English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and for students, it’s more than just a subject — it’s a skill that opens doors to higher education, jobs, travel, and communication with people globally. However, many students struggle with spoken English even after years of study.
They can understand grammar rules, read English fluently, and even write essays — but when it comes to speaking, they hesitate, make mistakes, or lose confidence.
In this detailed guide by eliveclass.com, we’ll look at the Top 10 common mistakes students make while speaking English, why these mistakes happen, and how to correct them effectively with easy, practical tips.
1. Translating from Mother Tongue into English
The Mistake:
Many students think in their native language (like Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, etc.) and then try to translate each word into English while speaking. This leads to sentences like:
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❌ “What is your good name?” (direct translation from Hindi: Aapka shubh naam kya hai?)
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❌ “I am having a pen.” (when they mean I have a pen.)
Why It Happens:
Because students are more comfortable thinking in their mother tongue, they rely on translation to express themselves in English.
How to Avoid It:
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Think directly in English. Start with short phrases like I am hungry, Let’s go, It’s raining, etc.
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Practice daily conversation with simple topics like introducing yourself, describing your day, or talking about your hobbies.
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Watch English shows or YouTube videos with subtitles — this helps your brain associate ideas directly in English, not through translation.
2. Using Incorrect Verb Tenses
The Mistake:
Students often mix up verb tenses while speaking, such as:
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❌ I am go to school yesterday.
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❌ She didn’t went there.
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❌ I am studying here since two years.
Why It Happens:
Confusion about when to use past, present, or perfect tenses — especially when the native language doesn’t have strict tense rules.
How to Avoid It:
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Learn the timeline of tenses:
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Past – something already done (I went, I studied)
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Present – something happening now (I go, I am studying)
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Future – something that will happen (I will go, I will study)
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Focus on one tense at a time and practice sentences.
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Use charts or flashcards for daily practice.
Example Correction:
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✅ I went to school yesterday.
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✅ She didn’t go there.
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✅ I have been studying here for two years.
3. Pronunciation Errors
The Mistake:
Pronouncing English words as they are written or in a regional accent that changes the meaning.
Examples:
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❌ Vegetable → /ve-ji-ta-ble/ instead of ✅ /vej-tuh-bl/
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❌ Comfortable → /com-for-ta-ble/ instead of ✅ /kumf-tuh-bl/
Why It Happens:
English spelling and pronunciation are not always logical. Words are borrowed from many languages, which changes pronunciation rules.
How to Avoid It:
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Listen carefully to how native speakers pronounce words (YouTube, podcasts, or English movies).
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Use tools like Google Translate audio to hear pronunciation.
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Practice phonetic sounds and stress on syllables.
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Speak slowly and clearly instead of fast and incorrect.
Pro Tip: Record yourself and listen to your own pronunciation. You’ll quickly identify what sounds unnatural.
4. Using Too Many Fillers (“Um”, “Like”, “You Know”)
The Mistake:
Students often fill pauses with words like:
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❌ “Umm… like… I was… you know… going to school.”
Why It Happens:
Because of nervousness or lack of confidence, students try to fill silence while thinking.
How to Avoid It:
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Pause instead of using fillers. A silent 2-second pause sounds more confident.
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Prepare sentence starters like “In my opinion…”, “Actually…”, “I think that…” to organize thoughts.
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Record your speech and note how often you use fillers — try to reduce them gradually.
Example Correction:
❌ “Umm… you know… I like… playing cricket.”
✅ “I like playing cricket.” (Simple and confident)
5. Fear of Making Mistakes
The Mistake:
Many students remain silent because they are scared of being laughed at or corrected.
Why It Happens:
Low self-confidence or previous bad experiences in class or social situations.
How to Avoid It:
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Remember: Mistakes are proof that you’re trying!
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Join friendly speaking groups or online communities (like eliveclass.com practice sessions).
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Talk to yourself in English daily — describe what you’re doing or thinking.
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Appreciate your progress rather than perfection.
Pro Tip: Every fluent English speaker once made mistakes — even native speakers!
6. Ignoring Vocabulary Building
The Mistake:
Students rely on a small set of words like good, bad, nice, very, and repeat them frequently.
Why It Happens:
They don’t spend time learning or using new words in daily life.
