Speaker A
Hello everyone. Welcome back. I am so happy you are here today. Hi. Hi. Hi. Welcome, welcome. Yes, we are so happy you joined us today.
Learn how to train your ears to understand real, fast English with connected speech, accents, and unfamiliar sounds in this 40-minute podcast.
Key Takeaways
- Listening is hard due to fast, connected speech, diverse accents, and unfamiliar sounds.
- Connected speech changes how words sound in natural conversation, e.g., 'wanna' = 'want to'.
- Active listening and exposure to different accents improve comprehension.
- Practicing with shadowing and slowing down audio helps train your ears.
- Consistent practice and using real English materials are essential for progress.
What the video covers
- The video addresses why listening to real English is difficult for learners despite knowing grammar and vocabulary.
- It explains three main reasons for listening challenges: fast connected speech, different accents, and unfamiliar English sounds.
- Connected speech is described with examples like 'wanna' for 'want to' and 'gonna' for 'going to'.
- The importance of active listening and exposure to various English accents is emphasized.
- The video offers practical tips such as shadowing, slowing down audio, and focusing on word stress.
- Examples of common connected speech phrases are practiced to improve comprehension.
- The hosts encourage consistent daily practice and using multimedia resources like music and videos.
- Listeners are invited to participate actively by answering questions and repeating sentences aloud.
- The podcast highlights the difference between formal textbook English and natural spoken English.
- The session ends with motivation and reassurance that learning English listening skills is a shared journey.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
So, let me ask you something. Can you understand English when you read it, but when you hear it, it sounds like fast noise?
Speaker A
Oh, yes. Like boom boom boom. Words flying everywhere and you don't understand anything. Yes, that feeling. We know that feeling very well.
Speaker A
I remember when I started learning English, people spoke and I thought, are they even speaking English? It was so fast.
Speaker A
And today that is exactly what we are going to talk about. How to train your ears, how to understand English faster, how to finally hear the words clearly, and we are going to practice together for about 40 minutes. So stay with us.
Speaker A
Don't go anywhere. This video is perfect for you if your listening is not so strong yet. If you understand a little, but you want to understand more.
Speaker A
Yes. And even if you are intermediate, you will find this very useful. So relax, make yourself comfortable.
Speaker A
Maybe you have a cup of tea or coffee. Oh, coffee. Yes, please. And let's begin. Let's train those ears together. Okay. So, first let's talk about why listening in English is so difficult. Why do so many people struggle with it?
Speaker A
Yes, David. I think many learners have this problem. They study English for years. They know the grammar. They know many words, but when they listen, they understand maybe 30 or 40%.
Speaker A
Exactly. And that is very frustrating, right? You study hard, you know the words on paper, but when someone speaks, it sounds completely different.
Speaker A
Yes. So why does that happen? Good question, Alice. There are several reasons. The first reason is when people speak, they speak fast. They don't speak like a textbook.
Speaker A
Right. In a textbook, you read, "I am going to the store." But in real life, people say what? Something like, "I'm going to go to the store." Exactly. I'm gonna go. That is real English, natural English. And if you
Speaker A
only learned I am going to, then gonna sounds like a completely different word. Oh, I see. So, the words change when people speak fast.
Speaker A
Yes, we call this connected speech. When words connect together, when they blend, when some sounds disappear.
Speaker A
Connected speech. Okay, let me write that down. Connected speech. That sounds important. It is very important. And we will practice that today. But first, let me explain the second reason why listening is hard.
Speaker A
Yes, tell me. The second reason is accents. People speak English in many different ways. A person from America sounds different from a person from England and a person from Australia sounds different from both.
Speaker A
Oh yes. I remember the first time I heard an Australian accent. I thought, "Wait, is this English?" [laughter] Yes, accents can be very confusing. So what can we do about that?
Speaker A
We can expose ourselves to many different accents. Listen to many different people. The more you listen, the more your brain gets used to different sounds.
Speaker A
Okay, so the solution is listen, listen, listen. Yes, listen a lot and listen actively, not just background noise. Really pay attention to what you hear.
Speaker A
Active listening. What does that mean exactly? Active listening means you focus. You really try to understand.
Speaker A
[snorts] You don't just play a video and look at your phone. You sit, you listen, you try to catch the words.
Speaker A
Oh, that's me. Sometimes playing a video and then looking at my phone. Ha, we are all guilty of that sometimes. But for real improvement, you need to focus.
Speaker A
Understood. [music] Active listening. Focus. And the third reason listening is hard, and this is very important, is that English has many sounds that learners are not used to. Sounds that don't exist in their first language.
Speaker A
Like [music] what? Like the th sound in the in think in this. Many languages don't have this sound. So when people hear it, the brain doesn't recognize it quickly.
Speaker A
Oh, the th sound. Yes, that is hard. This, that, think, thought. It's like your tongue has to go between your teeth.
Speaker A
Yes, exactly. Your tongue touches the back of your top teeth or goes between your teeth slightly.
Speaker A
Let me try this. Think there. Very good. Beautiful. You're getting it. Ha. Thank you. I practiced that. [music] So, to review, the three main reasons listening is hard are one, fast, connected speech. Two, different accents. Three, unfamiliar sounds.
