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How to Speak English Like a Native Speaker: 5 Practical Tips

Wouldn’t it be great to be a language chameleon (animal with the ability to change colors)?

If only we could just change our accents, vocabulary and grammar to sound exactly like native English speakers.

Fortunately, there are practical steps you can take to speak English like a native speaker.

With these tips, plus patience and practice, you’ll be on your way to becoming a language chameleon in no time.

Why Learn to Speak English Like a Native Speaker?

5 tricks to help you speak english like a native, 1. familiarize yourself with different english accents, 2. imitate native pronunciation, 3. learn the flow of english, 4. use slang when you speak english, 5. learn english idioms, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

The first thing you should know when learning how to speak English like a native speaker is that it takes practice .

In fact, language students put years and years into perfecting their speaking skills so they can talk like a native speaker, or at least take their English to the advanced level .

That’s because being able to speak English the way natives do has a number of benefits.

• You’ll communicate better. The more you speak like a native speaker, the easier it is for native speakers to understand you. The better they understand you, the easier it is to get by in an English-speaking country .
• You’ll have more confidence. Being able to communicate in English while avoiding common mistakes can really  boost (increase) your confidence. Not only do you know that you have a high mastery of your language skills, but you also know that your achievement wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of hard work on your part. And knowing that you’re able to do difficult things is always a confidence booster.
• You’ll become more employable. If you can speak English like a native speaker, you can open up a whole new world of professional opportunities. You can work as a translator, travel guide, writer, etc. You can also stand out among your colleagues (people you work with) who don’t speak English or speak English with a non-native accent. You’ll be able to ask for a raise (increase in pay) from your boss because your English skills are  a cut above the rest (better than everything or everyone else).  

If you want to learn how to speak English like a native speaker, here’s what you can do.

Native English speech doesn’t sound the same across the globe . Someone from the U.S. would sound very different from someone who was born and raised in Australia .

Even within English-speaking countries, accents differ. In the U.S., for example, someone from New York would have a different accent from someone who grew up in Texas. In the United Kingdom, the King’s English (the standard form of English in that country) is different from Scottish, Welsh and Irish.

The good news is you don’t have to master all of these accents. The English you’re studying right now will probably be understandable to most native speakers—though there will be differences in pronunciation and the like.

That said, if you want to focus on a particular dialect of English , it would help to have concrete (specific) goals. Do you want to travel to a certain place or work in a certain country ? Answering these questions will help you focus your studies.

For example, if you want to go to New York and are learning English through TV shows , pick “Friends” (which is set in New York’s Manhattan  borough or a town with its own government) instead of “Twin Peaks” (which is based on a place that doesn’t actually exist).

You can also go to YouTube and search for videos of people trying to do different English accents. To start with, here are a couple of videos: one on different British accents and the other on different U.S. accents . Or check out these English vlogs , which feature different accents from various English-speaking countries.  

Now that you have some idea of what different English accents sound like, how do you go about actually learning native pronunciation?

You can start by watching and imitating authentic English videos. These will expose you to real English pronunciation and speech. They also allow you to study the speakers’ mouth and lip movements so you can imitate them .

After someone speaks, pause the video and repeat back what they said. Turning the subtitles on can help you keep track of the words.

You can make the process more entertaining by using videos.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

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You can also use a technique known as “shadowing” to follow along with subtitles videos and help you improve your pronunciation. This is when you try to speak along in time with the video, matching its speed and tone.

The subtitles on FluentU’s videos make it easier to keep up with what the speakers are saying. You can also point your cursor over a word in the subtitles to see its definition.

Interactive transcripts, flashcards, personalized quizzes and other features allow FluentU to support your learning as you practice natural English speech.

When you practice, watch how your mouth and lips move. Take note of any particular words that give you a hard time. Repeat the difficult words until your mouth’s movements feel natural.

There are also tutorial videos (like BBC Pronunciation and Rachel’s English ) as well as software (like Tell Me More ), which show you the English lip and tongue positions for every letter of the alphabet and all their combinations.

I know learning them is tedious (repetitive and tiring), but it’ll help you pronounce English words correctly, especially if they have sounds that don’t exist in your native tongue.

So learn them and practice in front of your mirror. Do it again and again until it becomes  muscle memory (something you can do naturally without thinking). You can even try recording yourself to check your progress.

Although pronunciation is important, it’s not everything. You also need to learn the way English flows.

So what does that mean, exactly?

That’s where “connected speech” comes in. Connected speech refers to the way the end of one word and the beginning of the next word interact in English.

Specifically, a native speaker can:

• Join two sounds.   When a word ends in a consonant sound, and the following word begins with the same consonant sound, both are pronounced as one syllable.

Example: I’ d d ecide it later.

• Link two sounds.  If the first word ends with a consonant and the second word begins with a vowel, a native speaker would connect the consonant with the vowel as though they’re one word.

Example: I’d like a frie d egg .

• Get rid of a sound.   When the sounds “t” or “d” occur between two consonant sounds, they’ll often disappear completely from the pronunciation.

Example: See you nex t week!

• Use contractions . Contractions are combinations of two words marked by an  apostrophe (‘). Some examples of contractions are  I’m (I + am),  I’ll (I + will),  don’t (do + not),  I’ve (I + have) and  I’d (I + would).
• Use stress and rhythm . Native English speakers usually raise their voices and make a longer sound for the word or syllable that needs the most attention—in other words, they “stress” it. Rhythm , on the other hand, is the musical feature of English—the up and down of the pitch each word in a sentence takes.

Armed with this knowledge, how do you learn the flow of English?

The best way is, again, to mimic native speakers. If you live in an English-speaking country, you’re probably doing this  subconsciously (without your knowing) already. After all, humans tend to mimic others to build  rapport (personal connections).

If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, don’t worry. You can also find a famous speech, a TED talk or a song . Note how the speaker or singer stresses different words in a sentence, which gives them their  distinct (different or unique) rhythm.

“Slang” refers to informal (and sometimes vulgar or offensive) words and phrases.

Like the English language itself, slang differs depending on where it’s used. To see how different it can be, check out this  hilarious (funny) “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” interview with the actor Hugh Laurie.

But there are some examples of slang that a wide range of English speakers use. For instance:

• Wanna. “Wanna” is short for “want to.”
• Hang out. “Hang out” means “to spend time together.” In an informal setting, a native speaker would say  “Do you wanna hang out ?” instead of “Do you want to spend some time together ?”
• Had a blast. If a native speaker had fun hanging out with you, they’ll probably say “We had a blast yesterday.”
• Drove me up the wall. If, on the other hand, a native speaker is annoyed or irritated, they will say that the thing or person that irritated them “drove them up the wall.”

By mastering this type of slang, you’ll instantly sound more fluent and like a native speaker.

To hear more slang, watch current TV shows or search for English vlogs (video blogs) on YouTube. Make sure you note not only what they mean, but also what places they’re used in and in what context. (Hint: you don’t use slang in a meeting with your boss or anyone else you respect.)

You can also search for words that sound like slang on Urban Dictionary or ask a native speaker you trust to make sure you’re using them correctly.

English idioms are phrases that have meanings you can’t immediately know just from looking at the words themselves.

Here are a few common examples:

• Can’t see the forest for the trees. This phrase has nothing to do with forests, trees or any sort of plants. Instead, it means you’re so involved in the details that you can’t see the bigger picture.
• Raining cats and dogs. If it actually rained cats and dogs anywhere, it would probably make the news. In all seriousness, this phrase simply means “raining hard.”
• A piece of cake. This one means something just as sweet—when you say something is “a piece of cake,” you’re saying it’s very easy.
• Cut to the chase. This has no connection to cutting or chasing. If someone tells you to “cut to the chase,” it means you should get to the point or say what you really want to say.
• Hit the books. As a book lover, I’d be very angry if someone literally hit my books. Fortunately, this phrase actually means “to study”—which is what you’re doing with the English language right now!

For more idioms, go to this post . And if you prefer learning English through songs, check out this musical guide to English idioms .

It’s also helpful to keep a diary of idioms you learn and their (possible) equivalents in your language. That way, you can easily remember them or look them up in your diary if you forget them.

Finally, don’t be afraid to use idioms! You might not “get” them the first time around, but a native English tutor can help you out.

It’s not easy to learn how to speak English like a native speaker.

Fortunately, you can start today by imitating native speakers, practicing pronunciation, stress and rhythm and using slang and idioms.

The more you practice, the more naturally native English speech will come to you over time.

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

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Free English Lessons

How to understand native speakers – video.

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In this lesson, you can learn about how to understand native speakers. Even after studying for several years, some English learners find it difficult to understand native English speakers.

However, there are some simple things you can do to improve your english listening and make it easier to understand native speakers in english., in this lesson, you’ll see five simple tips you can use to understand native speakers in english more easily., quiz: how to understand native speakers.

Now, test yourself on how well you understand the ideas mentioned in this lesson. Since this lesson is about listening to native speakers, it’s a listening quiz.

You will hear recordings of a native speaker from the UK featuring the aspects of pronunciation and language mentioned in the lesson. There are 20 questions. Pay careful attention to the instructions; sometimes you have to write exactly what you hear and other times you need to work out something different.

When you have finished the quiz and got your score, click ‘View Questions’ to see the correct answers. After you’ve seen the answers, it’s a good idea to listen again to any questions you didn’t get right and see if you can hear the answer. Good luck!

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1 . Question

Listen to the audio and fill in the gap with the contraction used by the speaker.

like to see that film; it sounds really good.

With the questions where you are shown most of the sentence, it’s a useful skill to predict the answer before you listen. Use your knowledge of grammar to help.

For this answer, write one contraction (including an apostrophe).

2 . Question

Listen to a sentence in which a contraction is used. Fill in the gap using the full grammatical form of the two words that have been contracted.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-2-that-doesnt-sound.wav

That sound very good.

Write two words.

3 . Question

Listen to the audio and write one word in each gap. The missing words are all pronounced as weak forms.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-3-my-birthdays-on.wav

My birthday’s on 15th March.

4 . Question

Listen to the audio and tick which two words are used in the sentence. They are both pronounced as weak forms.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-4-have-you-decided.wav

5 . Question

Listen to the audio and fill in the missing word. The full form of the word ends on a consonant sound, but this disappears in the recording.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-5-Ive-taken-my-suit.wav

I’ve taken my to the dry cleaners.

6 . Question

Listen to a question in which one or more words have been missed out. Which words have been left out from the start of the question?

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-6-finished.wav

• I haven’t …

7 . Question

Listen to the recording of someone talking at a cinema box office, from which a word has been edited out. Based on the context, which option is most likely to be the missing word?

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-7-can-I-get-two-tickets.wav

8 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-8-sorry-but-I-wont-be-at-work.wav

Sorry, but I be at work tomorrow.

Write one contraction.

9 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-9-I-see-theyve-built.wav

I see built a new a shopping centre.

10 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-10-take-the-train.wav

Take train platform 3.

11 . Question

Listen to the audio and tick which three words are used in the sentence. They are all pronounced as weak forms.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-11-for-the-benefit-of-those.wav

12 . Question

Listen to the audio and fill in the missing words. The full forms of the words end on consonant sounds, but these disappear in the recording.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-12-I-need-to-take-this-book.wav

I to take this back to the library.

13 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-13-wanna-go-out-tonight.wav

• Do you …
• Have you …
• Are you …
• Can you …

14 . Question

Listen to the recording of an announcement at a bus station, from which a word has been edited out. Based on the context, which option is most likely to be the missing word?

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-14-customers-waiting.wav

15 . Question

Listen to the audio and fill in the gaps with the contractions used by the speaker.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-15-Im-afraid-hes-already-left.wav

afraid already left for the day.

Write one contraction in each gap.

16 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-16-do-you-think-shell-agree.wav

Do you think agree?

17 . Question

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-17-please-can-you-meet-me.wav

Please meet me the airport?

18 . Question

Listen to the audio and tick all the words that are used in the sentence. They are pronounced as weak forms.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-18-Ive-got-an-apple.wav

Here is the sentence, with the words you need to choose left out:

“I’ve got ____ apple, ____ bananas ____ ____ packet ____ crisps.”

19 . Question

Listen to the audio and write one word in each gap. The full forms of the missing words all end on the same consonant sound, but these disappear in the recording.

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-19-dont-you-hate-that.wav

you when people show up to a meeting!

All four missing words feature elision, where the final /t/ sound is dropped in fast speech.

20 . Question

Listen to the recording of an old friend talking on the phone, from which a word has been edited out. Based on the context, which option is most likely to be the missing word?

https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Native-audio-20-hows-your-mum.wav

1. Use Contractions When you Speak

Look at this sentence:

• I am from France.

