hello English Learners and welcome to the Daily English podcast I'm your host Paul how are you doing today I'm doing well thank you excited to chat about English learning today me too you know um in my experience one of the trickiest things about learning English is making that leap from understanding to actually speaking have you noticed that too absolutely it's incredibly common many Learners find they can read articles watch movies Maybe even understand a podcast like this one but when it comes to speaking themselves it's like hitting a wall exactly so let's try to break
down that wall today and to start why do you think this happens why is speaking so much harder than understanding well think about it like learning any new skill let's say you want to learn to play the piano okay you can listen to Beautiful piano music for hours understand the melody but that won't magically make your fingers dance across the keys that's a great analogy yeah so listening and understanding or like observing the skill but speaking is where we need to train our language muscles so to speak precisely and just like with piano speaking requires
practice building muscle memory and coordinating a whole bunch of mental processes plus there's the added element of confidence which we'll get to later okay so practice is key now one thing I've noticed is that many Learners get stuck in the habit of translating everything in their heads they think in their native language then try to translate it into English before speaking what's your take on that it's a huge roadblock imagine trying to have a smooth conversation while constantly flipping through a dictionary in your mind right it just slows everything down right and it can make
the spoken English sound unnatural or hesitant so how can we get out of that translation trap one powerful technique is called thinking in English it sounds simple but it takes conscious effort thinking in English so instead of translating I should try to form my thoughts directly in English exactly it's like shifting gears in your mind instead of seeing English as a code to be deciphered you start to internalize it as a natural way to express your thoughts okay I'm intrigued but how do we actually do that I mean it's not like I can just flip
a switch and start thinking in a different language it's definitely a process but there are some practical steps you can take one of the most effective is to create an immersive environment even if you're not living in an English speaking country so surround yourself with English as much as possible exactly listen to English music watch movies or TV shows read books even change the language settings on your phone so it's about exposing yourself to the Rhythm and patterns of the language almost like training your ear to think in English precisely and the more you immerse
yourself the less you'll rely on translation you'll start to notice that English phrases and expressions pop into your head more naturally that makes a lot of sense it's like building a mental library of English ready to be used when you need it but I imagine this takes time and dedication it does but even small steps can make a big difference remember we're building a habit here okay so consistency is key now besides this thinking in English idea are there any other common pitfalls that you see Learners falling into when it comes to speaking one big
one is the fear of making mistakes I think this holds so many people back from actually opening their mouths and practicing oh absolutely the fear of sounding silly or saying the wrong thing I think we've all been there so how can we help Learners overcome that fear well first it's important to remember that everyone makes mistakes it's part of the learning process I mean even I make mistakes sometimes and English is my native language that's reassuring to hear but I think it's easy to forget that when you're feeling self-conscious about your speaking absolutely so the
key is to shift your perspective on mistakes instead of seeing them as failures see them as opportunities to learn and grow every mistake is a chance to improve your pronunciation grammar or vocabulary so it's like those fail videos we see online where people laugh at themselves and learn from their mishaps it's about taking ourselves less seriously and focusing on the learning process exactly Embrace those mistakes learn from them and move on okay that's great advice yeah now I know we've talked about practicing speaking and getting over the fear of making mistakes but are there any
specific techniques or exercises that you find particularly helpful for developing speaking fluency oh absolutely there are a few techniques that can really boost your speaking skills and one of my favorites is called shadowing shadowing I've heard of that but I'm not entirely sure how it works did you tell me more it's actually a pretty simple concept you listen to a native speaker like someone on a podcast or in a movie and you try to repeat what they're saying almost simultaneously it's like a shadow following the speaker's voice precisely you're mimicking their pronunciation intonation even the
Rhythm and pacing it's like a vocal workout for your English that sounds interesting so I could put on my favorite English podcast or TV show and try to talk along with the speaker exactly it's a fun way to practice your pronunciation get comfortable with the flow of English and even pick up new vocabulary and phrases I can see how that would be helpful it's like having a real-time conversation partner even if it's just with a recording do you have any tips for making shadowing more effective one tip is to start with short segments you don't
