I Can Understand English, But I Can’t Speak | Learn English Podcast |🎧 Podcast and Chill

Summary

In this episode of 'Podcast and Chill,' hosts Leo and Gwen address the common struggle of understanding English without being able to speak it fluently. They offer practical strategies and personal anecdotes to help listeners overcome this barrier. The discussion covers the importance of practice, overcoming the fear of mistakes, and the mental translation process. They suggest starting with small steps, embracing technology for practice, and mimicking native speakers to improve fluency. The hosts also emphasize the significance of transitioning from passive to active language learning and the role of confidence in effective communication. The episode is a motivational guide for English learners, encouraging them to take the first step towards fluency.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Fear of Speaking**: Many English learners understand the language but struggle to speak it due to fear of making mistakes and lack of practice.
• 🗣️ **Importance of Practice**: Speaking English fluently is a skill that requires active practice, not just passive listening.
• 🤔 **Mental Translation**: Translating in one's head from the native language to English can slow down speaking and hinder spontaneous conversation.
• 🏋️‍♂️ **Mental Agility**: Developing the ability to think quickly in English is crucial for fluent conversation and requires regular practice.
• 🎯 **Setting Small Goals**: Breaking down learning into small, achievable goals can make the process less daunting and more manageable.
• 📱 **Technology as a Tool**: Apps that provide speaking practice and feedback can supplement human interaction, especially for pronunciation.
• 📚 **Reading Aloud**: Reading aloud helps with pronunciation and fluency, and choosing engaging material can make the practice more enjoyable.
• 🐕 **Speaking to Pets**: Talking to pets or even plants can reduce stress and make language practice more relaxed.
• 🌟 **Mimicking Masters**: Imitating native speakers can improve pronunciation, intonation, and understanding of the language's rhythm and flow.
• 🌱 **From Passive to Active**: Transitioning from passive exposure to active learning, such as summarizing what you've read or listened to, enhances language mastery.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the 'Podcast and Chill' episode?

The main topic discussed is the classic dilemma of understanding English but struggling to speak it fluently, and the strategies to overcome this barrier.

Why do many language learners face the issue of understanding English but not being able to speak it well?

The issue arises due to a lack of practice, fear of making mistakes, mental translation from their native language to English, and slower thinking speed in English.

How can one start tackling the fear of speaking English?

One can start by acknowledging the fear, practicing small steps like speaking with friends or in front of a mirror, recording oneself, and setting small achievable goals.

What role does technology play in practicing English speaking skills?

Technology, particularly apps, serves as a supplement for pronunciation practice and provides immediate corrections or suggestions to help learners improve.

Why is it beneficial to narrate one's daily activities in English?

Narrating daily activities helps integrate English speaking into daily life, making the practice enjoyable and less pressured.

How does mimicking native speakers help in learning English?

Mimicking native speakers helps in learning pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and flow of the language, as well as picking up casual language and cultural nuances.

What is the 'from passive to active' strategy in language learning?

The 'from passive to active' strategy involves turning passive exposure to the language into active learning practices, which requires output and interaction to truly master the language.

What are some effective conversation starters for practicing English with native speakers?

Effective conversation starters include asking about local food recommendations, discussing hobbies, inquiring about travel experiences, and giving genuine compliments.

Why is confidence considered crucial in learning to speak English?

Confidence is crucial because it impacts the effectiveness of communication. It reduces hesitation and second-guessing, leading to smoother and more fluent conversations.

How can one build confidence in speaking English?

One can build confidence by setting realistic goals, celebrating small victories, embracing mistakes as part of the learning process, and seeking feedback from others.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Overcoming the Speaking Barrier in English Learning

The podcast segment begins with hosts Leo and Gwen addressing the common challenge of understanding English well but struggling to speak it fluently. They emphasize the importance of practice and the right approach, suggesting that fear of mistakes and mental translation can hinder speaking skills. The hosts propose strategies such as starting with small steps, acknowledging the fear of speaking, and practicing with friends or in front of a mirror. They also recommend recording oneself to track progress and embrace mistakes as part of the learning process.

05:01

📚 Innovative Methods for Daily English Practice

In this segment, Leo and Gwen discuss various methods to practice English speaking when alone. They suggest narrating daily activities as if in a documentary, using language learning apps for feedback, reading aloud for fluency, and even talking to pets. The hosts also touch upon the benefits of mimicking native speakers to improve pronunciation and intonation, and how this can lead to picking up slang and idioms. They provide definitions for terms like 'documentary,' 'fluency,' 'integrate,' 'supplement,' and 'mimicking' to help listeners understand the context better.