Speaker A
Three reasons. Fast speech, different accents, unfamiliar sounds. Got it? Okay. Now, let's go deeper. Let's talk about connected speech. This is very important.
Speaker A
Yes, please. Because I want to understand why English sounds so different when people speak fast.
Speaker A
Perfect. So when we write English, every word has a clear beginning and end. Right. [music] Right. I am going to the store. Each word separate.
Speaker A
But when we speak, the words connect. They join together. Some sounds disappear. Some sounds change. This is completely normal. It happens in every language.
Speaker A
Okay. Can you give me some examples? Of course. Let's start with a simple one. want to. In spoken English, want to often becomes wanna.
Speaker A
Wanna to [music] like I want to eat pizza. Exactly. I want to eat pizza, not I want to eat pizza. In natural speech, wanna.
Speaker A
Okay. So, if I hear wanna, that means want to. Yes. And another very common one, going to becomes going to.
Speaker A
Going to like I'm going to sleep now. Perfect. I'm going to sleep now. That's real English, natural, casual.
Speaker A
And have to. Does that change too? Great question. Yes. Have to often sounds like have to.
Speaker A
Have to. Interesting. I have to go now. Yes. If someone says I have to go, they mean I have to go.
Speaker A
Okay. Okay. So, we have w to, have to. These are the big three. [laughter] Yes. The big three. And there are more.
Speaker A
Got to becomes got to. Gota. I got to call my mom. Exactly. I got to call my mom means I've got to call my mom or I have to call my mom.
Speaker A
This is so interesting. Why didn't anyone tell me this before? Huh? [laughter] Well, sometimes textbooks focus on formal English and that's okay. But for listening, you really need to know this informal connected speech.
Speaker A
Yes. Okay. Can we do a small practice? You say a sentence in connected speech and I try to understand it.
Speaker A
Great idea. Okay. Listen carefully. Ready? Ready. What you going to do this weekend? H what you going to do this weekend?
Speaker A
Okay. Whatchae is that? What are you close? Whatcha is usually what are you or sometimes what do you so what you going to do means what are you going to do oh what are you going to do this weekend
Speaker A
but it sounds like what you going to do this weekend that's so different right big difference and if no one tells you this you might hear what you going to do and think what language is this huh yes that happened to me I was
Speaker A
watching a movie and someone said watcha and I thought it was a name like a person named watcha huh [laughter] that's too funny but it's also So very understandable. If you don't know the connected speech, it really can sound
Speaker A
like a different language. Yes. So let me try another one. Say another sentence. Okay. Ready? Idana. If I can make it.
Speaker A
Ida. Hm. Donna is that don't know. Yes. Idana means I don't know. Very very common.
Speaker A
I don't know if I can make it. And make it means can come. Can be there.
Speaker A
Exactly right. Can you make it to the party means can you come to the party?
Speaker A
Oh make it. I remember hearing that. Now I understand it better. Great. So I don't know if I can make it means I don't know if I can come.
Speaker A
That's a very useful sentence. I can use that. I don't know if I can make it.
Speaker A
Yes, very useful. Especially when you don't want to commit to plans. Yes, maybe. [music] I don't. Perfect.
Speaker A
Okay, let's look at some more connected speech patterns. Do you know the word kind of?
Speaker A
Kind of. Yes, I've heard it. Is it kind of? Exactly. Kind of means kind of, which means a little bit or somewhat. Oh, I'm kind of [music] tired means I'm kind of tired. A little tired.
Speaker A
Perfect. And sort of. That's sort of very similar meaning. I sort of understand. Huh. That's me with connected speech sometimes. [m
Speaker A
Yes. But you're getting better and better. And lot of that's a lot of a lot of things to learn.
Speaker A
Yes, there are a lot of things to learn, but you're doing great. Thank you, David. This is really helpful. I feel like I'm learning secret English.
Speaker A
Secret English. I like that. Yes, this is the English that native speakers use every day, but nobody teaches in school.
Speaker A
That's true. In school, everything is so formal. But in real life, going to wanna, got to kind of la.
Speaker A
Yes. And now when you hear those words in a movie or a podcast, you'll understand.
Speaker A
I will. [music] I'm excited to listen to things now and catch these. Now, let's talk about something else.
Speaker A
Sounds that disappear. In English, when people speak fast, some sounds become very quiet or they disappear completely.
Speaker A
Disappear. Which sounds? Well, the most common is the letter H. In many common words, the H is dropped in natural speech.
Speaker A
Like in what words? Like him, her, he, his. In natural speech, these words often lose the H sound.
Speaker A
Really? So instead of tell him, people say tell him. The H disappears. Tell him I'll be there.
Speaker A
Tell him I'll be there. Okay, that sounds very natural, actually. And what did she do in fast speech can become what did she do?
Speaker A
What did Wow. The what did connects and changes completely. Yes. And what do you often sounds like what do you what do you think exactly what do you think instead of what do you think.
Speaker A
So what do you becomes what do you really a big change it is. But you know what once you know this once your brain learns it you start to hear it everywhere.
Speaker A
Really? Yes. Your brain is very powerful. Once it learns a pattern it starts to find it automatically.
Speaker A
That's amazing. The brain is like a muscle. Exactly. like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.
Speaker A
I like that. Train your ears like training a muscle. You have to practice every day.
