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How to Speak like a Native Speaker

How to Speak like a Native Speaker

Date: Apr 10 2011

Topic: Speaking

Author: andylu2

Lesson

My students dream of speaking fluent English.  They always stop and ask me how they can learn the same kind of English that native English speakers do.  

I've spent years working closely with students and paying attention to what really works and what doesn't.  I think I can finally answer this question.  Some of these ideas you may have heard before.  Maybe some are new.  I hope you think about each tip carefully because they really work.

1.  You need to make English learning fun.  Humans are big dreamers and big quitters.  Think about how many plans and dreams you have had in your life that never happened.  I don't want you to feel bad.  You are not alone.  We are all like this.  I have had hundreds of plans and goals that I never completed.  If learning to speak English is boring then you will quit.  You might be able to keep going for a couple of days or even weeks, but sooner or later you will think of some excuse to quit.  

2.  The question now is how to make it fun?   It's a lot easier to say "make it fun" than to actually make it fun.  I understand that learning can be quite boring.  It's a challenge to make it interesting.  Here is the secret.  Don't study English.  Use English to study something else.  I'm sure you like certain English TV shows or movies.  I have created a way to actually learn from these.  I explain over 1500 slang meanings and funny stuff that you would never learn in school.  All of this stuff is important and useful.  That's the only reason I teach it.  Learning English is not about learning a lot of words, it's about learning the "right" words.  8 year old kids speak English fluently with a very small vocabulary.  They know how to use what they know. Watching movies and TV isn't the same as studying.  You need to have explanations or your level will stay where it is.  Your listening will get a bit better, but then it will plateau.  (I guess you might not even know the word "plateau")  Maybe you can guess it but do you use it?  I will make you use words like this.  If your level "plateaus" it means that it stops getting better.  It just stays the same.  Most people have this problem.  There is a "sticking point" and most English learners never get past it.

3.  Copy your favorite voice.  If you have pronunciation problems, which you probably do, then choose some native speaker and copy them.  You will probably need to listen to about 25 hours of them speaking and then you will be able to speak like them.  It is not quite natural.  It will help if you record yourself speaking and listen to it.  You might be shy to do this in the beginning, but after you get used to it, I am sure it will be no problem.  You can compare your own pronunciation with the pronunciation of the native speaker.  Most people don't do this part and their pronunciation never improves.  They learn some bad habit and it just stays there.  People can understand them but they know the accent is strong.  If you do this last step, I'm sure that people will think you were born in an English speaking country.  It's so amazing and I've seen it with thousands of my own students.  It only takes about 60-90 days to totally change your accent and voice for all English words.  It's really cool actually.

Here is day one of my free spoken English course.  

Here is my program for how to speak English fluently.  There are a lot of free PDF ebooks and other stuff I think you might like.

Thanks for reading this lesson.  I hope to see your comments and "likes".  It keeps me trying hard to help people.Smile 

Comments

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neginb

neginb

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hello , Is there any native speakers here ? please write me.


Thanks 

11:23 AM Nov 17 2018 |

YasAsemani

YasAsemani

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I think tactics listening starter to advanced helped us alot in speaking like a native speaker.

07:18 AM Jan 23 2017 |

siavash nobakht//

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

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05:07 PM Nov 03 2013 |

Nanexsa

Nanexsa

Indonesia

I do the same ways :)

03:17 AM Oct 30 2013 |

c063xe

c063xe

Russian Federation

I like the idea to copy my favorite voice:)

08:56 AM Oct 29 2013 |

golimaryam

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

The most effective lesson for me.thanks a million

06:39 PM Dec 22 2012 |

souali

Morocco

it’s amazing , i will start to do it right now , actually thanks for all ; 

05:38 PM Aug 07 2012 |

saeedshin

saeedshin

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Andy yOu aRe peRfecT broTher

01:11 PM Aug 07 2012 |

1 person likes this

chahinazemohi

Morocco

thanks you very bery much …. i read How to speak like a native speaker and i can inderstand easly what you sad …. im happy today to find you really thanks you very much …. i nead to learn more and more english because now i finished my training as flight attendant and i nead to learn .Kiss

05:59 PM Jul 27 2011 |

1 person likes this

sam-aw

Saudi Arabia

it's great job ,I'm realy happe to read it

12:48 AM Apr 25 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Hey guys, I am interested if anyone has tried these tips I recommended and what your personal experience was.  Did they help?  What did you notice?  Thanks.

11:23 AM Apr 22 2011 |

1 person likes this

Jina2020

Jina2020

France

great advices thanks :)

01:14 PM Apr 18 2011 |

Rania Hanna

Egypt

Thanksss for your advice

09:27 AM Apr 15 2011 |

mosa90

mosa90

Saudi Arabia

Great advices I will follow it

09:36 AM Apr 14 2011 |

aleksandrochkaSuper Member!

Russian Federation

It is very useful, try to follow you advice

11:02 AM Apr 13 2011 |

m6nnsh

m6nnsh

Saudi Arabia

that is really helpful ^^

10:13 PM Apr 12 2011 |

sara70

sara70

Saudi Arabia

Good tips
I always say that if u have the good basics u can stop studying English and start practicing and listen to native speakers
Thanks teacher.

08:49 PM Apr 12 2011 |

Vina Novalina

Indonesia

Plateau mean no progress in study context. Btw is it right?

05:31 PM Apr 12 2011 |

mk-snobar

mk-snobar

Syrian Arab Republic

Gr8 tips.. I liked the word "plateau",i ween it is a derivative from Old French like man words in English;am i right? 

A wad of thanks,Andy. 

11:33 AM Apr 12 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Good to see this info is helpful. Now the key is to actually apply it!  I know how easy it is in life to read about some good plans and then get caught up with regular life and forget to do it.  I do this all the time and I know we need to be careful.  This will take some effort, but will certainly be well worth it in the end.  Imagine speaking like a native speaker.  It should give you some motivation.

05:03 AM Apr 12 2011 |

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