Imagine you’re talking to someone. How would you say it?

Would you say this sentence with the contraction?

• I’m from France.

Or would you say the full form?

Now, think about these sentences:

• He has already told me.
• I would like to see that film.
• They will not be here until tomorrow.

All of these sentences can be contracted:

• He’s already told me.
• I’d like to see that film.
• They won’t be here until tomorrow.

Would you pronounce the contractions, or not? Think about it, and be honest—it’s not a test!

Here’s the problem:

Many English learners don’t use enough contractions when they speak. They use the full form, for example he has instead of he’s. If you don’t use contractions when you speak, it will be difficult to understand them when you’re listening.

Why is this a problem?

Native speakers almost always use contractions when they’re speaking. If you find it difficult to understand contractions, you’ll always have problems when you’re trying to understand native speakers.

So what’s the solution?

Very simple: use contractions more in your speech.

If you use contractions yourself, it’ll become easier to understand them. Want to learn more about contractions? Watch this video from Oxford Online English about contractions in English .

2. Understanding the True Pronunciation of Written English Words

Here’s a simple question in English which is often difficult for English learners to understand:

• What are you doing?

Why do so many people find it difficult to hear this question correctly? Let’s look.

First of all, the letter ‘t’ in the word what is usually not pronounced. It changes to a /d/ sound.

Secondly, the word are is not pronounced /ɑː/. It doesn’t rhyme with ‘car’ or ‘far’. It changes to a very short sound: /ə/.

Next, the word you is not pronounced /jʊː/. It doesn’t rhyme with ‘too’ or ‘do’. It also becomes a very short sound: /jə/.

Finally, the words are not pronounced with spaces in between. The whole question is pronounced like one long word.

So, the question which is written:

Sounds like:

• Whaddayadoing?

Of course, if you think are should be pronounced /ɑː/, and you should be pronounced /jʊː/, and so on, you’ll expect to hear:

And of course, you probably won’t understand the natural pronunciation:

What can you do about this? Here are two suggestions:

1) Learn about weak forms. Weak forms are words which have a different pronunciation in a sentence. Learn about weak forms with this video lesson.

2) Pay attention to how people speak. Don’t think about what you read in your English textbook. Listen to how people actually pronounce words and sentences in real life. You’ll realize that there’s a big difference between textbook English and natural English.

Another good exercise here is dictation: choose something to listen to, like a podcast or a YouTube video, which is not too difficult. Listen to one minute, and try to write down everything you hear. Pause as often as you need to. This way, you can train yourself to follow native English speech.

3. Understand that Words are Often Left Out

Look at a question with a word missing. What is the missing word?

• ________ you ready?

If you’re an average English student, you said that the missing word is are . That’s the correct answer, but it’s also not the best answer.

What? How can the correct answer not be the best answer? What am I talking about?

Actually, the best answer is that there are no words missing. You can just say,

In spoken English, you don’t need to say are . In fact, you can make the question even shorter and just say,

Native speakers very often leave out words like this. Again, if you’re expecting to hear a full question, these shorter questions can be confusing.

So when can we leave words out like this?

In questions which are yes/no, and which have the word you , it’s often possible to make the question shorter.

For example:

• Have you finished?
• Are you going?
• Do you want to come?

All of these questions can be shortened:

• You finished? or Finished?
• You going? or Going?
• You want to come? or Want to come?

So what should you do?

Try to use these shortened questions when you speak. Like all of our advice today, you need to use it yourself.

If you use it when you speak, it’ll be easier for you to understand others who speak in this way.

Remember that native speakers very often shorten questions like this.

4. Use the Context to Help you Understand Native English

Here’s a question:

Do you need to understand every word to understand what someone is saying?

What do you think? Very often, English learners focus on the parts they don’t understand.

That’s natural, but it’s not always helpful.

To answer our question: no, you do not need to hear and understand every word to understand someone’s message.

Imagine that you are in the kitchen with your friend, who is cooking something. Your friend asks you a question, and you hear:

• Can you (mumble mumble)?

OK, so you didn’t hear or understand the full question. But that’s often not a problem.

First of all, you heard the words can you . So you know that your friend wants you to do something.

Secondly, you’re in the kitchen, cooking. Whatever your friend wants, it’s almost certainly connected to that. Probably, your friend needs you to help with something, or give them something.

By using the context, you can often understand someone without hearing every word.

But, but, but, you say, that’s not really understanding native speakers! I want to understand native speakers, not guess what they mean.

Actually, native speakers do this too. You probably do it in your own language, so there’s no reason not to do it in English. Don’t think: “I don’t know the word, so I can’t understand the sentence.” It’s not true.

And, if none of this works, use another simple trick: ask!

Ask the person, “What did you say?” or, “Can you say that again?”

Again, native speakers do this all the time. There’s no reason you shouldn’t do it, too.

This is completely normal and natural, in any language. Just because you’re an English learner, you shouldn’t be afraid of saying that you don’t understand something.

Let’s look at one more important tip.

5. Understand the Different Forms of Native English

Here’s a question: what does ‘native English’ sound like?

Here’s another question: do you prefer the sound of British English, or American English?

Actually, those are both terrible questions, which make no sense. Do you know why?

The reason these are bad questions is: there’s no such thing as ‘British English’.

If you think about ‘British English’, you probably imagine someone speaking like this.

But most British people don’t sound anything like that. It’s the same for American English: people from different places and different backgrounds will speak in different ways.

Then, of course, there are many other countries where English is officially the first language: Ireland, Zambia, Australia, Kenya, Canada, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Belize, South Africa, Singapore, and many more.

The world of English is much bigger than just the UK and the US, and you’ll be a better English speaker (and listener) if you realise this.

Unfortunately, many English learners react negatively when they hear a native speaker speaking in a way that they’re not used to.

They say things like,

• “I don’t like that person’s pronunciation.”
• “That person doesn’t speak good English. I prefer British English.” (or: “I prefer American English.”)
• “That person’s English sounds wrong. I can’t understand.”

But, here’s the thing: in a real-life situation, like a job interview, a meeting, or a party, you’ll meet native speakers from different places, with different accents. It’s your responsibility to understand them and communicate with them; they aren’t going to change how they talk for you.

So, what can you do about this?

Don’t just listen to one kind of English. If you love the sound of ‘classical’ British English, then fine, but listen to other voices, too.

You can train yourself to understand almost anything, but you need time and practice. Listen to a range of voices and accents regularly, and you’ll be able to understand more of what native speakers say to you.

Thanks very much for watching!

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How to Speak English Like a Native Speaker: 12 Strategies for Success

1. Pinpoint the English Accent You Want to Learn

2. learn the mouth movements of native english speakers, 3. do pronunciation exercises, 4. mimic native speakers, 5. expand your english vocabulary, 6. use contractions, 7. find your speaking volume, 8. practice english idioms, 9. think in english, 10. learn english rhythm, 11. keep up to date on english news, 12. practice your accent and get feedback.

English, one of the world's most widely spoken languages, comes in various flavors and accents, depending on where you are in the world. Sounding like a native English speaker is a journey that involves a combination of language skills, cultural understanding, and practical techniques Whether you're an English learner striving for fluency or a non-native speaker looking to refine your accent, this 12 step guide will help you master the art of sounding like a native English speaker.

One of the first steps on your journey to sounding like a native English speaker is to identify the specific English accent you want to master. Whether it's the rich tones of British English, the clear cadence of the General American accent , or any other regional accent, having a clear goal in mind will guide your efforts. There are many English accents, and each comes with its unique set of sounds, intonations, pronunciations, and idiomatic expressions. By pinpointing the native accent you want to learn, you can tailor your approach and focus your efforts more effectively.

Understanding the tongue and mouth positions for English sounds is key to achieving correct pronunciation. Like with any language, the most common sounds are not limited to the individual vowels and consonants, but rather require a combination of them to pronounce words and sentences fluidly. 

Visual cues can be very helpful for solidifying your mastery of these sounds. See the illustrations below for guidance on where to move your tongue when you're making the EE or /i/ sound.

You may notice that tongue placement and airflow are essential to creating the appropriate timing for English sounds. Be sure to practice making these correct movements by doing isolation exercises to strengthen the muscle memory in your lips and tongue. This will make a huge difference in your pronunciation.

Check out the video below for an exercise that will get the muscles in your lips strong, so you can make clear EE and AA sounds that will help you learn the American accent.

You can also pay close attention to the mouths of native speakers as they speak, or your own in front of a mirror. This is a helpful way to properly learn the positions.

Clear English pronunciation is absolutely essential to sounding like a native speaker. To enhance your fluency, start to regularly incorporate pronunciation exercises into your language learning routine. These drills should focus on specific sounds, rhythm, and intonation patterns. Consistent practice is the best way to achieve accurate pronunciation, and these exercises will contribute to more fluent and authentic English.

One fun activity is to practice syllable stress that can change the meaning of English words, like in the examples below.

Imitating native speakers is a powerful and effective way to learn the nuances of native pronunciation and start to sound like a native English speaker. Start to consume a digital diet of English movies, TV shows,  podcasts, and audiobooks. Pay attention to native speakers in your everyday interactions as well, taking note of their pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and even their body language. Check out Australian actress Margot Robbie's holistic approach to learning regional English accents.  

If it helps inspire you, pretend you're an actor and you've been cast as a character who's a native English speaker. Mimicking is part of your acting preparation, and it will help you achieve native-level English for your big role! You can start by shadowing native speakers, repeating what they say as closely as possible in terms of pronunciation and intonation. And you can even try Margot Robbie's approach of incorporating body postures into your accent training.

By consistently imitating these elements native speakers, you'll gradually absorb their patterns of speech.

A rich vocabulary is a hallmark of language fluency. While it's essential to learn the fundamentals of English, it's equally important to explore more advanced words and phrases. Reading books, newspapers, and articles in English exposes you to diverse vocabulary. Make a habit of noting unfamiliar words and their meanings. Incorporate these new words into your everyday conversations, and you'll not only enhance your language skills but also sound more like a native speaker with a wide-ranging vocabulary.

Contractions are a fundamental aspect of spoken English. Native speakers regularly use contractions to simplify phrases and make their speech flow more smoothly. For example, instead of saying "I am," they often use the contraction "I'm." Other common contractions include "you're," "he's," "she's," "it's," "we're," and "they're." These contractions are prevalent in everyday conversations and contribute to the natural flow of speech. Practice using contractions in your speech to sound more natural and fluent, as native speakers do.

Finding the right speaking volume is pivotal in sounding like a native English speaker. Native speakers effortlessly adjust their volume to suit the context, whether it's a hushed conversation in a library, a lively discussion at a cafe, or a dynamic presentation in a boardroom. Being able to match the appropriate volume demonstrates an innate understanding of the social norms and expectations of English speakers. Speaking too softly can lead to miscommunication, while speaking too loudly can be perceived as impolite. Striking the right balance in your volume not only enhances your communication but also helps you seamlessly blend into various English-speaking environments, allowing you to engage with native speakers more effectively.

Watch BoldVoice Coach Adeola Rose share some tips on how to find your right volume when addressing a group:

 It’s important to learn and use English idioms and vocabulary to sound more natural to native speakers. Familiarity with commonly used phrases and expressions will make you sound more relatable and confident in American social settings. Here are a few examples of phrases and their meanings that you can learn to impress a native English speaker!

• “Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk”: Don't waste time worrying about something that has already happened and cannot be changed. Example: "I accidentally deleted the file, but there's no use crying over spilled milk. I'll redo it."
• “The Ball Is in Your Court”: It's your turn to make a decision or take action. Example: "I've given you all the information you need. Now the ball is in your court."
• “Catch Someone Red-Handed”: To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong or illegal. Example: "The security camera caught him red-handed, stealing from the store."

A significant shift in your language-learning journey involves thinking in English rather than translating from your native language. Try to think in English, your speech becomes more spontaneous and fluid because you aren't preoccupied with translation. This transition requires practice and dedication. Engage in internal monologues in English, and challenge yourself to think in English throughout your daily activities. This mental shift not only improves your fluency but also contributes to sounding like a native speaker.

Learning English rhythm involves understanding the rising and falling intonation patterns that distinguish questions from statements. To best gauge the rhythm of English speech, listen to and imitate your native speaker friends, characters from your favorite TV shows, or the podcasts and audiobooks of your favorite creators. Recording yourself is also a helpful strategy to identify areas of improvement—you might catch a habit you didn’t realize you had!

In the video below, you can review the ways in which native speakers use intonation patterns to ask questions:

Sounding like a native English speaker isn't just about pronunciation and vocabulary; it's also about engaging in meaningful conversations on a wide range of topics. Staying informed about current events, trends, and pop culture is essential. Knowing about the latest news, movies, music, and other relevant topics allows you to participate in discussions that are relatable and engaging. You can read English newspapers, watch news broadcasts, or follow English-language websites and blogs to stay up-to-date.

