I know this is not a writing question, but I was wondering how I can continue to develop my speaking skills in my own time. Do you have any suggestions? My problem always is that I don't have anyone to check I am doing it right.
To improve your speaking by listening, you first need to get hold of a recording of speaking. This may be an audio or video recording. Use an audio recording only if you want to practise speaking on the phone. This is because on the phone, you will not have the visual clues you would have in a video recording. You have more options if you also have a transcript of that recording. The recording and the transcript will give you a ‘sense of right’ that you mentioned. You will be able to check if you have made a mistake.
If you have an audio or video recording, you can:
1. play and repeat single words and then phrases. If you record yourself repeating these words and phrases, you can check yourself against the original. This is very straightforward, but focuses more on pronunciation.
2. listen to a dialogue and write down key words. Without listening to the recording again, reconstruct what the speakers said. Listen again to check yourself. This is genuine speaking skills development.
3. listen to a dialogue all the way through. Then, listen again until the first person stops speaking. Stop the recording and respond as if you are the other person. Listen to check how close you were to the original person’s response. You can make this more challenging if you do not listen to the whole dialogue first.