10:02

🗣️ Transitioning from Passive to Active Language Learning

The hosts delve into the concept of shifting from passive to active language learning, highlighting the importance of active engagement with the language. They explain that passive learning involves activities like listening to music or watching TV, while active learning requires speaking and writing. Leo and Gwen suggest strategies like reflecting on what one has listened to or read, repeating phrases, and using subtitles to connect spoken and written language. They also encourage turning book reading into active learning by summarizing chapters or discussing them in English.

15:02

💪 Building Confidence in English Communication

In the final segment, Leo and Gwen focus on the significance of confidence in learning to speak English. They explain that confidence can enhance communication and reduce hesitation. The hosts suggest setting realistic goals, embracing mistakes, and seeking feedback to build confidence. They also provide definitions for 'crucial,' 'transition,' 'reflecting,' 'engaging,' and 'initiating' to clarify the concepts discussed. The podcast concludes with encouragement for listeners to practice and maintain confidence in their English speaking journey.

Keywords

💡Fluency

Fluency refers to the ability to speak or write a language easily, smoothly, and expressively. In the context of the video, fluency is a key goal for English learners, and the hosts discuss various strategies to improve it. For instance, they mention that practicing speaking English with friends or narrating daily activities can enhance fluency by making language use more natural and less pressured.

💡Mimicking

Mimicking, as discussed in the video, involves imitating someone's actions, speech, or mannerisms, especially to learn from them. The hosts suggest that learning from native speakers by mimicking their pronunciation and intonation can significantly improve one's English skills. An example from the script is trying to talk like a famous actor or a news anchor to understand the rhythm and flow of the language.

💡Passive Language Learning

Passive language learning is characterized by absorbing language through activities that don't require active speaking or writing, such as listening to music, watching TV, or reading. The video contrasts this with active learning, emphasizing the importance of transitioning from passive to active practices to truly master a language. An example given is reflecting on what one listens to or reads and summarizing it in English, which turns passive reception into active learning.

💡Active Learning

Active learning is defined as engaging with the language through speaking, writing, or other forms of output that require active use of the language. The video encourages listeners to move from passive to active learning strategies, such as repeating phrases after listening or summarizing read content in English, to enhance language mastery. This approach is exemplified by the suggestion to write a summary after reading a chapter or to discuss it with friends in English.

💡Confidence

Confidence is portrayed as crucial in learning to speak English effectively. It reduces hesitation and second-guessing, leading to smoother and more fluent conversations. The hosts advise setting realistic goals, embracing mistakes, and seeking feedback to build confidence. An example from the script is the encouragement to believe in oneself and to view every conversation as a step towards fluency.

💡Documentary

In the video, 'documentary' is used as a metaphor for a method of practicing English speaking alone. Narrating one's daily activities as if describing a documentary helps integrate English into daily life and makes the practice enjoyable. For example, the script suggests saying, 'Here we see Leo preparing his morning coffee, a crucial ritual for his productivity,' to practice speaking English.

💡Integrate

To integrate, in the context of the video, means to combine one thing with another so that they become a whole. The hosts discuss various methods that can help integrate English speaking into daily life, such as narrating activities or using technology. This integration is seen as a way to make language practice a natural part of one's routine, thereby reducing the pressure and increasing the enjoyment of learning.

💡Supplement

A supplement, as mentioned in the video, is something added to something else to improve or complete it. Technology and apps are presented as supplements to human interaction, particularly for pronunciation practice. They cannot replace talking to real people but offer valuable additional practice, especially for learners looking to improve their spoken English.

💡Engaging

Engaging, in the video, is used to describe activities that charm and hold interest or attention. The hosts suggest that turning passive book reading into active learning by writing summaries or discussing chapters in English is engaging and pushes learners to use English practically. This approach is meant to make learning more dynamic and memorable.

💡Initiating

Initiating, as discussed in the video, means causing the beginning of something. The hosts provide tips on how to initiate conversations, which is crucial for practicing English. Examples include asking about local food recommendations, discussing hobbies, or sharing travel experiences. These conversation starters are meant to help learners overcome the initial hurdle of starting a conversation in English.

Highlights

Understanding English but struggling to speak it fluently is a common dilemma among language learners.

Lack of practice is a primary reason for the listening-speaking gap in language learning.

Fear of making mistakes can be a significant barrier to speaking English.

Mental translation from one's native language to English can slow down speaking.

Improving thinking speed in English is crucial for fluent conversations.

