How to Be More Articulate in English:7 Tips to Be a Better Speaker at Work

This article was originally written for www.jobspeakacademy.com as a fortnightly blog. You can see the original blog here .

Many non-native English speakers say that they want to be more fluent in English, but what does fluency actually mean?

One part of fluency is to be more articulate in English, and this is a question that a student of mine asked recently, she wanted to know how to be more articulate in English.

So, in this blog we are going to look at:

1) What Australian communication style is

2) How to be more articulate in English

3) Expressions that will help you to be more articulate in English

4) A replay of an Instagram live in which I talked about how to be more articulate in English

5) A cheat sheet that you can use to ensure that you are being articulate when you speak

6) I will also show you how The Professionals membership helps people to boost their fluency and become more articulate when they speak English at work

What does it mean to be articulate in English?

When we talk about becoming more articulate there is actually a variety of things that you need to consider. The dictionary says that it means being able to express ideas clearly and effectively, but also:

1. The speed of your speech. Not too slow because it makes people think you are insecure, but equally important is not speaking too fast so that people can listen to what you are saying.
2. Your tone of voice, including your intonation and word stress
3. Your confidence and body language
4. How easily and concisely you say something

Australian Communication Style

The style of communication in Australia is very concise and straight-to-the-point. People value simple communication, and that means, for you, that you CAN use simple language. In fact, simple language is better because there is less confusion.

On the Instagram live that I did yesterday I spoke about the 2 second rule and how my manager used to look at me with frustration and boredom when I spoke to him sometimes.

I am from Scotland and I was initially not as concise as I am now, but I learned that in Australia people do not want the unneccessay details, they want you to tell them what they need to hear quickly and concosely and without any ‘flowery’ language.

Now, I know that in some langauges there is much more descritption, for example I often speak to my Brazilian students in my interview confidence program about the need fo them to shorten their interview answers and be more concise, but they tell me that in Portugese it is common to be more descritptive.

Not in Australia.

So, be aware that in Australia people want the quick answer. The 2 second version. My Australian partner says this to me a lot when I am ‘over- explaining’.

“Give me the 2 second version”.

Watch the replay of my Instagram live about how to be more articulate in English

How can you become more articulate in English?

1. Be aware of Australian workplace communication expectations.
2. For example, be concise and straight-to-the-point
3. Listen to yourself speak
4. Record yourself speaking so that you can hear yourself speak. If you have a presentation at work make sure that you record it so that you can review it and know what you need to improve. You can also record yourself on the voice notes on your phone, but I don’t suggest doing it at a specific time because it will sound ‘stale’. Instead do it throughout the day and use it like a journal, so that you can speak naturally as you would at work and you can hear how you really sound. In The Professionals Australian Workplace English membership there is a weekly discussions based class and regular role plays about workplace challenges so that you can improve your fluency in a safe environment.
5. Use simple language
6. Yes, simple language. This is your approval to STOP worrying about idioms, because they are not necessary for effective communication. Sure, Australian people use a lot of phrasal verbs and colloquial language but using them is not needed to be more articulate in English. It is helpful to understand them so that you are able to listen and comprehend but don’t worry about using them everyday until you feel more confident and are ready for that stage of your language journey.
7. Speed
8. When people talk about fluency and the speed of speech we often think that we have to go faster so that we are more ‘fluent’ and seem more confident. But, speaking too fast is just as important. If you speak too fast and rush your sentences, people won’t understand you. Try to maintain a speed?
9. Imitate confident speakers
10. The imitation method is a type of communication teaching and what it means is that people should imitate (copy) someone who speaks well, and this is one technique to articulate yourself better in English. Watch videos of politicians or celebrities and read what they say to imitate them.
11. Be prepared
12. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Be prepared for meetings, presentations, conferences and other workplace situations. Research expressions and the topics that you need so that you feel more confident speaking. The Professionals membership has a community that allows members to ask questions, get vocabulary and get support to prepare for important workplace situations.
13. Pronunciation
14. Before we discuss pronunciation, I want you to understand the difference between pronunciation and accent reduction. I do not agree with accent reduction and I want you to run away from teachers who try and teach you it. Be PROUD of your accent because it is part of your story. I have an accent from Scotland, people in Australia have different accents. If you don’t sound like a ‘native-English speaker’ then good!!! Because what does that even mean, there area hundreds of countries who speak English as their first language.
15. So, rant over. Now, what we are talking about is your intonation, word stress and pitch. This can be practiced, and should be practiced. It is also a good idea to be aware of the type of pronunciation that you have challenges with - for example, Japanese speakers have issues with the L/R sound but Portugese and Spanish speakers have problems with the -ed sound. Be aware of this and focus on this pronuncaiton when you speak.
16. It is also about non-verbal communication and confidence, so practice. Speak to people, have difficult conversations, do role plays etc. Do whatever you need to, to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

What types of words does an articulate person use?