Speaker A
Yes, every day. Even just 10 or 15 minutes of focused listening makes a big difference.
Speaker A
Okay, let me ask something. What about the letter T? I notice sometimes it sounds different in American English.
Speaker A
Oh, great observation. Yes. In American English, the letter T between two vowels often sounds more like a D. We call this the flap T.
Speaker A
Flap T. Interesting. Can you give an example? Sure. The word water. In British English, water. Clean, clear T sound.
Speaker A
But in American English, waiter, like a soft D. Oh, waiter. Yes, I've heard this. I thought they were saying a different word. [laughter] Yes, it can be very confusing. And better in American English often sounds like better.
Speaker A
Better. It's better this way. Huh, that sounds funny when you explain it like that. [laughter] Yes. And city can sound like city and little sounds like little.
Speaker A
Little. Okay. So if I hear a little that's little in American English. Yes. Very commonly.
Speaker A
Wow. English really is complicated but interesting. I find it interesting. It is interesting. And the good news is once you start noticing these things, your listening improves very fast. Okay, Alice. Now let's get practical. Let's talk about what you can actually do
Speaker A
every day to train your ears. Yes. This is what I really want to know.
Speaker A
What should I do? What are the steps? Perfect. Let me share some really effective methods. The first one, and this is very important, is shadowing.
Speaker A
Shadowing. What is shadowing? Shadowing means you listen to someone speak and you repeat exactly what they say at the same time or just one or two seconds after. Like a shadow following a person.
Speaker A
Oh, like an echo. Yes, a bit like an echo. You hear a sentence and immediately you say it out loud. You copy the rhythm, the pronunciation, the speed, everything.
Speaker A
So, I need to speak, not just listen. Yes, [music] that's the key. Speaking and listening together. Your mouth and your ears work together, and it trains both at the same time.
Speaker A
That's clever. So, I can take a video like this one and shadow David. Exactly. Pause the video after each sentence. Repeat the sentence out loud.
Speaker A
Try to sound like the speaker. Okay, let me try. Say a sentence, David, and I'll shadow it.
Speaker A
Okay, here's a sentence. I really enjoy learning new things every day. I really enjoy learning new things every day. Like that.
Speaker A
Perfect. Excellent. Did you notice I said really with a natural rhythm? Not really, but really [music] smooth and natural.
Speaker A
Yes. Really smooth. Okay. I like shadowing. I want to try it more. It's one of the best methods. Language learners who use shadowing improve very quickly. Very quickly.
Speaker A
Great. What's the second method? The second method is listen to the same content many times. Don't just listen once, listen again and again.
Speaker A
H is that not boring? It can feel boring at first, but here's the thing. Each time you listen, you hear something new. First time you catch the big words. Second time you catch smaller words. Third time you hear the
Speaker A
rhythm, the stress, the connected speech. Oh, so every time you listen you understand a little more.
Speaker A
Exactly. This is why people who are serious about listening, they don't always look for new content. They listen to the same video or podcast many, many times.
Speaker A
That makes sense. Like learning a song. The first time you listen, you catch the melody. The second time you start to hear the words. By the 10th time, you know all the words.
Speaker A
Perfect example. Yes. Exactly like that. Learning a song. And speaking of songs, listening to English music and reading the lyrics is also a great listening exercise.
Speaker A
Oh, really? Music? Yes. Music has rhythm. Music has stress. Music has natural pronunciation. And songs are usually fun to listen to. So, you want to listen many times.
Speaker A
That's a great idea. I like music. So, I can learn English and enjoy my favorite music. That's not even studying. That's just fun.
Speaker A
Exactly. The best studying doesn't feel like studying. Okay. What's the third method? The third method, use subtitles, but use them in a smart way.
Speaker A
Smart way? What you mean? Many people turn on subtitles and just read. They don't listen. They just read and then their reading improves but their listening doesn't.
Speaker A
Oh yes, I do that. I turn on subtitles and I mostly just read. H many people do. So the smart way is first watch with no subtitles. Just listen. Then watch again with English subtitles. See what you missed. Then
Speaker A
maybe watch a third time. No subtitles again. Okay. So no subtitles first, then English subtitles, then no subtitles again.
Speaker A
Yes. And please use English subtitles, not your native language subtitles. Oh, why? Because if you use your native language, your brain just translates. It doesn't process the English. But if you use English subtitles, your eyes and ears work together in English.
Speaker A
That makes so much sense. English subtitles help you connect the sound to the written word.
Speaker A
Exactly right. And slowly, slowly, you won't need the subtitles at all. That's the goal. No subtitles, just understanding.
Speaker A
Yes, that's the goal. And you can get there. I promise. Okay, let's talk about accents now because this is something many learners worry about.
Speaker A
Yes, I worry about this. If I learn American English, will I understand British English?
Speaker A
Good question. The answer is at first, maybe not perfectly, but with exposure, yes. Absolutely. Yes.
Speaker A
Exposure [music] meaning listening to British English. Exactly. If you only ever listen to American English, British English will feel strange at first, but if you listen to both, your ears get used to both.
Speaker A
I see. So, I shouldn't stick to only one type of English. It's good to have a main accent you focus on for your own speaking, but for listening, try to listen to as many accents as possible.
