Have you ever spoken English and the other person seemed to understand every word? But still ask, “Sorry, what do you mean?” or ask to repeat it again? The problem may not lie in vocabulary alone. But it may come from sentence structure, word choice, pronunciation, or timing that takes the listener more time to interpret.
speech errors Some are due to the influence of the mother tongue or L1 Transfer, which means the automatic adoption of familiar forms from the first language to English. A simple example is that Thai can omit the subject in some contexts. But English usually requires a subject. Or sometimes we choose English words from their direct translations. Even though native speakers use another set of words in that context.
However, the point is not to consider the Thai accent “wrong” or to try to sound like a native speaker. The goal of Correct English speaking It should be in clarity. The listener can easily understand the meaning. and language appropriate to the situation
This article therefore does not invite you to find faults in every sentence, but will take you to separate 15 points that should be noted, along with Before/After and how to choose which points should be corrected first.
What kind of errors should be fixed first?
If you find yourself having English Speaking Mistakes Many things at once You should not try to solve it all at once. Because it will make you have to think about grammar, vocabulary, and sounds while speaking until you are unable to speak.
Rank them according to their impact on communication first.
The point where the meaning changes or the listener misunderstands.
This group should have high priority, such as pronouncing one word until the listener hears another word. Omit important words until you don't know who is doing what, or use tenses until the timeline changes.
example
Before: “Yesterday I go meet client.” After: “Yesterday, I went to meet a client.”
Even the listener may be able to guess the meaning of the first sentence from yesterday But the latter style conveys time and structure more clearly.
A point that makes listening difficult but still understandable.
Some items do not directly change the substance. But it makes the listener have to use more energy to follow through, such as stopping every word, emphasizing every word equally, or using unfamiliar collocations.
These points may be a priority after errors that change the meaning. But it is important when having a meeting, giving a presentation, or having an ongoing conversation.
Accent differences that don't need to be fixed
Not every difference from an American or British accent is speech errors If it is easy for the listener to understand and the sound does not create ambiguity. There is no need to try to erase your own unique pronunciation.
Use the Priority Matrix easily as follows:
| effect | example | number |
|---|---|---|
| causing the wrong meaning or sounding like another word | The final sound is missing, the keyword is wrong. | Fix it first. |
| The listener understands, but it takes effort. | Stress or unclear rhythm | Solve the next sequence. |
| Different but clearly understood | Some accent characteristics | No need to solve |
The main principle is Message Clarity comes before similarity to a native speaker.
Questions 1–6: Structure and word choice
Item 1: Translate the verbs directly from the Thai language.
English direct translation It's one of the reasons why some sentences are grammatically correct but still don't sound familiar. Because each language pairs words differently.
example
Before: “I play internet every night.” After: “I browse the internet every night.” or “I go online every night.”
Another example
Before: “I open the air conditioner.” After: “I turn on the air conditioner.”
The solution is not to just memorize the translation of the verb, but to memorize the word along with its context, such as: turn on the air conditioner, take a break, catch a bus
See examples of phrases used in sets here. 50+ English phrases to use every day
Point 2: Omit the subject or verb that English requires.
When speaking quickly, some students may create sentences following Thai language patterns, such as
Before: “Yesterday very busy.” After: “I was very busy yesterday.”
or
Before: “Because traffic.” After: “Because the traffic was heavy.”
A simple exercise is after saying a sentence. Let's check two questions.
Who/What? Who or what is the president? Verb? What happened or what condition was it in?
It's not necessary to grammarly analyze every sentence during a conversation, but by practicing a pattern over and over, you can help the basic structure become more automatic.
Item 3: Add the Verb to be before the verb or word that is not required.
A classic example is:
Before: “I am agree with you.” After: “I agree with you.”
because agree It already acts as a verb, so you don't need to enter it. am front
compare with
“I am happy.”
“I am interested in the project.”
“I agree with the proposal.”
Instead of remembering “must have am” or “don't have am,” notice the pattern of the actual word used.