Regular practice helps in developing mental agility for language processing.

Acknowledging the fear of speaking English is the first step to overcoming it.

Starting with small steps, like speaking with friends or in front of a mirror, can build confidence.

Recording oneself speaking English can help identify areas for improvement.

Setting small, achievable goals can make the language learning process less daunting.

Embracing mistakes is essential as they are part of the learning curve.

Every conversation, even if it ends in a mix-up, is a victory and a learning opportunity.

Narrating daily activities in English can be a fun way to practice speaking alone.

Technology and apps can supplement English speaking practice, especially for pronunciation.

Reading aloud helps with pronunciation and fluency, making language practice more engaging.

Talking to pets or plants can make English practice more relaxing and less stressful.

Mimicking masters, like native speakers or famous actors, can improve pronunciation and intonation.

Watching videos and repeating after native speakers can help learn the rhythm and flow of English.

Transitioning from passive to active language learning involves engaging with the language actively.

Reflecting on what you listen to or read and summarizing it in English turns passive exposure into active learning.

Initiating a conversation by asking about local food, hobbies, or travel experiences can be effective starters.

Using open-ended questions encourages more engaging and extended conversations.

Confidence in speaking English is crucial as it impacts communication effectiveness and reduces hesitation.

Setting realistic goals and celebrating small victories can build confidence in language learning.

Feedback from others is valuable for understanding areas of improvement and reinforcing progress.

Believing in oneself and embracing every opportunity to practice is key to speaking English fluently.

Transcripts

[Music]

welcome back everyone you're tuning in

another episode of podcast and chill I'm

Leo always here to add a bit of laughter

to your day and I'm Gwen here to give

you the best tips and tricks for your

Daily Grind today we're diving into a

topic that resonates with many of our

listeners yes we're talking about the

classic dilemma I can understand English

but I can't speak it well it's a

frustrating situation for many Learners

out there absolutely Gwen but fear not

folks we've got some great strategies to

help you break through that barrier

that's right speaking English fluently

is a skill and like any skill it takes

practice and the right approach So today

we're here to guide you on this journey

and share some personal stories along

the way let's get started and remember

it's all about taking small steps

towards Big

[Music]

