Why you are not fluent in English

Summary

In this engaging video, Keith from English Speaking Success addresses the common struggle of non-native English speakers to achieve fluency. He empathizes with learners' difficulties in speaking fluently despite understanding when listening or reading. Keith outlines six key reasons for this challenge, including the pressure of real-time speaking, trying too hard to impress, over-complicating speech, focusing excessively on accuracy, lacking vocabulary, and shyness. He also emphasizes the importance of practice, suggesting techniques like repeating sentences to enhance fluency. Keith concludes with practical advice on handling real-time pressure through breathing, smiling, and making eye contact, aiming to help viewers improve their speaking skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script addresses the common struggle of understanding English well but struggling to speak it fluently.
• 🎓 Keith, the speaker, empathizes with language learners, sharing his own experiences learning French, Spanish, and Chinese.
• 📢 He identifies 'pressure' as the primary reason for the difficulty in fluent speaking, distinguishing it from the more passive activities of listening and reading.
• 🗣️ Keith advises against trying too hard to impress, which often leads to speaking quickly and losing control over speech.
• 🔗 He suggests slowing down and speaking at one's own pace to maintain fluency.
• 💡 The script warns against over-complicating speech with complex vocabulary and structures, recommending simplicity for clearer communication.
• 📚 A focus on accuracy over fluency can hinder smooth speech; Keith recommends balancing the two.
• 📈 Lack of vocabulary is highlighted as a significant barrier to fluency, with the suggestion to build vocabulary gradually over time.
• 🤔 Shyness and introversion can affect fluency; Keith encourages leveraging these traits to build confidence in speaking.
• 💪 The importance of practice is emphasized, with a focus on repeating sentences to improve fluency and learning natural phrasing and intonation.
• 👁️ To handle real-time speaking pressure, Keith recommends breathing, smiling, and making eye contact to relax both the speaker and the listener.

Q & A

What is the main challenge faced by learners when speaking English?

The main challenge is the pressure and real-time expectation during speaking, which can cause learners to go blank and struggle to find the right words, despite being able to understand and read English well.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of not speaking too quickly?

Speaking too quickly can cause a loss of control over speech, leading to hesitations, pauses, and reduced fluency. The speaker suggests speaking at one's own pace to maintain fluency.

What is the advice given for learners who overcomplicate their speech with complex grammar and vocabulary?

The advice is to keep it simple, especially for beginners, and to avoid using fancy vocabulary and complex structures initially. As comfort and fluency increase, one can gradually incorporate more complexity.

How does focusing too much on accuracy affect one's speaking fluency?

Focusing too much on accuracy can lead to gaps in speech and a loss of coherence, as the speaker spends too much time thinking about tense and grammar instead of communicating ideas fluently.

What is the role of vocabulary in achieving speaking fluency according to the script?

Vocabulary is crucial for expressing ideas and maintaining fluency. A lack of vocabulary can cause speakers to hesitate or lose fluency, so building vocabulary is essential for improving fluency.

How does shyness or introversion impact one's ability to speak fluently in English?

Shyness or introversion can lead to mumbling, unclear speech, and a lack of confidence, which directly affects fluency. The speaker suggests that even shy people can build confidence and improve fluency.

What is the significance of practicing fluency as mentioned in the script?

Practicing fluency involves repeating sentences and ideas multiple times to improve the flow of speech. This targeted practice helps in developing the natural phrasing and intonation patterns of native speakers.

What are the three techniques suggested to handle real-time pressure while speaking?

The three techniques are to breathe, smile, and make eye contact. These actions help to relax both the speaker and the listener, creating a more comfortable environment for fluent speech.

How does the speaker describe the process of building vocabulary for better fluency?

The speaker compares building vocabulary to playing test cricket, emphasizing the need for a long-term, gradual approach. He advises using vocabulary just below one's level during practice for better fluency.

What is the purpose of the YouTube channel 'English Speaking Success' mentioned in the script?