Point 4: Use Tense that does not relate to time words.
action speak English incorrectly Tense does not have the same effect in all cases. But when the listener doesn't know when the event happened. should be given importance
Easy to use Timeline
- Past: yesterday, last week, two years ago
- Present: now, usually, every day
- Future: tomorrow, next week, later
example
Before: “Last week I have a meeting with the client.” After: “Last week, I had a meeting with the client.”
Start by matching the time words with the events clearly. Then gradually develop the use of more complex tenses.
Point 5: Forget Article, Plural or Countability.
Subject Error a, an, the Or plurals occur frequently in speaking. And many times the listener still understands. But in some contexts, information about numbers is important.
Before: “We have three meeting today.” After: “We have three meetings today.”
or
Before: “She gave me an advice.” After: “She gave me some advice.”
There is no need to stop editing an article every time until you lose continuity. Start with a pattern that is frequently used in your own life, such as a meeting, three meetings, some information, some advice
If you want to review the basic rules that are often used in speaking, you can see 50 English grammar rules that actually work Then select only the items that relate to your own problems.
Point 6: Use Collocation or Preposition in a direct translation.
The English language has words that often appear together, or collocations. Choosing words with similar meanings but unnatural pairings can make sentences sound strange.
example
Before: “I did a decision.” After: “I made a decision.”
Before: “I’m interested about marketing.” After: “I’m interested in marketing.”
instead of remembering decision = decision alone to remember make a decision is one unit and remember interested in + noun/topic It's a Pattern.
When not sure which word goes with which word You can check example sentences and words that appear together from Cambridge Dictionary
Verses 7–11: The sound that makes us understand is another word.
English mistakes of Thai people Not everyone is the same. Therefore, this topic should be used as a checklist for checking your own voice. It is not a conclusion that all Thai learners have these problems.
Question 7: The final consonant sound is lost or changed.
English final sound It plays an important role because sometimes the final sound causes words or grammatical information to change.
compare
- rice / rise
- back / bag
- work / worked
In the sentence “I worked yesterday” if the final sound of worked It is not clear, the listener may have to rely on context to determine the time.
The way to practice is to start with words → phrases → sentences, such as:
worked
worked yesterday
I worked yesterday.
No need to increase the volume at the end. Just make the sound location clear enough to be perceived.
Item 8: Cut Consonant Cluster
Words like next, asked, world or projects There are many consonants close to each other. Therefore, it may be difficult to say when in a sentence.
You shouldn't start by speaking sentences quickly. Instead, practice separately from the controllable parts first. Then combine them back into words and phrases.
example
project
projects
three projects
We have three projects.
The goal isn't to speak every sound in an unnatural way. But important information must be preserved.
Point 9: Can't separate the pairs of sounds that you're confused about.
Each student has different pairs of sounds that need to be practiced. Some people confuse /r/ with /l/, while others don't have this problem. But there's another couple of problems.
Therefore, it is best to start with words that the listener has actually heard incorrectly.
Minimal Pair example for those who want to practice /r/ and /l/.
- right / light
- road / load
- collect / correct
Then use it in a sentence. You should not stop at memorizing single words. Because when actually talking, the sound will be surrounded by other words.
Point 10: Word Stress is written on the wrong syllable.
Word Stress It is the emphasis placed on important syllables of words. If the stress is different from the form the listener is familiar with, It may be more difficult to remember the word from the sound. Even the consonants and vowels are quite clear.
For example, multi-syllable words like information or development Stress location should not be guessed from the spelling.
A safer method is to use a dictionary that includes both Stress notation and sample sounds. Listen and practice the whole word. Then put it in a phrase.
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Show the Stress sign with both British and American pronunciation to be comparable before practicing speaking.
important information
business development
Point 11: Do not separate vowels in words that have different meanings.
Some pairs of vowels can make the listener perceive them as different words, for example:
- ship / sheep
- live / leave
- full / fool
If any couple is not their own problem There is no need to spend a lot of time practicing. Choose from words that are actually used and have caused misunderstandings.
You should avoid relying on the Thai pronunciation alone. Because the sound systems of the two languages do not exactly match. Listening to the original sound and making comparison recordings is more informative.