Speaker A
Okay, so what are the main accents I should know? The most common ones you'll encounter: American English, British English, Australian English, and maybe Canadian English. Four main accents: [music] American British Australian Canadian.
Speaker A
Yes. And let me give you a quick example of how they differ. Take the word water.
Speaker A
Okay. In American English, waiter. Remember the flap tea. I need some waiter. Ha. Waiter. Yes.
Speaker A
In British English, water. Clear tea. I need some water. Water. More formal, more clear.
Speaker A
In Australian English, it sounds a bit like water. More open vowel. Water. Ha. That's fun to say. Huh? Yes.
Speaker A
Each accent has its own music, its own rhythm. Accent music. I like that. Each accent has its own melody.
Speaker A
Exactly. And the more you listen, the more you love each accent for what it is.
Speaker A
That's beautiful. Okay. So, the advice is don't be afraid of accents. Just listen to them more.
Speaker A
Yes. Don't avoid accents. Embrace them. Be curious about them. Embrace. What a lovely word. Embrace the accents.
Speaker A
Yes. Embrace them. They are all beautiful. [music] David, can I say something to our listeners?
Speaker A
Of course. Okay. If you are watching this video and it is helping you, please give it a thumbs up, a like. It really helps us make more videos like this.
Speaker A
Yes. And if you are not subscribed yet, please subscribe. It's free and you will never miss our new videos.
Speaker A
We upload new English practice videos all the time, so subscribe and turn on the notification bell.
Speaker A
The little bell, so you get a notification when we post something new. And then every time we upload, you get a little reminder to practice your English.
Speaker A
Huh. A little English reminder every week. I like [music] that. Me, too. Okay, back to the lesson. Okay, now let's do something fun. Let's have a natural conversation, a real life situation, and our listeners can practice understanding it.
Speaker A
Oh, I love this. What situation are we doing? Let's say we are at a cafe. We are ordering coffee and talking about our day. Okay, perfect. I love coffee. This is my favorite situation.
Speaker A
Great. Let's begin. And listeners, try to understand every word. Don't worry if you missed some. Just do your best.
Speaker A
Hey, David. Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you could make it. I wasn't sure if you'd come.
Speaker A
Yeah, sorry I'm a little late. The traffic was crazy today. I don't know what was going on.
Speaker A
No worries at all. I just got here myself. Have you ordered yet? Not yet. What are you going to have?
Speaker A
I'm thinking a latte. A big one. I'm kind of tired today. Yeah, me too. I didn't sleep well last night. I think I'm going to get a black coffee. Something strong.
Speaker A
Ooh, black coffee. That's brave. I can't drink it without milk. It's too bitter for me.
Speaker A
I used to feel the same way, but I sort of got used to it over time.
Speaker A
Really? Maybe I should try. Okay, let me think. Um, maybe I'll get a cappuccino instead.
Speaker A
Good choice. They make great cappuccinos here. Oh, yeah. Have you been here before? Yeah, a couple times. A friend of mine recommended it. The coffee is really good and it's not too expensive.
Speaker A
That's great. I'm always looking for good cafes that aren't too pricey. Same. Okay, should we go order?
Speaker A
Yeah, let's go. Okay, let's pause there. Alice, let's talk about some of the things we said in that conversation.
Speaker A
Yes. Okay. I heard make it again. I'm so glad you could make it. That means you could come.
Speaker A
Exactly. Make it means to arrive or to attend. I'm glad you could make it means I'm glad you could come.
Speaker A
And you said, I don't know what was going on. I remember don't know means don't know, right? I don't know what was going on.
Speaker A
And going on means happening. What was going on means what was happening. And you said not too expensive. And I said not too pricey. Are those the same?
Speaker A
Yes. Pricey is an informal way to say expensive. That bag is so pricey. Means it's very expensive.
Speaker A
Oh, pricey. Nice word. That's a useful word. It is. Okay. Did you notice any connected speech in that conversation?
Speaker A
[music] Yes. What are you going to have? Gonna Good catch. And I'm kind of tired. Kind of.
Speaker A
Excellent. [music] And I'm sort of used to it. Sort of. Yes, I heard all of them this time. I'm improving already.
Speaker A
Yes, you are. This is exactly what training your ears looks like. You hear something once, you don't understand.
Speaker A
You hear it again. Ah, I know that word. Okay. Now, let's talk about something that is very important for listening and people don't talk about it enough. Word stress and rhythm.
Speaker A
Word stress. That means some parts of a word are said louder. Yes. In English, every word has a stress. A part that is said stronger, louder, or longer.
Speaker A
Like in water, the stress is on the first part. Water, not water. Perfect example. Water. First syllable is stressed. If you say water, it sounds wrong to a native speaker's ear.
Speaker A
Interesting. And the wrong stress can make it hard to understand. Yes. Both for you and for the person listening to you. If you stress the wrong syllable, the other person might not understand what word you're saying.
Speaker A
Oh, so word stress is important for both listening and speaking. Exactly. Let me give you some more examples. The word photograph. Where is the stress?
Speaker A
H photograph. First part. Correct. Photograph. First syllable. But what about photography? H photography. Yes. The stress moves. Photography. Same root word, but stress is on the second syllable.