The purpose of the channel is to help students develop their speaking skills in a fun and professional way through online courses, with a focus on overcoming the challenges discussed in the script.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Overcoming Speaking Anxiety and Pressure

The speaker empathizes with the struggle of understanding English well but struggling to speak it fluently. He identifies the main challenge as the pressure associated with real-time speaking, as opposed to the passive activities of listening and reading. The speaker, Keith, introduces himself as the host of the YouTube channel 'English Speaking Success' and the Keith Speaking Academy, which offer online courses to improve speaking skills. He outlines six main reasons for lack of fluency in English and promises tips to handle real-time speaking pressure by the end of the video.

05:01

💡 Tips for Enhancing English Fluency

Keith discusses the first three reasons that hinder fluency in English: trying too hard to impress, which leads to speaking quickly and losing control; making things overly complicated by using fancy vocabulary and complex grammar, which results in a lack of coherence; and focusing excessively on accuracy, which causes hesitation and a loss of fluency. He advises to speak at one's own pace, keep it simple, and find a balance between accuracy and fluency. The fourth reason is a lack of vocabulary, which he suggests addressing by building vocabulary over time, focusing on words that are just below one's current level for more fluent speech.

10:01

🌟 Advanced Strategies for Fluent English Speaking

Keith addresses the remaining reasons for speaking difficulties: shyness, which can lead to mumbled speech and a lack of confidence, and the need for more practice, specifically practicing fluency. He suggests that even shy people can become confident speakers with practice and awareness. The final piece of advice is to practice speaking sentences and ideas repeatedly to enhance fluency. Keith also emphasizes the importance of noticing and learning phrasing and intonation patterns from native speakers, which can be practiced through shadowing and repetition. He concludes with a simple tip for handling real-time speaking pressure: to breathe, smile, and make eye contact.

Keywords

💡fluently

Fluently refers to the ability to speak a language smoothly and effortlessly, without hesitation or mistakes. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses the challenges that non-native English speakers face when trying to speak English fluently. The keyword is used to emphasize the goal of achieving a high level of speaking proficiency, as when the speaker says, 'you can understand lots, right? But when you want to speak out, you can't always speak fluently.'

💡passive

Passive, in the context of language learning, describes activities where the learner receives information without actively participating, such as listening and reading. The video contrasts passive activities with active speaking, which involves real-time interaction and pressure. The speaker notes that 'listening and reading are passive' and that 'speaking is real time,' highlighting the difference in the cognitive load and stress levels associated with each.

💡pressure

Pressure, as used in the script, refers to the stress or strain that comes from the expectation to perform well, particularly in real-time speaking situations. The speaker mentions that 'the biggest reason this happens is pressure,' indicating that the fear of making mistakes or being judged can hinder fluency. This concept is central to understanding the psychological barriers to fluent speech.

💡IELTS examiner

IELTS examiner is a term used to refer to the individuals who assess a candidate's English proficiency in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The script mentions IELTS examiners to illustrate the high-stakes nature of speaking quickly to match native speakers' pace, which can lead to a loss of control and fluency. It serves as an example of a situation where the pressure to perform can negatively impact speech.

💡accuracy

Accuracy in language learning denotes the correctness of language use, including grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The video discusses the balance between accuracy and fluency, suggesting that an overemphasis on accuracy can lead to hesitations and a loss of coherence. The speaker advises that 'you need a balance of accuracy and fluency,' indicating that while accuracy is important, it should not come at the expense of流畅性.

💡vocabulary

Vocabulary refers to the range of words that a person knows and can use effectively in a language. In the video, the lack of vocabulary is identified as a significant barrier to speaking fluency. The speaker points out that without the necessary words, 'you lose fluency,' and emphasizes the importance of building vocabulary over time, likening it to a long-term game such as test cricket.

💡shyness

Shyness is a personality trait characterized by a reluctance to engage with others due to feelings of timidity or lack of self-confidence. The script addresses how shyness can affect fluency, causing mumbling and unclear speech. The speaker encourages viewers to recognize that 'you can be shy and confident,' and to use this awareness to improve both confidence and fluency.

