How to Improve English Vocabulary to Speak Confidently: A Practical Method

Introduction: How to Improve English Vocabulary for Speaking Confidently

Many English learners know plenty of words but still hesitate while speaking.
This does not happen because they lack knowledge or intelligence.

The real problem is simple:
Most learners memorise words, but they do not train their brain to recall and use them while speaking.

In this blog, you will learn a clear, practical, and proven way to improve English vocabulary for speaking confidently—without cramming word lists or forcing memorisation.

Why Memorising Word Lists Does Not Help You Speak

Most learners try to improve vocabulary by:

• Reading word lists
• Memorising meanings
• Revising again and again

Yet, when they speak, the words do not come out.

This happens because:

• The brain does not remember isolated information
• The brain remembers stories, emotions, images, and repetition

If your goal is speaking, your vocabulary practice must match how the brain naturally learns.

A Simple Story-Based Method to Improve Vocabulary

Let us use a short, memorable story to learn multiple words effortlessly.

The Story

I am telling you about my friend Girish.

Girish is garish because he wears expensive, flashy suits despite having a low-paid job.

His full name is Girish Hardy, and he truly lives up to his surname. He is a hardy person who can survive stressful situations without getting disturbed.

Girish believes that a Jin (a ghost) becomes genial after drinking oil. Here, genial means friendly and cheerful.

Girish once fell in love with a heroine who went through many harrowing experiences. Even then, nothing could stress or upset Girish.

The heroine was moti (fat) and haughty, so nobody liked her except Girish. Although Girish usually gets along well with genial people, he loved her despite her haughty nature.

According to Girish, government companies do not employ gourmands because they spend too much time eating and drinking.

Since Girish himself is a gourmand, he feels he cannot get a government job.

He even goads God to provide him with delicious food everywhere and loves talking about food all the time.

Meanings of Important Words Used in the Story

• Garish: Showy or flashy in a way that attracts attention
• Hardy: Strong and able to survive difficult situations
• Genial: Friendly, cheerful, and pleasant
• Harrowing: Extremely painful or distressing
• Haughty: Proud and disrespectful toward others
• Gourmand: A person who loves eating and drinking excessively
• Goad: To provoke or push someone into doing something

How Linking and Imagination Make Vocabulary Permanent

Notice how each word is linked with a clear image:

• Garish → Girish wearing flashy clothes
• Hardy → Girish Hardy surviving stress
• Genial → Jin + oil = genial
• Harrowing → Painful life experiences
• Haughty → Moti with an arrogant attitude
• Gourmand → Government job and food obsession
• Goad → Goading God for food

Because these links are visual and emotional, your brain remembers them naturally—without effort.

Questions to Strengthen Recall and Speaking Confidence

Answer these questions without looking back:

1. Why is Girish garish?
2. What does the Jin become after drinking oil?
3. What kind of experiences did the heroine go through?
4. Why did nobody like the heroine?
5. What kind of employees do government companies avoid?
6. Why is Girish a hardy person?
7. Why does Girish goad God?

If you struggle to answer, reread the story once.
This repetition trains your brain to recall words while speaking, not just recognise them.

Sample Answers for Practice

• Girish is garish because he wears expensive suits despite a low-paid job.
• The Jin becomes genial after drinking oil.
• The heroine went through harrowing experiences.
• Nobody liked her because she was haughty.
• Government companies avoid gourmands.
• Girish is hardy because stress does not disturb him.
• Girish goads God to provide delicious food everywhere.

A Practical and Powerful Way to Improve Vocabulary Naturally

One of the most effective and effortless ways to improve vocabulary is by:

• Watching talk shows
• Listening to interviews
• Hearing speeches of people you admire

When you hear the same word repeatedly in real conversations, something powerful happens:

• You stop translating the word
• You stop consciously thinking about it
• You begin to use it automatically

This is how children learn language—and adults can too.

When a word is spoken again and again by:

• A favourite actor
• A motivational speaker
• A business leader

Your brain accepts it as normal spoken language, not a “new word to memorise.”
That is why such words come out effortlessly while speaking.

Learn English Speaking Faster with the Right Guidance

You may understand English, but speaking it confidently still feels difficult.
If English is important for your career or personal growth and you truly want to improve your spoken English, I will guide you step by step

Join my FREE Mini English Speaking Course and start improving from day one with simple, practical guidance.

Conclusion: How to Improve English Vocabulary for Confident Speaking

To improve English vocabulary for speaking confidently:

• Do not memorise words in isolation
• Learn words through stories, imagination, and repetition
• Hear the same words used naturally in real conversations
• Allow repetition to turn words into automatic speech habits

When vocabulary enters your mind through context and repetition, speaking becomes natural and stress-free.

If you struggle to speak English confidently, share your specific English-speaking challenge in the comments. I’ll address these challenges in upcoming posts.