[Aztar]

I speak 4 languages fluently. Here is what helped:

1- Speak slowly. Don't rush it

2- Its fine to formulate what you want to say in your mind before saying it. take your time.

3- Use a phone and record yourself speaking about different subject. Practice, practice and practice.

4- Some audiences are harder than others. French people for example tend to nitpick and want you to be really fluent. While most english speakers are fine with your speaking, but it depends on the audience and who you are speaking to.

5- You obviously need to immerse yourself in the language you want to speak. Tv-shows, Movies, News and even tabloid. The latter is actuallt good to understand jokes, innuendos and other subtle conversations.

One thing I also noted, is that if you follow/watch people who are not native speakers, they actually tend to explain things/concepts better. Because they are limited in words and have limited scope compared to native speaker. Anyone remarked this?

[cjbenedikt]

"French people for example tend to nitpick and want you to be really fluent." I humbly disagree.Moved to France only recently and started a company. Whenever I try and talk to locals in French they politely interrupt and ask if it was easier for me in English.

[al_borland]

I always heard they would switch to English for people, but they wanted people to make an attempt and not just start with English like it was assumed people understood it in France. It sounds like you made the attempt.

[Aztar]

Could be younger generation maybe? I've had bad experience with 40+ in my line of work. But obviously not everyone.

[william-cooke]

That's all really great advice, thanks!

I suppose a lot of that time taking is what feels awkward but you're right it's better to be understood and clear.

Love the idea of non-natives explaining better in some ways but that doesn't feel like me right now.