Welcome to the English pod Community are you ready to take your English skills to the next level do you want to improve your listening and speaking especially when you hear real life stories in English in this episode we'll dive into personal stories and real world examples to help you not only improve your listening skills but also boost your writing Abilities you might be wondering how can listening to real life stories help with writing well by listening closely you'll be able to hear natural sentence structures new vocabulary and ways to express ideas clearly this is exactly
what you need to make your English sound more natural let me tell you a little story about my friend Emily she's a traveler always looking for new adventures a couple of months ago Emily went to a Small village in Italy where she stayed with a local family the experience was eye openening Emily tells me that she learned so much just by talking to the people there and listening to their stories one day she was sitting at a cafe talking to a local shopkeeper named Marco Marco shared how his family has been making olive oil for
Generations Emily says that as she listened to him she could hear the passion in his Voice this real life conversation helped her understand how important it is to express emotions and personal connections when speaking in English by listening to these kinds of stories you'll notice how much more confident you can become when speaking or writing in English you learn Expressions that are not just textbook phrases but real everyday English now imagine you're at a party You're meeting new people and one of them Sarah tells you about her recent trip to Japan Sarah explains how she
found it challenging to communicate at first because of the language barrier but after practicing with the locals she felt more confident Sarah talks about how she learned the importance of listening carefully and asking questions it was through this experience That she started thinking in English without translating from her native language isn't that amazing listening closely to Sarah's story gives you the chance to pick up real world phrases and become better at listening and speaking every episode here on the English pod Community helps you in this way we focus on bringing you real life stories so
you can hear how people use English in Daily Situations whether you're learning to speak English confidently at work or when traveling this is the place to be if you're new here don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification Bell we upload new videos every day giving you practical ways to improve your English feel free to like comment and let us know your thoughts on today's episode we'd love to hear your own real life experiences too stay tuned let's jump right into this so picture this You've been learning English for a while now you've practiced grammar
worked on vocabulary and even tried speaking in front of a mirror but one day you find yourself in a situation where you need to have a real conversation in English maybe with a colleague a neighbor or even someone you just met at a cafe you feel a bit nervous right that's totally normal but guess what this is where listening and speaking skills come in to save the Day now let's talk about listening first have you ever noticed that when you listen to a person telling a story you begin to understand the emotions behind their words
this is something that textbooks or grammar exercises can't fully teach you real life stories like those from friends or even strangers help you understand how English is spoken in a natural way when people talk about something that's really important to Them you can hear it in their voices that's something you won't find in a textbook the way they stress certain words the Expressions they use or even the little pauses in their speech they all show you how English works in the real world here's a story from my own life a few years ago I went
on a trip to Spain I stayed with a local family who didn't speak much English so I had to speak Spanish most of the time but when I sat down at dinner with them they would tell stories about their daily lives and I had to listen very carefully one evening the father Carlos started talking about how he used to work as a fisherman in the Mediterranean Sea the way he told the story with so much passion and excitement was incredible I didn't understand every single word but I could feel his emotions and the importance of
his work that night I learned something Vital about listening it's not just about understanding every word it's about getting the feeling behind the words now let's take a step back and think about how this connects to your English practice when you listen to stories whether they're from a podcast a video or a friend you get a chance to hear how people use language in real situations you'll hear them contractions like don't instead of do not or say Gunna instead of going to You'll also Notice how people pause in their speech when they're thinking about what
to say next or how they raise their voices when they're excited about something these little details might seem small but they make a big difference when you're speaking if you want to sound more natural in English paying attention to these little things will help you get closer to speaking like a native let me give you an example think about a time when you were At a party and you were talking to someone for the first time maybe you asked them where are you from they told you their story and as they spoke you started to
understand more about their culture and life experiences as they described their Hometown their tone changed depending on how happy or proud they were this is something you can use in your English practice if you focus on the tone of the speaker you'll get clues about what they Mean even if you don't understand every word one thing I've learned from my students is how helpful it is to share real life stories during English lessons these stories can help students see how English is used in different situations for example my student Sam once told me about his
experience visiting London Sam was excited because it was his first time in the city but he was also nervous about speaking English with The locals he was worried they might not understand him or that he might make mistakes but when he arrived in London and spoke to a shopkeeper the woman smiled and helped him with his questions Sam realized that speaking in English doesn't have to be perfect it's about communicating and connecting with others his story reminded me that real stories like Sams teach us something important communication is not just About words but also about
the experience behind those words when you're learning English it's easy to get caught up in trying to use perfect grammar or remembering every vocabulary word but real life stories show us that the message is more important than Perfection that's the kind of English you want to learn the kind that's full of real emotions and experiences and that brings me to something I think is Key when it comes to improving both listening and speaking asking questions when you listen to someone's story try to ask follow-up questions this helps you engage with the conversation and practice speaking
for example if you're listening to a friend talk about a trip to New York City you could ask what was the best part of your trip or did you try any interesting food these questions not only keep the conversation going but also give you a chance to practice Speaking in real time plus asking questions shows that you're actively listening which makes the conversation feel more natural I'll share another story with you a couple of months ago I met a woman named Claire who had just moved to the United States from France she was excited about
starting a new chapter in her life but at the same time she was a bit nervous about her English skills CLA told me that she often found it hard to Understand American slang and idioms one day she overheard a group of friends talking about a party and one of them said that party was off the charts Claire didn't understand what that meant so she asked her friend to explain her friend laughed and told her it was a way to say the party was amazing Claire was so relieved to know that asking questions helped her understand
the language better she learned that it's okay to ask for Clarification and it made her feel more comfortable using English in her daily life you see asking questions not only helps with listening but it also boosts your speaking confidence the more you practice the more natural it becomes and when you're speaking with someone whether it's a friend a colleague or even a stranger you're not just practicing words you're also practicing how to connect with others in a way English becomes a tool for building relationships and understanding different perspectives so whether it's listening to real life
stories on this podcast asking questions in a conversation or sharing your own experiences you're constantly improving your English skills each story you hear and each conversation you have is another step towards mastering the language the more you immerse yourself in English the easier it will become to Understand speak and think in English if you're enjoying this content and want to keep improving don't forget to like subscribe and leave a comment below we upload new episodes every day to help you practice your English skills and learn through real life stories let let's keep going now that