improvements so let's dive into this

listening speaking Gap why do you think

it exists Gwen great question Leo one

main reason is the lack of practice many

Learners listen a lot but don't get

enough speaking practice that makes

sense listening is passive but speaking

is active you need to actually use the

language to improve speaking skills

exactly Leo another reason is the fear

of making mistakes this fear can stop

people from speaking even if they

understand everything I see so it's like

being afraid to jump into the pool

because you think you might sing

absolutely and there's also the issue of

mental translation many Learners

translate from their native language to

English in their heads which slows down

their speaking significantly that must

be exhausting constantly translating

every sentence before you say it it is

Leo and it prevents the kind of

spontaneous conversation that fluent

speakers have makes sense what about

thinking speed I've heard that's a big

barrier too right you are if your brain

isn't trained to think quickly in

English it can be hard to keep up in a

conversation so it's really about

building that mental agility to switch

between languages seamlessly yeah and

that takes us back to the practice the

more you speak the better your brain

gets at processing and producing English

naturally it's like working out but for

your brain exactly Leo and just like

muscles it needs regular workouts to

stay in shape so Gwen talking about

breaking the silence how do we start

tackling this fear of speaking English

well Leo the first step is acknowledging

the fear except that it's okay to be

scared but don't let that stop you

that's right Gwen it's like diving into

a pool the water might be cold at first

but you'll get used to it exactly and

start with small steps maybe practice

speaking English with friends or in

front of a mirror I've heard about this

mirror practice before it sounds funny

but effective it is Leo it helps you see

your own expressions and slowly builds

confidence as you watch yourself improve

and don't forget about recording

yourself sometimes listening to your own

voice can help you notice improvements

or areas that need work true ALS so

setting small achievable goals can make

the process less daunting like today

I'll learn five new words or I'll start

a conversation at the store breaking it

down like that makes it seem more

manageable what about embracing mistakes

absolutely essential Leo we learn from

mistakes not from being perfect embrace

them as part of the learning curve makes

you think of them as stepping stones

rather than stumbling blocks precisely

and remember every conversation you

start even if it ends in a mixup is a

victory I love that approach it's

turning the journey into something

exciting and explorative rather than

stressful yes and by speaking out you're

not only improving your language skills

but also your

self-esteem so folks remember start

small Embrace mistakes and use every

opportunity to practice is that's how

you break the

silence and soon enough you'll find that

fear of speaking becoming less and less

significant moving on Gwen let's dive

into how our listeners can practice

speaking daily even when they're alone

there's plenty to do right absolutely

Leo a great way to start is by narrating

your daily activities describe what

you're doing as if you're in a

documentary that sounds fun so I could

say something like here we see Leo

preparing his morning coffee a crucial

ritual for his

productivity exactly Leo and another

method is to use technology there are

plenty of apps that allow you to talk

and give you feedback apps huh can they

really replace talking to real people

they can't replace human interaction but

they are a fantastic supplement

especially for pronunciation practice

speaking of which reading aloud is a

another excellent practice it helps with

both pronunciation and fluency so just

grab a book and start reading any book

will do well it's best to choose

something at your level and maybe

something fun or interesting to you so

it doesn't feel like a chore what about

talking to your pets I bet they're great

listeners absolutely Leo speaking to

pets or even to plants can make the

practice more raining and less stressful

and let's not forget the classic talking

to yourself in the mirror it's a great

way to build confidence I do that all

the time not just for English practice

honestly well that explains a lot Leo

but seriously folks all these methods

can help you integrate English speaking

into your daily life without feeling too

much pressure so keep it fun keep it

regular and soon you'll see the

Improvement

all right Gwen let's talk about another

fantastic tip mimicking Masters what's

that all about it's about learning from

the best Leo listening to native

speakers and trying to imitate their

pronunciation and intonation can really

help like trying to talk like a famous

actor or a news anchor right exactly you

can choose someone who's English you

admire and listen to how they speak it's

not just about copying it's about

understanding the Rhythm and flow of the

language and how can our listeners

practice this Gwen a good start is to

watch videos or listen to recordings try

to repeat after them match their tone

and even their facial

expressions so you're saying I should

start talking like I'm presenting the

evening news good evening ladies and

gentlemen well if that helps you improve

why not but remember it's about learning

the subtleties of pronunciation not just

mimicking for fun got it and it sounds

like a lot of fun actually could this

help with learning slang and idioms too

absolutely by mimicking native speakers

you not only learn standard

pronunciation but also pick up on casual

Language and Cultural nuances that

textbooks might not cover

[Music]

