Communication Skills: Express Yourself Clearly Archives • Page 5 of 7 • English with Kim

Five Ways to Show Active Listening During Conversations with Americans

Are you listening? Then you need to show me. Showing active listening is absolutely essential in American culture. Like it or not, when we are speaking a language that isn’t our first, we often have to show other people that we understand them. In my experience learning Spanish, I found that my listening skills have always been stronger than my speaking skills. Even though I’m now fluent in Spanish, I often feel like I need … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Principles of Making Small Talk in English & Guidelines for Casual Conversations

If you’re interested in having better conversations in English, you’re probably already familiar with the concept of small talk. Because making small talk is so essential in English-speaking cultures, I want to make sure we’re on the same page. Let’s go back to basics and talk about the principles for making small talk. But first, I want to remind you: making small talk is incredibly cultural. Small talk may vary between cultures, so I’m going … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Start Thinking in English! Access Your Vocabulary with Practical Writing and Speaking Exercises

How would you feel if you were able to think in English? For many of us, achieving fluency means we’re able to stop translating and start thinking in a language that isn’t our first. When I became fluent in Spanish, I realized that I had stopped thinking in English. I was finally coming up with words and ideas in Spanish rather than translating from my native language. This was not an overnight process. I had … Read the article and watch the video lesson

How to Recover and Keep Going After Making a Mistake When Speaking English

“How can I avoid mistakes when speaking English?” I’ve been asked this question so many times I’ve lost count! Most of us have such a complex relationship with making mistakes. When I moved to Buenos Aires and first had the opportunity to speak Spanish on a regular basis, I was reluctant to actually do so. 🤐 I knew if I opened my mouth, my accent would reveal that I was not from Argentina. I just … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Three Reasons You’re Not Making More Progress in English

There are a million possible things you could learn about English, but what’s important to you, right now? Let’s examine why being specific about your needs, goals, and desires can help you get the results with English that you truly desire. But first, some context. A few months ago, I surveyed the members of the English with Kim email community and encouraged respondents to share what they most wanted to improve with regards to … Read the article and watch the video lesson

Why You Should Ask “Could You Please Clarify…?” Instead of “Explain”

Need more information in a professional situation, business meeting, seminar, or conference? Ask for clarification, NOT an explanation. Imagine yourself in this situation: After listening carefully to your colleague’s presentation in a business meeting, you realize you still need a little more information before giving your feedback. You understand his overall ideas, but would like a few more details, so you ask him this question: “Could you please explain this to me?” But for some reason, … Read the article and watch the video lesson