we've talked about listening and how real life stories can make your English sound more natural let's dive deeper into how speaking Comes into play I'm sure you've all had moments where you felt unsure about speaking in English right maybe you were afraid of making mistakes or you didn't know how to find the right words quickly I totally get that speaking a second language can feel intimidating but it's important to remember that everyone makes mistakes and in fact making mistakes is part of learning it's how we grow one thing that has helped me and many others
is to practice speaking in Everyday situations it might sound simple but using English in your daily life helps you get used to it think about it when you're ordering coffee at a cafe or asking for directions on the street you're using English in real life this is such a valuable way to practice because it's natural and you get immediate feedback let me tell you about my friend Max Max is from Germany and when he First started learning English he found it very difficult to speak he was often afraid that people wouldn't understand him or that
he would say something wrong one day max was visiting a friend in London and his friend asked him to join her for a walk around the city at first max was hesitant he didn't feel confident speaking English with strangers but his friend encouraged him to come along anyway during the walk they stopped at a Small bakery and Max decided to order a coffee and a pastry he was a bit nervous but when it was his turn he said hi I'd like a cappuccino and a croissant please the cashier smiled and said sure no problem Max
was so relieved that small moment gave him the confidence to speak more and he realized that people aren't focused on whether you make a mistake they're just happy you're trying this experience was a turning Point for Max he realized that speaking in English doesn't have to be perfect it's about getting your message across from that day on he started practicing speaking more even in situations that made him nervous whether it was asking for the bill at a restaurant or talking to a local in a shop Max knew that every small interaction would help him improve
what can we learn from Max's Story the key takeaway is that speaking English is a skill that improves with Practice it's not about waiting until you feel ready it's about jumping into conversations even if you're not 100% confident and don't worry about making mistakes if you're trying you're learning now let's talk about how you can apply this to your own life the next time you're in a situation where you need to speak English like asking for directions or talking to a store clerk remember what Max did focus on what you want to say and don't
be afraid to make mistakes the more you practice the easier it will become you'll start to feel more comfortable and over time speaking English will feel more natural another way to improve your speaking skills is by engaging in conversations with people who are also learning English this is a great way to build your confidence I have another friend mia Who learned English through a Language Exchange program she would meet with her language partner every week and practiced speaking at first Mia was nervous because her partner spoke English much better than she did but her partner
was patient and encouraged her to keep talking they would discuss topics like travel hobbies and their favorite movies over time Mia began to speak more confidently and her language partner improved as well Mia learned something important from her language Exchange practicing with someone who is also learning helps you focus on communication rather than Perfection and when you know the other person is also learning you feel more comfortable making mistakes and experimenting with new vocabulary this experience helped Mia realize that speak speaking isn't just about fluency it's about communication and connecting with others think about it
have you ever been In a conversation where you didn't understand every word but you still managed to get the point maybe you had to ask the speaker to repeat something or maybe you guessed the meaning based on the context this is something that happens all the time in real now here's a tip that's really helped me when speaking in English if you don't know a word don't panic instead of freezing try to describe what you're trying to say for example if you Want to say the word bicycle but you don't know it in English you
could say it's something with two wheels that you ride describing things in different ways helps you get your message across even if you don't know the exact word this strategy will make your conversations more fluid and less stressful this brings us to the idea of expanding your vocabulary in a natural way it's one thing to learn a list of new words but it's another to see how those words are Used in real life conversations for example when you're listening to a podcast or watching a movie pay attention to how native speakers use words and phrases
you'll start to notice patterns in the way certain words are used and soon enough you'll be able to use those same words in your own conversations it's like you're absorbing the language in a natural organic way for instance let's say you're watching a TV show and someone says I've been working non-stop for the past week you'll hear how they use the word non-stop to describe something that hasn't stopped or hasn't had a break once you hear this phrase a few times it will become part of your own vocabulary you can use it when talking about
your own experiences like saying I've been studying non-stop for the exam by doing this you're not only learning new words but you're also understanding How and when to use them in context this is something you can start practicing right away the next time you hear a new phrase or expression try using it in a conversation with a friend or language partner the more you practice the more confident you'll become in using new vocabulary you know when I was learning English one of the hardest things for me was understanding idioms for example phrases like break the
ice or hit the na On the head confused me but over time I realized that understanding idioms is a crucial part of mastering the language they make conversations sound more natural and if you don't understand them you might miss out on what people are really trying to say so let's take a look at some common idioms imagine you're in a meeting at work and your boss says let's not beat around the bush here this means that your boss wants to get straight to the point or maybe Someone tells you you've really hit the nail on
the head with that idea this means that your idea was exactly right learning idioms like these helps you sound more fluent and makes you better at understanding native speakers learning idioms might seem challenging but it's one of the best ways to improve your listening and speaking and here's the good news once you learn an idiom you'll hear it everywhere native speakers use idioms All the time in casual conversations so the more you listen to them the more familiar they'll become this is why it's so important to keep listening to real life stories and conversations whether
it's through podcasts YouTube videos or conversations with friends real life exposure helps you learn how English is used in different situations and by practicing speaking and listening regular let's dive even deeper into how you can improve your English listening And speaking by using real life situations I want to tell you about something I experienced recently when I was in a coffee shop I had just moved to a new city and I was feeling a little nervous about using my English I went to this small Cafe to grab a coffee and I had the chance to
speak with the Barista when I approached the counter I noticed that the Barista was new to the job just like I was new to the city There was something about that situation that made me feel more comfortable I started by ask asking her how's your day going and she smiled and replied it's been good thanks for asking that simple exchange made the conversation feel more natural I wasn't just ordering coffee I was starting a real conversation and that's something I want you to try the next time you're speaking English don't just focus on the task
at Hand use it as an opportunity to have a conversation we all have those little moments in life where we're interacting with others maybe you're talking to a cashier at the grocery store chatting with a colleague at work or asking someone for directions these are all perfect opportunities to practice your English just like I did in that coffee shop try to engage in simple friendly conversations if you don't know a word don't be afraid to describe what you Mean when I was starting out I remember trying to explain a croissant to someone by saying it's
a type of bread but it's soft and Flaky even if I didn't use the exact word the other person understood me here's a fun example I once had a conversation with someone about weather which seems like an easy topic but it's actually full of expressions and vocabulary that we use all the time I was in the park and I started by saying it's a bit cloudy today isn't it The other person agreed and added yeah looks like it might rain later at that point we both started talking about how the ey jar weather is unpredictable
and we even mentioned a saying April showers bring May flowers I didn't know that expression at first but I picked it up from that conversation and now it's something I use all the time when I'm talking about weather changes it's amazing how these everyday Moments can help you improve your vocabulary without you even realizing it you might be wondering how can I keep improving my speaking skills while keeping my confidence up well the answer is simple practice practice practice when you practice speaking try to push yourself just a little bit further every time for example
