Hi everybody! My name is Ghulam Zuhra. Welcome back to my Website. I want to ask you a question: Have you ever studied English for months, maybe even years… read many books… but still struggle to speak in real conversations? You’re not alone. I know many English learners who can read well, write okay, even understand English—but when it comes to speaking, they get stuck.
It’s like the words disappear from their brain. In this video, we’re going to talk about a simple but powerful truth: Talking is more important than reading books when you’re learning English. Yes, books are great. I love books! They help us learn vocabulary, grammar, and stories. But books can’t talk back to you. They don’t help your mouth move. They don’t help your ears understand fast speech.
And they don’t help your brain practice speaking in real time. If you want to speak English naturally and confidently, you have to talk more. Even if you make mistakes. Even if your vocabulary is small. Talking is the key. It’s how babies learn, it’s how we all learn language. So today, let’s talk about why speaking is more powerful than just reading.
And let’s learn how you can start talking more—even if you feel shy, or even if you’re alone. Let’s get into it! Stick around till the end, because the last chapter has a very important action step you can start using today.
CHAPTER 1:
The Problem With Just Reading Books
Hi everyone! So let’s start with something many learners believe: “If I just read more books, I’ll get better at English.” This sounds true, right? Books help you learn new words, grammar, sentence structure. It feels like you’re learning so much. And yes—it is learning. But here’s the problem: reading is passive. It means you are taking in information, but you’re not using it. You’re not producing language.
You’re not speaking. I’ve met many students who read a lot. They know a lot of vocabulary. They can answer grammar questions. But when it’s time to have a real conversation—they freeze. They forget simple words. They get nervous. Their brain becomes quiet. That’s because they’ve built what I call a “book brain.” A book brain understands English, but it doesn’t know how to respond in English.
It can read and think in English, but it doesn’t know how to speak. Let me give you an example. One of my students could read English news articles and understand 80% of the words. He even wrote notes in English. But when I asked him, “So, what did you do today?”—he said nothing. He just looked down and smiled nervously. He couldn’t speak.
Not because he didn’t know English—but because he never practiced talking. His brain never got used to producing English in real time. This is the big problem with reading books only.
Reading builds your knowledge. It gives you information. But it doesn’t build fluency. Fluency is the ability to use that knowledge fast, easily, and naturally in conversation. And you don’t get fluency by just reading—you get it by talking. When I was learning Japanese, I also spent a lot of time reading books. I loved grammar books, storybooks, all of it.
I felt good because I was learning a lot. But when I tried to speak to a native speaker—I was so slow. I forgot words. I made strange sentences. I felt embarrassed. And I realized, “Oh! I never practiced saying these words out loud.” I knew them in my head—but my mouth had never said them before. That’s the key difference: reading gives you passive input.
That means you are only receiving the language. But speaking is active output. You are using the language. You are creating sentences. You are choosing words. It’s a very different skill. And the truth is—if you never speak, your brain will not learn how to respond. You will always stay quiet, even if your English level is high. Think about it like learning how to play guitar.
You can read 100 books about how to play. You can watch 100 videos. But if you never touch the guitar, you will never know how to play it. Your fingers don’t move. Your hands don’t know what to do. It’s the same with language. You must use your mouth, your ears, your brain—together. So in this chapter, I want you to understand this one big idea: Reading is helpful, but it’s not enough.
If you only read, you will be a silent learner. You will understand—but not respond. And in real life, that’s not helpful. People don’t want to read your thoughts—they want to hear them. But don’t worry. In the next chapters, I’ll show you how talking will help your English grow faster than ever. You don’t need to stop reading. But you do need to start speaking—more often, and more freely.
Let’s go to Chapter 2 and learn why language is something made for speaking first—not reading.
CHAPTER 2:
Language Is a Living Thing—It’s Made to Be Spoken
Let me ask you something simple: Why do we have language? It’s not just for reading books. It’s not just for writing essays or passing tests. Language was created for one reason—human connection. We talk to express our feelings, ask questions, give answers, share ideas, and build relationships.
Language is not just a system of words—it’s a living thing. It’s meant to be used with your voice, your ears, your expressions, your body. It’s alive when you speak it. Think about babies. When a baby is born, they don’t start by reading. They don’t pick up a book and say, “Okay, time to learn language!” No—they listen. They hear the people around them speaking.