need to Shadow an entire movie at once choose a scene you like like maybe a minute or two and focus on that then as you get more comfortable you can gradually increase the length of the segments okay so start small and build up gradually what else another tip is to pay attention to the details notice how the speaker pronounces certain words where they put the stress and how their intonation changes throughout the sentence so it's not just about repeating the words but really trying to imitate the nuances of their speech exactly the more you pay
attention to those details the more natural your own spoken English will become wow this shadowing technique sounds like a really powerful tool I'm definitely going to give it a try I encourage you to it's a fun and effective way to improve your speaking fluency so we've talked about thinking in English overcoming the fear of making mistakes and this amazing shadowing technique what other tips do you have for building speaking confidence I know practice is important but are there any specific ways to make that practice more effective you know one of the things I always tell
my students is don't underestimate the power of simple everyday phrases you mean things like hello how are you or thank you exactly these phrases might seem basic but they're the building blocks of any conversation and having a solid grasp of these common phrases can make you feel much more confident and comfortable when you're speaking English that makes sense it's like having a set of tools you can always rely on no matter what the conversation throws your way precisely so I encourage Learners to focus on mastering these PHR phrases practice saying them out loud in different
contexts until they feel natural and effortless so it's not just about knowing the words but really owning them making them part of your active vocabulary exactly it's about being able to use these phrases without hesitation without having to think too hard and that kind of fluency comes with practice and repetition got it so focus on those everyday phrases practice them until they feel like second nature what other tips do you have for making the most of our speaking practice another simple but effective technique is recording yourself speaking you mean like talking into my phone I
do that all the time but usually it's just me complaining about the traffic well next time try recording yourself speaking English maybe choose a topic you're interested in or even read a short article aloud then listen back to the recording and pay attention to your pronunciation fluency and overall Clarity that's a great idea that's like having your own personal Language Coach in your pocket exactly and it can be really eye opening you might be surprised by what you hear both good and bad I can imagine it's like seeing yourself from a different perspective what kind
of things should I be listening for when I review these recordings well first pay attention to your pronunciation are you pronouncing words clearly and correctly if not try to identify the specific sounds you're struggling with and practice them in isolation Okay so pinpoint those tricky sounds and work on them specifically what else next focus on your fluency are you speaking smoothly and confidently or are you hesitating a lot and searching for words if you're stumbling try to practice those phrases or sentences more until they flow more naturally so it's about identifying those areas where I'm
getting stuck and smoothing them out with more practice precisely and don't be afraid to experiment try different intonations different speeds different ways of expressing yourself it's about playing with the language and finding what feels most comfortable and natural for me exactly the more you experiment the more confident and expressive you'll become as a speaker this is all so helpful I feel like we're giving our listeners a real toolbox for improving their speaking skills I hope so and remember the most important thing is to be consistent with your practice even a few minutes each day can
make a huge difference over time consistency is key now before we wrap up this part of our chat I want to touch on a few key vocabulary words that we've been using great idea vocabulary is the foundation of any language first up we have the word fluent it seems like everyone wants to be fluent in English but what does that really mean well fluency is about being able to communicate your ideas smoothly and effortlessly without having to pause or search for words it's about feeling comfortable and confident in your ability to express yourself in English
so it's not just about knowing a lot of words but being able to use them effectively in real-time conversation exactly it's about having that natural flow of language where you can speak without having to overthink every word or grammar rule that makes sense and it sounds like achieving fluency is a journey not a destination absolutely it's a process of continuous learning and Improvement well this has been so insightful we've covered a lot of ground today from the importance of thinking in English to embracing mistakes and using techniques like shadowing to build fluency I'm already feeling
more motivated to practice that's great to hear and remember the most important thing is to enjoy the journey learning English should be fun and rewarding so find what works for you and keep practicing great advice we'll be back soon with part two of this episode where we'll dive even deeper into practical tips and strategies for improving your English speaking skills until then keep practicing and stay motivated welcome back to the Daily English podcast we're continuing our conversation about making that leap from understanding English to speaking it confidently and you know in the last part we