documentary definition a factual film or

program about real events and people

example describe what you're doing as if

you're in a

documentary

fluency definition the ability to speak

or write a language easily smoothly and

expressively example it helps with both

pronunciation and

fluency integrate definition combine one

thing with another so that they become a

whole example all these methods can help

you integrate English speaking into your

daily life supplement definition

something that is added to something

else to improve it or complete it

example they can't replace human

interaction but they are a fantastic

supplement

mimicking definition imitating someone's

actions speech or mannerisms especially

to entertain ridicule or learn from them

example listening to native speakers and

trying to imitate their pronunciation

and intonation can really

help what is one method mentioned for

practicing English speaking alone one

method mentioned for practicing English

speaking alone is narrating daily

activities describing what you're doing

as if you're narrating a documentary

which helps integrate english- speaking

into daily life and makes the practice

enjoyable and less

pressured what are some benefits of

using technology for English speaking

practice technology particularly apps

that allow you to talk and receive

feedback is a fantastic supplement for

pronunciation practice while it can't

replace human interaction it serves as a

valuable tool for Learners to practice

speaking and receive immediate

Corrections or suggestions which is

essential for improving pronunciation

skills

moving on to another crucial aspect of

mastering English Gwen let's dive into

the from passive to active strategy sure

Leo this is about turning passive

exposure into Active Learning practices

it's vital for truly mastering a

language could you explain more about

what passive language reception is

passive language learning is when you

absorb the language through activities

that don't require active speaking or

writing like listening to music watching

TV or reading an active learning means

it means engaging with the language

through speaking writing or any form of

output that forces you to use the

language actively how can our listeners

start making this transition one simple

step is to start reflecting on what you

listen to or read ask yourself questions

about it and try to summarize it in

English sounds like turning every

opportunity into a learning session

exactly also instead of just listening

passively try to repeat phrases and even

Shadow speakers to practice

pronunciation and

intonation I guess turning on subtitles

while watching shows could help too

right definitely it's a great way to

connect spoken language with written

words and helps reinforce learning what

about turning passive book reading into

active learning after reading a chapter

write a short summary or discuss it with

friends in English even better post your

thoughts online to get feedback that

sounds quite engaging and definitely

pushes you to use English in a practical

way yes and don't forget to actively

learn

vocabulary instead of just memorizing

use new words and sentences and try to

use them in Daily

conversations that must make the

learning process much more Dynamic and

memorable absolutely Leo it's all about

making your brain work actively with the

language so Gwen let's talk about how to

Kickstart a conversation this can really

help our listeners engage with native

speakers absolutely Leo initiating

conversation is often the hardest part

but it's crucial for practicing your

English what are some good conversation

starters that our listeners could use

one effective starter is asking about

local food recommendations it's

something everyone loves to talk about

that's true everyone has an opinion on

where to find the best pizza or Burger

another one is asking about what shows

or movies they would recommend it's a

great way to learn about cultural

preferences too sounds like it could

lead to some interesting discussions

definitely discussing Hobbies is also a

great starter you can ask what do you

like to do in your free time that could

really open up the conversation plus

it's a great way to find common

interests asking about travel

experiences is another good one have you

traveled anywhere exciting recently

people love sharing their travel stories

it might even give our listeners tips

for their own travels yes and for those

who are a bit shy starting with a

compliment can ease into a conversation

gently like commenting on piece of

clothing or a gadget that's a smooth way

to get chatting just make sure it's

genuine right and remember the goal is

to keep the conversation going use

open-ended questions that require more

than a yes or no answer can you give an

example of an open-ended question sure

like asking what did you think about the

event last night instead of did you go

to the event last night that makes a lot

of sense it invites a story rather than

a simple response exactly and don't

forget the more you practice these

conversation starters the easier they

will become that's encouraging our

listeners should definitely give these a

try thanks for all these great tips Gwen

you're welcome Leo remember it's all

about taking that first step and just

starting the conversation

[Music]

moving on to the most crucial aspect of

speaking English confidence let's dive

into why it's so essential absolutely

Leo confidence isn't just about feeling

good it directly impacts how effectively

we can communicate in a new language so

you're saying it's a kind of

self-fulfilling prophecy right if you

believe you can speak well you just

might exactly when we feel confident

we're less likely to hesitate or second

guess ourselves which leads to smoother

and more fluent conversations but how

does one build that confidence

especially if they're just starting out

it starts with setting realistic goals

don't expect to be perfect focus on

progress and celebrating small victories

like understanding a full movie in

English or having a conversation without

translating in your head right those are

great examples and remember each little

step builds your confidence over time I

suppose making mistakes is part of the

process too right absolutely making

mistakes and learning from them is key

it means you're trying which is better

than not speaking at all and getting

feedback from others can help too right

yes feedback is incredibly valuable it

helps you understand what to improve and

reinforces that you're on the right

track sounds like building confidence in

speaking English is a lot about mindset

and practice exactly Leo it's all about

embracing the journey and not being

afraid to express yourself the more you

speak the more natural it becomes that's

very encouraging it makes me want to go

out and start chatting with everyone and

you should Leo every conversation is a

step towards

fluency

crucial definition extremely important

or NE

necessary example moving on to another

crucial aspect of mastering English Gwen

transition definition the process or a

period of changing from one state or

condition to another example how can our

listeners start making this transition

reflecting definition thinking deeply or

carefully about example one simple step

is to start reflecting on what you

listen to or read

engaging definition charming and holding

the interest or attention of example

that sounds quite engaging and

definitely pushes you to use English in

a practical way

initiating definition causing the

beginning of something example so Gwen

let's talk about how to Kickstart a

conversation

[Music]

what is the difference between passive

and active language

learning passive language learning

involves absorbing the language through

non-interactive activities like

listening to music watching TV or

reading where no active use of language

is required active language learning on

the other hand involves engaging with

the language through activities that

require output and interaction such as

speaking and writing why is confidence

considered crucial in learning to speak

English confidence is crucial because it

impacts the effectiveness of

communication in a new language feeling

confident reduces hesitation and second

guessing which leads to smoother and

more fluent conversations confidence

allows Learners to be less fearful of

making mistakes thereby encouraging more

practice and

interaction well folks that wraps up

today's episode on gaining confidence in

speaking English I hope you all feel a

bit more inspired to go out and speak

your

mind definitely Leo remember everyone

speaking English fluently starts with

believing in yourself and embracing

every opportunity to practice don't

forget to subscribe to our podcast for

more helpful tips and some good laughs

with us every week and if you have any

questions or topics you'd like like us

to explore send us a message we love

hearing from our listeners until next

time keep practicing and stay confident

this is Leo and Gwen signing off from

podcast and chill until next time keep

practicing and stay confident

[Music]