They hear their parents say things like “Hi!” or “Eat!” or “Come here.” They hear these words many times. And slowly, they start to copy them. They make sounds, and then small words, and then full sentences. This is how every person learns language—by listening and talking first. Reading and writing come much later. In most countries, children don’t learn to read until they’re five or six years old.
But they can already speak a lot before that. Why? Because speaking is natural. It’s how humans are made to communicate. Our brains are designed to speak and listen first. Reading and writing are just tools we invented later. So when you’re learning English, remember: speaking is the most natural way to learn. Reading is helpful, of course. It gives you more vocabulary.
It helps you understand grammar. But speaking does something deeper. It activates your memory. It trains your mouth. It connects your thoughts and your words in real time. It helps you think in English. I remember watching my little cousin learn English. She moved to an English-speaking country when she was four years old. At first, she didn’t understand anything. She just listened. She watched TV.
She played with other kids. And soon, she started to speak. No one gave her a grammar book. No one made her memorize vocabulary lists. She just listened and talked. Now she’s fluent—and she learned it by using the language, not just reading it. This is a great example for all of us. If a child can learn by listening and speaking, you can too. You don’t need perfect grammar.
You don’t need a big vocabulary. You just need to use the English you already know. Speak it. Say it out loud. Talk to yourself. Talk to a friend. Talk to a camera. The more you speak, the more natural it feels.
Also, when you speak, your brain works harder—and smarter. You’re not just looking at a word on the page. You’re choosing the word, forming the sentence, using your voice, and hearing the sound. All of this creates stronger learning. You remember the word better. You understand how to use it. You become more fluent, faster. So yes—books are great. But books don’t speak. They don’t listen.
They don’t respond. Language is alive, and it lives in conversation. Don’t just study English like a school subject. Live in English. Use your voice. Use your ears. Let the language come to life. In the next chapter, we’ll talk about how speaking helps you think faster in English—and why that’s a superpower for every learner.
CHAPTER 3:
Why Talking Helps You Think in English Faster
Okay, let’s talk about something really important—speed. Not speed like running fast or driving fast, but speed in your brain. I mean the speed of your English thinking. If you want to speak English well, you have to think in English quickly. And the best way to train your brain to do that—is by talking.
Talking forces your brain to work fast. You don’t have time to stop, think in your native language, translate, and then speak. No! In a real conversation, you need to respond now. Someone asks you a question—you have to answer. Someone shares an idea—you have to give your opinion. It’s quick. It’s real. And when you talk every day, your brain learns to do this faster and faster.
You get used to choosing the right words quickly, putting them in order, and saying them out loud—all in real time. Let me explain something: reading is slower. Reading gives you time.
You can stop and check the meaning of a word. You can think about grammar. You can go back and read again. That’s okay! Reading is helpful. But it doesn’t train your brain to respond. Talking does. Talking makes your brain active. It teaches you to react, not just think. I want to give you an example. I had two students who were both learning English. One of them, let’s call her Sara, loved reading.
She read English books every day. She knew many grammar rules. But she didn’t talk much. She was afraid of making mistakes. So she stayed quiet. The other student, let’s call him Raj, was different. Raj didn’t read many books. But he talked every day. He talked to his friends in English, he talked to himself at home, he even recorded voice messages to practice.
Guess what? After a few months, Raj was more fluent. Not perfect, but fast. He could answer questions quickly. He didn’t stop to think too much. He used simple English—but it worked. People understood him.
Sara, on the other hand, still needed a long time to answer. She knew more words, but she couldn’t use them fast. Her brain had knowledge—but not speed.
That’s the power of speaking. It helps your brain and your mouth work together. You practice choosing words, organizing your ideas, and saying them out loud.
You learn how to explain things, even when you forget a word. You become better at thinking of other ways to say something. All of this builds fluency—not just knowledge. It also helps your memory. When you say a word out loud, your brain remembers it better. Your muscles—yes, your mouth has muscles too—get used to the sounds. You build muscle memory.