talked about some really important foundational Concepts like thinking directly English and embracing those inevitable mistakes as part of the learning process exactly and we also touched on some really cool techniques like shadowing which I'm personally excited to try out it's a GameChanger but today I wanted to dig a little deeper into the why behind this struggle because you're right it I AEP and understanding the brain science behind it can help us approach the challenge more strategically okay I'm all ears brain science this is getting interesting so when we learn a new language it's not just
about memorizing words and grammar rules it's about rewiring our brains to process and produce that language rewiring our brains that sounds intense it's not a scary as it sounds think about it like this your brain has these incredible networks of neurons and every time you learn something new you're essentially strengthening those connections or forging new Pathways okay so learning a language is like Building New Roads in our brains connecting different areas that handle things like vocabulary grammar and pronunciation precisely and when it comes to speaking there's this fascinating area of the brain called broka area
which plays a key role in speech production broka area so this is where our thoughts get transformed into spoken words exactly and the thing is broka area needs to be trained specifically for the language you're learning just understanding English doesn't automatically activate those neural Pathways in the same way that speaking does that makes a lot of sense so even if I can understand spoken English my brain still needs specific trainings to produce those sounds and sentences exactly it's like having all the ingredients for a delicious cake but not knowing how to bake it you need
the recipe and the practice to transform those ingredients into something amazing okay I love that analogy so we need to train our brains to bake spoken English but I know that for many Learners there's this mental block when it comes to speaking it's like their brains know the words but their mouths just won't cooperate you're absolutely right and that's where the psychological aspect of language learning comes in because it's not just about the mechanics of speech production it's all Al about overcoming those mental barriers mental barriers like what well one big one is the fear
of judgment many Learners are afraid of making mistakes of sounding silly or of being misunderstood oh definitely I think that fear holds so many people back from actually opening their mouths and practicing it's totally understandable but here's the thing those fears are often Amplified in our own minds we tend to be much harder on ourselves than others are that's so true we overthink and overanalyze every little mistake which can make the whole speaking experience feel really intimidating exactly so one of the keys to overcoming this mental block is to shift our perspective we need to
be kinder to ourselves and embrace those mistakes as part of the learning process so it's about giving ourselves permission to stumble and sound imperfect absolutely think about it when a baby is learning to walk they fall down countless times but they don't give up they keep getting up and trying again and eventually they're running marathons so we need to approach language learning with that same kind of resilience and self-compassion exactly it's about celebrating those small wins those moments when we push past our comfort zones and try something new even if it doesn't come out perfectly
I love that it's about focusing on the progress not the Perfection precisely and the more we practice the more confident we'll become and the less those mental barriers will hold us back now we've talked about training our brains for speaking and overcoming those mental blocks but are there any specific techniques or exercises that you find helpful for actually getting those words flowing more naturally oh absolutely there are tons of fun and effective techniques out there but one that I found particularly helpful especially for Learners who struggle with hesitancy is something called chunking chunking what's that
it's a technique where you break down sentences or phrases into smaller more manageable chunks instead of trying to memorize or produce a whole sentence at once you focus on mastering those smaller pieces first okay so instead of trying to say I would like to order a cup of coffee please Allin one go I might break it down into I would like to order a cup of coffee please exactly you're essentially creating building blocks that you can then put together to form more complex sentences so it's like building a tower with Lego bricks you start with
those smaller pieces and gradually build up to something bigger and more impressive that's a great way to put it and the beauty of chunking is that it helps reduce cognitive overload when you're focusing on those smaller chunks it feels less overwhelming and you're more likely to speak with fluency and confidence that makes a lot of sense it's about breaking down the complexity of language into bite-sized pieces that our brains can process more easily precisely and the more you practice chunking the more natural it will become to string those chunks together into longer more fluent sentences