Ultimately, practice and feedback are the vital components that will help with accent reduction. Repeat your English pronunciation exercises frequently and in various settings to ensure you develop confidence in your speaking. It’s important to stay consistent with your practice, so find methods that you enjoy and don’t find daunting. 

You shouldn’t feel like you need to embark on your accent learning journey alone. While self-assessing yourself through recordings can be useful, it can also be extremely effective to contact a coach or tutor who specializes in accent training, as both a conversation partner and someone to hold you accountable. BoldVoice offers private sessions from our expert Hollywood coaches.

Speech recognition and training apps are also a great tool for immediate, precise feedback. Today’s expert-verified technology accurately identifies areas necessary for improvement, which can expedite your progress while still going at your personal pace.

Sounding like a native English speaker is a valuable skill that can open doors to enhanced communication and put you a step further in your career opportunities. Whether you're an aspiring professional or simply want to improve your fluency, the journey to achieving native-level English is worth the effort.

BoldVoice can be your partner on this journey, providing detailed tutorials from experts and instant feedback on your progress.

Don't let language barriers hold you back. Start your journey to sounding like a native speaker today, and experience the transformative power of clear communication. Your future self will thank you!

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How to Understand Native English Speakers: Natural Conversation + Vocab.

Advanced (C1-C2)

Understand Native Speakers

To be honest, it’s difficult to understand native speakers. Listening and understanding two native speakers of any language when they’re speaking fast seems impossible. Why? There are many reasons why it’s hard to understand this fast-talking native speakers, but let’s talk about a few reasons:

• you haven’t learned connected speech
• you’re not used to their accent(s)
• you’re not at an advanced enough level in English
• they have poor speaking habits
• you don’t know what you’re listening for

I’ll talk briefly about all of these. Let’s begin with the last point.

Why Are You Listening?

To understand native speakers, you have to know why you can’t get what’s being said. Sometimes you don’t understand what’s being said because you have no true reason to listen. This can go in conjunction with the speaker having poor speaking skills. If they’re not good speakers, or they’re simply not interesting, you may not give them the attention you need to because you’re bored, or it’s too much cognitive effort. So, if you understand native speakers may be more up to them and their faults as opposed to yours.

Assess Your Skills

Additionally, you may not have the English language skills to comprehend what the speaker(s) are saying. For example, you don’t know common grammar structures or basic frequently used vocabulary words and phrases.

Similarly, it’s possible you don’t have enough training in deciphering between and understanding different English accents. For example, I’m from the South of the U.S. We speak with what’s called a “Southern Drawl.” People from the West Coast or East Coast can understand me, but they have their own distinct accents/dialects of American English as well. Compound that with the fact that their are “micro-accents” within each of these regions and you can see why it’s difficult to understand some native speakers of English. This can also be said for Canada, the U.K., Ireland, etc.

Connected Speech for Fluency & to Understand Native Speakers Better

However, the best way to learn to speak English at a near-native level, and understand it, is to perfect connected speech. Connected speech is exactly that, connected speech.

We all know at this point that spoken English is different than written English: there’s little to no correspondence between pronunciation and written word. This becomes even more severe when fluent individuals begin to speak because they often squish words together, which alters the sound. Sometimes they leave sounds off, or add them to the word preceding it thus essentially linking it. That’s connected speech: connecting utterances together.

Speak and sound like YOU: enroll in the 2021 beta Fluency course for intermediate adults.

The #1 Best Way to Learn English, Vocabulary, and Understand Native English Speakers

Episode #56: “ The #1 Best Way to Learn English, Vocab, & Understand Native English Speakers ” is a conversation between me and my good friend. My friend’s name is SaitCan. He’s from Belfast, Northern Ireland , but he was born in Bodrum, Turkey .

SaitCan grew up in a bilingual household: Turkish and English. He and I speak about this in this episode. We speak about other things, too. In fact, this episode is only 1/3 of our conversation which lasted 90 seconds.

We Met in Istanbul, Turkey

He and I met each in 2014 when he was studying abroad at Boğazici University in Istanbul, Turkey and I was teaching English in Istanbul. He’s always good craic and I’m sure you’ll see what I mean in this episode.

What’s the best way to learn English?

You’ll learn that in this episode as well as 90+ new vocabulary words, phrasal verbs, expressions, and idioms spoken by two native speakers of English.

Yes, we speak fast, but so what? You’re already a rockstar at this language, you genius. Besides, you have the transcript below if you’re still not feeling confident, or if you don’t understand.

Happy learning from me and my favorite Northern Irishman, SaitCan!

P.S. —Happy B irthday, SaitCan!

Transcript (Excerpt)

Yeah, for sure. That’s the best way to learn because you hear but I remember, like, learning that stuff back in school learning German or Spanish at, like, high school level. And it’s all very static and, like, language you would never use.

Ashley Rhone 

[laughs] Yeah!

Except that, you know, I mean, like, “I like to go to the shop.” No one ever talks like that. Are you—you’d sound like a shit if you did.

You’re not going to have a conversation with somebody in German…

(Intro Music)

Ashley Rhone

Hey, welcome back, and a big hello to those of you who are joining me for the first time. My name is Ashley Rhone, and I am an English coach at paradigmenglish.com . Welcome to the Living in English:365 podcast .

If you haven’t already noticed, today’s episode is different. In fact, it’s so different that I need to probably give you a bit of background information before we jump in to the rest of this episode. So, first of all, the person in the clip you just heard, his name is Sait Can.

Who’s That Guy?

Sait Can is one of my really good friends. And he is so nice and kind, and you guys should really be thanking him. But he has agreed to just come and have a chat as to native speakers speaking to help you. I heard you guys saying that it’s very difficult for you to understand two native speakers when they’re speaking together. And so, I’ve listened, and here’s a special treat for you because this conversation is entirely for you.

What’s the Episode About

He and I are talking about different things in this episode. This is just an excerpt from it.

So the beginning part we’ll be talking about cars, we’ll be talking about things that are happening in our life and daily situations because on this podcast, the goal of this podcast is to help you use your English in everyday situations: daily. No matter where you are, to make it a habit of using English and being proficient at it.

Course Update

Just an update. The application for my fluency course opens in a few days. In fact, it opens on March 21. If you go to my website, at paradigmenglish.com you will see it for the Fluency Academy.

Important Notice

So a couple of things about this episode. I did NOT edit out any of the obscenities , profanity , if you will, expletives or expletives however you want to say it, but I left it there for clarity and because this is how he and I naturally speak.

So a little bit about him. He is actually from Belfast in Northern Ireland. And he actually was born in Turkey. He was born in Bodrum. So, Western Turkey in the Aegean region, and he lived there with his family until he was about three. So, he grew up in a bilingual household.

Turkish technically was his first language even though his mother is Irish and his father is Turkish. He did grow up speaking Turkish and English. Now, he did move to Belfast when he was a little older after the age of three. But he does return each year to visit his family there. And of course, he did study abroad at Boğaziçi university.

I hope you enjoy this episode. And I have a couple of things that I want you to focus on when listening to this excerpt of a more than 90 minute conversation between he and I.

Your Assignment

First, I want you to listen for the filler words. Sometimes whenever you forget a word or you forget a phrase or you just lose your train of thought . You need words to help you fill in that space. Some of you are very good at this. Some of you need a little bit more practice. So, I want you to listen to the filler words, filler words such as “like,” “umm,” “hmm.” These types of words, “okay,” “so.” Listen to these and listen to how he and I use them, in which contexts we’re using them.

Also, listen for connected speech. You’ve heard me speak about connected speech in my blog posts, as well as on a couple of different podcasts episodes, in fact, but connected speech is one of those things that really separates you from being just an okay speaker of English to being a really good one that sounds fluent and native like, so, connected speech. You need to look at the way that he and I are linking our words together, even our ideas together. Those times where you can’t quite tell what word it is. That’s because we’ve connected our speech. Listen to those.

Happy Birthday and Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

And one final word before we get started. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of you celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. I already have an episode about this. It’s Episode 21. Also, remember I am from the southern part of the United States. So how you hear me speaking now is not how I would naturally speak to people in my family. I am Southern. So you will hear me actually go into my southern dialect or accent whenever I’m speaking with Sait Can. And of course, I’ll be speaking at a more rapid pace. It’s faster. One last thing. The day after St. Patrick’s Day is actually Sait Can’s birthday. So, Happy Birthday, SaitCan.

Listening (Advanced)

How’d the thing with the car go?

Good. Yeah, I think we got, um, we got one picked out . Just need to fill in the paperwork now. Shite. Get it ordered Monday.

Oh, you had to order it!?

Should be here at the end of the month I think.

Yeah, it’s like this lease thing.

So, you get it leased. And—

Ahh. I see.

Car Shopping

then they switch them for, like, [incomprehensible] was why kind of stuff. So it should be done. End of the month, I think.

You put something special on it? Some extra?

Yeah, you look at—hmm?

Customized Car

Supped out ? I don’t know. I don’t know I’ve never, like—I’ve been with someone to buy a car, or get a car. But I’ve never actually, like, done it myself.

Either way, I’m not that fucking into cars really.

uhnn. I’m not either.

Car Buying Culture

Do you guys have that whole culture of where you have to, like, barter for the car? Like, we don’t have this whole thing where we negotiate and haggle stuff, but only with cars—

No, the fuck. They wouldn’t entertain that kind of shite over here.

We usually don’t. Right? It’s something you—we would we would expect back in Istanbul, maybe, but yeah, like—

Oh, fuck yeah.

Like that’s the only —that I can think of at least— that’s the only part of our culture where we have that where you kind of have to, like, negotiate the deal or they’re gonna absolutely swindle you.

I know, that’s going out, that’s going out. Well, I don’t know, some stuff is like that, I suppose with custom built anything, it’s, you can sort of go right, mmm, and give offers or whatever else. But that’s kind of going the way of the dodo , I think, that whole bartering system . Which I quite like.

Getting the Deal

It’s a nice sort of, like, well sorta. Well, to an extent , you know? If you know what the value of something is, and you sort of… you can negotiate with people that way. And yeah, you can get a good deal. Like, you see those shows and stuff like, you know, pawn shows whatever else or you know.

That’s true.

They take, they take the piss.

Yeah, exactly.

So it was worth like five grand . I’ll give you like 50 pay for it. No, fuck off!

Exactly that. This is the antique , dude, are you serious? No.

Yeah. I know. Get ripped off constantly.

Yeah, that’s that’s why I don’t like it. When like, it just feels dishonest. Like, can you just not do that? Can we just talk about the actual price? Because the minute you drive, for example, the car like the minute you drive it off a lot. It’s worth… I don’t know how much less.

Yeah, at least, what, 20% less or something?

Yeah, it depreciates .

It’s some BS .

Selling Things Online

It’s like that. Have you ever tried to sell stuff— but like I like a bunch of stuff whenever we were moving house. There’s loads of stuff that was in storage that I don’t want anymore. So I just started to sell on eBay and people are like that. Like, you’d be surprised what people will do.

Or just be surprised at the effort some people put into just get the most minimal amount of money off anything. Like, it was, sorta, of it was like this—I don’t know what the fuck even it was it was ages ago I was selling something.

And it was, it wasn’t expensive. Just like something I didn’t want but it was, ballgame , was something like a fiver. Five pound or something. And someone, like, sent me an offer of like, 4.50 it’s like, why did you even bother typing in the computer for the sake of 50 p. I mean, it couldn’t have been be worth your time. Oh, yeah, fine, but like, why did you? Like, is it that much of a difference to your life? 50 p off? Jesus.

Negotiating the Price

You know, just to feel like they did something. I mean, if I would—

Maybe that’s it, Yeah.

Yeah, I wouldn’t have wasted my time .

I mean, you also didn’t care. Right? You also didn’t care? You just wanted to get rid of it

No. I didn’t care. Yeah. No, I didn’t mind. It was like, it’s more so just to cover the cost of, like, the postage for the thing. Like, I wanted, it’s in my way to go and send to deliver—it was, like, a coffee machine or something or piece of a coffee machine or something like that. I don’t know. But, you know. But, you know, that like, Oh, well, someone could use it. Or, I could perfectly bin rust, you know, drive to the dump to get rid of it. But, what the hell.

yeah, I mean, it’s better if someone uses it.

Some people are just frugal to such an extreme. Whenever I was a teenager working in the supermarket. You’d do, like, reductions and stuff, of stuff that you needed to get rid of that day. And like, you would half it in price, or whatever. But, there’d be people who would, sort of pick it up and sort of mosey about the shop for about four hours because the reductions would get done every hour.