That means the next time you need that word, your brain and your mouth already know what to do. It becomes easier and faster. This is why I always tell my students: don’t just study English—use it. Talk out loud. Make sentences. Ask questions. Answer them. Practice reacting. Even five minutes a day makes a big difference. You will start thinking in English faster.
And when your thinking gets faster, your speaking gets better too. So, if you want to train your brain for English, talk more. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect. Speed comes with practice.
Fluency comes with use. In the next chapter, we’ll talk about something that grows when you speak: your confidence. And that might be the most important part of learning a language.
CHAPTER 4:
Talking Builds Real-World Confidence
Alright, let’s talk about something many learners struggle with—confidence. I know a lot of you understand English. You read well, you know some grammar, maybe you even know hundreds of words. But when it’s time to speak? You get nervous. You feel shy.
You’re afraid to make mistakes. That’s totally normal. But here’s the truth: reading gives you knowledge, yes—but only speaking gives you the confidence to use it. Let me tell you a story about one of my students. Her name was Lina. Lina studied English for years. She read grammar books. She watched English YouTube videos. She even passed a few exams.
But when she visited the U.S. for the first time, she couldn’t speak. She told me later, “I had the words in my head, but my mouth didn’t move.” She was too scared. She was worried about making mistakes. So she stayed quiet. And she felt bad because she had studied for so long. Then I gave her one small challenge: talk out loud in English every day for just 10 minutes. No grammar book, no dictionary.
Just talk. She could talk to herself, to her dog, to a friend, to her phone—anything. Just speak, every day. After one week, she was still nervous, but she started to feel more comfortable.
After two weeks, she was smiling while she spoke. After one month, she told me, “I finally had a full conversation with my neighbor in English—and I enjoyed it!” She made mistakes, yes.
But she didn’t care. She was communicating. She was connecting. And that felt amazing. You see, speaking is not just about using English—it’s about living in English. When you speak, you face your fear.
You learn to handle mistakes. And you start to believe, “Hey, I can do this.” That belief is confidence. And confidence only comes from action. You don’t get it from reading quietly.
You get it from opening your mouth, even when you feel nervous. Also, mistakes are not bad. Mistakes are how we grow. When you make a mistake in speaking, you feel it.
Maybe you say something wrong, and your friend corrects you. Great! Now you’ll remember it. Or maybe you say something that sounds a little strange. That’s okay! You’ll try a new way next time. Mistakes are part of the learning process. The more mistakes you make, the faster you learn. So don’t wait for perfect English. It doesn’t exist. Speak now. Learn as you go.
When you speak more, your voice gets stronger. Your ears get sharper. And your mind becomes more open. You stop worrying about every little word. You start focusing on communication.
And that’s the real goal of learning English—not perfection, but connection. So remember: confidence doesn’t come before speaking. It comes because of speaking.
The more you speak, the braver you become. Talking teaches you to trust yourself. And when you trust yourself, everything changes. In the next chapter, we’re going to talk about one of the most powerful things you can do—practice speaking with other people. Let’s see why real conversations are the best classroom you’ll ever have.
CHAPTER 5:
Speaking Improves Your Listening Skills Too
Let’s talk about something interesting: speaking also helps your listening. That’s right—when you speak more, you also get better at hearing real English. Why? Because speaking and listening are like two sides of the same coin. They work together. You can’t really become a good speaker if you’re not a good listener. And the opposite is also true: when you practice speaking, your ears get stronger, too.
Let me explain. A lot of English learners can read very well. They understand written English. They know the vocabulary. But when they hear native speakers talking fast—they don’t understand anything. It’s like the words disappear. That’s because written English is slow and clear. But spoken English is fast, connected, and full of natural rhythm and sounds.
For example, in writing, you see the words: “What do you want to do?” But in real conversation, a native speaker might say: “Whaddaya wanna do?” It’s the same sentence—but it sounds totally different. If you only read, your ears are not ready for that. But if you speak often—especially if you practice with real audio or with other people—your brain starts to hear these sounds clearly.
You get used to the rhythm. You notice how words connect. Your listening becomes faster and smarter. I’ve seen this with many students. They read books every day, but they still struggle with understanding movies, podcasts, or real conversations. Then they start speaking—just a little bit every day—and after a while, they say,
“Hey! I can hear more words now!” That’s because when you speak, you’re not just using your mouth—you’re also training your ears to listen in a new way.