If you want to go into more detail about the sound, read on. English pronunciation for Thai people
Questions 12–15: Rhythm, tone, and conversation repair.
Some people pronounce individual words clearly and use grammar well, but when put together into sentences, it still sounds like they are reading each word individually. Points worth checking next are Sentence Stress, Thought Groups, and Intonation.
Point 12: Emphasis on all words equally.
The English language does not give all words equal prominence in all contexts. Generally, words that hold important information are given more weight.
Let's compare readings.
“I NEED to SEND the REPORT by FRIDAY.”
with giving equal weight to every word
“I – need – to – send – the – report – by – Friday.”
The first makes it easier for listeners to capture the key message.
Try ticking off Content Words before speaking to reduce the prominence of words that don't carry key information. instead of trying to increase speed
No. 13: Stop One Word at a Time Instead of Thought Groups
Pausing in the wrong place can cause the listener to reconstruct the meaning.
instead of speaking
“I’d like / to talk / about our / new marketing / plan.”
Try dividing it according to meaning groups.
“I’d like to talk about / our new marketing plan / for next quarter.”
The / sign does not mean that you have to take a long break every time. But it's used to help you see Thought Groups and put the rhythm in line with the meaning.
Point 14: Use the same intonation in every sentence.
Intonation It helps signal that you are asking, confirming, not being sure, comparing, or solving an understanding.
The same sentence, for example
“You sent the file.”
They can have different intentions when used in different contexts, such as confirming information. Or speak in a question-like tone to verify what was heard.
Therefore, you should not remember the rule that “Questions must always be raised in tone,” but listen to examples in context and note the relationship between melody and intent.
Read more about Stress, rhythm and tone of English
Question 15: Recite long sentences but without Repair Phrase.
Memorizing a long script can make a good speech, as long as the conversation goes according to plan. But when the other party asks something that was not prepared There may be an immediate brain numbness.
Instead of trying to have all the answers, prepare. English sentence to correct the situation or Repair Phrases such as
“Let me think for a moment.”
Please give me a moment to think.
“What I mean is…”
What you want to convey is…
“Let me rephrase that.”
May I say it again?
“Could you say that again?”
Could you please repeat that?
“Do you mean…?”
Meaning…right?
Repair Phrase does not indicate poor English. Rather, it is a tool that helps communication continue when there is a misunderstanding.
Fixing Mistakes with a 5-Step Formula and 14-Day Plan
When you see the list of 15 points, what you shouldn't do is try to solve them all starting tomorrow. Because the brain has too many things to examine while speaking.
action Fix errors For practical use, only 2–3 points that have the greatest impact on understanding should be selected first.
Notice → Isolate → Contrast → Use → Record
Use a 5 step cycle as follows.
1. Notice — observe
Find repeating points from the audio file or feedback, such as forgetting the past tense or frequently missing the final sound.
2. Isolate — separate
Take that problem out and practice without adding anything else. If the problem is worked Let's start with this sound and word first.
3. Contrast — compare
Compare the original image with the desired image.
“Yesterday I work.”
“Yesterday I worked.”
Listen and speak to know where the differences are.
4. Use — put to use
Create at least 3 situations, e.g.
“I worked from home yesterday.”
“I worked with a new client last week.”
“I worked late on Monday.”
5. Record — record
Record it, then come back and talk about a similar topic again after about a week. To see if the same point still occurs or not.
Day 1–2: Baseline and choose 3 key points
Record 60–90 seconds on a practical topic, such as introducing yourself, telling about your job, or telling about your vacation.
Listen and choose only 3 points by asking:
- At what point does the meaning change?
- Which points recur the most?
- Which point is relevant to the actual situation?
Day 3–6: Correct structures or words that affect their meaning.
Choose 1–2 subjects from questions 1–6, such as Tense or Collocation, and create a pattern related to real life.
If you are solving make a decision Don't say this one word ten times, make several sentences.
“We need to make a decision today.”
“I haven’t made a decision yet.”
