One of the most useful skills you can possess as an expat in Singapore is good conversational English. Whatever level your English is at, finding the right course could be the key to living your fullest life on this vibrant and friendly island.
What is conversational English?
The main difference between what is considered to be ‘formal’ English and ‘conversational’ English is its use. Formal English tends to be used less frequently, usually in professional communications such as legalese or scientific papers, whereas conversational English is how most native speakers interact in everyday life.
On the one hand, casual, conversational English is simpler. On the other, it can be tricky even for intermediate English speakers. It takes practice to recall at a moment’s notice the English vocabulary that you have built, and to express yourself in a way that sounds natural and free from textbook rigidity. That’s why the best step you can take is to start making conversational English a part of your day-to-day life.
Is a conversational English course right for you?
Conversational English courses can be extremely worthwhile for anybody who would like to speak English with greater ease and enjoyment, from those who are fairly new to the language through to advanced students.
It’s quite common for nervousness around making mistakes to hold non-native English speakers back from achieving fluency. If you often avoid small talk, or doubt your abilities when put on the spot to speak, a course can give you the boost you need to start practising without fear and connecting with others. You will probably find that you improve much faster with the support of a tutor and your peers than by trying to master everyday English on your own.
Benefits of learning conversational English
Meet new people
Working on your command of conversational English will undoubtedly help you to make friends, have fun interacting with others as you go about your day, and build a fulfilling social life in Singapore. The advantage of enrolling on a course is that you will get to know other students from around the world with similar goals to you, giving you an instant network of friendly people to practise with.
Boost your career prospects
Whether you are looking for a new opportunity in Singapore or simply to forge better professional relationships, a conversational English course can help you to achieve your aims. By sharpening your spoken English, you will increase your chances of success in interviews, refine your interpersonal communication skills, make yourself more eligible for a promotion and be able to grow your network of contacts much more easily.
Grow your confidence
Confidence plays a huge role in how well we can – or rather, how well we feel we can – engage in conversational English. If you are worried about speaking English imperfectly, you will probably miss opportunities to learn and improve, but that doesn’t mean that it is always easy to take the plunge and start talking. One of the fantastic benefits of a course is that it will help to boost your faith in your abilities and give you the encouragement you need to keep going.
Embrace a new challenge
You had the courage to move overseas and immerse yourself in new experiences, so why not embrace the challenge of taking an English course? Proactively bettering your language skills can have a remarkable impact on your self-esteem, giving you renewed focus and motivation not just in your studies, but in other areas of your life, too. View your continuous learning as an investment in yourself and your future – speaking English confidently can open doors in unexpected ways.
About the British Council’s General English course
The British Council’s General English courses are ideal for those who would like to speak English more confidently and accurately in everyday life. As well as learning amongst a small group of peers, you’ll receive one-to-one advice and support from their team of experienced teachers, with an emphasis on learning English for the real world.
You’ll also have the opportunity to get to know other British Council students outside of the classroom at free, weekly MyClub socials, and further your practice at MyClub language workshops and events.
Find out more about the British Council’s conversational English course Singapore. For additional tips on improving your everyday English, read our blog post ‘Eight social English examples to make small talk easier.'
