The best way to track progress in spoken English is to record yourself regularly, speaking on the same kinds of topics, and compare recordings over time using a few simple measures: how long you can speak without long pauses, how many words per minute, how many filler words, and which mistakes keep coming back. Record a two-minute clip on the first day of every month, keep a simple progress sheet, and listen to old recordings when you feel stuck. Progress in speaking is slow day to day, but obvious month to month.
- You can’t feel speaking progress daily, but recordings prove it.
- Use the same prompt each month for a fair comparison.
- Track a few numbers: speaking time, pauses, fillers, repeated mistakes.
- Transcribe recordings to spot errors easily.
- Get live practice to record from in the free online English practice rooms.
“I’m not getting any better”
Imagine a learner who has practised speaking almost every day for three months. One evening she feels discouraged. Conversations still feel hard. She thinks nothing has changed.
Then she finds a recording from her first week. She can hardly believe it: long silences, lots of “umm”, short broken sentences. Today she talks for two minutes easily, with a few mistakes but a steady flow. The progress was there all along. She just couldn’t see it without a record.
What to measure
| Measure | How to check | What improvement looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking time | How long you talk on a topic before stopping | From 30 seconds to 2 minutes or more |
| Long pauses | Count silences over 3 seconds | Fewer, shorter pauses |
| Filler words | Count “umm”, “ah”, “actually” | Fewer fillers, or more natural ones like “well” |
| Words per minute | Words in transcript / minutes | A steady, comfortable pace |
| Repeated mistakes | Compare transcripts | Old mistakes disappearing |
| Range | New words and phrases used | More variety, fewer repeated words |
A monthly recording routine
- Choose three fixed promptsFor example: describe your hometown, talk about your job or studies, give your opinion on social media.
- Record two minutes on eachOn the first day of every month, without preparing.
- TranscribeUse a free tool like our video to text converter to turn your recording into text.
- Count and noteFill in your progress sheet: time, pauses, fillers, mistakes.
- Compare with last monthListen to both. Write one improvement you notice.
- Set one focusChoose one mistake or skill to work on this month.
A simple progress sheet
| Month | Speaking time | Long pauses | Fillers | Main mistake | Focus next month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0:45 | 9 | 22 | Missing articles | a / an / the |
| February | 1:20 | 6 | 15 | Since / for tense | Present perfect |
| March | 2:00 | 3 | 9 | V and W sounds | Pronunciation |
The numbers above are an example. Your own will be different, and that’s the point. Compare yourself only with your past self.
Other ways to see progress
- Note when conversations feel easier, or when you understand a video without subtitles.
- Ask a regular practice partner what changed since you started.
- Track practice minutes. Steady practice time almost always leads to results.
- Take a mock speaking test every few months if you’re preparing for IELTS.
Keep practising, keep recording
Record your practice sessions in the free online English practice rooms (with your partner’s permission), follow the 15-minute daily routine, and work on the balance between fluency and accuracy.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How can I measure my English speaking progress?
Record yourself on the same prompts every month and compare speaking time, long pauses, filler words, repeated mistakes and vocabulary range.
How often should I record myself speaking English?
A two-minute recording on fixed prompts once a month is enough to see clear progress. Some learners also record short daily clips.
Why don't I feel like my English is improving?
Speaking progress is slow day to day but clear over months. Comparing old and new recordings usually shows more improvement than you feel.
Should I transcribe my recordings?
Yes. A transcript makes it much easier to spot repeated mistakes and count filler words.
Start a private video room in one click and invite friends to practise English together.
Guides for this tool
Guide · 3 min readHow to Start a Free Online English Speaking Club (Step by Step)
Guide · 3 min read40 English Conversation Topics for Speaking Practice (With Questions)
Guide · 3 min readEnglish for Video Calls and Online Meetings: Phrases for Every Moment
Guide · 4 min readEnglish for Freelancers: How to Talk to Clients on CallsWant a tool, website or app like this for your business?
Every free tool on this site is designed and coded by Tanvir H, a Bangladesh-based WordPress and Elementor web designer with 7+ years of experience and 650+ projects for clients worldwide. Fast, mobile-first, search-optimised websites that turn visitors into customers.
- 650+ projects
- 7+ years
- 4.9★ rating
- Govt. registered freelancer
