Speak... Buddy Speak! “The ability to express an idea is well nigh as important as the idea itself.” - Bernard Baruch ... And what better way to express an idea than speaking about it? As an English Language Trainer, one of the queries I face often is, “Ma’am, how do I improve my Spoken English?” In reality, there is no one-stop solution for this. Each of us is different and, therefore, the difficulties faced by us are different as well. Some may have issues in pronunciation, some may have difficulty in vocabulary, while some may simply be afraid to speak. Actually, the last is the most common barrier to fluent speaking. You may have all the resources you need, but still while speaking, you suddenly become conscious and stumble. But, all is not lost - for a good trainer would be able to help you improve your speaking skills. In the meantime, there are a few simple tips you may follow to work by yourself and make progress in the way you speak. The first thing you should do is stop getting worked-up!! It is absolutely okay to make mistakes. We all fumble at times but this is no reason why you should get de-motivated. In fact, this should spur you on. Take it up as a challenge and try not to repeat the make mistakes again. However, if you do it again – no problem – try a third time!