with a person who speaks a language somehow related to English, difficult words are probably understood without difficulty, in fact sometimes you may be more successful with complicated ones than with the easy ones.
- Get used to the fact that you won't understand everything. Make assumptions about what someone says in their language, unless it is important to understand the details, for example when it comes to buying a ticket at the station, a medical examination, etc. In most everyday situations, you can just guess, the context will help. Of course there will be misunderstandings, but accept them and move on.
- Pocket electronic translators are the same size as a calculator, can cost less than $ 20 (go online and search for the cheapest ones), and translate common words and phrases. You can write one in English, your interlocutor can answer you in his language (although in some cases there will be challenges, because the keyboard has the Latin alphabet). Even classic pocket dictionaries are cheap.
Warnings
- Do not agree if you are unsure whether you have communicated effectively. This could cause more than one problem. For example, if someone asks you where the hospital is, don't give the wrong information.
- Avoid touching people from other cultures. While you may want to gently grab an arm to point someone in the right direction or encourage them with a friendly pat on the back, your gesture could be misinterpreted. Many cultures consider physical contact very differently and what you consider harmless could be considered aggressive or overly familiar.
- Unless you have been asked more, avoid correcting your interlocutor. Taking time to make corrections is useful if he has come to you to help him improve his language skills, otherwise it will slow down communication and may make the other person uncomfortable. The corrections could also create a “teacher-student” relationship between you and a non-native speaker.
- When it comes to words that have different meanings in various contexts, use a different word. Use final and previous instead of last, synonymous with both. And it explains the context of other people's use of last only when your interlocutor doesn't understand it.
- Sometimes communicating effectively means knowing when your skills are not adequate for a situation that requires precise communication. In these cases, you will need a translator. For example, you don't want to inadvertently send someone to stand in a three-hour unnecessary queue at a government office.
- When two words sound the same but are graphically different, write them down to avoid confusion; bear and bare are examples of this. If their pronunciation was slightly different in your accent, mention it.
- Do not try to speak using a false foreign accent to a person who is not a native speaker. You will annoy him and you will not get the message across well.
- If you have a very strong accent (or an accent your interlocutor is unfamiliar with), write the word. Many people, while not native speakers, actually have good vocabulary and grammar knowledge, but a different accent can make comprehension more difficult.