💡practice

Practice, in the context of language learning, involves repeated exercises or performance to improve skill. The video emphasizes the importance of practicing fluency, not just speaking in general. The speaker suggests that 'you don't practice fluency enough,' and recommends repeating sentences and ideas to improve the natural flow of speech, which is a critical aspect of achieving fluency.

💡phrasing

Phrasing in language refers to the way words are put together to form a sentence or expression. The video script discusses the importance of learning native-like phrasing and intonation for fluency. The speaker gives an example of how a native speaker would naturally phrase a sentence, 'If I could speak fluently, I would pass my test,' indicating a pause after 'fluently,' which is a practical tip for improving the natural rhythm of speech.

💡intonation

Intonation is the rise and fall of the voice that gives emotional meaning to speech and helps with comprehension. In the script, the speaker explains the importance of intonation in fluent speech, using the pattern 'DDD, DD, DDDD' to illustrate how a native speaker might naturally intone the sentence 'If I could speak fluently, I would pass my test.' Understanding and mimicking intonation patterns can significantly enhance the fluency and expressiveness of speech.

Highlights

Understanding spoken English is common, but speaking fluently can be challenging.

The pressure of real-time communication is a significant factor affecting fluency.

Listening and reading are passive activities, whereas speaking is active and can induce pressure.

The fear of judgment can cause speakers to rush and lose control of their speech.

Speaking slowly and at one's own pace can improve fluency.

Overcomplicating speech with complex grammar and vocabulary can hinder fluency.

Keeping language simple, especially for beginners, aids in building fluency.

Focusing too much on accuracy can lead to hesitations and a loss of fluency.

A balance between accuracy and fluency is essential for effective communication.

A lack of vocabulary is a significant barrier to speaking fluency.

Building vocabulary is a long-term process and should be done gradually.

Shyness and lack of confidence can directly impact speech fluency.

It's possible to be shy and confident; awareness and practice can improve fluency.

Not practicing enough fluency is a common issue among language learners.

Practicing phrasing and intonation can significantly improve fluency.

Watching interviews and noticing native speaker patterns can help in learning fluency.

Practicing fluency involves repeating sentences to improve the flow of speech.

To handle real-time pressure, breathe, smile, and make eye contact.

Taking action and practicing more is crucial for improving fluency.

Transcripts

- When you listen to me, a native English speaker,

speak English, you can understand lots, right?

But when you want to speak out,

you can't always speak fluently.

Why, what's going on? Let's find out.

(upbeat music)

I feel for you. No, I do really, really.

You can listen to English and understand lots.

You can read stuff and understand lots.

But when it comes to speaking,

you can't find the right words.

Your mind goes blank.

It's like the words in your head are beautiful,

but the words that come out are not so beautiful.

And you might feel

that you've been stuck in this situation

like for a long time.

I do feel for you really.

I know I've been there as a learner of French,

Spanish, and Chinese.

I've been exactly where you are.

And I'll tell you right now,

the biggest reason this happens is pressure.

You see, listening and reading are passive.

You just sit back, take your time.

Speaking is real time. People are listening.

There are expectations, there is pressure.

And most people, it's, (stutters)

that's what happens, of course, with the pressure.

But listen, having taught students over 40,000 students

worldwide with my online courses, I am sure I can help you.

By the way, my name is Keith.

I run the YouTube channel, English Speaking Success,

and the website, the Keith Speaking Academy,

where I have my online courses

to help students develop their speaking skills in a fun

and professional way.

So in this video,

I'm gonna tell you the six main reasons

you may not be advancing or progressing as much as you want

with your speaking fluency and what you can do about it.

At the end of the video, I'll also give you some tips

on how to handle that real time pressure when speaking.

Okay, sound good?

Number one, you are trying too hard to impress.

And very often that means that you speak quickly.