“Who will make the final decision?”
Day 7–10: Correct sounds in words and phrases
Choose sounds from verses 7–11 found in Baseline, starting with words, then adding phrases and sentences.
Record before and after practice Don't ask, “Has your accent improved?” instead, ask “Does this word sound clearer?”
Days 11–13: Use in conversation
Take the solved points into role-play, such as simulating a meeting, ordering food, Small Talk, or making a telephone call.
During this time, don't stop yourself every time you make a mistake. Let's finish talking about the situation first. Then go back and see if the target point repeats or not.
Day 14: Talk about the same topic and compare.
Record the same topic as the first day without reading the script. Then compare only the 3 selected points.
| checkpoint | first day | Day 14 |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning is clear. | ||
| The target point is repeated. | ||
| The listener must be asked to repeat it. | ||
| Continuity |
If one point gets better Keep it and add only one new issue in the next round. If it's still the same You may need to change your training methods or ask for feedback to find the real cause.
Frequently Asked Questions and Next Steps
Do I have to solve all the questions in order to speak English well?
No. A good speaker does not mean an error-free speaker. What is more important is whether the mistake misleads the listener or kills the conversation.
choose speech errors that affect Message Clarity first, then develop accuracy and naturalness next.
Is the Thai accent considered wrong?
An accent is not an automatic mistake. English is spoken by speakers from many different backgrounds and areas.
If the accent doesn't make the meaning ambiguous or the listener has to ask to repeat it, It doesn't need to be eliminated. A more practical goal is to speak clearly. Easy to understand and conveys intent directly
You should fix your grammar or pronunciation first.
It depends on what affects the meaning more.
If the grammar makes the listener understand that the events occurred at different times, correct the grammar first. But if the sentence is correct and the listener still hears the important word as another word. Pronunciation may be a higher priority.
Instead of setting rules like Grammar or Pronunciation It is always more important to use Message Clarity as a criterion.
How do you know if the listener doesn't understand the sound or the words?
Observe what the other person asks in return. If the other person asks, “Did you say ship or sheep?” the problem is probably the sound. But if the other person hears all the words and still asks “What do you mean by that?”, you may need to check your word choice or structure.
Asking for specific feedback is more helpful. “Is my English good?” e.g.
“Was there any word that was difficult to understand?”
or
“Did my main point come across clearly?”
How can I check for errors if I train myself?
Recording audio is the easiest way to get started. Because while speaking The brain must think about both content and language. Therefore, you may not notice things that are repeated. But when you come back and listen, you will see the pattern more clearly.
Can use Transcript or Speech Recognition as supporting information. But one tool should not be the sole judge. Especially regarding naturalness and appropriateness according to the context.
When practicing on your own and not sure what you should fix first, feedback from the listener or instructor can help differentiate that. At what point is it just a difference in accents? And at what point does it really affect understanding?
Change self-criticism into a speech development plan.
Seeing the item speech errors Many of them may make you feel like you have to go back and learn English all over again. But the more practical approach is to do the opposite. Choose less and solve more directly.
Start with a short Baseline, arrange errors by Priority and select only 3 stories, using the formula Notice → Isolate → Contrast → Use → Record before bringing it back to experiment in the conversation This method makes Fix errors Having a clearer goal than trying to be aware of everything at once.
If the main problem is creating translated sentences from Thai. can start to accumulate English phrases used in everyday life It's Chunks so you can use them without having to translate each word.
If your listener keeps asking you to repeat the same words, focus. English pronunciation for Thai people By checking final sounds, tone pairs, and word stress that are your own problems.
For those who pronounce single words clearly But the sentences are still hard or like you read them word by word. Can be extended with Accent, rhythm, and tone of English To practice Sentence Stress, Thought Groups and Intonation.
All of this can be incorporated into a long-term routine through Plan to practice speaking English confidently in 30 days. Use the errors found in this article as a starting point for choosing what to practice.
If you want feedback to separate which points affect understanding and should be arranged in order to solve them first. You can see training guidelines for real situations at The English speaking course at inlingua