if you're used to saying short sentences like I want coffee or it's sunny today try to expand on that Instead of saying I want coffee you could say I'd love a c please with a little bit of sugar it's all about adding more detail to your sentences the more you do it the easier it becomes here's something else that helped me when I was learning I used to talk to myself in English sounds a bit weird right but it really helped me build my speaking skills I would describe what I was doing throughout the day
for example I might say I'm making Breakfast I'm frying eggs and toasting bread I like my toast crispy talking to yourself helps you practice without any pressure it's like having a conversation with your thoughts and it's a great way to practice sentence structure and vocabulary now let's focus on how to improve your listening skills in a similar way listening is crucial because it helps you understand how people actually speak in real life situations if you only practice speaking Without listening it can be tough to understand native speakers in conversations that's why listening to real life
conversations is one of the best ways to improve I remember the first time I tried watching a movie in english without subtitles it was challenging to say the least I missed a lot of words and I had to rewind the movie several times but over time I started to pick up on more and more words I learned how People say things differently in casual conversations compared to the way they might sound in textbooks for example in a textbook you might learn to say I am going to the store but in a real conversation you might
hear I'm going to go to the store this gun version is more casual and natural in everyday speech and the more you listen to it the easier it becomes to understand and use listening is not just about understanding individual words it's About understanding the whole message think about how you understand understand your native language when someone speaks to you you don't focus on every single word instead you focus on the meaning of the whole sentence this is the same for English as you listen to more podcasts watch movies or have conversations with others you'll start
understanding the general meaning even if you don't know every Word a great way to practice listening is by listening to podcasts like the one you're listening to now listening to real life stories and conversations like the ones I've been sharing with you today helps you get used to how native speakers sound it's not just about listening to perfect English it's about listening to How English is used in real everyday life for instance let's say you're listening to a podcast and you hear a Phrase like I had a blast at the concert last night you might
not know the word blast but from the context you can guess that it means something like fun over time you'll start recognizing these words and they'll become a part of your vocabulary this is a natural way to learn language it's not just memorizing words from a list it's understanding how words fit into everyday conversations you can also practice Listening by repeating what you hear this technique is called shadowing let's say you're listening to a podcast and you hear a sentence like I've been so busy lately but it's all good try to repeat that sentence out
loud mimicking the way the speaker says it pay attention to the tone the speed and the Rhythm this helps you sound more natural when you speak and it improves your listening at the same time it's a powerful technique that many language Learners use to build their fluency speaking and listening go hand in hand the more you listen to English the more you'll understand how to use it in your own speech and the more you speak the more comfortable you'll become with listening to others these two skills support each other and improve together just like Max
Mia and myself you'll see your confidence grow as you continue Practicing in real life situations so don't hesitate to take every opportunity to speak listen and learn whether it's ordering food at a restaurant chatting with a friend or watching a movie these small moments will make a big difference in your English skills over time it's important to stay motivated too learning English is a journey not a race celebrate the small victories along the way maybe today you learned a new word or had a Conversation that lasted a bit longer than usual that's progress every step
you take brings you closer to your goal and remember even on days when you feel like you're not improving moving keep going the more you practice the more fluent you'll become I'm glad you're staying with me through this journey let's take things even further and dive even deeper into how to keep improving your English every step you take in speaking And listening brings you closer to sounding more confident in real life situations and trust me the best way to do that is through immersion I remember a time when I went to a local community event
in the city and it was filled with people from all walks of life there were locals tourists and even students who had recently arrived in the country the event was a cultural fair and people were speaking in English sharing stories about their countries Their traditions and their experiences I was feeling a little nervous about jumping into conversations because I wasn't sure if I would understand everything or if I would be able to express myself correctly but that's the thing about language it's never about being perfect it's about connecting with others I decided to approach a
group of people who were talking about food it was a familiar topic something I could Relate to and I thought it would be a great way to practice I joined the conversation and said what's your favorite dish from home the group turned to me and started sharing stories about their favorite meals one woman Karen told me about her mother's famous lasagna she said my mom makes the best lasagna it's got layers and layers of cheese and it's so rich and creamy as she spoke I listened carefully To how she used adjectives to describe the lasagna
she didn't just say it's good she used specific words like rich and creamy to make the conversation more interesting that moment was a perfect example of how listening can teach you to speak more descriptively I started thinking about my own favorite dishes and I found myself adding details to my sentences like I love pasta especially when it's made with fresh tomatoes and garlic the flavors really Come Together by having this conversation I learned new words and expressions related to food but even more importantly I learned how to use those words in a meaningful way this
is something I want to encourage you to do in your own life find find Opportunities to immerse yourself in English conversations whether it's talking to someone about food travel Hobbies or daily activities Each conversation is a chance to practice your vocabulary sentence structure and overall fluency but what happens when you don't understand a word or phrase during a conversation this is something I faced many times it can be intimidating but it's important to stay calm and not get discouraged for for example when I was speaking with a group of friends one of them used the
word lounge and I wasn't sure what it meant instead of panicking Or staying quiet I asked what does Lounge mean they explained that it's a place where people relax like a lounge at an airport or a comfortable seating area in a hotel asking questions like this helps you grow your vocabulary and shows that you're interested in learning don't be afraid to ask for clarification native speakers will always appreciate your curiosity and they'll often be happy to help you and here's the thing language Is all about connection so every time you speak every time you listen
you're connecting with the world around you for instance I once had a conversation with a tourist in the city who was trying to find the best spots to visit she asked me what's the best way to get to the museum I told her you can take the bus but it might take a little longer if you walk it'll take about 20 minutes but the views are amazing along the way That simple conversation not only helped her but it also gave me a chance to use the vocabulary I had learned about Transportation I was able to
use terms like bus walk views and amazing in a natural real life context now let's talk about how you can build your confidence in speaking English even when you're not sure if you're using the e language correctly one trick I used when I was learning was focusing Less on being Perfect and more on being understandable I remember when I first started learning English I would stress about making mistakes I didn't want to sound silly so I would avoid speaking as much as possible but the truth is the more you speak the better you get I
made a lot of mistakes but I also learned a lot from them for example once I was at a restaurant and I tried to order my food in English I asked for a large chicken with rice But the waiter looked at me a bit confused I quickly realized that I had made a mistake I should have said chicken with rice large portion it felt a bit embarrassing in the moment but I smiled and said sorry I meant the larger portion of chicken with rice please the waiter nodded and corrected me saying ah you want the