One great method I love is called shadowing. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Shadowing means you listen to a native speaker, and you repeat what they say—right after them, almost like an echo.
Try this with a short video or audio clip. Listen to one sentence, then repeat it. Try to copy the speed, the sound, the emotion. This is great because it trains both your mouth and your ears.
You start to hear small sounds, stress, intonation—all the music of the language. You can also do this with conversation practice. If you don’t have a speaking partner, that’s okay. Use your phone. Record yourself answering questions. Listen to your voice. Then play back the original clip you practiced with. Compare the two. Are your sentences clear? Is your rhythm similar?
This kind of self-practice builds your listening in a natural way—because now you’re not just reading, you’re actually using English like a real speaker. I remember when I was learning Japanese, I couldn’t understand native speakers at all. It just sounded like one long sound—no breaks! But once I started speaking more, I noticed a big change.
Suddenly, I could hear where one word ended and the next word started. I started to catch little words I always missed. Why? Because my brain was now used to producing those sounds. I knew what to listen for. So if you want to get better at listening, don’t just listen—speak. Talk out loud. Repeat after videos. Use shadowing. Have small conversations.
Your listening will improve faster, and you’ll start to understand real English—not just the kind you read in books, but the kind people actually speak. In the next chapter, we’ll talk about another huge benefit of speaking—learning to fix your mistakes in real time. It’s one of the most powerful tools for growth. Let’s check it out.
CHAPTER 6:
Books Don’t Teach You Real Conversation
Let’s be honest—books are useful. They teach you grammar rules. They help you learn vocabulary. They give you reading practice.
But here’s the problem: books often don’t teach you how people really speak. The English you find in books is usually formal, slow, and sometimes even a little outdated.
But real conversations? They’re casual, fast, and full of expressions that you almost never see in textbooks. Let me show you what I mean. Imagine you read this in a book:
“How do you do?” That’s a greeting. But guess what? Almost nobody says that in real life—not in the U.S., not in the U.K., not in daily conversation. It sounds very old and too formal. In real life, people say: “Hey, how’s it going?” “What’s up?” “How you doing?” If you only copy what’s in the book, you might sound strange, even if your grammar is perfect. That’s why reading alone is not enough.
You need to hear how people talk—and you need to practice speaking the way real people speak. I remember when one of my students, Ahmed, came to his first conversation lesson.
He said things like, “I am fine, thank you. And you?”—very formal and polite. But he didn’t understand when someone replied, “Not much, just chillin’. You?” That confused him. He said, “I never saw that in my book!” And he was right. The book never taught him real-life expressions. He only learned textbook English.
That’s why talking is so powerful. When you speak with others—or even when you talk to yourself—you start to learn the language that people actually use.
You hear things like: “I’m gonna go.” (instead of “I am going to go.”) “Wanna hang out?” (instead of “Do you want to spend time together?”) “Lemme check.” (instead of “Let me check.”) These small changes make a big difference. They make your English sound natural. And they help you understand native speakers better too.
Also, when you speak, you notice what sounds good and what sounds strange. You can test out new phrases. You can copy expressions from movies or YouTube and try them out in real sentences. This is something books can’t really help you with. Books can’t teach you how a joke feels. They can’t show you the tone or attitude in someone’s voice. Only speaking can do that.
And don’t worry—you don’t always need a speaking partner. You can practice casual English by talking out loud to yourself. Use phrases you hear in real conversations.
Try repeating after a podcast or a video. Even just five minutes a day will help you sound more real, more confident, and more like a native speaker. So remember: if your goal is to pass a test, maybe books are enough. But if your goal is to have conversations, to connect with people, to sound natural—then you need to talk. A lot.
Because speaking helps you discover how English really lives in the world—not just how it looks on a page. In the next chapter, we’ll talk about another powerful benefit of speaking: how it helps you fix your mistakes as you go. That’s something books can’t do either.
CHAPTER 7:
You Remember More When You Speak
Let me ask you something: Have you ever read a new English word in a book, understood it… and then totally forgot it the next day? Yeah? You’re not alone. That happens to almost everybody. But here’s the good news—there’s a way to remember new words much better. And the answer is: speak them out loud.