Oh my gosh !

So, whatever, let’s say you half the price then in an hour later, you would half that again, and then, you know. There’d be somebody would pick it up and then have that thing, come back to ya’ in hour and then get you to scan again so that you—they’d get like another 10 p[ence] off it or whatever.

What the heck !

Cheapskates

And they’d do that for like—yeah, they would—that’s what I’m saying. They would spend like three and a half hours just to get, maybe, a sum total of 40 p extra off of what, you know, a loaf of bread or something. And thing is, right, I used to just think, okay, well, fair enough. Some people aren’t flushed with cash and, you know, and money’s tight for some people and, you know, that’s alright. But these people weren’t, you know, I mean.

They’re just cheap!

They were— Yeah, they—exactly, because I knew who they were. You know, even if I didn’t know them, I knew them vicariously through other people to go, “Oh, that’s my neighbor. She’s just extremely tight ,” or whatever else, you know. That you know, she has, she owns, she’s has a car. She’s not like, on the breadline . She’s just, if she can get ten p[ence] off of something, that’s a victory for her, you know, something like that.

You know, I don’t have time don’t have time to waste for that, like, that’s a lot of time a whole afternoon, eve— whatever it’s like wasted walking around the supermarket for 10 p off.

No. I’ve never heard—

People Who Wait in Line

It’s like that, you know, there was like a [Hans lebirth] part, like a skit he did about people who wait in line at like midnight or something for like a new release of a book or whatever is like I’d rather you know, have the luxury of sleep in my own bed to not have to sit and sleep in the street for 12 hours. I mean, think about what that is per hour like is worth your time.

I don’t know, have you never done that? Because I’ve done it twice. I remember when one of the Harry Potter books was released back in the—

Ah, fuck that.

No, like, I totally did it.

As a cultural sort of, if you’re a big, big fan, I get on it sort of like it’s not even, you know, because you need to have it right then and there.

It’s the whole sort of, like, waiting in line as a pilgrimage —I get that part as a fan. And it’s sort of like, you know, there’s a there’s an atmosphere of everyone in lines, or like, you know, there’s a, you know, everyone does that, you know, there’s the accumulative fandom there.

And they’re all sort of like, you know, in line, and they’re sort of, you know, all excited together. I’m sure that’s part of it. But it’s not uncommon for like having to do it for hours on end, like how long you’d gotta wait?

Camping Out

Oh, I don’t remember. I don’t know, I got there pretty early. So I think it dropped at 12. And that shop wasn’t even open until then, so I was pretty, you know, it was it was pretty. I also had pre-ordered. So all I had to do is like go to the front and get my thing. There was like a complete line for us. And then people who just came, but I remember like—Huh?

they camp out for like, fucking overnight and shit. Like, fucking..

Yeah, they’re—they’re done too much. I would not be doing that, that that’s a waste of my time . I might wake up early in the morning, like, pretty early and sit there and you know, have a breakfast. Like if I’m with a friend, I remember that Lady Gaga came to Oklahoma City probably like more than a decade ago at this point. And I remember, like—

Waiting for Gaga

I know, but I remember waking up really early and driving to the— I live in the Capitol now. But I wasn’t living there at the time. So, I remember, like, going there early in the morning and getting tickets. But I was only waiting for like, a couple hours. If I had to wait overnight. It’s a wrap . I’m not doing that. That’s doing too much. I got stuff to do.

I thought—I’m talking about. I mean, it’s more specifically, the people, bring a fucking tent and the deck chairs and, like, they’re there for like a day and a half. What the hell’s wrong with you?

I mean, maybe they’re—

I don’t know what they’re doing. Like, that has got to be boring. And, and is it that serious? I don’t know. I don’t know.

That’s what I’m saying like if I guess a pilgrimage, and you won’t be part of the atmosphere of like, you know, the release of something that you have, you know, quite a big fan of, whatever but I mean, it’s within limits,

That’s how I feel. I’m not, as my aunt always says—.

Maybe I just don’t give a shit of anything not much. That’s all.

I think that’s what it is [laughs].

Maybe I’m just jealous . I wish I cared so much about something that I would, you know, wait eight hours for something. There’s a thing like that night a friend of mine I think he’s, he started his own restaurant. He’s doing pop-ups and stuff of, I don’t know even what he’s what he’s making but whatever, like a small pop-up, but I guess small pop-up to get his restaurant going. And there’s like, there’s like queues that are formin’ because that’s the way it is now, you know, there’s a hype generation.

Hype Generation

You know, things are sort of, you know, it’s like 15-seconds of fame as opposed to 15-minutes, which is great for him. This get a bit of a buzz around him, but, like, I would never wait in fucking line for a fucking sandwich.

I mean, it depends how long it is like—

No, I think 10 minutes, fine. I’m talking about a half-an-hour like two hours. No…

Oh hell no. I’m not doing that. No, no.

That’s what I’m saying.

And it’s freezing . No way.

Kebabs in Berlin

I think I did that once when I went to visit one of my friends in Berlin and there was some kebab shop that was nearby, and we waited there and we were probably also pretty drunk. So it didn’t seem like forever, but that’s the only time—

At least time can pass quicker.

Yeah, I mean, maybe. I don’t even remember, but I’m not waiting in line for—plus I’m like a vegetarian, like, how long do you gotta wait for vegetables? Like come on. Right

More Waiting in Line

I don’t know. It’s just it’s there’s like just diminishing returns on, like, if you wanna wait ten minutes. Eh, no problem. I don’t mind that.

But like, when people go “this is a three- hour wait,” and people go “Okay, fine.” Imagine how, you know, someone says stagger in a straight line, about a few meters for three hours. Fuck off!

Well, especially with the COVID stuff. Like, we got to be a whole, you know—

Six feet away from everybody.

Jesus Christ.

I don’t know, like I had a—

If people wanna do it, then fine. But it would bore the arse off me.

I got stuff to do. That’s how I fee— even if I don’t have stuff to do, I don’t have time for that. So…

No, God yeah. No not at all.

There was some, there’s some barbecue place here. That I mean, I never ate there. Because I don’t eat—what am I gonna do at a barbecue place? But it, um, it’s called Bobo’s Chicken. And it’s really popular.

Sounds nice.

Facebook Privacy

Apparently, it’s good. I couldn’t tell you from firsthand . But, um, I just saw one of my friends on Facebook post about it. And he’s like, yeah, Bobo’s chickens back open. And I thought, okay, like, why did it close? Maybe you shouldn’t be there if it closed down and now it’s back open , but whatever. And he sent a picture of the line and it was literally staggered look like it was going across the street, like around the pavement. I thought, oh my God. Dude, are you serious right now? Are you gonna really wait there for some chicken? How much chicken is there in the world that they can supply you with? Like all these people?

You see that in, like, these different cultures become a real big, big element of culture. And I like this part, especially if food trucks and stuff you know, things become really and you didn’t get advertised for nothing I like through Instagram and and social media. So, things can come very popular very quickly. But, I don’t know.

Hmm. I don’t know.

I think people kind of like that, because then they can also sort of, like, you know, post about what they’re gonna go, wait in line for this thing as if they’re part of the whatever buzz is going on, you know?

Do You Photograph Your Food?

Yeah, I just feel like—

But, fuck that.

Yeah, that part that—

Personally.

all of that part. I’m like, I don’t want people to know what I’m doing where I’m at. I don’t care. Like, why are we taking pictures of food? Just eat your damn food, Eat it. Eat your food. I don’t care where you are.

But there’s a big divide happening now because of that kind of stuff. You know, I mean, a lot of people, some people are just more than ready to relinquish their privacy. You know?

I’m not. I mean, I want to hold some semblance of, I don’t even know what the word for that would be. But I’m not.

17:36I don’t know. I don’t—maybe it’s a female thing. Also, I don’t want to, I don’t want people to know where I am. I’ve got some people on my Facebook. I’m kind of like, ah.

Some people just did this. They don’t mind doing that. Like, there’s loads of people who just post like the inside of the fucking house and every aspect of what they’re doing per day. Like what the hell’s wrong with you? Do you care about you know, people who, like hundreds of people of privacy, it’s like, it’s no, it’s good to end window. People don’t seem to give a shit about it. They’re more than happy to, like, hand that over. I mean, it’s become a very rare commodity to have any sort of element of privacy, you know?

I mean, I think it’s—

Often in the sense also been handed over every time I click on any fucking website,

any website. Exactly. I was just talking to my mom about that the other day. It’s like everywhere you go, can we install cookies, cookies, cookies, I’m like, screw these cookies. I’m like, you can’t even see anything now without the damn cookies. Wanting them to store cookies. Oh, gosh. But I don’t know. I think with the especially with social media—

Well, there’s somebody like that, I dunno.

I’m tired of it. I’m like, I want to go back to like, the early 2000s and 90s. You know. And you’re old enough that you’ll remember that you want to go back to the time before all this social media when people couldn’t get a hold of you. Like I like that someone’s calling me you know I’ve been trying to reach you all day and I’m like yeah, really? That’s like called three times. But I don’tknow. Yeah, dude and your birthday is next week. Yeah, I can’t hear you.Can you not hear me? Sait Can?

Living in the Countryside

[laughs] No, okay. Just it was cutting out a wee bit there. I think like a connection problem or something.

Ah, okay. Sorry! I could probably change my… oh, mine should be fine here.

No, I guess it might be my connection maybe a bit shite here. I dunno.

Are you not in Belfast?

No, I’m in the countryside.

Which would be where?

Connectivity Issues

But the connection pretty decent here. It’s just a bit— waiver sometimes that’s all.

Well, I mean, if you’re in the countryside, I would I would imagine somewhat. That’s how my parents are now. They’re in the middle of—well, I won’t say in the middle of nowhere . They’re just kind of on the outskirts , but basically, I mean, they have a horse it’s like it’s not like they’re in the middle of the city. But their connection is garbage. Garbage.

Ireland basically is one big countryside. There’s there’s Belfast there’s Dublin and then basically everything outside that, is fields.

Well that’s—

so countryside is like, you know, it’s still basically what we’d feel you know, at the time.

House Repair

Right. And you guys were fixin’ your house. Have you finished that? I forgot what you said?

Yeah no, it’s like 99% done now. It’s just little bits and pieces that need done. Today we’re just getting a few bits of the kitchen get done. Recently, a lot of stuff’s gotten polished up quite quickly. So, like, we’re in the house now, so, we’re inside and fixing stuff up. Like, the reflection—fixing, like the granite for the marble — or, for the kitchen stuff. Yesterday, that got finished.

(end excerpt)

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How to Sound Like a Native English Speaker

While you can study English from a textbook or a webpage, it doesn’t really matter if you are not able to speak it. You can store up all the English vocabulary you want, but if English speakers cannot understand you when you speak, it has all been for nothing. Furthermore, if you have plans to work with English speakers, then you need to speak the language well enough to be taken seriously.

Ultimately, the best way to learn how to sound like a native English speaker is to study English in Washington DC, where you will be immersed in the language and surrounded by native speakers. In addition to taking an English class in DC , there are some other things you can do to improve your ability to speak English and sound like a native speaker.

Pronunciation Matters

First, you must understand that pronunciation matters. As we mentioned before, you can study vocabulary from a textbook, but if you do not learn how to pronounce the words correctly, your speaking skills will be ineffective. Instead, it is critical to not only read the words in a textbook but also to learn how to say them. A good rule is to listen to the words as you read them, which is where language apps  can be especially helpful.

Spend Time with Native Speakers

A major benefit from taking English courses Washington DC is that it provides plenty of opportunities to spend time with native speakers. Since you want to be taken seriously by native speakers when you speak, it is important to have conversations with them so you can begin to learn how they pronounce words and pace their conversations. Plus, as you develop relationships with native speakers, they will feel more comfortable pointing out when you mispronounce something or use an English word or phrase incorrectly.

Pay Attention with Your Ears

We cannot emphasize the importance of listening enough. You have to do your very best to listen well. We understand this can be difficult at first as you are beginning to learn the language and may get lost in the conversation. However, simply listening to people speak English is a great learning opportunity. For example, you will begin to learn how and when words are stressed.

Look at the Mouth

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds. The way a person makes these speech sounds and articulates words is shaped, literally, by the way he or she uses her mouth. Therefore, you can improve your ability to speak English like a native speaker by studying mouth movements. BBC Learning English  has an entire collection of online videos of all the consonant and vowel sounds in the English language. Watch these videos and then practice in front of the mirror. Watch your mouth!