larger portion no problem that mistake was a turning point for me it reminded me that mistakes are a natural part of Learning every mistake was an opportunity to improve and as long as I kept trying I would get better one of the most valuable lessons I've learned through all of this is to focus on the process not the outcome every conversation you have no matter how small or seemingly insignificant is a step forward in your journey to fluency I want to tell you about a time when I was walking through the park and Overheard a
conversation between two people they were talking about their plans for the weekend and one of them mentioned I'm going to the beach to relax and get some sun the other person replied that sounds awesome I need a break too I'm thinking of going hiking this weekend at that moment I realized how much we all value our time on off whether we're going to the beach or the mountains I thought about how I would express the same ideas in English and I Found myself saying things like I love hiking because it's so peaceful and you get
to be surrounded by Nature listening to others speak in real life situations is such a great way to improve your speaking skills you learn about different ways to express the same idea you'll also discover the importance of tone and intonation in a conversation it's not just about the word you say it's about how you say them for example when I spoke with Karen About lasagna I didn't just say it's a good dish instead I said it's rich and creamy emphasizing those key words to make my sentence sound more descriptive and interesting you can do the
same pay attention to how people speak and try to mimic the Rhythm and flow of their sentences this will help you sound more natural when you speak another way to practi practice is by repeating sentences you hear in movies or podcasts let's say you're Watching a TV show and you hear someone say I can't wait for the weekend try to repeat that sentence out loud saying it exactly the way the character did this technique helps you practice pronunciation intonation and Rhythm all at once plus it's a fun way to feel more connected to the language
the more you listen the more you learn the more you speak the more confident you become and with time you'll start to see that English is not just a language it's a tool to connect with people from all over the world you'll start noticing that you can express your ideas more clearly that you can understand others with ease and that you're becoming more comfortable in conversations it's a journey that takes time but it's absolutely worth it remember every time you engage in a conversation whether it's with a barista a colleague or a friend you're getting
Better at speaking and listening keep practicing stay curious and enjoy the process at the English pod Community we're here to support you every step of the way we upload new content regularly with tips real life stories and lessons that will help you impr thank you for sticking with me and I'm excited to continue helping you with your English Journey the more you listen and engage in English the better your skills will become let's dive deeper into how you You can use these real life experiences to not only improve your listening but also build your speaking
confidence you know when I first started learning English I found that one of the most challenging Parts wasn't understanding the words but understanding the context in which they were used for example I remember having a conversation with a colleague at work and she said something like I think this project is going to be a real GameChanger at first I wasn't exactly sure what game changer meant in this context I had heard the word before but hearing it used in a professional setting was different I could tell from the way she said it her tone and
excitement that it was something important so instead of pretending I understood I asked her what do you mean by GameChanger she explained that it meant something that could change the Situation dramatically for the better that that moment was a turning point in my language learning Journey not only did I get to understand the meaning of a new phrase but I also realize the importance of asking questions when I didn't understand something by asking for clarification I didn't just learn the meaning of the word I also became more confident in engaging in the conversation it made
me realize that in real life situations it's okay not to Know everything and it's okay to ask for help asking questions is a crucial skill especially when learning a new language because it shows that you're engaged you care and you're eager to learn more let me tell you about another time when I Ed this strategy I was talking with a group of friends about our weekend plans and one of them said I'll be binge watching my favorite series all weekend I had heard the term binge watching before but I wasn't completely Sure what it meant
in this context I had a feeling it referred to watching a lot of episodes of a show but I wasn't 100% certain so I decided to ask what does binge watching mean exactly one of my friends laughed and explained it means watching a lot of episodes of a show in one go usually for hours by asking I learned something new and avoided misunderstanding the conversation and since then I've used the term binge watching in my own Conversations talking about shows I've watched in a day or weekend asking questions not only improves your vocabulary but also
allows you to connect more with the people around you it makes your conversations feel more natural when I asked about the term binge watching my friend didn't see it as an awkward moment instead it became an opportunity to explain something fun and interesting it's important to remember That most people are happy to help you when you ask questions especially if you show genuine curiosity so don't be afraid to ask for clarification in English conversations it's one of the most effective ways to improve both your speaking and listening skills another important lesson I learned along the
way is that repetition is key at first I found it difficult to Remember new words and phrases especially when they were used in different contexts but with time I realized that the more I heard and used certain words the easier it became to remember them for instance when I first moved to the city I often heard people talk about rush hour traffic I wasn't sure what it meant at first but over time I kept hearing it in different situations whether it was in the news in Conversations at work or even when people were talking about
their commute to school one day I decided to ask someone what does rush hour actually mean and they explained it's the time when a lot of people are traveling to or from work and the traffic is usually really bad once I understood I started using the term myself when talking about the busy times of the day when I noticed heavy traffic on my way to work the more I Heard it and used it the more natural it became for me this experience taught me that language learning isn't about memorizing words in isolation it's about hearing
them understanding them and then using them in the right context the key takeaway from this is that repetition helps you internalize new words and phrases it's not enough to hear a new word once and hope it sticks you need to encounter that word multiple times whether through listening to Podcasts watching movies or having conversations and actively use it in your own speech over time these words will become part of your active vocabulary and you'll be able to use them naturally in your this idea of rep repetition is also something I applied when I was learning
how to speak more confidently in English I would repeat phrases or sentences I heard in TV shows or podcasts trying to mimic the pronunciation tone and Rhythm At first it felt a little strange but as I practiced I noticed that my confidence grew I became more comfortable with the language because I had been repeating it in different ways for example I'd listen to someone say I don't know and I'd repeat it several times until I felt like it sounded just right this practice helped me sound more natural when I used these phrases in conversations but
what happens when you're faced with a situation where you Don't understand something immediately this happens to everyone no matter how fluent they are in a language I remember a time when I was talking with a group of international students and one of them said I'm having a brain freeze at first I thought they meant they they had a headache or something but then I realized they were talking about the feeling you get when you eat something too cold too fast I didn't Know this expression at the time but instead of feeling embarrassed I just laughed
and said what's a brain freeze my friend explained the meaning and I felt relieved that I didn't just stay quiet and not along without understanding this is another important lesson in language learning don't be afraid to show when you don't understand understand something it's okay to ask for clarification and it's even okay to laugh about it this helps you build Connections with others and shows that you're actively learning remember nobody is perfect and making mistakes is just part of the process the more mistakes you make the more you'll learn and improve now I want to
talk about how you can use all of these experiences to become a better listener listening is an essential skill that helps you improve your speaking when you listen carefully you're learning new vocabulary understanding how to form Sentences and hearing how people use intonation and stress in their speech for example I once attended a lecture on environmental issues and the speaker used the phrase climate change it wasn't just the words that I paid attention to it was the way the speaker said them she stressed change and paused before continuing giving extra emphasis to that part of