Speaker A
Wow. The same word, but the stress changes when you add letters. Yes, this happens in English. When you add certain endings, ingy, ick, io, n, the stress often changes.
Speaker A
That sounds difficult to remember. It is at first, but with listening practice, your ear learns automatically.
Speaker A
You don't even need to think about it. You just start to feel where the stress goes.
Speaker A
Oh, like musical intuition. You don't think about the notes. You just feel the music. Beautifully said. Yes. Exactly like music.
Speaker A
I love that idea. English is music. Huh? It really is. And when you listen to it like music, with rhythm, with stress, with melody, it becomes much easier to understand.
Speaker A
Okay. So, how do I practice word stress? A few ways. First, when you learn a new word, always learn where the stress is.
Speaker A
Don't just learn the spelling, learn where to put the stress. Okay. So, if I learn the word important, I also know that the stress is on poor.
Speaker A
Important. Exactly. Important. Yes. That's how you should learn it. And second method. Second, listen to natural speech and try to tap the stressed syllables like you're keeping a beat.
Speaker A
Oh, like drumming on the table. Tap tap tap on the stressed parts. Exactly. I really enjoy learning English. Tap on each stressed word.
Speaker A
Really enjoy learning [music] English. That's fun. I'm going to try that. Tap tap tap.
Speaker A
Yes. It sounds a little silly, but it really works. Okay, let's do another practice conversation. This time, two friends talking about a movie they watched.
Speaker A
Ready? Ready. Okay, go. Hey, did you watch that new movie everyone's been talking about?
Speaker A
Which one? There are so many good ones right now. The sci-fi [music] one. The one about space travel.
Speaker A
Oh, yeah. I watched it last weekend, actually. What did you think? Honestly, I thought it was amazing.
Speaker A
Like, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. Really? I thought it was good, but kind of slow in the middle. You think? I didn't find it slow. I was completely hooked from the beginning. Huh?
Speaker A
Maybe it's just me. I don't know. I thought the second act was a bit too long.
Speaker A
The second act? You mean the middle part? Yeah, like the middle section of the movie. It felt like nothing was happening for a while.
Speaker A
H I see what you mean, but I think that part was important for building the story.
Speaker A
That's true. And the ending was incredible. I did not see that coming. Right. The ending was perfect. I was not expecting that at all.
Speaker A
I want to watch it again, actually. I think I'd catch things I missed the first time.
Speaker A
Yes, I'm planning to watch it again, too. There's so much going on, you can't catch everything in one viewing.
Speaker A
Exactly. So, maybe we could watch it together. Oh, that would be fun. Yeah, let's do that.
Speaker A
Perfect. How about this Friday? This Friday works for me. What time? Maybe around 7. That way, we have time to eat dinner first.
Speaker A
Sounds good. I'll bring snacks. Perfect. You bring the snacks, I'll make the popcorn. Deal.
Speaker A
Okay, great conversation. Let's look at some phrases from that. Yes. Okay. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. That means you were watching very intensely. You couldn't stop watching.
Speaker A
Exactly. I couldn't take my eyes off something means you were completely focused on it. Completely watching. You didn't want to look away.
Speaker A
I couldn't take my eyes off the game. I couldn't take my eyes off the sunset.
Speaker A
Beautiful. Beautiful examples. And I was completely hooked. What does hooked mean? Hooked like a fish hook. You're caught.
Speaker A
Yes. Exactly like that. When you're hooked on something, you can't stop. You're caught. You're addicted almost.
Speaker A
I'm hooked on this English channel. [laughter] Yes. Yes. We hope you are hooked on this channel.
Speaker A
And I didn't see that coming. That means you didn't expect it. It was a surprise.
Speaker A
Exactly. I didn't see that coming means I didn't expect that. I was surprised by that. It's a very common phrase. Very common. You'll hear it all the time.
Speaker A
Wow, I didn't see that coming. Okay. And at the end, deal. What does that mean when said alone like that?
Speaker A
Deal as an exclamation means agreed. It's a deal. We have an agreement. Oh, like making a deal. You bring snacks, I make popcorn. Deal. Agreed.
Speaker A
Perfect. Yes. Deal is a very satisfying, natural word to end an agreement with. Deal. I love that. [laughter] Now, let's talk about something specific that confuses many learners. Fast questions. Questions in English can sound very, very different from what you
Speaker A
expect. Yes, questions are hard. I sometimes can't even tell when someone is asking a question versus making a statement.
Speaker A
[laughter] Yes. That's because in English, the intonation, the music of the voice, tells you if something is a question.
Speaker A
Intonation, the rise and fall of the voice. Yes. Usually yes or no questions your voice goes up at the end. W questions your voice goes down at the end.
Speaker A
Can you show me? Sure. Do you like coffee? My voice goes up. Do you like coffee?
Speaker A
Up like curious. Do you like coffee? Yes. And now where do you live? My voice goes down. Where do you live?
Speaker A
Down. More like a statement but still a question. Where do you live? Exactly. And in fast speech the question words also get reduced. Where do you becomes where' you where'd you live?
Speaker A
Yes. Where'd you live? And what do you becomes where' you what' you want? We practiced that before.
Speaker A
Yes. And did you often becomes did you? Did you watch the game? Perfect. Exactly. Did you watch the game means did you watch the game?