Yes—talking helps you remember more than just reading or listening. Here’s why. When you speak, you’re not just looking at a word. You’re saying it. You hear it with your ears. You feel it with your mouth. You connect the sound, the meaning, and the action—all at the same time. That’s what makes your brain remember it. It becomes a real experience, not just a quiet idea in your head.
Let me give you a fun example. Imagine you want to learn how to cook pasta. You can watch a YouTube video. You can read the recipe in a book. But will you really know how to cook it just from that? Not really. You only learn it when you actually go into the kitchen and make the pasta yourself. You touch the ingredients, you smell the sauce, you hear the water boiling.
You do the action—and then you remember it much better. Talking in English is just like that. It’s like cooking with the language. You’re using all the ingredients—vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation—and making something real. And because your brain is more active, it remembers more.
That’s why people who speak often remember vocabulary better than those who only study quietly. There’s even science behind this! Researchers have found that when you say words out loud, your brain makes stronger connections. It’s called the production effect. That means you remember things better when you produce them—when you speak them—rather than just read or listen. So the next time you learn a new word, don’t just write it down. Say it out loud.
Use it in a sentence. Repeat it a few times. That’s how it sticks in your memory. And here’s another tip: talk to yourself in English when you do everyday things. For example:
- “I’m brushing my teeth.”
- “Now I’m making coffee.”
- “Oh, it’s raining today.”
Simple sentences. Easy vocabulary. But very powerful for your memory. The more you speak, the more the words become part of your daily thinking.
And when something becomes part of your thinking, you don’t forget it. I did this myself when I was learning Japanese. I would walk around my house and say things like,
“I’m opening the window,” or “I’m washing the dishes.” At first, it felt silly. But guess what? I started remembering verbs, sentence patterns, and common words so much faster. Just because I used them out loud.
So, if you want to stop forgetting what you learn, speak more. Even if you’re alone. Talk to yourself. Talk to your pet. Talk to your phone. Just talk. You’re helping your brain remember faster and deeper. In the next chapter, we’ll take it one step further—how daily speaking can create real progress, even in just a few minutes a day. Get ready!
CHAPTER 8:
You Can Still Use Books—But Talk About Them
Okay—so far, we’ve talked a lot about why talking is more powerful than just reading. But let me make something clear: books are not the enemy. In fact, I love books! They give you structure, vocabulary, and knowledge. But here’s the key—books should not be the only tool you use. If you only read and never speak, your progress will be slow and passive. But if you read and then talk about what you read—that’s when your learning becomes active, strong, and real.
Let me show you how to do that. One simple way is to read out loud. This is something you can do alone, anytime. Reading out loud helps your brain connect the sound and the meaning of the words. It also trains your mouth to get used to English sounds. So instead of reading silently in your head, try speaking each sentence. You’ll feel the difference immediately. You’re using English, not just looking at it.
Another great tip is to summarize what you read. For example, after reading a short chapter or article, stop and say out loud:
- “This story is about…”
- “The main idea is…”
- “One new word I learned is…”
This kind of speaking helps you organize your thoughts in English. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to try. Even one or two sentences after reading is excellent practice. You can also teach what you learn. Let’s say you learn a new grammar point or a new word. Try explaining it to someone else—in English. If you don’t have a partner, explain it to yourself! Or your pet. Or even your mirror. When you teach, you learn even more. It makes your brain work harder—and that’s a good thing! Now maybe you’re thinking: “But Zuhra, I don’t have anyone to talk to!” That’s okay. You can still talk to yourself. One method I love is mirror practice. Stand in front of a mirror and speak. Look at your face.
Listen to your voice. Ask yourself questions and answer them. For example:
- “What did I do today?”
- “What did I learn from this book?”
- “How do I feel right now?”
These little conversations with yourself are very powerful. You’re practicing English in a real, physical way—even if you’re alone. You can also use your phone. Record your voice. Talk about what you read. Then play it back and listen. You’ll hear your pronunciation. You’ll notice if your sentences make sense. This gives you feedback, even without a teacher. And don’t forget—today, we have amazing tools like AI conversation partners. You can chat with them in English.