the phrase that little pause made me realize how Important it is to pay attention to not only the words people say but also how they say them when you're listening to English in real life situations try to focus on both the words and the tone pay attention to how people Express their emotions how they ask questions and how they change their voice to express excitement sadness or surprise these are all important things to notice because they help you understand the meaning behind the words it's like putting Together a puzzle the words are the pieces and
the tone is the picture you're creating by paying attention to these details you'll also start using them in your own speech for instance I've noticed that when I speak I naturally pause when I want to emphasize a point this is something I picked up by listening carefully to others so the next time you're having a conversation try to Really listen not just to the words but to how the speaker conveys their message this will make you a more effective communicator and help you sound more fluent when you speak another way to improve your listening is
by watching movies or TV shows in English this is something I do often and it's an excellent way to expose yourself to different accents speech patterns and vocabulary for example I I watched a Movie where the characters spoke very fast and at first I couldn't understand everything they were saying but I kept watching and over time I started picking up more and more now when I watch movies I can understand almost everything even if they're speaking quickly the key is to keep practicing and not get discouraged if you don't understand everything at first and remember
language learning is a journey it's okay if you don't understand everything right Away what's important is that you keep practicing and immersing yourself in English the more you practice the more you'll improve and before you know it you'll find yourself speaking and understanding English naturally thank you for staying with me let's continue to dive deeper into some practical ways to improve your English listening and speaking skills as we've discussed learning English is not just about memorizing Vocabulary it's about engaging with the language in real world situations the more you engage the faster you'll improve I
want to share more real life examples to help you see how powerful these experiences can be in improving your English one of the most important things I've learned on my English learning journey is the value of exposure the more you expose yourself to English the better you'll get at understanding it And using it when I first started learning English I was so focused focused on textbooks and grammar exercises but then I realized that real progress comes from interacting with the language as it's spoken in everyday life this is why I started watching TV shows listening
to podcasts and even following social media accounts in English it wasn't just about listening to the words it was about understanding how English speakers use the language in Different situations for instance I remember listening to a podcast about technology and hearing the host talk about a new phone feature he said it's a game changer for anyone who wants to save time at first I wasn't sure what game changer meant but I could tell by his tone and the context that it was something very important instead of feeling confused I paid attention to how he used
the word in the sentence later I looked up the meaning of Game Changer And learned that it's used to describe something that makes a big difference or has a significant impact this experience taught me something valuable by listening actively and paying attention to the context you can learn new words and phrases without even realizing it that's the beauty of learning through exposure you don't always need to stop and look up every word you don't understand sometimes you can figure out the meaning by listening Carefully to the surrounding words the tone of voice and the situation
in which it's used this skill is called contextual learning and it's one of the most effective ways to improve your listening and speaking another time I was watching a movie where the characters were talking about their weekend plans one of them said I'm going to have a chill weekend maybe just relax and Watch a few movies I had never heard the word chill used in this way before so I decided to look it up I found that in this context chill means to relax or take it easy I had heard chill used in other context
before but I never realized it could also mean relaxing or unwinding this new understanding helped me feel more comfortable using the word in my own conversations the next time a friend asked what I was doing over the weekend I said I'm just going to chill at home and watch some TV they smiled and said sounds good me too I was proud of myself for using the word naturally this brings me to another crucial Point don't be afraid to make mistakes when I first started learning English I was terrified of making mistakes especially when speaking but
over time I realized that making mistakes is an essential part of the learning process I've made my fair share Of mistakes and I still make them sometimes but the key is not to be discouraged instead see every mistake as an opportunity to learn and grow when I made mistakes in conversation I would ask the person I was talking to did I say that correctly most people are happy to help and correct you and this helps you improve even faster for example when I was practicing speaking with a friend I once said I am interesting to
go to the park My friend corrected me saying it should be I'm interested in going to the park at first I felt a little embarrassed but then I realized how helpful the correction was now I use the phrase I'm interested in without thinking about it it's all about learning from your mistakes and the more you practice speaking the fewer this idea of embracing mistakes also applies to listening when you're listening to English it's easy to get frustrated if You don't understand everything but just like with speaking the more you listen the easier it becomes I
remember when I first started listening to fast conversations in English I couldn't catch everything but I didn't give up instead I would replay the same sentence or segment a few times and focus on picking up new words or phrases each time over time I started understanding more and more and I became better at following conversations without feeling Lost here's something else I want to share use your own life experiences to help you learn English personal experiences are a fantastic way to improve both your speaking and listening skills because you already know the context when I
started using English to talk about my hobbies and interests I felt much more confident for example I love hiking so I started watching videos and listening to podcasts about hiking In English I already knew what they were talking about so I didn't have to focus on understanding the topic instead I could focus on the language I learned phrases like Trail Summit backpacking and gear and soon I was using these words in my own conversations this made me feel more confident because I was talking about something I already knew well in English this is a great
way to practice because it feels familiar it's much Easier to learn new words and phrases when you're talking about something you're passionate about so think about the activities or Hobbies you enjoy and try to find content in English related to those topics whe whether it's watching videos listening to podcasts or reading articles you'll find that your knowledge of English will grow faster when you're learning about something that excites you let's talk about another Strategy breaking down long sentences and conversations in the beginning long sentences in English can feel overwhelming especially if they contain complex vocabulary
or grammar but breaking them down into smaller parts can make them easier to understand for instance I remember listening to a long interview with a famous author at first I couldn't keep up with Everything she was saying but then I started pausing the audio after each sentence and writing down what I understood afterward I'd go back and listen again to the parts I didn't understand this helped me focus on key points and pick up new words and expressions now I want to share with you another technique I use that helps me with both listening and
speaking it's called shadowing this is when you listen to someone speaking in English and try To repeat what they say immediately after they say it almost like a shadow this helps with pronunciation Rhythm and sentence structure it also trains your brain to process English in real time when I first started shadowing it was hard to keep up but with time I got better and more confident now I practice shadow every day whether it's listening to podcasts watching videos or even reading aloud in English this technique works because it forces you to think in English and
react quickly it also helps you hear how native speakers use contractions intonation and stress for example when a speaker says I don't know they don't say each word separately like I do not know instead it sounds more natural when you say I don't know with the don't contracted shadowing helps you master these natural speech patterns so you sound more fluent when you speak remember that learning a language Takes time and everyone progresses at their own pace the key is to stay consistent and keep pushing yourself to practice every day whether you're listening to podcasts watching