Speaker A
And could you does that change too? Yes. Could you often sounds like could you?
Speaker A
Could you help me with this? Excellent. Could you help me with this in natural speech? Could you help me with this?
Speaker A
Okay, let me summarize. We have would you were. Yes. And would you becomes would you?
Speaker A
Would you like some tea? Perfect. Beautiful. Ha. I feel like I'm speaking secret English again. Would you? Could you? Did you? [laughter] Yes. Secret intermediate English. But now it's not a secret for you anymore.
Speaker A
That's right. I know the secrets now. Ha. Okay. Let's talk about one of the best resources for English listening practice. Podcasts and audiobooks.
Speaker A
Oh, yes. I've heard people recommend podcasts a lot, but I always think, where do I start? There are so many.
Speaker A
Yes, [music] it can feel overwhelming. But here's simple advice. Start with podcasts made for English learners, not native speaker podcasts.
Speaker A
Oh, good point. So, start with learner friendly content. Exactly. Find podcasts that speak slowly, clearly, and use simple vocabulary. Get comfortable with those first and then and then gradually move to more natural native level content. Maybe start with
Speaker A
short videos or podcasts, 5 minutes, 10 [music] minutes, and slowly increase. And what level of content should I aim for?
Speaker A
A good rule, you should understand about 70 to 80% of what you hear. If you understand 100%, it's too easy. If you understand less than 50%, it might be too hard.
Speaker A
70 to 80%. The sweet spot. Yes, the sweet spot. You understand most, but there's still a little challenge, a little stretch.
Speaker A
That makes sense. Not too easy, not too hard. Like Goldilocks, just right. Yes, exactly like Goldilocks. Just right.
Speaker A
And audiobooks. Are those good for listening to? Audiobooks are fantastic, especially if you already like to read. You get the story, the vocabulary, the pronunciation allin one.
Speaker A
That's a good combination. I can listen to a story and practice English at the same time.
Speaker A
Exactly. And if you have the written book, too, you can follow along. Listen and read at the same time.
Speaker A
Oh, that's the listen and read method, right? Yes, exactly. Listen and read together. Your ears and eyes work together. Very powerful for comprehension.
Speaker A
Okay. And what kinds of audio books should beginners start with? Start with simple stories. children's books or young adult books. They use clear, simple language. They're perfect for beginners.
Speaker A
Children's books? Really? Adults can use children's books? Absolutely. There's no shame in it. Many famous language learners used children's books to start. The language is simple.
Speaker A
The stories are fun. It's [music] perfect. That's reassuring. I won't feel bad about listening to a children's story now. [laughter] No, don't feel bad at all. Use whatever helps you learn. That's what matters.
Speaker A
Now, let's look at some very common, very useful phrases that you'll hear in everyday English conversations. These are phrases that native speakers use all the time, and knowing them will help your listening so much.
Speaker A
Yes, I love learning phrases. Give me all of them. [laughter] Okay, let's start. Phrase number one, by the way.
Speaker A
By the way, I've heard this. What does it mean? By the way means I'm going to add some extra information. Something else I want to tell you. It's a way to change the topic slightly.
Speaker A
Like, I'm going to the store. By the way, do you need anything? Perfect. Exactly. By the way, do you need anything? It's like, oh, while I'm thinking about it.
Speaker A
Oh, I like that. By the way, I use that phrase now. Huh? Good. Phrase number two. [music] You know what I mean?
Speaker A
You know what I mean? Like, do you understand? Yes. It's a check. The speaker wants to make sure you understand. It was kind of a stressful day. You know what I mean?
Speaker A
Yeah, I know what you mean. meaning yes, I understand. [music] Exactly. And a shorter version, you know, or even, you know, just like that, you know. Yes, I've heard that a lot.
Speaker A
It's just kind of hard, you know. Perfect. Natural phrase number three. I mean, I mean, hm, what does that do?
Speaker A
I mean is used to clarify what you're saying or to add more detail. I like the movie. I mean, it wasn't perfect, but overall it was great.
Speaker A
Oh, so I mean introduces an explanation or correction. Yes. Or sometimes people use it as a filler, just a pause sound. It was I mean pretty good.
Speaker A
Oh, like um or ah. A bit like that. Yes. A thinking sound. English speakers use so many filler words. Um uh I mean like.
Speaker A
Yes. Like is another very common filler. It was like really good. Like as a filler. I was like so surprised. Yes. I've heard that many times.
Speaker A
Yes. Young Americans especially say like very often, like all the time. Like literally all the time. [laughter] And literally is another one. People say literally even when they don't mean it literally. [music] Like I'm literally dying of laughter,
Speaker A
but you're not actually dying. Exactly. Literally has become an intensifier, a way to make something sound stronger.
Speaker A
English is funny. Sometimes you say literally and mean not literally. Huh. Yes, language is alive. It changes. It evolves. And that's what makes it interesting. Let's do one more practice conversation. This time, making weekend plans.
Speaker A
Oh, fun. Okay. Hey, Alice. What are you up to this weekend? Not much, actually. I'm thinking of just staying home and relaxing. I'm kind of tired from this week.
Speaker A
Yeah, I feel you. It's been a long week, but hey, a few of us are going to the park on Saturday. Want to come?