How to Avoid It:
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Learn 5 new words every day and use them in sentences.
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Read English newspapers, blogs, or storybooks.
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Maintain a vocabulary diary.
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Replace simple words with better alternatives:
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Very good → Excellent
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Very big → Huge
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Very tired → Exhausted
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Example:
❌ “The movie was very good.”
✅ “The movie was excellent.”
7. Incorrect Word Order
The Mistake:
Using the wrong sequence of words, like:
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❌ I only not understand.
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❌ She beautiful is.
Why It Happens:
Students follow sentence structures of their native languages instead of English grammar.
How to Avoid It:
Understand English word order:
Subject + Verb + Object + Adjective/Adverb
Examples:
✅ She is beautiful.
✅ I do not understand.
✅ He always helps me.
Practice with online quizzes or English sentence rearrangement exercises.
8. Overusing Grammar Rules While Speaking
The Mistake:
Some students become so focused on being “grammatically perfect” that they lose natural flow.
They pause too long, think about rules, and forget what to say next.
Why It Happens:
They confuse spoken English with written English.
How to Avoid It:
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Understand that spoken English is more flexible.
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Focus on communication, not perfection.
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Grammar helps, but confidence and clarity matter more.
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Watch English conversations to understand natural flow — people say “I gotta go” instead of “I have got to go.”
Pro Tip:
Fluency > Perfection. Mistakes fade away with practice.
9. Not Listening Enough
The Mistake:
Many students focus only on speaking practice but ignore listening.
Why It Happens:
They think fluency comes from speaking more, but listening is equally important.
How to Avoid It:
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Listen to English podcasts, news, audiobooks, or songs daily.
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Watch English movies with subtitles.
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Try shadowing technique — listen and repeat what you hear immediately.
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Observe intonation, pauses, and sentence rhythm.
Listening improves your pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence sense naturally.
10. Lack of Consistent Practice
The Mistake:
Students practice English for a few days, then give up. They expect quick results without regular effort.
Why It Happens:
Lack of motivation, time, or guidance.
How to Avoid It:
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Make English a part of your daily life:
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Talk to friends in English.
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Write your journal in English.
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Think in English.
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Set small goals: “I will speak for 5 minutes every day.”
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Join free online speaking clubs or classes (like eliveclass.com English courses).
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Track your progress weekly — celebrate small improvements!
Remember: English fluency is like fitness — you improve only with daily practice.
Bonus Tip: Practice with Real People
Don’t just study alone. Interaction makes learning natural and enjoyable.
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Join English-speaking WhatsApp or Telegram groups.
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Participate in mock interviews or group discussions.
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Take part in eliveclass.com’s Free English Speaking Courses — where you can learn grammar, pronunciation, and confidence-building exercises step by step.
Summary Table: Top 10 Mistakes & How to Fix Them
| Mistake | Example (Wrong) | Correction | Solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translating from native language | What is your good name? | What’s your name? | Think in English |
| Incorrect tense | I am go to school yesterday. | I went to school yesterday. | Practice tenses daily |
| Pronunciation errors | Com-for-ta-ble | Kumf-tuh-bl | Listen & repeat |
| Using fillers | Umm, like, you know… | (Pause briefly) | Replace fillers with pauses |
| Fear of mistakes | Staying silent | Speaking confidently | Accept mistakes |
| Poor vocabulary | Very good | Excellent | Learn 5 new words daily |
| Wrong word order | She beautiful is | She is beautiful | Learn sentence structure |
| Grammar overuse | Overthinking rules | Speaking naturally | Focus on communication |
| Not listening | Ignoring listening practice | Active listening | Watch, hear, repeat |
| No consistency | Inconsistent speaking | Daily habit | Practice regularly |
Final Thoughts
Learning to speak English fluently is not about perfection — it’s about progress and confidence. Every student makes mistakes, but those who correct them consciously move toward success.
Remember:
“Fluency comes not from knowing all the rules, but from using what you already know — every single day.”
At eliveclass.com, we believe that anyone can become fluent in English with the right guidance, practice, and motivation. Our free English speaking courses and mock tests help you build your skills step-by-step — from grammar to pronunciation to public speaking.
So don’t wait for the “perfect time.”
Start speaking English today — make mistakes, learn, improve, and shine!