An articulate person uses a variety of words to express themselves effectively and clearly. Some of the types of words an articulate person might use include:

1. Precise words: Choose words that are specific and accurate, avoiding vague or general terms.
2. Active voice: Use the active voice when speaking or writing, which makes their sentences more direct and engaging.
3. Clear and concise language: Communicate ideas in a clear and concise way, using simple language where appropriate and avoiding jargon or overly technical terms.

Here is an example of using precise language at work

Example 1

Vague Language: Can you send me the report?

Precise Language: Can you please send me the sales report for the first quarter of this year by the end of the day today?

In this example, the speaker uses precise language to provide specific details about what they are asking for, including the type of report (sales report), the time period (first quarter of this year), and the deadline (by the end of the day today). This helps to avoid confusion and ensures that the speaker receives the information they need in a timely manner.

Example 2

Vague Language: I need some time off next week.

Precise Language: I would like to take three days off next week, starting on Wednesday and ending on Friday. Is this possible?

In this example, the speaker uses precise language to communicate exactly how much time off they need, when they would like to take it, and ask if it is feasible. This helps to avoid miscommunication and ensures that the speaker's request is clear and well-defined.

Here are some sample conversations at work, can you see which is more articulate and concise?

Manager: "Hi John, I wanted to check in with you on the progress of the project. Can you give me a status update?"

John: "Yes, of course. We've completed the research phase and have started drafting the proposal. We're currently on track to meet the deadline next month."

Manager: "Great to hear. Is there anything you need from me or any issues that have come up?"

John: "No, everything is going smoothly so far. We've encountered a few minor challenges, but we've been able to address them and keep moving forward."

Manager: "Excellent. Keep up the good work, and let me know if you need any support or resources to help you meet the deadline."

In this conversation, both the manager and John use clear and concise language to communicate their thoughts and ideas. They provide specific details about the project's progress, any issues that have arisen, and how they plan to address them. This helps to ensure that both parties are on the same page and that the project is progressing as planned. The conversation is also professional and respectful, which helps to establish a positive working relationshiManager: "Hi John, I just wanted to touch base with you and have a chat about the project. I was hoping to get an update from you on where things are at and how you're feeling about the progress."

John: "Sure thing. So, as you know, we've been working on this project for a little while now, and we've done some research and started to put together a proposal. It's going okay, but we've had a few bumps in the road along the way. Nothing too serious, just a few challenges that we've had to navigate."

Manager: "Okay, I see. Can you be more specific about what you mean by 'bumps in the road' and 'challenges'?"

John: "Well, for example, we had some trouble finding the right sources for our research, and we had to spend some extra time searching for the right information. And then, when we started drafting the proposal, we realized that we needed some additional input from our colleagues in marketing, which caused a bit of a delay."

Manager: "I see. So, how much progress have you made on the proposal so far, and when do you think you'll be able to complete it?"

John: "Well, we've made some progress, but it's hard to say exactly how much. We're hoping to have it done by next month, but it depends on how things go and whether or not we run into any more challenges along the way."

In this conversation, both the manager and John use non-concise language, which creates confusion and makes it difficult to understand what is happening with the project. They use vague terms like "bumps in the road" and "challenges," which make it unclear what specific problems they have encountered. This can lead to miscommunication and a lack of clarity about the project's progress. Overall, using non-concise language can make it more difficult to collaborate effectively and achieve success in a professional workplace setting.

Conversation number 1 is much more concise, and they use clear and simple language and so, when you think about being more articulate in English also think about how you can and should be simple and concise so that there is no miscommunication and the conversation is quicker.

Here is your checklist for being more articulate in English

Checklist for Non-Native English Speakers to be more articulate in English

[ ] Speak slowly and clearly

[ ] Use simple words and avoid complex vocabulary

[ ] Use proper grammar and sentence structure

[ ] Use specific language to communicate clearly

[ ] Speak with a friendly and professional tone

[ ] Listen actively and ask questions if needed

[ ] Practice speaking English often