shows reading books or having conversations with friends keep practicing and you'll see improvement over time I'm really glad to see you're staying with me and excited to continue this journey of improving your English skills let's talk about some additional Strategies that have helped me and many other Learners accelerate their progress these tips will guide you not only in improving your listening and speaking but also in making the entire process more enjoyable first let's talk about using real life events to practice your listening and speaking one of the most effective ways to improve is by immersing
yourself in English through real life Experiences this means stepping out of your textbook and engaging with the world around you let me share a story from my own life a few years ago I was traveling to a new city for the first time I didn't know the language very well and I was nervous about speaking to locals however I quickly realized that I could learn so much just by observing and listening one day I was in a coffee shop and the Barista asked me would you like your Coffee to go or to stay I had
never heard that specific phrasing before so I wasn't quite sure what to say but then I saw a few people around me saying to stay when they planned to drink their coffee there and to go when they were planning to leave by watching how people responded I quickly learned this phrase and the next time I ordered I confidently said to stay please this is such a simple example but It shows how real life interactions can teach you so much about both language and culture now let's move to another important Point practicing with others finding someone
to practice with can be a GameChanger when I was learning I joined a group of friends who were all trying to learn English at the same time we would meet every week to talk about different Topics in English Sometimes we'd discuss a book or movie we had all seen and other times we'd simply talk about what we did that day the key was speaking without worrying too much about making mistakes everyone was supportive and helped each other out one of my favorite memories from those practice sessions was when we started talking about Hobbies my friend
Jane who was a beginner English speaker said I like to run at morning At first it wasn't perfect but we all understood her we then corrected her gently by saying we say I like to run in the morning after that Jane practiced saying it correctly and now she's much more confident when speaking about her Hobbies this story reminds me that the more you practice with others the more comfortable you will become and that's something I encourage you to do find Someone who speaks English and practice as much as possible another tip I want to share
is the importance of not just listening passively but actively engaging with the material when you listen to podcasts for example don't just sit back and passively hear the words instead try to repeat what you hear in fact I recommend that you practice shadowing which I mentioned earlier or you try to repeat the sentences right after you hear them This helps you match the Rhythm intonation and pronunciation of native speakers at first it might feel a bit difficult but as you practice it gets easier and your speaking skills will improve one day I was listening to
a podcast where the host talked about the importance of reading books in English she said books are a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the language at first I didn't understand the meaning of immersion but I could Tell from the context that she was talking about fully surrounding yourself with something so I paused the podcast and looked up the word immersion I found out that it means to be fully engaged or involved in something now every time I listen to a podcast about learning English I always try to pause and look up unfamiliar words to
expand my vocabulary when you're listening it's also helpful to set small goals for yourself let's say you're watching a TV Show or listening to a podcast start start by setting a goal to understand a certain number of words or phrases once you hit that Target challenge yourself to improve by setting a new goal this method not only keeps you motivated but also helps you track your progress for example when I was learning to understand English slang I set a goal to learn five New Slang phrases each week after a month I had learned 20 new
phrases which made me feel much more Confident when listening to informal conversations another technique that helped me was using subtitles at first I relied on English subtitles because I thought they would help me understand better and they did but soon I realized I was reading the subtitles too much and not focusing enough on the actual listening so I started challenging Myself by turning off the subtitles for Short clips and trying to understand the content without any help this forced me to pay closer attention attention to the words and the way they were pronounced over time
I found that I could understand a lot more without relying on subtitles which really boosted my confidence you can do something similar with your speaking practice if you're in a conversation and don't know a word try to find another way to express what You're thinking don't be afraid to use simpler language or paraphrase for instance I remember being in a conversation with a friend and wanting to say say I'm feeling a little under the weather but I couldn't remember the phrase instead I said I don't feel very well my friend understood immediately by using simpler
language in place of a more complicated phrase I was still able to communicate my message Clearly Now I want to talk about using Resources in different ways for example podcasts and YouTube videos are amazing tools for improving your listening skills but they can also help with your speaking I use podcasts to listen to conversations on various topics and then I try to discuss those topics in English with my friends or in language exchange groups this way I'm not just listening to the content I'm also practicing speaking about it it's like having a real conversation about
what you've Learned let's also consider how we can improve our English through storytelling this is something that has really helped me over the years when I first started learning I found that I could understand short stories more easily than longer more complex texts so I started listening to short stories in English paying attention to how the stories were structured how the characters spoke and what phrases were used eventually I started telling my own stories in English which helped me gain confidence I would share stories with my language exchange partner and they would offer feedback on
how I could improve this gave me a chance to practice my speaking use new vocabulary and understand how stories flow in English one great resource for listening practice is TED Talks I highly recommend Watching Ted Talks on subjects that interest you not only will you learn new things but you'll also hear various Speakers with different accents and styles of speaking this helps with listening comprehension especially when it comes to understanding different accents and speech patterns I remember listening to a TED Talk by a speaker from UK and I found it difficult to understand some of
the words because of his accent but instead of giving up I listened carefully paid attention to the key points and after listening a second time I understood Much more the key takeaway here is that repetition helps the more you listen to English in different contexts the better you'll get at understanding all kinds of accents and sty I'm so glad you're staying with me as we continue this journey of improving your English listening and speaking skills let's dive deeper into how we can refine these abilities using even more real life examples and practical tips that can
help you grow every day earlier we Talked about how important it is to use real world interactions to improve your language skills but I want to emphasize how you can integrate this approach into your daily routine every time you encounter something in English try to make the most out of it whether it's reading a short article listening to a song or even watching a video on YouTube try to take something valuable from it for example last week I was watching a video About the daily life of someone who works as a chef the person was
explaining how they organize their kitchen prepare meals and deal with the stress of the job at first I didn't understand some of the cooking related words like me on plas which is a French term for organizing ingredients before cooking instead of just ignoring it I paused the video wrote down the term and later looked it up to understand its Meaning the key here is that when you hear something new don't just move on dive into it try to understand the word or phrase fully and then incorporate it into your vocabulary this will not only help
you improve your listening but also boost your speaking because you will be using new words and expressions in future conversations let me give you another example a while ago I had a conversation with a friend from Australia she used the word arvo when talking about meeting later in the day I wasn't sure what it meant but I guessed it was related to time I asked her what it meant and she explained that it was an informal way of saying afternoon in Australian English that's a great lesson by asking questions and learning new slang I expanded
