Listening Exercise | How to Understand American English Speakers

Summary

This lesson focuses on improving listening skills by exposing learners to natural spoken English. The speaker explains the importance of understanding everyday expressions and vocabulary, using the example sentence 'Give me a call when you're around and we'll set it up.' Key insights include reductions like 'gimme' for 'give me' and 'you're' for 'you are,' along with phrasal verbs like 'set it up,' emphasizing the need for practice to communicate effectively with native speakers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Listening to natural spoken English is essential for improving listening skills beyond textbook language.
• 📞 The phrase 'give me a call' is a casual way to ask someone to call you, commonly used among friends.
• 🔄 Reductions in spoken English, such as 'gimme' for 'give me', help make conversation flow more naturally.
• 🤝 'Are you around?' is a way to ask if someone is available or free to meet.
• 📅 'Set it up' means to schedule or arrange something with a specific time or date.
• 🗣️ Pronunciation in natural English often involves contractions and reductions, like 'we will' becoming 'we'll'.
• 🔗 Linking sounds is a common feature in natural spoken English, affecting how words are heard and pronounced.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 'Give me a shout' can be used interchangeably with 'give me a call', reflecting informal communication.
• 🎙️ The lesson emphasizes the importance of practicing real spoken English to effectively communicate with native speakers.
• 💡 Understanding vocabulary and pronunciation changes can greatly enhance your comprehension of everyday conversations.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of this listening exercise?

The main purpose is to improve listening skills by exposing learners to natural spoken English, which is different from textbook language.

How many times does the instructor repeat the sentence for practice?

The instructor repeats the sentence three times.

What sentence is being analyzed in the exercise?

The sentence being analyzed is 'Give me a call when you're around and we'll set it up.'

What does the term 'gimme' refer to in this context?

'Gimme' is a reduction of 'give me,' commonly used in natural spoken English.

What is the meaning of 'around' in this context?

'Around' means being available or free to meet or talk.

What does 'set it up' mean?

'Set it up' means to schedule or arrange something, like a meeting or an appointment.

How does the instructor explain the contraction of 'we will'?

The instructor explains that 'we will' is commonly contracted to 'we'll' in natural speech.

What pronunciation change is highlighted with the phrase 'set it up'?

The instructor notes that 'set it up' is pronounced with a soft 'D' sound, making it sound like 'said dit up' due to American English phonetics.

What alternative expression can replace 'call me'?

An alternative expression for 'call me' is 'give me a shout.'

What does the instructor encourage learners to do for better understanding?

The instructor encourages learners to keep practicing natural spoken English to improve their listening and speaking skills.