You see, when you speak English,

there's gonna be people watching you waiting, expecting.

And it's like you are revealing yourself.

You are showing a part of your personality, your identity,

it's terrifying, right?

And people will judge you whether it's right or wrong.

They will judge not only your English,

but a lot more about you.

So what we need to do is to ignore the judgment.

But I think one of the most important things is

is not to speak too quickly, especially with native speakers

and an IELTS examiner.

They will speak quickly

and we often feel as students, oh, I do as well.

Well, I have to speak quickly too,

so I'm gonna try and keep, I can speak really fast.

And when you speak quickly, you lose control.

And normally it's like when you are running like a baby,

starting to walk and run, boom.

And they tumble and they fall.

Thing to do is to slow down, speak at your own pace.

You can speak slowly and fluently.

Really, you can slow down, speak at your own pace

and forget about everybody.

Number two.

Number two, you are making things over complicated.

And this is particularly true of IELTS speaking students.

They're trying to show off some fancy vocabulary,

speak out these long, complex grammatical structures.

But because you are thinking so much about that,

when you speak, the words are coming out with hesitation,

with pauses, there's no connection, doesn't make sense,

the listener gets confused.

The thing to do is to keep it simple,

especially when you begin speaking.

Forget the fancy vocab.

Forget the complexity, keep it simple, build up.

And as you warm up

and you are walking more quickly,

then you can maybe run a little bit.

But at the start, keep it simple.

Number three, you are focusing on accuracy.

And this is because you want to speak correctly.

You don't want to make mistakes,

you want to speak correctly, maybe perfectly.

But that means that often when you're speaking,

you are thinking, is it the right tense?

Is it with an S? Without an S?

And therefore, as you are thinking, you're not speaking,

there are gaps in your speech.

Loss of coherence and your fluency starts to fall

because you are focusing too much on accuracy.

The truth is you need a balance of accuracy and fluency.

You need both, you wanna focus on communicating your idea,

but have a good balance.

Sometimes it's fluency, sometimes it's accuracy.

Build them both up over time.

Don't just be accurate and have no fluency. That's it.

Let's move on.

Right number four, you lack vocabulary.

This is one of the biggest problems to speaking fluency,

students not having the words

in order to express their idea.

And it means you lose fluency, right?

I mean, you know, you are thinking of a particular item.

You say, oh, I, I want one of those things.

It's a tool.

It's what I need for my car to,

you know what one of those things,

what you call it

and you see how your fluency falls

'cause you're lacking these words.

Yes, you can paraphrase and find a way round,

but only sometimes overall,

if you don't have the vocabulary, especially at intermediate

and above levels, you're gonna struggle.

Vocabulary begins very, very, very tangible.

It's about very simple things.

But as you get at to a higher level,

you're expressing more abstract ideas,

more intangible things, concepts.

And that's harder. You need more nuanced vocabulary.

So the thing to do here is you need to think long term

about your English and building your vocabulary.

Think like test cricket, right? Test cricket.

You play a game over five days.

Now when I talk to Americans about cricket

and a game that lasts for five days, they're like, what?

That's long term.

It's the same when you're building your vocabulary, right?

You want to be be building your vocabulary over time slowly.

And as your vocabulary gets better

and better and better,

your fluency will get better over time.

What you don't do is suddenly try

to learn lots of vocabulary above your level,

boom, because your fluency will drop

because of what I said before

about over-complicating things.

When you're speaking, a lot of the time

when you're practicing,

use vocabulary just below your level,

words you are comfortable with,

confident with you know the meaning and can express,

and you'll be speaking more fluently.

Of course in the background over time,

you are building up all of that vocabulary.

So you are slowly raising your game,

not cricket, English over time.

That's the way to do it.

You are shy, maybe you are, maybe you're not.

But for a lot of introverted people, we, I say we

'cause I am introverted,

often let our shyness affect our fluency.

It doesn't have to, but sometimes it does

because it means that you mumble.

