Written by Gabriela Estrada

Do you feel very stiff or not very fluent when speaking English? Sometimes it happens that at the beginning of the language the student connects with a very serious and formal style and uses it everywhere. This happens because there is too much attachment to grammatical accuracy and precision in the structure of the language, and there is a lack of strategies that help to make the way of speaking it more flexible so that it is more direct and fluid.

If this is your case, read with me to the end of this blog. Today I will give you a guide to understand the use of grammatical contractions and progressively move from formal English to fluent English. Let's get started!

What does it mean to speak formal English?

Many times the language used during the first months of speaking English is too formal, let's say that instead of synthesizing an idea and expressing it directly, the words used and their order are pigeonholed in a grammatical form that is too structured and this is perceived as a very rigid tone, so the conversation loses its communicative and enjoyable value.

It does not mean that being formal in an English conversation is wrong, since this is a very useful tone in professional contexts where a careful, cultured and respectful language is required, on the contrary, complying with the good use of English grammar shows knowledge of the language and a good level. However, when it is contrasted with verbal fluency, everything changes, because English is characterized by a large number of linguistic contractions and it is in them that part of the fluency lies.

What are grammatical contractions in English?

A contraction in English is the abbreviated form of a word or a group of words from which some letters or sounds are omitted and replaced with an apostrophe. This morphological device produces the joining of two words to form a single word. English is full of these signs and they are widely used in everyday speech and informal writing. 

In many cases, the grammatical or linguistic contraction in English is optional, as it depends on the context in which it is used; the student may prefer to be more cautious and formal in not applying this resource so as not to make a mistake, but contractions help a lot to simplify the message and to acquire the necessary fluency to speak it. Now, how do you go from formality and caution to linguistic fluency in English? Let's take a look at these 5 steps in the following guide.

5-step guide to move from formality to English language fluency

In these 5 steps, you will be able to find the balance between the use of the formal aspects of the language and your flexibility and fluency in speaking it.

1. Understand the use of linguistic contractions: these abbreviated forms make the word or groups of words a quick and concrete message in your daily conversations, which will begin to sound more natural and less stiff. For example:

- I'm (I am), you're (you are), can't (cannot) y won't (will not). I recommend that you familiarize yourself with these contractions and use them when practicing English.

1. Practice active listening through native speakers: this helps tremendously in understanding the rhythm and intonation of fluent English. To do this, I recommend watching favorite movies and series in English, as well as listening to songs and podcasts in English. It is important to focus your attention on the way they use contractions and colloquial expressions in informal contexts.

1. Speak regularly with native speakers, remember that practice makes perfect: language exchange favors fluency in speaking because the ear ends up getting used to other sounds and forms of intonation. To make conversation regular or frequent, it is important to join conversational conversations, Instagram live, conversation clubs and face-to-face meetings of people who speak fluent English, you will see that this practice will lead you to achieve a more natural pronunciation of English. At the end of this article I will leave the link to our Conversation Club so you can join and get to know its potential learning dynamics.

1. Incorporate colloquial expressions and idioms into your vocabulary: every day of study is an opportunity to enrich your own dictionary. So, construct everyday sentences that are familiar to you and replace them with synonyms or use contractions. For example:

• Instead of saying: I am very tiredyou could say: I'm exhausted.

1. Adapt your language to the context: this point is very important because of what I explained above about using formal language. I emphasize the following: it is not wrong to use formal English, but it is valid in work contexts, in front of a boss or at the university in front of a director. However, with friends and family, you can relax and use more colloquial language! It is with them that you can become more fluent.

Planeta Immiland Education

Moving from formal English to fluent English is a matter of identifying its characteristic elements and practicing it every day. If you need to improve your English and become fluent, I recommend the English course: ACCELERATED ENGLISH PROGRAMwhich offers an intensive learning curriculum, structured as follows:

• Six weeks per course. 
• Advanced theories and methodologies in the teaching-learning of English as a second language (ESL).
• Communicative approach.
• Constructivist theory.
• Communication skills in speaking, reading, writing and listening.

This program is part of our English courses at Planet Immilandthe first language school for immigration purposes in Canada. We have certified bilingual and native teachers, trained to help you acquire a fluent and useful language for work, school and daily life. Learn about our English Conversation Club to connect with people from all over the world and become more fluent in English.

I hope this topic will help you gain confidence in yourself to speak English more and more fluently. Thank you for reading us and always continue with further preparation in this beautiful language, see you soon!

With love,

Planeta Immiland Education