Helping ESL students improve their speaking skills isn’t just about drilling vocabulary and perfecting grammar. It’s also about guiding them to adopt the right mindset, communication techniques, and physical habits that allow their spoken English to truly shine.

Here are four valuable tips for English learners who want to become confident, natural, and effective English speakers in any setting, whether in a class, at work, or in social situations.

1) Mindset Matters: Teach Students They’re in Control of Their Learning

Studies have found that students who believed intelligence was changeable improved significantly more than students who thought intelligence was fixed. What we believe about our ability to improve impacts how much we actually do.

Remind your students that speaking English is a skill, and like any skill, it can improve with deliberate practice. Their brains are wired to change and grow, especially when challenged consistently, so encourage your students to believe in their own ability to improve in their English speaking.

You can ask your students to answer reflection prompts like, “What’s something you can say today in English that you couldn’t say last month?” This reinforces a growth mindset and reminds students of their progress.

2) Voice: Help Students Use Tone, Pace, and Emphasis Effectively

Voice projection and tone aren’t just tools for public speaking, they’re essential to being understood and making an impact in everyday conversations. Students should be taught to project their voice without shouting, vary their tone to show enthusiasm or seriousness, slow down, and emphasize key words.

A monotone voice can make even interesting ideas sound dull, while a well-paced and expressive tone can capture attention and build connection. You can show different clips of people talking with various voices to illustrate how tone alone can engage listeners.

Try some read aloud exercises with tone variations. Have your students record themselves reading a dialogue “flat” vs. “with emotion,” and reflect on which version sounds more engaging.

3) Posture: How you Sit or Stand Affects How You Speak

It’s easy to underestimate the importance of posture in speaking, but it directly affects voice clarity and confidence. Slouching restricts breathing and vocal strength. Teaching students to sit or stand tall, relax their shoulders, and breathe through the diaphragm can improve vocal delivery and comfort during speaking.

Do a posture check at the start of each speaking activity. You can use fun visual cues like “imagine a string pulling your head up” or have students pair up and give each other feedback about their posture.

4) Eye Contact: The Key to Connection

Many students find eye contact intimidating, especially in a second language. But it’s essential for building rapport and showing confidence.

The good news is that studies have shown that simply gazing at someone’s face, not necessarily direct eye contact, can be just as effective in building connections. So if students feel nervous, teach them to look around the eye area or mouth without stressing over perfect eye contact.

Try role-play activities where students must present an idea or opinion to a classmate or group, while maintaining eye contact with the audience. Offer feedback on both verbal and non-verbal communication.

What’s one non-verbal tip you’ve found most helpful for improving your students’ speaking? Share it in the comments below!