Why You Still Don't Understand Native Speakers

Ever been confused by native English speakers? We feel your pain. Contrary to popular belief, native English speakers have a distinctive speaking style. We're here to spill the beans and help you unravel the mysteries of native English speech. So, why do you still find it tricky to understand them?

Surfing the Phrase Waves

Picture this: native speakers don't just dish out words; they serve up phrases on a silver platter. Their speech flows like a smooth river, with each word gliding seamlessly into the next. If you want to catch the wave, start with the basics. Get cosy with linking sounds, like linking R and consonants to vowels. It's like building the foundation of a sturdy house. Without it, understanding English by ear will seem as challenging as climbing Mount Everest. Once you've nailed the basics, level up your game by mastering advanced links, such as linking j, w, intrusive r, and tricky phrases like "could you" and "last year."

Ditching the Extra Sounds

Okay, so you've got the hang of linking sounds, but there's still something missing. Native speakers have a secret weapon: they drop sounds like it's nobody's business. Just as you might skip a few beats in your native language, they do the same. It's all about keeping the conversation smooth and flowing. So, get on board and learn the art of leaving out sounds like t, d, l, h dropping, glottal t, and stop t. Embrace the minimalist approach, and you'll be one step closer to understanding those sneaky native speakers.

Accent Appreciation

Accents are like spices that add flavour to the English language. But don't fall into the trap of expecting every Englishman to sound like the King of England or every American to speak like Biden. Shake things up and familiarise yourself with different accents. Take a surface-level dive into the most common ones. By quickly recognizing the accent, you'll know what to expect next. It's like having a secret decoder ring for pronunciation and speech patterns. Your brain will thank you for being ahead of the game.

Real-Life Listening Adventures

While movies and TV series are fun to watch, they don't always reflect real-life conversations accurately. Seek out unscripted conversations, ideally with locals chatting away on the street. We promise you that once you start listening to people in real life, you'll be amazed at how simple and clear everything looks when you go back to viewing movies and TV shows. For an extra dose of linguistic and human exploration, check out David Lynch's interview project, where he interviews all sorts of folks across America.?

If you follow these simple recommendations, you will have no trouble understanding native English speakers. Keep in mind that practice makes perfect,? and don't forget to appreciate the beauty of the English language in all of its various shapes and sizes.