You can ask them to correct your sentences. You can talk about a book you read or a topic you like. These tools are not perfect, but they are great practice partners when humans are not around. So yes—use your books. Enjoy them. But make them part of a bigger system. Don’t just read a vocabulary list—say the words out loud. Don’t just read grammar rules—use them in a sentence.
Don’t just read a story—tell the story to someone else. In the final chapter, we’ll talk about the most important step of all: how to start today—even if you’re shy, nervous, or don’t know where to begin. Let’s go!
CHAPTER 9:
How to Start Talking Today—Even If You’re Alone
Alright, friends, we’ve covered a lot about why talking is the key to fluency. Now, let’s get down to the most important part: how to actually start talking today. I know, I know—sometimes it feels scary. You might be thinking: “But I’m not ready! I don’t have enough vocabulary yet!” Or maybe you feel shy and don’t want to make mistakes. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to be perfect to start talking. In fact, making mistakes is part of the process! The most important thing is to start. So, let’s dive into some simple, step-by-step ways you can start talking today—even if you’re alone.
1. Talk to Yourself
You are never alone with your thoughts. Start speaking out loud when you’re by yourself. It doesn’t matter if no one else can hear you. Describe what you see around you. For example:
- “I’m sitting in my room. There is a desk in front of me. The window is open, and the sun is shining.”
This might feel awkward at first, but the more you talk to yourself, the more natural it will feel. You don’t need to make perfect sentences. Just start saying things in English, even if they’re simple. The more you practice, the easier it becomes.
2. Narrate Your Day
Another easy way to practice is to narrate your daily life. As you go through your day, try talking about your actions. For example, when you’re making breakfast, say:
- “I am cooking eggs. I’m putting them on the pan. Now I’m adding some salt.”
This helps you practice verbs, daily vocabulary, and simple sentence structure—all by describing what you’re already doing!
3. Repeat After Videos
One fun way to practice speaking is by repeating after videos. Find a video in English that you like, whether it’s a YouTube video, a movie clip, or even a short podcast. Try to repeat what the speaker says—exactly. Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything. Focus on mimicking the sounds and rhythms.
This technique is called “shadowing,” and it’s a great way to train your mouth, ears, and brain to work together. You’ll sound more natural, too!
4. Join Language Exchange Groups
Another excellent way to practice speaking is by joining language exchange groups. There are websites and apps where you can connect with other learners or native speakers who want to practice your language. You’ll get to speak in real conversations and help others practice your language too! It’s a win-win. Websites like Tandem or HelloTalk are good places to start.
5. Use Language Apps with Voice
Today, there are tons of language apps that use voice recognition to help you practice speaking. Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone allow you to speak directly into your phone and get feedback. These apps give you the confidence to speak, even if you’re shy. Plus, they can help you practice new words and sentences on a daily basis.
6. Find a Conversation Buddy
If you want to take things a step further, find a conversation buddy—someone you can speak with regularly.
This might be a friend, a fellow language learner, or even a tutor. Websites like italki or Preply make it easy to find conversation partners. Even if you can only speak for 5–10 minutes a day, the practice will make a huge difference!
The Key Message: Just Start Talking!
Remember, the most important thing is just to start talking. Even if your grammar isn’t perfect or your vocabulary is small, the more you speak, the more you will improve. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or for everything to be perfect. Even 5 minutes of speaking each day is progress! It’s all about getting into the habit of talking. When you speak, you’ll begin to think in English. Your brain will start to connect words with meaning, and soon, it will feel more natural. So, no excuses. No waiting. Start talking today.
Final Encouragement
I believe in you. You can do this. The hardest part is always the first step. But once you start, you’ll see progress quickly. Talking is learning. Talking is progress. Every time you speak, you get closer to fluency. So go ahead—say something out loud. Start a conversation with yourself, a friend, or even an AI app. And most importantly, enjoy the process. You’ve got this! If you found this helpful, please give it a like and share it with your friends who are also learning English. Leave a comment and tell me—do you talk to yourself in English?
How often do you practice speaking? I’d love to hear your thoughts! And don’t forget to comment on this post. Talking will change your English journey—one sentence at a time. See you in the next video. Bye!