I can already see how this would be helpful especially for Learners who feel intimidated by speaking in complete sentences absolutely it's a great way to build confidence and reduce anxiety so we've talked about chunking but I know there's another technique that you're a big fan of shadowing ah yes shadowing is like a secret weapon for language learning it's one of the most effective ways to improve your pronunciation intonation and overall fluency we touched on it briefly in the last part but could you remind us how it works sure it's really simple you find a piece
of audio or video in English something you enjoy listening to and you try to speak along with the speaker mimicking their pronunciation and Rhythm as closely as possible so like having a Real Time conversation partner even if it's just with a recording exactly and the key is to really focus on those details notice how the speaker pronounces certain words where they put the stress and how their intonation changes throughout the sentence so it's not just about repeating the words but really trying to embody their way of speaking precisely the more you pay attention to those
subtle nuances the more natural your own spoken English will sound I'm definitely going to try this it sounds like a fun and engaging way to practice any tips for making shadowing more effective one tip is to choose material that's slightly above your current level you want it to be challenging but not so difficult that you get discouraged okay so something that stretches my abilities but doesn't feel completely overwhelming what else another tip is to break down the material into smaller chunks you don't need to Shadow an entire movie or podcast episode at once start with
a few sentences or a short paragraph and gradually work your way up to longer segments so start small and build up gradually that seems to be a recurring theme in language learning it's true consistency and gradual progress are key and one more tip for shadowing don't be afraid to record yourself and listen back it can be really helpful to hear how you sound and identify areas where you can improve that's a great idea it's like having your own personal Language Coach in your pocket exactly and the more you practice shadowing the more you'll start to
internalize those sounds and rhythms of English and and the more natural your own speaking will become this is all helpful I'm already feeling more motivated to practice my speaking skills but I know that for many Learners speaking in real life situations can still feel intimidating absolutely stepping outside of your comfort zone and speaking English in the real world can be nerve-wracking but it's also one of the most rewarding aspects of language learning so how can we bridge that gap between practicing in isolation and actually using our speaking skills in real life conversations well one one
of the best ways is to create opportunities for Meaningful interaction in English and that doesn't necessarily mean traveling to an English-speaking country there are plenty of ways to do this right where you are okay I'm intrigued give me some examples well for starters think about your hobbies and interests are there any groups or activities in your community where you could use English so if I love to cook maybe I could join a cooking class taught in English or if I'm a movie buff I could join a film Discussion Group exactly it's about finding those natural
contexts where you can practice your speaking skills in a way that's fun and engaging that makes so much sense it's about connecting your passion with your language learning goals what other options are there for finding speaking opportunities well in this digital age we have access to a whole world of language learning resources online have you ever tried language exchange apps or websites I've heard of them but I've never actually used one how do they work they're essentially platforms where you can connect with other language Learners from around the world you can find a partner who's
learning your native language and you can both help each other practice so I can connect with someone who's learning say Spanish and we could spend some time speaking in English then switch to Spanish exactly it's a great way to get real life conversation practice learn about different cultures and make new friends along the way that sounds fantastic I'm definitely going to check out those language exchange platforms I highly recommend it and there are tons of other online resources you can explore online convers groups virtual language cafes even online tutoring sessions with native speakers wow there's
a whole world of possibilities out there and I think the key takeaway here is that we don't have to wait until we're fluent to start speaking you're absolutely right the sooner you start speaking even if it's just a few words or simple phrases the faster you'll progress It's about taking those small steps embracing those mistakes and finding those opportunities for Meaningful interaction precisely and remember the Journey of language learning is a marathon not a Sprint so be patient with yourself celebrate those small wins and most importantly have fun along the way great advice we've covered
so much ground in this part of our conversation from the brain science behind speaking to finding real life opportunities to practice I'm feeling super inspired to keep pushing forward on my own language learning Journey that's fantastic to hear and remember you're not alone on this journey there are millions of English learners around the world facing the same challenges and celebrating those same victories that's a great reminder we're all in this together we'll be back soon with the final part of this episode where we'll wrap up our conversation and leave you with some final thoughts and