my vocabulary and now I feel comfortable using that word when I'm talking with friends from Australia or other places that use It this brings me to another tip I want to share with you ask questions and clarify don't be afraid to ask someone to explain what they just said if you didn't catch it you might say something like sorry I didn't catch that could you explain what you mean by arvo people will be more than happy to help in fact they'll often appreciate your effort to improve your English over time these small moments of clarification
will add Up and your comprehension will get much stronger another great way to build your skills is by recording yourself I know it might feel a little strange at first but hear me out when you record yourself speaking you get to hear exactly how you sound you might think you speak English perfectly but when you listen to yourself you may notice certain words or phrases that you struggle with this gives you the opportunity to work On them it also helps you build confidence because you can track your progress over time I remember recording myself reading
a short story in English and when I played it back I noticed I was saying he instead of she in several places it wasn't a major mistake but it was something I could work on I practiced reading the same story again but this time I paid closer attention to the pron s when I recorded myself again I could hear the difference this is a Technique I still use to this day to fine-tune my speaking when I was first learning English I also made a habit of mimicking the way native speakers spoke this technique is called
shadowing and it's a great way to get better at speaking naturally let's say you're listening to an English podcast or watching a video and you notice how the speaker's voice Rises and falls at different point points in the sentence try to mimic Their tone Rhythm and pronunciation as closely as possible this helps you sound more fluent and natural in your conversations I remember once shadowing a YouTube video where the host was explaining how to make the perfect cup of coffee as she said start by boiling the water and then pour it slowly over the coffee
grounds I tried to imitate her intonation and speed after a few tries I sounded much more like a native speaker and I felt more confident when Speaking English in real conversations here's a fun story about how shadowing helped me in a real conversation I was at a party and I overheard a group of people talking about their favorite TV shows they were talking fast and using phrases I hadn't heard before instead of feeling overwhelmed I decided to jump in and use the same phrases I had practiced through shadowing I said something like oh I love
that show the plot twists are Always so unexpected and the characters are so well developed to my surprise they understood me perfectly and we had a great conversation shadowing really helped me sound confident and fluent even though I was still learning let's talk a bit about listening to different types of content a common mistake I see Learners make is sticking to just one type of material like watching movies or Listening to podcasts while these are great it's important to mix things up and expose yourself to a variety of accents speeds and contexts for instance try
listening to news reports interviews documentaries and even comedy shows each of these will give you a different perspective on how English is spoken I remember listening to a TED talk once and the speaker had a very slow and clear way of of talking it was Easy to understand and I felt confident but then I listened to a fast-paced comedy podcast and I had a much harder time keeping up at first I was frustrated but then I realized that this was a great opportunity to challenge myself I started listening to The Comedy podcast more often and
gradually I got better at understanding the fast-paced speech now I enjoy it just as much as the slower TED Talks something else that really helped Me improve my listening was using apps designed for language learning there are many apps available that provide audio exercises with slow clear pronunciation and then gradually increase the speed I found these apps to be incredibly helpful when I needed to practice specific areas like understanding different accents or learning how to pronounce difficult words the best part is that they allow you to practice listening in small Chunks which makes it easier
to focus and understand each part in fact I often recommend starting with beginner friendly content that's designed for language Learners a great example is the news and levels website they provide news stories that are written and read at different levels of difficulty you can start with level one which is easier and then work your way up to level three as you listen you can read along with the transcript which helps you make the Connection between the spoken and written forms of English in addition to apps I also highly recommend watching English language videos with subtitles
watching content with subtitles gives you the opportunity to understand everything you hear and it allows you to focus on new vocabulary and phrases I started with English subtitles first and then gradually transition to Watching videos without any subtitles this way I was able to challenge myself and improve my comprehension over time here's a personal story about how subtitles helped me a few years ago I was watching a popular TV show in English and I couldn't understand a lot of the vocabulary the characters were using at first I relied on subtitles to follow the plot but
as I got more comfortable I turned off the subtitles and tried to Focus just on the audio it was challenging at first but the more I did it the more my listening skills improved I could follow the story line and understand the characters emotions just from the tone of their voices to summarize all these tips the most important thing is consistency don't worry if you don't understand everything at first the key is to practice every day immerse yourself in real world English and Gradually push yourself to understand more and speak more confidently with each day
you'll get closer to your goal of speaking and understanding English just like a native speaker so keep listening keep practicing and remember that Improvement comes with time and effort as we continue this episode remember that English learning isn't a race it's a journey and every step you take gets you closer to mastering this amazing Language let's continue to build on what we've already discussed by now you've probably realized how crucial it is to engage with real life situ to improve your English but what happens when you face moments where you feel unsure or frustrated with
your progress trust me that's completely normal and it's part of the process I want to talk about how to overcome those challenges and keep Moving forward with confidence I remember a time when I was learning English and faced a real challenge I was at a dinner party with a group of friends and they were all speaking so quickly using slang and expressions I didn't understand I felt completely lost and I was afraid to speak up because I didn't want to say something wrong but here's the thing the more I listened to their conversations the more
I started to pick up on things I had heard before and I realized something very important I was learning even when I didn't understand everything right away what helped me most in that situation was to stay calm and listen carefully instead of focusing on the fact that I didn't understand everything I focused on the words and phrases I did know and here's what happened I started recognizing patterns in the way they were Speaking over time I became more comfortable jumping into conversations even if I wasn't sure I knew every word they were saying I learned
that it's okay to not understand everything right away what's important is being patient with yourself and keeping an open mind another key aspect of improving your English listening and speaking skills is learning how to manage the natural nerves that come with speaking in a new Language everyone experiences a little anxiety when trying something new especially when it's something as personal as communication but you know what the more you practice the less you'll feel nervous one thing that really helped me was practicing in low press environments for first start with simple conversations with friends or family
members who are supportive and understanding I know that Speaking English in front of strangers might seem intimidating but starting small makes a huge difference let me tell you about a situation where practicing in a relaxed environment really helped me a few years ago I decided to join an English conversation group that met once a week the group was made up of people from all over the world and everyone was at a different level of English At first I felt really nervous especially when it Was my turn to speak but then I realized something amazing everyone
in the group was there to learn and support each other we all made mistakes but nobody judged each other that environment made me feel safe to try out new words experiment with sentence structures and make mistakes without fear over time I became much more comfortable speaking in English even in public or with people I didn't know that's why I encourage you to find a Group or even just a buddy who can help you practice having someone to talk to regularly in English will not only improve your speaking skills but also boost your confidence don't be