I'm gonna, I'm gonna go do that (mumbles),

you know what I mean?

Right? Not speaking clearly.

Sometimes your body language falls down

and you lack confidence.

And this can affect your fluency directly.

The thing to know,

and I talked about this in a recent video

about being a confident speaker of English,

is that you can be shy and confident

and you can use, you can even use your shyness

to build your confidence,

be a strong, confident speaker.

And then when you are not mumbling,

you are speaking clearly loudly with a body posture

to communicate, then you can speak more fluently.

It takes time, it takes a practice.

But most of all, it takes awareness of this.

If you are shy, if you are extrovert,

you probably don't have this problem.

Let's move on to the last one.

Number six, you don't practice enough.

Now, when I say practice, I don't mean practice speaking,

although yes, you need to practice speaking lots and lots.

I mean, you don't practice fluency enough. Practice fluency.

What do you mean?

I mean is to practice speaking your sentences

and your ideas again and again and again.

What most people do of course in a conversation is

you get your idea across and then carry on.

You move on to the next idea.

Of course, when you are on your own though

practicing alone at home,

I recommend you don't just say the idea once,

but practice saying it again and again.

And this is great for IELTS speaking,

repeating your sentences again and again.

And you are practicing the fluency.

You're just getting the idea

and practicing saying it more fluently.

The other thing to do is to notice

and learn phrasing and intonation.

Phrasing is where the native English speaker pauses

in their speech, okay?

And the intonation,

so each phrase has an intonation pattern.

There are no fixed rules for this,

but there are patterns you can follow.

For example, take this simple sentence, right?

If I could speak fluently, I would pass my test.

The phrasing here is I stop after fluently.

If I could speak fluently, pause, I would pass my test.

That's how a native speaker would normally, not always,

but normally naturally phrase that sentence.

And the intonation, especially with these if sentences is

DDD, DD, DDDD,

if I could speak fluently, I would pass my test.

Okay? So that pattern is a common pattern.

And if you can pick up these patterns and learn them

and notice 'em, a great place to do this is interviews.

Interviews of famous people, actors, et cetera, on TV,

you'll start noticing this.

If you want to do it systematically.

This is what my fluent grammar

for IELTS speaking course does.

Basically, it takes all of these grammatical structures,

breaks them into phrases.

Whereas a native speaker, we would break down the phrasing

and shows you the intonation

and you just repeat and practice.

And that really practices your fluency.

It's a bit like shadowing on steroids.

It's a really great way to do it.

And that practicing fluency, funnily enough,

makes you more fluent, right?

Good. So there you go.

Now you know the six main reasons

why you are not speaking fluently.

Remember what I said though at the start?

Knowing is not enough.

If you want to change, you need to do something now.

So have a think about what you're going to do differently.

Oh, and do you remember at the start of the video,

I talked about pressure?

The biggest problems of speaking fluently is

that people go blank

because there's the real time pressure,

the expectation, people watching you.

So there are lots of things you can do with that.

I'm just gonna give you one tip today on how to handle

that pressure so you can speak more relaxed

and more fluently.

And it's the following is breathe, smile,

and make eye contact.

Breathe 'cause that physiologically is gonna help

relax your body.

Smile 'cause that will help you relax

and it will help other people relax.

And when they relax, you relax and it's a virtuous cycle.

Everybody's relaxed.

And the eye contact will just help, again,

make you relaxed and other people relax.

It's a good communication technique.

Okay, so breathe, smile,

and make eye contact.

If I could speak more fluently, I would pass my test.

That's it.

I hope with this video you will be able

to speak more fluently in the coming weeks

as you take action and practice more.

That's it for today. Thank you so much for watching.

If you've enjoyed the video,

please do like turn on the notifications, subscribe as well

to the channel so you can find out

about upcoming videos as well.

Leave me a comment, tell me which of these tips

you enjoyed or liked today.

And that's it.

I will see you next time in the next video.

Thank you so much for watching. Take care, bye-Bye.

(upbeat music)