Recognize Different Accents

A tricky part of learning how to sound like a native English speaker is identifying accents. Depending on where the native English speaker is from, you will notice a slight change in the way he or she speaks. Accents vary greatly across different regions of the United States. Likewise, English is spoken across the world, and you will need to recognize different accents between countries such as Great Britain and Scotland. Ideally, you should focus on learning the accent where you will most likely be speaking English.

Mimic Native Speakers

It’s been said that “imitation is the highest form of flattery.” When it comes to language learning, imitation is a wonderful tool. Make a point to imitate those native English speakers who speak well. This may be a teacher or trainer at your Washington language school or an actor on television. Either way, pay attention to how this individual speaks and mimic him or her.

Watch Your Pace

People will be able to tell you are not a native speaker by the pace at which you speak. If you speak too slowly or if you slow down or take a break at the wrong point of a sentence, people will assume English is not your first language. If you want to fool them into thinking you are or that you can speak it just as well, then you need to watch your pacing. This is another time when watching and mimicking native speakers can be helpful.

Add Contractions

Native speakers frequently use contractions when speaking. A contraction is formed from two words such as “shouldn’t” instead of “should not.” Contractions are informal, so they work well in casual conversations. If you don’t use contractions when conversing casually, then you will sound too formal. Your Dictionary  has an easy-to-follow guide for using contractions correctly in English.

Flavor Your Speech with Slang and Idioms

Similarly, native English speakers pepper their conversations with slang or idioms. Slang  refers to informal language that tends to come in and out of fashion depending on the culture. Idioms  are figurative phrases or expressions that are not meant literally. By using slang and idioms, it shows you know English well enough to speak casually and joke in English.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Next, it is imperative to make practicing English a part of your daily routine. The more you practice speaking like a native English speaker , the more likely you will be able to in conversation. Practice in front of your mirror. Practice with friends. Practice with language partners. Try reading aloud. Consider memorizing famous speeches. Sing popular songs. And, when you do, record yourself so you can listen to see where you sound like a native speaker and where you need more help.

Ask for Help

Finally, ask for help. Students who attend the Washington language institute , inlingua, will have access to trainers who are native speakers. Plus, they will be able to call upon their classmates for extra practice sessions. When you are taking English classes, it is natural to ask for help pronouncing words or learning how to use slang. Take advantage of your teachers, classmates, and English-speaking environment.

Ready to study English in Washington DC?

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All programs and courses provided by inlingua Washington DC are avocational in nature and not designed to prepare students for employment.

Our IELTS Test Center offers both the Paper Based IELTS and the Computer Delivered IELTS.

Instruction for the English Unlimited program is provided by inlingua Washington DC, which is accredited by CEA and owned by Titanium, LLC. All other instruction and services, including IELTS testing, is provided by inlingua Language Center DC, which is not accredited by CEA and is owned by Capital Languages, LLC.

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How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker

Last Updated: February 21, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alicia Oglesby . Alicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 531,624 times.

Even if you speak English, there is a wide variety of regional dialects and patterns of speech. These are diverse, useful, and dynamic ways of communication. But unfortunately, if one cannot communicate in Standard English a person may be discriminated against as uneducated, and sometimes not be able to communicate effectively. Fortunately, there are many ways to immerse yourself in this way of communicating. English borrows words from all sorts of different languages, and new terms are constantly emerging.

General Guidelines

• Avoid nonstandard (i.e., ungrammatical) forms such as “ain’t”, “can’t hardly”, “can’t seem to”, “irregardless”, and “anyways”. See the list below (“Nonstandard and Questionable Usage”) and How to Use Commonly Misused Words. Consult a dictionary for proper usage and a style manual, such as Strunk and White’s Elements of Style .
• These might be common ones like "aint".
• Or It can be meanings such as "ugly" (New England, U.S.A) meaning either possibly "unattractive" or "angry" depending on context.
• Examples include: LOL, dead presidents, DIY, or whopper.

• What the "correct" pronunciation is may depend slightly on your region. Words like "Aluminum" are pronounced quite differently in British English and American English. While neither is incorrect, you may want to speak in the same manner as the people you converse with.

• Newscasters in particular are very careful to present language that is grammatically clear and well articulated. Therefore, it is usually recommended to people trying to learn Standard English to watch such news programs.
• Certain other television shows will present very good Standard English, however television ranges wildly in terms of proper English usage.
• In general, broad-appeal scripted shows from networks tend to have very good English. Reality shows may have speech that is actually closer to what normal speech really is, but may not help you speak closer to Standard English.

• If you want to write with a particular style or in a particular genre, read things that are related to that. You will tend to adopt styles and ideas from what you read.

Nonstandard and Questionable Usage

• A lot, alot – “Alot” is not a word; use “a lot” in informal writing. Substitute "many", “much”, "several", "numerous", "a large number", and "a large amount” in formal writing.
• Ain't – "Ain’t" is always wrong, whether it is used to mean "to be" or "to have". The use of “ain’t I?” is nonstandard. “Amn’t I?” is also nonstandard English; “aren’t I?” is standard English. [6] X Research source Despite the use of “ain’t I?” and “amn’t I?” in some dialects, “the correct standard singular form is the plural form aren’t: I’m right, aren’t I? ” [7] X Research source
• Alright, all right – "Alright" is nonstandard; use “all right”. Like "okay", "all right" is an informal word; substitute "fine" or "acceptable" in formal writing.
• anyways – The proper word is "anyway".
• Gonna, wanna – These are contractions of "going to" and "want to". They are unacceptable in all writing except in dialogue. If the speaker truly did say, "I’m gonna go to the supermarket", write it down that way.
• Hopefully – “Hopefully” is a formal, impersonal word. There is no perfect alternative with the same meaning. As it is one word, “hopefully” is more concise than any of the alternatives. “Hopefully” was initially criticized because it was expected to modify the verb. In the sentence “The candidate will hopefully be nominated by the party”, “hopefully” does not mean “in a hopeful manner” but instead makes an impersonal, hopeful prediction. It is a sentence adverb, which can modify an entire sentence, and sentence adverbs are common in formal writing. “Hopefully” is used even in legal writing. [8] X Research source In fact, “hopefully” might have once been a rogue word that was considered even “pretentious”. [9] X Research source
• The paper will have a negative impact. (This may well be an empty sentence.)
• The paper will negatively impact the historian’s reputation. (This sentence structure, with a transitive verb, forces the writer to say who will be impacted.)
• Irregardless – This form is nonstandard. The prefix “ir-” and the suffix “-less” make it redundant. Standard English uses “regardless” or “irrespective”.
• 'Merica – Use "America"
• "Get off of me."
• "Get off me."
• "What is inside of the bag?"
• "What is inside the bag?"
• "All of the students knew the answer."
• "All the students knew the answer."
• Out loud – “Out loud” is nonstandard; use the more concise “aloud”.
• Until, till, ‘til – "'Til" is a nonstandard form. "Until" is preferred to "till" in formal writing.
• "As a child, I use to go to nursery school."
• "As a child, I used to go to nursery school."

Community Q&A

• Do not be afraid to use a "split verb phrase." Robert Lowth himself said that this was grammatically correct. [12] X Research source Some writers who do not split infinitives refuse to split verb phrases as well, but there is no such rule. If there were such a rule, we should all be saying, "I saw her not" instead of "I did not see her." We also should say, "You are going?" instead of "Are you going?" but "You are going?" is a nonstandard question. Split verb phrases have the advantages (in terms of emphasis) of split infinitives when an adverb comes between the two parts of the verb phrase. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Try to avoid ending a clause with a preposition. You might have heard about ending a sentence with a preposition, but a preposition can also be separated from its object in some types of clauses. The word “preposition” literally means “a putting before.” Prepositions should generally be placed before the objects that they take. Prepositions are also weak words to have at the end of a sentence or clause, the most emphatic position. [13] X Research source Robert Lowth, along with John Dryden, is best known for introducing this rule to keep prepositions and their objects together. In A Short Introduction to English Grammar , Lowth stated that it is preferable in formal English to place prepositions in front of relative pronouns. [14] X Research source He also said that prepositions must follow some verbs (such as “to fall on ”) to give them their meaning. [15] X Research source These verbs may require the preposition to be at the end of the clause and were used by Robert Lowth in his book [16] X Research source and by John Dryden. [17] X Research source One characteristic structure of formal English, the passive voice, can be formed only with the preposition at the end of a clause. Like Latin, English can utilize intransitive verbs in the passive voice. It was impossible to end a sentence with a preposition in Latin, but the language often employed a single verb (such as "trānslūcere") for what English would express with a verb and preposition acting as a single unit ("to shine through"). Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Use "who" and "whom" properly . “Who” is the subject pronoun; “whom” is the object pronoun. For example, “Whom did Sally see?” uses “whom,” the object pronoun. When you are unsure about which to use, rework the sentence and substitute either "he" or "him." Rewrite “Whom did Sally see?” as “Sally saw whom?” and then "Sally saw him." Because "him" sounds correct, "whom" is employed in the sentence. If you feel uncomfortable with "whom" in speech, William Safire suggests recasting the sentence to remove the pronoun. When George Bush used "Who do you trust?" as a slogan, Safire suggested "Which candidate do you trust?" [18] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Be careful about correcting others when you are in conversation. Some people take it the wrong way. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 0
• Articles on the Internet (especially those on blogs) are more likely to contain errors than printed works such as books or magazines. Internet pages are often not checked as carefully as other written works. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
• No one is perfect. Even English mavens such as William Safire, Richard Lederer, and Lynne Truss draw comments and criticism on their writing styles. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
• It is true that "practice makes perfect", but no one is perfect. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about learning the english language, check out our in-depth interview with Alicia Oglesby .

• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/spelling-and-word-lists/improve-spelling.html
• ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/helping/target/fluency
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-improve-english/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ Angela Downing and Philip Locke. English Grammar. Page 22. Taylor & Francis, 2006.
• ↑ Benjamin W. Griffith, Vincent Foster Hopper, C. Gale, and Ronald C Foote. Barron's Pocket Guide to Correct Grammar. Page 79. Barron's Educational Series, 2004.
• ↑ Bryan Garner. A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage, Second Edition. Page 407. Oxford University Press US, 2001.
• ↑ "Hopefully" in Dictonary.com.
• ↑ Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Page 527. Merriam-Webster, 1994.
• ↑ “Impact” in Dictionary.com.
• ↑ Robert Lowth. A Short Introduction to English Grammar: With Critical Notes. Page 131.
• ↑ Richard Lederer, Richard Dowis, and Jim McLean. Sleeping Dogs Don't Lay: Practical Advice for the Grammatically Challenged. Page 92. 1999.
• ↑ 16.0 16.1 Robert Lowth. A Short Introduction to English Grammar: With Critical Notes. Pages 133 and 134.
• ↑ “Besides this principal Design of Grammar in our own Language, there is a secondary use to which it may be applied, and which I think, is not attended to as it deserves; the facilitating of the acquisition of other Languages, whether ancient or modern.” [1] He used “is not attended to ." Notice that he also wrote, “ to which it may be applied,” rather than “ that it may be applied to .”
• ↑ “You, besides this fort, have yet three castles in this isle, amply provided for , and eight tall ships riding at anchor near.” [2] “She’s provided for with a familiar too.” [3]
• ↑ William Safire. On Language; Who Trusts Whom? The New York Times. October 4, 1992.
• ↑ Scott C. Lucas. To Not Be or Not to Be, That Is the Question: A Corpus-Based Analysis of the Split Infinitive.
• ↑ Frank N. Magill. Foreign Language Series. Salem Press, 1984. Page 526.
• ↑ Bryan Garner. A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage, Second Edition. Page 823. Oxford University Press US, 2001.
• ↑ K. D. Sullivan and Merilee Eggleston. The McGraw-Hill Desk Reference for Editors, Writers, and Proofreaders. Pages 49 and 50. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006.
• ↑ Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Page 868. Merriam-Webster, 1994.

About This Article

As a native English speaker, there are a few ways you can learn perfect English. If you come across a word you don't know how to pronounce, search for it online. Just make sure you’re using the American or British English pronunciation, depending on which one you want to speak. You can also listen to radio, podcasts, and audiobooks in English, which will help you improve your grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Watch the news regularly, which should give you a good example of how to speak clearly and articulately. Try to avoid slang words, and stick to proper English. For more English tips, including how to practice your writing in a fun way, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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5 Connected Speech Secrets for Fast, Native English Pronunciation

What is Connected Speech?

Learn how connected speech will help you to speak English faster, more fluently, and much more like a native speaker. Unfortunately, many language learners don’t know about this subject, but we should! First of all, let’s make sure we have a basic understanding. What is connected speech?

Connected speech means that when we speak a language, words have some effect on each other. We do not always pronounce words completely separately with a neat pause in between. In fact, many words affect each other when you put them into phrases and sentences. The end sound of one word often affects the beginning of the next word.