motivation to keep practicing your English speaking skills until then keep those words flowing welcome back to the Daily English podcast it's been an amazing journey exploring the ups and downs of speaking English hasn't it it really has we've covered so much ground from understanding the brain science behind speaking to overcoming those mental barriers and finding practical techniques to boost fluency and you know through all these conversations I keep coming back to one central theme the power of mindset absolutely your mindset plays a huge role in your language learning success it's about how you approach challenges
how you view mistakes and how you stay motivated even when things get tough so it's not just about the techniques and strategies but about cultivating that inner belief in yourself and your ability to learn precisely and one of the most important aspects of mindset is setting realistic expectations because let's face it learning a new language takes time and effort it's not a quick fix it's like trying to build a skyscraper overnight yeah it's just not going to happen exactly and when we set unrealistic expectations like I want to be fluent in three mile we're setting
ourselves up for disappointment and frustration so it's about finding that balance between ambition and patience we want to challenge ourselves but we also need to be kind to ourselves and acknowledge that progress takes time precisely and I think it's also important to Define what fluency means to you personally because fluency isn't just about speaking perfectly or sounding like a native speaker it's about being able to communicate effectively and confidently in different situations so it's about setting those personal goals that align with our own motivations for learning English exactly if you're learning English to travel your
definition of fluency might be being able to order food ask for directions and have basic conversations with locals but if you're aiming to work in an English-speaking environment your fluency goals might be much higher that makes sense it's about tailoring our approach to our own individual needs and aspirations and one of the most effective ways to cultivate a growth mindset is to focus on those small winds those moments of progress that keep you motivated so instead of dwelling on what I still don't know I should celebrate how far I've come absolutely every time you learn
a new word understand complex sentence or have a successful conversation in English acknowledge that progress give yourself credit for those small victories that's a great reminder it's easy to get caught up in the challenges and forget to appreciate how much we've already learned it's so true and those small wins those moments of accomplishment are what fuel our motivation and keep us moving forward on this language learning Journey so it's not just about the end goal but about enjoying the process and celebrating those Milestones along the way exactly and another important aspect of mindset is resilience
because let's be honest there will be times when you feel frustrated discouraged or even tempted to give up those moments when you feel like you're hitting a wall and no matter how much you practice you're just not making progress it happens to all of us but the key is to not let those setbacks Define you it's about bouncing back learning from those challenges and finding ways to overcome them so it's about having that grit that determination to keep going even when it's tough exactly and one of the best ways to build resilience is to surround
yourself with a supportive Community find language learning Partners join online forums or groups connect with other Learners who understand your struggles and can cheer you on that makes so much sense it's like having a cheering section to help you stay motivated and accountable precisely and remember you're not alone on this journey there are millions of English Learners around the world facing the same challenges and celebrating those same victories that's a great reminder We're All in This Together absolutely and you know one of the most powerful tools for cultivating a positive mindset is gratitude gratitude how
does that apply to language learning well when we practice gratitude we shift our Focus from what we lack to what we already have and in the context of language learning there's always something to be grateful for like the fact that we have access to so many amazing resources online courses language exchange apps podcasts like this one exactly and even if you're just starting out you can be grateful for the opportunity to learn a new language to connect with different cultures and to expand your horizons that's a beautiful perspective it's about appreciating the journey not just
the destination and when we approach language learning with that sense of gratitude we're more likely to enjoy the process to stay motivated and to persevere even when challenges arise well this has been such an inspiring conversation we've covered so much ground in these three Parks from the Practical techniques to the power of mindset and the importance of community I hope our listeners are feeling energized and ready to take their English speaking skills to the next level me too and to all of our amazing listeners out there remember speaking English is a skill that can be
learned and improved with practice dedication and a positive mindset don't be afraid to make mistakes Embrace those challenges and celebrate those small victories along the way absolutely and remember we're here to support you on your language learning Journey if you enjoyed this episode be sure to subscribe to our channel for more helpful tips and strategies and don't forget to share this episode with your friends who are also learning English until next time happy learning