afraid to step outside your comfort zone even if it feels uncomfortable at first practice really does make perfect speaking of practicing let's talk about some strategies you can use to continue strengthening your listening and speaking skills one great method is To immerse yourself in english- speaking environments as much as possible if you can't travel to an English-speaking country don't worry there are still plenty of ways to immerse yourself you can watch English language TV shows listen to podcasts like this one or join online conversation groups where you can practice speaking with people from all around
the world in fact I've met so many wonderful people through language exchange apps These apps allow you to connect with native speakers or other Learners and you can practice both speaking and listening skills in real time a few years ago I started using one of these apps and I met a fantastic friend from the United States we'd chat for about 30 minutes every week and during those conversations I would pick up new words and expressions I'd also get to help him With his language learn let's keep going now that we've talked about the importance of
prac ice and overcoming those initial fears of speaking and listening let's dive into creating a routine that helps you improve your English every day one of the most powerful things I learned during my language Journey was that consistency is key just like any skill the more you practice the better you get but creating a routine that fits into your daily life Can be tricky especially if you're juggling a busy why schedule however with a little planning you can make learning English a natural part of your day let me start with something that worked really well
for me I used to have a habit of listening to English podcasts every morning while I was getting ready for work whether I was brushing my teeth making breakfast or even putting on my shoes I made it a point to always have English audio playing in the background The great thing about this method is that it didn't take extra time out of my day it was just part of my routine and believe it or not not even when I wasn't actively paying attention to the podcast my brain was still soaking up new words phrases and
sentence structures if you're just starting out I'd recommend doing something similar choose something you enjoy like a podcast or an audio book and listen to It while doing other tasks this is a great way to make use of time you're already spending on everyday activities over time you'll start noticing that your understanding improves without you even realizing it the best part is that you're slowly creating a habit that you don't need to think much about it's just part of your daily life another helpful tip is to incorporate English into activities you Already enjoy for example
if you love watching TV shows or movies try watching them in English with English subtitles this allows you to connect spoken and written English and it also helps you pick up on the natural flow of conversation try watching your favorite show in English and pay attention to how the characters speak do they use formal or informal language are there words or phrases you don't understand don't worry If you don't catch everything just keep watching and listening the more you expose yourself to authentic English the more you'll start to understand when I started doing this I
was amazed by how quickly my listening skills improved roved I remember watching a show and thinking wow I understood almost everything in that conversation it felt like such a big victory for me and it encouraged me to keep going you'll have these moments too And trust me they're incredibly rewarding one of the most important things to keep in mind is to set realistic goals for yourself start small and gradually increase the difficulty as you feel more confident for instance if you're new to listening in English Don't force yourself to watch a fast-paced drama or a
complicated documentary right away start with simple shows or podcasts made for Learners There are plenty of resources that are specifically designed for English Learners and they often use slower speech clearer pronunciation and more basic vocabulary once you're comfortable with that you can gradually move on to more challenging material you might also want to set daily listening goals for example aim to listen to 20 minutes of English every day this could be through podcasts music YouTube videos or even conversations With friends the key is to be consistent if you do this every day you'll start noticing
improvements in no time in fact research shows that daily practice is much more effective than cramming all your studying into one big session little by little those 20 minutes will add up and before you know it you'll be understanding much more of what speaking of goals it's also helpful to track your progress you could create a journal or a checklist to monitor how much time You're spending on listening practice each day you can also note any new words or phrases you come across tracking your progress gives you a sense of achievement and motivates you to
keep going it's exciting to see how much you improve over time and looking back at your earlier notes can give you a real boost when you see how far you've come in addition to daily listening practice speaking is just as important when You're learning a new language speaking regularly will help you become more comfortable using English in real life situations if you're not sure where to start find a language exchange partner or join an online community there are tons of language exchange platforms where you can practice speaking with native speakers or other Learners when I
first started speaking with others I was really nervous but I Quickly realized that most people are just happy that you're trying to learn don't be afraid to make mistakes each time you speak you'll get better and more confident one of my favorite experiences was speaking with a friend I met on a language exchange app we would chat for 30 minutes every week and at first I felt shy about speaking English but over time I started to enjoy our conversations and we even became friends Through that experience I learned a lot about informal English and how
people people speak in everyday situations I highly recommend finding someone you can speak to regularly it's one of the best ways to improve your speaking skills now let's talk about writing writing may not seem like it's directly related to listening and speaking but it can actually be a huge help in improving both when you write in English you're forced to think about Sentence structure vocabulary and grammar which helps reinforce what you've learn through listening and speaking one of the best ways to practice writing is to keep a journal in English write about your day your
thoughts or your plans for the future it doesn't matter what you write about as long as you're practicing consistently when I started journaling in English I was surprised by how much it helped my listening and speaking Writing in English forced me to pay closer attention to how words were used and it helped me internalize new vocabulary some sometimes I would write down a sentence or a phrase I'd heard in a podcast or TV show and then I'd try to use it in my own writing it was a fun way to connect what I was learning
to real life situations over time my writing improved and that made me feel more confident when I spoke and listened in English another great way to practice writing is by participating in online forums or discussion groups there are many websites and social media platforms where you can join discussions about topics that interest you this not only helps you practice your writing but it also gives you a chance to interact with other English Learners or native speakers in fact I've made some great friends through these online groups and we've Been able to help each other improve
our language skills let's take a moment to talk about vocabulary building one of the biggest challenges when learning English is memorizing new words but it's not just about memorizing the words it's about learning how to use them in real conversations one effective method is to learn vocabulary and context for example when you hear a new Word in a podcast or a movie try to understand how it's being used in the sentence then write it down and try using it in your own conversations or writing the more you use a word in context the easier it
will be to remember and I remember learning the word binge when I was watching a TV show in English the characters were talking about how they had binge watched an entire season of a show in one day at first I didn't understand what they Meant but after hearing it a few times I figured out that binge watching meant watching something for a long period of time without stopping I started using the word in my own conversations and now it's a part of my everyday vocabulary the key is to expose yourself to English in as many
ways as possible listen to podcasts watch shows read books and most importantly speak as much as you can all of these activities will help you improve your listening speaking And writing skills and over time you'll feel more confident using English in real life situations don't be afraid to make mistakes along the way the more you practice the more natural it will feel to speak listen and write in English in the next part of the episode I'll share some of my favorite resources that helped me improve my language skills these are tools and techniques that you
can use to take your English to The next level whether you're practicing on your own or with a partner these methods will help you build confidence and fluency in English