Connected Speech Includes Many Sub-Topics

There are many different ways that connected speech happens. Sometimes sounds are added, or omitted, or changed, in different ways.  It is actually a big subject and we could spend a long time talking about the several sub-topics in it!

In this lesson, you’ll learn a bit about five different kinds of connected speech: catenation or linking, intrusion, elision, assimilation and geminates.

Catenation or Linking

Catenation, or Linking is probably what most people think of first when they think of connected speech. Linking happens when the end of one word blends into another. When the last sound of a word is a consonant and the first sound of the next word is a vowel, you get linking.

For example:

I want this orange –> thisorange

I want that orange –> thadorange

This afternoon –> thisafternoon

Is he busy? –> Isi busy?

Cats or dogs? –> Catserdogs?

Intrusion means an additional sound “intrudes” or inserts itself between others. It is often is a /j/ or /w/ or /r/ sound between two other vowel sounds.

He asked –> Heyasked

She answered –? Sheyanswered

Do it –> Dewit

Go out –> Gowout

Shoe on –> Shoewon

Elision means when a sound disappears. Basically, a sound is eaten by other stronger or similar sounds next to it. This often happens with a /t/ or /d/ sound.

Next door –> Nexdoor

Dad take –> Datake

Most common –> Moscommon

Assimilation

Assimilation means two sounds blend together, forming a new sound altogether. This often happens with /t/ and /j/ which make /ʧ/ and with /d/ and /j/ which make / ʤ  /.

Don’t you — donʧu

Won’t you — wonʧu

Meet you — meeʧu

Did you — di ʤu

Would you — wu ʤu

Finally, geminates are like twins — two same sounds back-to-back. Often when one word ends with the same letter as the beginning of the next word, you should connect the two words in your speech.

Social life –> socialife

Pet turtle –> Peturtle

These five points and examples may make you feel like you have a lot to study!

Try learning the International Phonetic Alphabet so that you can take notes about how words sound together. Or, you could keep an audio journal on your smart phone where you record how words and phrases sound with connected speech.

Here is a cool tool you can try making English sentences into IPA . Keep in mind that sometimes real life pronunciation will be different because of variations.

If you liked this lesson, you’ll love my lesson about pronunciation and the “schwa” sound. Click here to view it now. 

And click on our video lesson below if you’d like to hear more about connected speech!

Would you like training to improve your English speaking faster? pre-register today for information about the Complete Go Natural English Course, Fluent Communication!

How to Stop Translating in Your Head and Start Thinking in English

Gabby Wallace, M.Ed TESOL

About the Author Gabby Wallace is the Founder of Go Natural English, where you can quickly improve your confidence speaking English through advanced fluency practice. Even if you don't have much time, this is the best place for improving your English skills. Millions of global intermediate - advanced English students are learning with Gabby's inspiring, clear, and energetic English lessons. Gabby has a Masters Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Boston University and 20+ years experience helping students become fluent through her online courses and membership program.

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How To Better Understand Native English Speakers [Advice from an English teacher]

Published on, may 20, 2022, november 15, 2022, this article may contain affiliate links.

It can feel frustrating when you have been learning English for many years, but you still struggle to understand native speakers. Our guide to better understanding native speakers explains the problems you may face and gives practical strategies to help you.

Table of contents

As a foreigner living in Malaysia, it has been my long-term goal to speak fluent Bahasa Malaysia (Malay).

But, as I’ve improved, I noticed something weird. Malaysia has a large Indian and Chinese population. When I hear Indians or Chinese speaking Malay, they are easier - much easier - to understand than the ethnic Malays.

Why is this? It’s because they, too, speak it as a second language. They speak a little slower than native speakers of Malay and use fewer idioms.

When I pointed this out to my students, they said that it is exactly the same for them with English.

What’s more, they could understand me when I talked directly to them (because I ‘graded’ my language to their understanding). But they couldn’t understand me when I chatted with another native English teacher.

As you can see, this is a subject I'm super interested in, both as a language learner and as an English teacher. So here are my top tips for you on why English native speakers are hard to understand, and what you can do about it.

Why are native speakers hard to understand?

Let’s start by looking at WHY native speakers are difficult to understand.

Native speakers talk faster

Is English a ‘fast’ language? Studies show that it is spoken more slowly than Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Korean and Turkish.

Nevertheless, it is certainly true that native speakers talk faster in English than non-natives. If you have been speaking English mainly with non-native speakers, you may have to ‘tune’ your listening to a faster speed.

Native speakers use slang, idioms, and weird phrases

English is an expressive language with a huge vocabulary. On top of that, we have idioms, slang and all kinds of strange ways to say things.

Let’s take an example:

George : I can’t believe Mark spent $5000 on some investment scheme that he knows nothing about. Mary : Well, you know what they say about a fool and his money.

In this short dialogue, we can see examples of exaggeration (making something sound more extreme than it is). George says “I can’t believe” when actually he means “I’m surprised”. He also says that Steve “knows nothing” about the investment scheme. We can guess that Steve knows something about it.

Then, Nancy uses a proverb (a kind of idiom that gives advice). The proverb is: a fool and his money are soon parted. 

But because native speakers know this proverb, she doesn’t actually say it, she only refers to it (‘you know what they say’).

Two speakers of English as a second language would express the same information in a much more straightforward way:

Georgio : Marcos spent $5000 on an investment scheme. I think he wasted his money. Maria : Yes, Marcos is not very careful with his money.

Native speakers even find creative ways just to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’:

Interviewer : People say that your government is inept . Is that true? Politician : Well, that certainly doesn’t seem to be the case if you look at the facts.

As an English learner, you recognise that the interviewer is asking a yes/no question and you listen for the speaker to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. But native speakers don’t always work that way. And politicians can never give a direct answer !

Native speakers use cultural references

For native speakers, English is closely tied to culture. They feel comfortable dropping cultural references into their speech.

Unfortunately, if you did not grow up in their culture, the references may go over your head . Here’s an example:

George : You know what Mark’s done now? He’s only gone and sold his car for a thousand quid. Frank : What a muppet! It was worth twice that!

Could you catch the cultural reference? A muppet is a character from the old TV show The Muppets . In British English, it can refer to a stupid person.

Native speakers may speak with a strong dialect

If there is a particular speaker who you find hard to understand, perhaps he speaks with a strong dialect. This is a particular issue with British English .

If someone from Scotland, for example, travels overseas, they need to soften their dialect so that everyone can understand. However, if YOU travel to Scotland, the responsibility is on you to adapt and understand.

On TV shows, a Scottish or Welsh character is not likely to soften their accent. On the contrary, they may ham it up to make the character more interesting.

Native speakers connect, slur and shorten speech

Why does it sound like native speakers ‘blur’ their sounds together? There are two reasons for this.

First of all, one feature of English is ‘ connected speech ’. Basically, if the last sound of one word is the same as the first sound of the next word, the two words sound like one.

For example, “I want to go” sounds like “I wanto go”. The two ‘t’ sounds are connected.

In fact, if one word ends in a vowel and the next begins with a consonant (or vice versa), the words are also connected.

Hence “I want to go” actually sounds like “Iwantogo”. That is, we say all four words together as if it were one.

The second thing that native speakers do is to ‘slur’ their speech. This leads to words such as ‘wanna’ (want to), ‘gonna’ (going to), ‘hafta’ (have to) and ‘lemme’ (let me).

So with the slur, we go from ‘I want to go’ to ‘Iwantogo’ to ‘Iwannago’.

Remember, also, that English has a lot of contractions . This can really shorten a sentence.

Long form : I would have told him. Contracted form : I’d’ve told’im.

All of these ways of connecting, slurring and contracting speech can make English sound like it is spoken very quickly when actually the core issue is not speed.

Native speakers use advanced vocabulary

Do we only use advanced vocabulary in formal scenarios? No, in fact, advanced vocabulary can be used anytime that we wish to be more expressive.

Here’s an example:

Linda : How did you feel when your rabbit died? George : I was devastated .

‘Devastated’ is a level C1 word, according to the English Vocabulary Profile app. This means it is learned at an advanced level. George uses it to express a strong feeling, not because he wishes to be formal.

You can expect to hear native speakers using some advanced vocabulary, even in everyday situations.

Strategies for understanding native speakers

We’ve already taken a big step towards understanding native speakers - we’ve analysed and understood why they are difficult to understand.

Now let’s look at some practical strategies for understanding them.

Be patient and don’t panic

Many of the things we have discussed (unusual phrases, idioms , understanding connected speech ) are advanced level skills.

Most learners reading this blog are at upper-intermediate level, moving onto advanced level. As such, don’t panic if you don’t understand native speakers. It is an ability that you will pick up as you improve from your current level.

Keep in mind that the learning process often slows down as you get more advanced (because you already know most things!). We never learn as quickly as we wish.

So, don’t rush it and don’t judge yourself too harshly when you don’t understand a native speaker. 

Choose your listening practice carefully

If you want to understand native speakers, you need real materials, not textbook listening clips from the classroom.

Keep in mind that not all native speakers speak at the same speed. Some also use a wider vocabulary than others. Some have a stronger accent or dialect than others.

At Leonardo English, it goes without saying that we recommend podcasts, in particular English Learning for Curious Minds . This podcast has been designed specifically to help intermediate-advanced learners on their journey to understanding native speakers.

If you choose a video, for example from TED.com , for listening practice, choose the speaker very carefully.

You will learn best when you find the speaker just a little difficult to understand. Too easy and you won’t learn anything. Too difficult and you won’t follow.

If you can understand 70-80% the first time that you listen, the video is the right level.

Use the tools available to you

Podcasts , TED , YouTube , and Netflix are all great sources of realistic listening material.

Don’t be afraid to listen or watch twice. We do this in English class so that students get the main idea from the first listening and focus on the details during the second listening.

Choose an audio or video clip where subtitles are available. Perhaps you can listen once with subtitles (in English) and once without subtitles. Try different strategies (and listen to this episode on learning English with podcasts ).

However, remember your end goal is to understand without the help of subtitles. As a long-term strategy, you should try to use subtitles less and less .

Remember that podcasts , being audio-only, can actually help you focus on the language without being distracted by the visuals.

Binge-watch!

Have you heard the expression ‘binge-watching’? It means to sit down and watch multiple episodes of a program at one time. Thanks to Netflix and YouTube, binge-watching has become a bad habit that many people have picked up.

That is, it’s bad for your fitness levels… but it can be good for your English.

By binge-watching an English series, you become more and more familiar with the speech patterns of the particular characters. Soon, you’ll be surprised at how well you understand!

Binge-watching also fits in with my final tip… immersion.

Immerse yourself

To ‘ immerse ’ yourself is to be surrounded by something.

We all know that one of the most effective ways to learn native English is to go to a native-speaking country like England or America and spend every day ‘immersed’ in English.

However, that’s just not possible for most people. So what can you do?

Binge-watching, as I mentioned, is one form of immersion. It means you are fully concentrating on English for several hours at a time.

The rise of Zoom meetings provides another way. It is possible to attend conferences, seminars and talks online. If you’re interested in architecture, for example, why not attend a seminar hosted in the US or the UK? Or Australia, Canada, Ireland or anywhere else where English is a native language.

Whatever you are interested in, I can guarantee you that people are discussing it somewhere online, right now, and often in a free seminar.

Social audio apps like Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces can help you get started, or you could even check out a site like Context Travel , which gives daily seminars about a wide range of fascinating topics.

If you want to take it a step further, here's a guide on how to create your own immersion course in English .

You can do it!

If you really want to understand native English speech, I promise you that you can do it.

All you need is time, an understanding of the challenges and the right tools and strategies.

And best of all, these tools and strategies -podcasts,  binge-watching, TED talks, social audio apps - are a lot of fun!

Good luck in your journey to better English and stay curious! 

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Rough Translation

Tower of babble: nonnative speakers navigate the world of 'good' and 'bad' english.

Carolyn McCusker

Rhaina Cohen

Picture this: A group of nonnative English speakers is in a room. There are people from Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Nigeria and France. They're having a great time speaking to each other in English, and communication is smooth.

And then an American walks into the room. The American speaks quickly, using esoteric jargon ("let's take a holistic approach") and sports idioms ("you hit it out of the park!"). And the conversation trickles to a halt.

Decades of research show that when a native English speaker enters a conversation among nonnative speakers, understanding goes down. Global communication specialist Heather Hansen tells us that's because the native speaker doesn't know how to do what nonnative speakers do naturally: speak in ways that are accessible to everyone, using simple words and phrases.

And yet, as Hansen points out, this more accessible way of speaking is often called "bad English." There are whole industries devoted to "correcting" English that doesn't sound like it came from a native British or American speaker. Try Googling "how to get rid of my accent," and see how many ads pop up.