Speaker A
Oh, the park. That sounds nice. Who's going? Me, Tom, and maybe Sarah. Sarah said she might come, but she's not sure yet.
Speaker A
Hm. What time are you guys going? Probably around noon. We were thinking about getting lunch first and then heading over.
Speaker A
Oh, that sounds fun. Yeah, I think I could use some fresh air. Right. It's supposed to be really sunny on Saturday. Perfect park weather.
Speaker A
Okay, yeah, I'm in. Count me in. Awesome. I'll let Tom know. Oh, by the way, should we bring anything like a blanket or something?
Speaker A
Good idea. I can bring a blanket and maybe some snacks. Yes, snacks are always a good idea.
Speaker A
Okay, so I'll bring the blanket and some snacks. Perfect. And I'll grab some drinks.
Speaker A
Deal. It's going to be a great Saturday. It really is. I'm already looking forward to it.
Speaker A
Okay, great conversation. Can we look at some phrases? Yes. What are you up to? What does that mean?
Speaker A
What are you up to? Hm. Is that what are you doing? Exactly. What are you up to means what are you doing or what are your plans?
Speaker A
Oh, that's a very common question, right? Very common. What are you up to this weekend? What are you up to tonight?
Speaker A
What are you up to right now? Perfect. And you said, "I feel you." Does that mean I understand you? I agree with you.
Speaker A
Yes. I feel you means I understand how you feel. Like, I get it. I know that feeling.
Speaker A
It's been a long week. Yeah. I feel you. That's supportive. Exactly. Sympathetic, understanding. And count me in. That means I want to join. Include me.
Speaker A
Perfect. Count me in equals I want to participate. I'm coming. include me in the group.
Speaker A
And the opposite would be count me out. Exactly. Count me out means I'm not coming. Don't include me.
Speaker A
Count me in or count me out. So useful. Very useful phrases. And I'm already looking forward to it. That means you're excited about something in the future.
Speaker A
Looking forward to. I know this one. I'm looking forward to the weekend. Yes. And you can also say I'm looking forward to seeing you. Looking forward to plus verbing.
Speaker A
I'm looking forward to learning more English. Beautiful. [laughter] We're looking forward to teaching you.
Speaker A
Okay, let's talk about one more important topic. What do you do when someone speaks really, really fast? Too fast for you?
Speaker A
Oh, yes. This happens to me all the time. Someone speaks very fast and I just freeze. My brain goes blank.
Speaker A
Brain goes blank. That's a very common experience for language learners. So, what do I do? Ask them to repeat?
Speaker A
You can. And it's perfectly okay to ask. But the goal over time is for your ear to adjust to faster speech.
Speaker A
How do I adjust to faster speech? One great way, use your audio or video player settings to slow down the speed.
Speaker A
Many apps let you change the speed. Oh, like 0.75 speed, slower than normal. Yes. Start at 0.75, which is 75% speed, slower, and practice listening at that speed. Then move to normal speed, 1.0.
Speaker A
And once normal speed feels comfortable, try 1.25 25 a bit faster. So we train our ears gradually. Slower first, then normal, then faster.
Speaker A
Exactly. It's like building a muscle. You don't lift heavy weights first day. You start light, then you add more.
Speaker A
Yes. And one day when you listen at 1.5 speed, normal speed sounds slow and easy.
Speaker A
Yes, exactly. Many advanced learners listen to podcasts at 1.5 or even 2x speed. 2x speed? That sounds crazy.
Speaker A
It does. But it works. If you practice enough, your brain speeds up, your processing speed increases.
Speaker A
Wow. So, the human brain can do that. Adjust to hear faster and faster. Yes, absolutely. The brain is incredibly adaptable. That's why language learning is possible at any age.
Speaker A
Any age? Really? Really? Yes. Children learn faster. That's true. But adults can absolutely learn a new language. Many people learn English fluently as adults.
Speaker A
That's so encouraging. Sometimes I feel like, "Oh, I started too late. I'm too old." No, no, no. It's never too late. Never.
Speaker A
You just need to be consistent. Consistent. Do it every day. Yes. Even 15 minutes every day is much better than 2 hours once a week.
Speaker A
Consistency is the secret. 15 minutes every day. That's the secret. I can do 15 minutes every day.
Speaker A
Yes, you can. And so can everyone watching. 15 minutes every day. You will see a difference. Okay, listeners. Now, it's time for you to practice. We're going to ask you some questions. Think about the answer. Say it out loud if you
Speaker A
can. Yes, this is important. Don't just listen, participate. Speak out loud. Even if no one is listening, even if you're alone in your car or kitchen.
Speaker A
Speaking out loud is so important. Even talking to yourself helps your brain process English.
Speaker A
Okay, first question. Ready? Ready. Question one. What do you do in the morning? Describe your morning routine.
Speaker A
Try to use simple English sentences. For example, I wake up at 7. I eat breakfast. I drink coffee. Simple sentences. Can you say three to five sentences about your morning? Go ahead.
Speaker A
Pause the video if you need to. Take your time. Really think about the words. Say them out loud.
Speaker A
Okay. Question two. What is your favorite English word and why? Oh, that's a fun question. I love the word serendipity. It means finding something good by accident without looking for it.
