Sometimes, it seems like a good idea to learn as many new words as possible every single day because the more words you learn the better you will speak, right? The thing is, in the very beginning, it’s much more important how you use the words you already know rather than how many new words you manage to learn. Repetition makes you speak faster and the faster you speak the sooner you will be able to express your thoughts without having to stop and think. If you keep repeating the same sentences you will eventually start using them without consciously thinking about every single word in a sentence.
So, choose a few sentences which are usually used in everyday conversations: for instance, talking about your plans, giving your opinion or asking something. Repeat every sentence a few times until you feel the intonation is mostly right. Then try to modify them. For example, if you practised this sentence: “I need to do it today,” now change a few words and say: “I need to call my friend today,” or: “I need to study later.” In such a way you are practising different variations of the same sentence without killing yourself trying to learn new ones.
The biggest mistake here is when you understand a sentence and think you are ready to move on. Understanding is one thing but it’s totally different when you try to use it in a conversation. Without repeating, a sentence will remain just a sentence and you will not be able to recall it while speaking. To avoid it, repeat the sentence more times than you think is necessary. Try to repeat it during different parts of the day, not only once. You should repeat it until you feel you can say it without any effort even when you are distracted.
It’s actually not that difficult and you can do it even if you have only 15 minutes a day for it. Use your first five minutes practising the intonation of a few sentences. Then use another five minutes changing the sentences. For example, you’ve just practised this sentence: “I went to the shop yesterday.” Now try to say: “My friend went to the shop yesterday,” or: “I am going to the shop tomorrow.” Finally, use another five minutes trying to use the sentences while talking about different situations. For instance, tell what you did yesterday, what you are going to do tomorrow or what you think about something. It’s a great way how you can learn something new and, at the same time, practising what you already know.
I know it might seem boring at the beginning when you repeat the same sentences over and over again but this is actually a period when you start building your fluency. The more you repeat it the less time you will need to recall the sentence, the better you will pronounce it and the faster you will start speaking. Later, when you learn more sentences you will eventually start using all of them together which will make your speech sound much better.