It turns out that these definitions of "good" and "bad" English may be counterproductive if our goal is to communicate as effectively as possible.

Dreams dashed by the English proficiency test

Daiva Repečkaitė, a Lithuanian journalist based in Malta, started learning English in primary school and used it daily for a semester abroad in Sweden. Despite her wide English-language experience — articles, talks, a radio show she co-hosted and more — she says, "There are countless jobs I didn't apply for because they required native English [speakers]."

"Proper" English can be used to shut people out of spaces and opportunities, Repečkaitė says. While volunteering at the African Refugee Development Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, she helped a Sudanese refugee prepare for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) — an English-proficiency standardized exam that stood between him and his dream to go to an Israeli university.

According to Repečkaitė, the student was fluent (English was his country's colonial language), but he didn't pass on his first attempt. How can a person fluent in English fail TOEFL? There are a few reasons, she says.

One, the test requires writing an argumentative essay — "a very specific genre," Repečkaitė explained, that requires knowledge of specific writing conventions and linking words like "moreover" that are rare in other contexts.

The test also requires making a clear choice between British and American spelling and vocabulary. That "can trip up people whose English comes from various sources" — say, a third from British textbooks and two-thirds from American movies, Repečkaitė said.

Ultimately, Repečkaitė said, the test does not simply measure communication skills. "I knew and made it very clear to him that TOEFL is not about English. It is a gatekeeping tool to enter middle-class spaces." "Good English" (and the educational resources, like tutoring, needed to acquire it) is tied to class status; it functions as a barrier to success that not everyone can pass.

TELL US YOUR STORY! Are you a nonnative speaker who has had an encounter where English speakers made you feel that your English didn't measure up? Or where an idiom or cliché threw you for a loop? Send an email to [email protected] with your story, with "Speaking English" in the subject line. We may feature it in a future story on NPR.org .

Repečkaitė's story might help us understand why it's important to rethink how we judge English. She fears that obstacles like the English-proficiency test keep competent students and professionals from opportunities they deserve — to the detriment of everyone.

"As the pandemic rages," she said, "I worry that there might be countless refugee doctors and nurses who just haven't read enough Shakespeare or haven't practiced enough multiple-choice, fill-in exercises to pass these tests in English-speaking countries." Especially at a time when the burden of COVID-19 weighs heavily on the world, Repečkaitė says, we all suffer when skilled professionals like doctors are prevented from helping people.

The good, the bad and the judgy

As for those who do make it into the professional English-speaking world, they can expect a fairly steady line of corrections, criticisms and sometimes downright mockery of how they speak.

Néstor Rodríguez, a professor of Latin American literature at the University of Toronto, says he struggled with English when he first came to the U.S. to study. Originally from the Dominican Republic and having lived for some time in Puerto Rico, Rodríguez says English-as-a-second-language lessons along with a survival instinct helped him eventually be "able to communicate with a certain degree of fluency and spontaneity."

When he started as a professor in Toronto, he faced criticism and ridicule from his colleagues. "I remember quite vividly," he said, "when about 10 years ago, I had to chair the dissertation defense of a student from the department of English." At one point, Rodríguez asked the group, "Does anybody else want to intervene?"

"Professor C leaned back in his chair and repeated in a dramatic mock British accent, 'Intervene!' " The professor was drawing attention to Rodríguez's way of pronouncing the word.

Rodríguez says he "had an utopian idea of the university as a space for constructive debates and respect among peers" and was disappointed and shocked to be mocked by a colleague in this setting. When he looks back, Rodríguez says, he sees this moment as "another example of microaggression based on my accent."

In the moment, he didn't react. "I was young and still believed in the redemptive power of nonviolent goodwill."

"Nowadays," Rodríguez notes, "I would have filed a grievance against [this professor] so heavy that he would have had to sell his soul to remain employed."

There's a line between being a language bully (as in the case of Professor C) and being a native English speaker who is an ally. Many nonnative speakers report feeling supported when they are corrected in the spirit of friendship by co-workers.

Sophia Krasikov, who came to the United States from Russia at age 38, was in the position of learning much of her English on the job when she started working at IBM.

She recalls one moment when she made an English mistake in front of her colleagues: "We were rolling out a new software, and in a big development meeting I kept referring to it as 'Virgin 1.1.' A colleague came to my office and said, 'Sophia, it's ' Version 1.1.' "

She says that she felt grateful for this correction, which was made with respect and helpfulness in mind. "The fact that my American colleague took the time to help me express my ideas made me feel that what I had to say was valued and that they wanted to include me in the conversation." Here, tone, purpose and, importantly, whether corrections are welcome make all the difference.

Filing a (language) complaint

Research shows that it's not just judgment and ridicule from native English speakers that impede communication. It's also their unconscious use of esoteric idioms and unnecessarily confusing vocabulary that makes language less accessible.

Ting Gong is a management consultant in Washington, D.C., who grew up in Shanghai and moved to the U.S. in her 20s. She ran up against this issue of confusing vocabulary at the dermatologist one day. "The receptionist gave me a sheet and asked me to write down my complaint," she said. "I told her that I did not have any complaint, and she looked kind of irritated and then she insisted that I wrote down anything that I can think of."

Only later that day did Gong understand what the receptionist had meant. "After I got home, I realized that 'complaints' here refer to symptoms I have. And because I only realized this after I spoke to my husband, when I got home, I actually wrote down 'the receptionist was not friendly' as one of my complaints."

A guide for native speakers

So what can we do to improve communication between native and nonnative English speakers?

Hansen, who has spent years as a communication specialist studying this question, says the onus shouldn't be on nonnative speakers but rather on native English speakers to improve their comprehension of accents different from their own.

Take a page out of nonnative speakers' book, says Hansen, by modifying your English to be more inclusive. That means no more confusing idioms, jargon and sports references, so no "touching base on improving synergy with your teammates."

Another suggestion from Hansen: Instead of policing others' accents, native English speakers can focus on changing their own enunciation to be more understandable. For example, research shows that clearly enunciating hard "t" and "r" sounds in your speech makes it easier for nonnative English speakers to understand you.

If you're a native English speaker who's up to the task, small adjustments like these might allow you to join in on conversations with nonnative speakers instead of inhibiting them. Take Joseph Issam Harb, the son of two immigrants who was raised in the United States and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Having lived, at different points in his life, in the U.S., the U.K. and the UAE, he says, "I am still learning about English from nonnative speakers."

"In email, I've discovered the phrase [commonly used by some nonnative speakers] 'please do the needful,' " Harb said. "For years I have been fascinated by this phrase and its use in formal work environment emails." Discovering the phrase and wondering about the origins of the phrase, which means "please do what needs to be done," has been a joy for Harb. "I haven't yet encountered a person who can tell me, 'Yeah, if you translate that directly, it's a common phrase in my language.' "

English cultivated among nonnative speakers can include useful modifications and creative new turns of phrase. Harb referred to the greeting "Hello, mamsir," often used by English-speaking Philippine service workers, which is the literal repetition of the scripted "Hello, ma'am/sir" — a quick, respectful and gender-neutral way to address someone.

According to Hansen, if we'd like to facilitate better global communication, then supposedly "bad" English — that's more universally understandable to more people — is a valuable tool. Respecting the value that nonnative English brings to conversation, instead of treating it as a thing to be corrected, could help us all become better communicators.

This article was written in collaboration with Rough Translation , a podcast from NPR whose mission is to "follow familiar conversations into unfamiliar territory." Rough Translation 's episode, " How to Speak Bad English ," is out now. The podcast is available from NPR One , Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Pocket Casts , Spotify and RSS .

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How to understand native English speakers: “Whaddya…?” & Relaxed Speech

Test your understanding of this English lesson

102 comments.

thanks james

I love your sense of humor! <3 :-)

You're my best teacher!

The chicken didn’t make it to the other side ..hahahah best Thanks

[The chicken didn’t make it to the other side] What’s that mean? I just don’t understand this joke.Can you tell me?

That mean – chicken is dead and now it’s on plate – dinner :-p

Full joke sounds: — Why did the chicken cross the road? — Because it wants to get on the other side.

steveChou, the chicken didn’t cross the road.It is dead. It was hit by a car. Now, that’s funny.

thank you. its help me a lot

Thank you James! It’s very useful!

Thanks a lot James

This vid is really helpful for me. Thanks a lot!!!

Thank you very much James! (I undestood the chicken joke, haha)

Am gonna watch all of your videos) thanks a lot

I dont know how it works but i always understand everything from you james . You are amazing teacher and if you would be my private teacher, i promise you that i would can speak like native speaker only for one year! :) im hard working guy

Thank you James. I enjoyed the topic.

Thank you, James!!!

Thanks, james. it is very useful for me. Could you please give me some more exercise about schwa?

thanks! whaddaya do for the next lesson? :)

Thank you, for all your lessons.

Got 90☺ Thanks james.

I have earned 100/100!

I got 80 thanks james.i’m so happy about it.

Thanks Mr. James…..!!

Thanks James!!!Nice lesson ;)

I can’t resist to tell a joke about chicken:)

a:Which day of the week do chickens hate most? b:Fry-day!

Thanks for the lesson:)

Thank you James for the lesson!

Whaddayadoing here, James? I watch your videos of(t)en. I also love your pronunciation of bottle at the start here.

Also, LOL @ “FA-MY-LY?” (fam-lee)

Yep, lots of useful stuff here. Pay attention, students!

Nice comment, Alex! I reckon you’re the unique Engvid teacher who leaves comments to videos made by other teachers. I appreciate it because it express comradeship. Moreover, I like your own lessons too, of course. Take care!

Thank you very much. Great lesson.

Hello, everyone! My name is Rustam. I’m from Tajikistan, wanna be in touch with the one who wants to practice and to improve our lovely language (English)

Hi Rustam, I’m also looking for one to one listens, maybe we can practice together once or twice a week?

Hello people!

I also love interacting with foreigners to practice English, especially on Skype, where I participate of several groups.

Have you ever heard about Speakng24? That’s a helpful website to find international partners to speak English. I really recommend it. It’s free and you don’t have to create an account to use it. I will send you the link.

http://www.speaking24.com/

You can find me there on the weekends.

Regards from Brazil!

thank you.. that video helped me a lot :)

Whaddya mean native? Oh!Yes, I know! Thanks, James.

80 % :-) Thank you :-) Thank you James for the lesson!

Thanks james

Thanks so much! We love your sense of humour ! So relaxed to watch your videos!

Tnx for this lecture

Hi guys, Could you help me with my convisiation. I want to speake in english very wekl, because it’s neccesary to my job.

thanks po :)from philippines :)

My quiz got correctly, thank you.

thanks James ;)

Help me How can I download this lesson

Sorry, you can only watch our lessons on YouTube.

thank you.. that video helped me a lot

You are the best.

i enjoyed this lesson so much. thanks a bunch james :) but i wanna discuss something.if you don’t mind. it was really easy to undestand if I learn it from you. but, as we know some native has a different accent, and sometimes some of them not speak as clearly as yours, sometimes i totally had no idea of what their talking about.. so how we (actually for me) to deal with it?

ps : i’m sorry for all of the grammar mistakes, :’)

Thanks! Poor Chiken

thank you you help me

haha funny teacher. Waddaya want?

How I can speak English

Thank you Bro

nice video James :)

Thanks Jame.How can i continuous this lesson?

learn and fun

Thanks James!!!!

Thanks James!

Hi teacher James ILove this work congratulations

cool thanks so much from China

thanks a lot jemas

really useful, thanks James!

good lesson. Thank you

I often see “wyd” on twitter. What does it mean? What does it stand for?

It stands for “what [are] you doing?”

Thanks you James This video is very usefull

This lessons are funny :) Thank u James!!!

i’m uzbek. How to understand Couse and Becouse words into sentence. I can’t

Great lesson! Thanks. See if you like this joke: It’s a “knock-knock’ kind of joke,okay? – ” Knock-knock” – ” Who’s there?’ -” Nobody”. – ” Nobody, who?” – “………. (complete silence). Got it?

You got 10 correct out of 10.

Thanks James i get 100…

I got 10/10 in this exam…your lesson helps me a lot…

Great lesson James! Sorry about the chicken ;)

The best :D Thanks Sensei :D

Great lesson

Thanks I loved your lesson and it was a informative lecture. I like that chicken joke really that was a cool joke and I will tell this joke to my friends for fun.

10/10 It’s cool! James, thx))

Thank You! You really have talent to teach. I understand all your lessons.By the way, is Waddya not Waddaya, right!?