Speaker A
Oh, beautiful word. Serendipity. Like when you find a great cafe you didn't plan to visit. That's serendipity.
Speaker A
Exactly. Now you tell us. What is your favorite English word? Think about it. [music] Say it out loud.
Speaker A
Okay. Question three. What is one thing you find difficult about English listening? What's hard for you?
Speaker A
Is it connected speech, fast talkers, accents? Think about your challenge. Name it. Because if you can name your challenge, you can work on it specifically.
Speaker A
That's very true. Know your weakness. That's the first step to fixing it. Okay, one more question. Are you ready?
Speaker A
Ready. Question four. What is one thing you're going to do this week to practice your English listening?
Speaker A
One specific thing. Not just I will practice, but what exactly will you do? When? For how long?
Speaker A
For example, I'm going to watch one English video every morning for 10 minutes. Specific. [music] Yes, specific. Detailed. That's how you make a real plan. A vague plan. I'll practice more doesn't work. A specific plan. I'll listen for 15 minutes after
Speaker A
dinner every day works. So, make your plan right now. Say it out loud. This week, I will tell [music] yourself. And if you want, tell us in the comments. We love reading your plans.
Speaker A
Okay. Now, let's review all the key phrases we learned today slowly and clearly. I will say each phrase and Alice will repeat it.
Speaker A
Ready? I want to go. I want to go. I want to go. I'm gonna eat.
Speaker A
I'm gonna eat. I'm going to eat. I have to study. I have to study. I have to study.
Speaker A
I got to leave now. I got to leave now. I have got to leave now. I need to leave now.
Speaker A
I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I'm kind of tired. I'm kind of tired. I'm kind of tired. A little tired.
Speaker A
I sort of understand. I sort of understand. I sort of understand. Mostly understand. There are a lot of things to learn.
Speaker A
There are a lot of things to learn. There are a lot of things to learn.
Speaker A
What do you think? What do you think? What do you think? Did you see that?
Speaker A
Did you [music] see that? Did you see that? Would you like some help? Would you like some help? Would you like some help?
Speaker A
By the way, I have something to tell you. By the way, I have something to tell you. Introducing extra information.
Speaker A
You know what I mean? You know what I mean? Do you understand? [music] Count me in.
Speaker A
Count me in. Include me. I'm joining. I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited about something in the future.
Speaker A
I didn't see that coming. I didn't see that coming. I didn't expect that. I was surprised.
Speaker A
I couldn't take my eyes off it. I couldn't take my eyes off it. I was completely focused. I couldn't stop watching or looking.
Speaker A
Deal. Deal. Agreed. [music] We have an agreement. Beautiful. Amazing. You did so well, Alice.
Speaker A
Thank you. I feel like I learned so much today. My brain is full. Full brain.
Speaker A
That's a good sign. Okay, we are coming to the end of today's video and what an amazing 40 minutes it has been.
Speaker A
It really has. I feel like we covered so much. We did. Let me quickly summarize what we learned today.
Speaker A
Yes, please. We [music] learned why English listening is hard. We learned about connected speech. Wanna, going to have to, got to, da kind of, la, sort of. We learned about sounds that disappear like the flap t and the dropped h. We talked
Speaker A
about word stress and rhythm. We practiced three real life conversations at the cafe, talking about a movie, and making weekend plans. We learned so many great phrases. And we talked about methods to train our ears.
Speaker A
Shadowing, listening multiple times, smart use of subtitles, slowing down audio speed. Yes, it was a full lesson, a full 40 minutes.
Speaker A
And if you're watching this, you stayed with us the whole time. And that is amazing. That says a lot about your dedication.
Speaker A
It really does. Give yourself a pat on the back. You [music] just did 40 minutes of serious listening practice.
Speaker A
That is not easy. And you should be proud of yourself. Yes. Be proud. Every minute of practice counts.
Speaker A
And remember, consistency is the key. 15 minutes every day or even this video once a week. Regular practice. That is what will transform your listening.
Speaker A
And don't forget, shadow with us. Pause the video. Repeat the sentences. Use your voice.
Speaker A
Your voice is your most powerful tool. Use it. And one last thing, if you haven't subscribed yet, please subscribe now. We make videos just like this one. Long, natural, friendly English conversations for learners just like you.
Speaker A
And every video is designed to help you feel progress, to feel that yes, I am improving. Yes, I understand more today than yesterday.
Speaker A
Because you are improving. Every time you listen, every time you practice, your brain is growing. Your English is growing even when you can't feel it.
Speaker A
Trust the process. Keep going. [music] Keep going. And now we have a question for you. We want to hear from you.
Speaker A
Yes, [music] in the comments. Tell us what is the hardest part of English listening for you. And what method are you going to try this week?
Speaker A
Write it in the comments. We read them. We reply. We love connecting with you.
Speaker A
You are not alone in this journey. [music] We are all learning together. Together. Thank you so much for watching. Thank you for practicing with us today. We'll see you in the next video.
Speaker A
Take care everyone. Keep learning, keep listening, keep going. Bye for now.
Topics:English listening practiceconnected speechEnglish accentsactive listeningEnglish pronunciationEnglish soundsshadowing techniqueEnglish learning tipsintermediate EnglishSpeak English with David & Alice