Thx James, Waddya need? Like or Money? XD

Thanks James

I got 100% for this test. Hey

Thanks James. It’s very useful. I want help. Any one from eng vid make a conversation with me daily through social media. So that I feel difference in my learning

thank you for all th efforts you do to help us i have learnt alot from you .

Interesting lesson, James. In my opinion, this is a natural process which happens in any language: we try to speak the faster we can, and we “sacrifice” (drop) some letters and syllables.

Due to that, we have so many different languages in the world. The tongues change all the time, endlessly. What a nice liguistic topic!! I love this website!

Until next time!

Thanks a lot for this lesson. We can say “whatcha” instead of “what are you”(a lesson from Ms. Ronnie). Is there any differences between “whatcha” and “whaddya” or we can use both of them in any situations? whatcha gonna do? whaddya gonna do?

Thanks Jemis

Thanks Jemis. l like you teacher

Thanks James from South Korea!

Thanks James?? I got 10/10 ✌

hey! thank you very much! 10/10) ur classes so funny and interesting! you’re my favorute teacher!

Very useful lecture, thanks a lot!

Oh MY GOD, I can´t say the right pronunciation , too difficult for me to talk as a native speaker.

d’ja (do you )mean chicken

Hi, very good!

I got 9/10 correct. A cool lesson:-)

I’ve got 10 :)

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80 Common English Phrases

by Adriana | Jul 11, 2018 | English Vocabulary Lesson | 57 comments

In the English Vocabulary lesson, you will learn 80 common English Phrases.  You will learn common phrases to ask how someone is, express how are you are, how to invite someone here, how to respond to situations… among other situations so that you can improve your English Vocabulary and use these common English phrases when speaking in English.

The common 80 English Phrases have been divided into a 18 topics, to better help you remember them and use them in the appropriate situation when expressing yourself in English.

Watch the video lesson to learn the 80 Common English Phrases…

Make sure to turn on subtitles by clicking the CC button if you are struggling to follow the lesson 🙂

Friends, you can help others learning English by translating this video lesson in your native language .

Click here to translate this video lesson to your native language, to help English learners from your country better master English pronunciation

In the video lesson we learned the 80 most common phrases in English.

Common phrases to ask how someone is:.

• What’s new?
• What have you been up to lately?
• How’s it going?
• How are things?
• How’s life?

Common phrases to say how you are:

• I’m fine, thanks. How about you?
• Pretty good.
• Same as always
• Not so great.
• Could be better
• cant complain

Common phrases to say thank you:

• I really appreciate it.
• I’m really grateful
• That’s so kind of you.
• I owe you one. (this means you want/need to do a favor for the other person in the future)

Common phrases to   respond to thank you:

• No problem.
• Don’t mention it.
• My pleasure.

Common phrases to end a conversation politely:

• It was nice chatting with you.
• Anyway, I should get going.

Common phrases to ask for information:

• Do you have any idea…?
• Would you happen to know…? (when you’re not sure if the other person has the information.)
• I don’t suppose you (would) know…? (when you’re not sure if the other person has the information.)

Common phrases to say I don’t know:

• I have no idea/clue.
• I can’t help you there.
• (informal) Beats me.
• I’m not really sure.
• I’ve been wondering that, too.

Common phrases for not having an opinion:

• I’ve never given it much thought.
• I don’t have strong feelings either way.
• It doesn’t make any difference to me.
• I have no opinion on the matter.

Common phrases for agreeing:

• Absolutely.
• That’s so true.
• That’s for sure.
• I agree 100%
• I couldn’t agree with you more.
• (informal) Tell me about it! / You’re telling me!
• (informal) I’ll say!
• I suppose so. (use this phrase for weak agreement – you agree, but reluctantly)

Common phrases for disagreeing:

• I’m not so sure about that.
• That’s not how I see it.
• Not necessarily

Common phrases to respond to great news:

• That’s great!
• How wonderful!

Common phrases to respond to bad news:

• That’s terrible.
• Poor you. (Use this to respond to bad situations that are not too serious)
• I’m so sorry to hear that.

Common phrases to invite someone somewhere:

• Are you free… [Saturday night?]
• Are you doing anything… [Saturday night?]
• . (informal) Do you wanna… [see a movie?]
• (formal)Would you like to… [join me for dinner?]

Common phrases for food:

• I’m starving! (= I’m very hungry)
• Let’s grab a bite to eat.
• How about eating out tonight? (eat out = eat at a restaurant)
• I’ll have… (use this phrase for ordering in a restaurant)

Common phrases for price:

• It cost a fortune.
• It cost an arm and a leg.
• That’s a rip-off. (= overpriced; far more expensive than it should be)
• That’s a bit pricey.
• That’s quite reasonable. (= it’s a good price)
• That’s a good deal. (= a good value for the amount of money)
• It was a real bargain.
• It was dirt cheap. (= extremely inexpensive)

Common phrases for weather:

• It’s a little chilly.
• It’s freezing. (= extremely cold)
• Make sure to bundle up. (bundle up = put on warm clothes for protection against the cold)

Common phrases for hot weather:

• It’s absolutely boiling! (boiling = extremely hot)
• it scorching hot outside

Common phrases for being tired:

• I’m exhausted.
• I’m dead tired.
• I can hardly keep my eyes open
• I’m gonna hit the sack. (hit the sack = go to bed)

If you loved this English  Lesson, you will also love these lessons…

Stop saying “HOWEVER”! Learn Alternative Advanced English Phrases and Expressions!

by Adriana | Jan 22, 2021 | English Vocabulary Lesson

Stop saying “HOWEVER” and Learn Alternative Advanced English Phrases and Expressions to speak more confidently in English!

English Slang Words You NEED TO KNOW in 2021 (Speak Like a Native)

by Adriana | Jan 8, 2021 | English Vocabulary Lesson

English Slang Words You NEED TO KNOW in 2021 to help you speak like a native and also understand native English speakers!

STOP SAYING I’M ANGRY – Advanced English Words and Phrases to Improve your Vocabulary

by Adriana | Dec 31, 2020 | English Vocabulary Lesson

Stop saying I’m angry and use these Advanced English Words and Phrases to Improve your Vocabulary

57 Comments

Thank you for sharing this,it is a big help for me

Glad it helps 🙂

Glad you found this lesson useful 🙂

i am learning english and i am doing job in Call Center. i want to be a fluent english speaker, and if you can talk to just because of this purpose do contact me on this number or email. Number is +923002399330 I am from Pakistan.

Really help full thanks a lot

My pleasure 🙂 glad it helps 🙂

Please add me in your whatsapp group My email is [email protected] Whatsapp no is 03151808323

Thank you very much!

my pleasure, glad it helps 🙂

Thanks for sharing.

My pleasure! Glad it helps 🙂

This posting is very useful Thank a lot

my pleasure! glad it helps

Thanks for sharing 😊

With thanks! Valuable information!

I haven’t spoken English in quite a while and got stuck a lot of times between sentences! This is absolutely gonna help me, I can see the difference of confidence in myself as I’m writing this comment! I’d love to get a “net-pal” whom I can chat to whenever I’d like, and maybe… Find a really great friend! Anyways, Thanks a lot for your help! I really appreciate it 🙂

Thanks for being here and for watching the lesson 🙂 Finding someone online to chat with is a great way to improve your English… good luck 🙂

hello Adriana , you are a great lady, I really interested in your voice. your character seizes me. Can I ask you something?

gracias esto realmente ayudó

Please give me a more phrases

Check out my other Vocabulary lessons here: https://englishteacheradriana.com/category/english-vocabulary-lessons/

Excellent work

it was quite different and generated some interest to learn to love speak in english. mam give some more interesting and fun pharaces

Glad you found it useful. You can find more vocabulary lessons here: https://englishteacheradriana.com/category/english-vocabulary-lessons/

Awesome 😍😍😍

I just want to say i fall in love of u, mam.

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Glad you enjoyed this lesson 🙂

I enjoined learning above phrases. You are such a great lady for learners!

Glad you enjoyed the lesson and found it useful 🙂

thank you sooooooo much it hepls me alot.amg i pass my assignment yeyy…

Glad this lesson helps 🙂 good luck with your assignment!

I really love this lessons.

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Glad this lesson helps 🙂

You are doing absolutely great work. It so much helpful for me. I hope i can able to talk with you. Anyway Thanks.

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i really appreciate it maam…….share more interesting english phrases…..

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No one says “I’m fine, thanks..

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The united states of accents: native american english.

Modern American accents have been shaped by the history of immigration. New York’s accent has been influenced by Italians, Michigan’s accent was shaped by the Finns , and of course, American accents wouldn’t exist without English colonization. Often ignored, however, are the people who were here before any of those groups came to the United States. Native American English is an important, understudied part of our accent landscape.

Native American English is different from the accents we’ve covered so far because it is tied to an identity, not a geographic location. Because of this, Native American English is not a highly specific way of speaking, and Native Americans do not all speak the same way. There are, however, commonalities that have sprung up across Native American communities. Before explaining why we’ll have to go back in time.

Languages Before And During Colonialism

Prior to colonization, the continents that would eventually be known as the Americas were very linguistically diverse. There were over 50 language families , which is huge when you consider the fact that Europe has only three main families: Romance, Germanic and Slavic. One estimate is that there were at least 2,000 distinct languages spoken throughout the Americas by the time Christopher Columbus landed in the Indies.

This article won’t rehash the harsh European conquest that proceeded over the centuries following Columbus’ arrival, but by the middle of the 20th century, at least two-thirds of indigenous languages had been wiped out. In the United States, there are only about 175 indigenous languages left, and most are spoken by only a small number of speakers. The most widely spoken is Navajo with 150,000 speakers, and there are restoration efforts to keep the remaining languages from going extinct.

For the most part, however, Native Americans have been forced to learn English to assimilate. This can be a point of tension, because language is such an important part of identity. To resolve this, Native Americans have found other ways to use speech to assert their heritage.

Native Influences On American Dialects

Despite having been around for longer than any other American voices, Native American dialects haven’t had a huge impact on non-Native American dialects. You’re most likely to see the influence of Native American language on English in location names: 26 of the 50 states were named after Native Americans (though the spellings were Anglicized). Colonists also tended to adopt Native American terms for native animals and geographic features, like skunk and  bayou . 

The remaining Native American speech influences that you might still hear used today are in the western parts of the country, namely in the Rocky Mountain region and the Pacific Northwest  — o ne example in the latter being the use of the indigenous word “potlatch” instead of “potluck.” Other than that, you won’t find much noticeable Native American language in most people’s speech in the United States.

There’s no definite explanation for why Native American accents didn’t intermingle much, but it likely has to do with attitudes toward Native Americans. Our impressions of accents are strongly related to our impressions of people. Thus, discrimination against Native Americans meant people would resist picking up Native American speech patterns.

Native American English, Or The “Rez Accent”

At some point in your life, you have probably encountered Native American speech portrayed in the media. There have been many negative, stereotyped examples of Native Americans (think of almost any Western), but once in a while, there are more accurate representations. Here’s an example from the 1998 film Smoke Signals :

In this scene, the character Thomas Builds-the-Fire is telling a story, and you can hear that his speech pattern is very distinctive. There is a “sing song” quality to it, which is caused by differences in intonation and vowel length in the speech. While the accent Thomas uses in this clip is somewhat exaggerated according to Native Americans, linguists have found that the features in his speech do appear in Native American English, which is sometimes called the “Reservation Accent,” or just “Rez Accent.” And the oddest thing is that these traits are not specific to any one group of Native Americans; they pop up across North America.

No one is entirely sure exactly where these Native American English features come from. Linguists have attempted to study the prosody — the stress, intonation and rhythm of speech — to find the source of it. One theory is that it’s based on Native American languages, many of which are tonal. Often, when someone transitions from a tonal language to a non-tonal one, the speech will still be affected. That could explain why the Rez Accent almost sounds tonal, and why the sentences flow differently. For example, a Native American English speaker asking a question will have a more even tone than other American speakers, who usually use upspeak (the pitch of the question goes up at the end).

There’s another theory that boarding schools, where Native Americans were forced to learn English, also played a role in the development of the accent. Children would learn English in a specific way, and then bring that way of speaking back to reservations, where it would form a new accent. This theory is very popular among linguists, but it is still kind of a mystery how the accent spread across huge distances.

The reason the accent has managed to persist, though, goes back to identity . There are many Native Americans who don’t speak the language of their ancestors, and so to claim membership to their heritage, they turn to accented English instead. This isn’t to say all Native Americans have this accent — there are plenty of people who identify with their Native American heritage who speak with other accents — but for some, it’s a way to demonstrate group membership.

For members of an oppressed group, speech can be important. It is a way of showing that despite years of being discriminated against and mistreated by the government, Native Americans are not going away, and they are not bending to societal expectations.

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