The English Fluency Formula
The English Fluency Formula
The English Fluency Formula
Table of Contents
Introduction
Mindset
Habits
Think in English
Listening
Pronunciation
Remember Vocabulary
Grammar
Culture
Small Talk
Deep Conversation
Conclusion
The English Fluency Formula
https://GoNaturalEnglish.com
About Go Natural English
Go Natural English
The name “Go Natural” comes from the idea of going back to the way we
naturally learn languages.
Important:
If you are reading this text without the audio version, come to
http://gonaturalenglish.com/amazon
to get it! Reading and listening will help you improve your English skills
50% more when you do both together.
Introduction
Traditional language learning has not been the best or quickest way to
learn a language. The number one reason for this is the focus on
memorization and not the application of the language.
The best way to learn English is to apply it, speak it, and be around it as
much as you can. As soon as you learn a new phrase, use it immediately.
Don
’
t be shy to say it out loud. If you want to be able to use English
confidently, anytime, anywhere, we must start with the right method.
The Go Natural English method is best for learners who are self-motivated
and willing to do the work to apply the method in everyday life. It is best
for the intermediate learner who has some understanding of English
already.
This book is not for someone who wants to become fluent in English
overnight. Although it is true that with 15 minutes a day of focused effort
you can improve your fluency, we don
’
t mean just one day. Improvements come with consistent effort over time.
In fact, we encourage you to look at English fluency as a lifelong journey
and not just a destination.
Please understand that there is no magic pill for fluency. You must follow
the steps in this book and do the exercises in order to see improvement.
However, it should be fun, enjoyable and 15 minutes should go by quickly!
Be patient with yourself. Allow yourself to take your time to
“
digest
”
all the information in this book, instead of
“
binge
”
reading. If you go too fast, you may feel
“
sick
”
of English and give up. We want to sustain your English over a long time,
and that means making this book a part of your day for a while -- 15
minutes a day, every day, for at least a few months.
Did you know that it takes at least 30 days to form a new habit? To build
your daily English practice into a habit, read a little of this book every
morning if you
’
re a morning person or every night before you sleep if you
’
re more of a night person.
This book is not for beginners. It does not teach basic topics such as the
alphabet, numbers or simple vocabulary. It does not explain grammar and
vocabulary the same way as a traditional textbook. In fact, it takes
traditional grammar and vocabulary lessons and shows you where they go
wrong. This book fills in the gaps in your English knowledge that are
keeping you from experiencing fluency.
Maybe you have learned English in the traditional way, perhaps in high
school or university. You will benefit from a new way of learning
—
The Go Natural English way.
Please understand that not everyone is ready for the GNE method of
learning English because it requires changing your mindset and habits and
taking action. It is not like other methods of English learning. The method
and this book are different from others because they begin with the secrets
of mindset, rely on your true love and enjoyment of using English as a
useful tool in your life, and show you how to be a powerful, independent
learner
—
so no one can stop you from being truly fluent and confident in English!
Also, you have to understand that the old way of learning and people
associated with it may doubt the way you are learning now. They may not
support you. They don
’
t want you to change the way you are learning because that means they
might have been wrong. It
’
s hard work, but you must be confident in your decision to learn and
improve in a new way that works. In a short time, others will be asking
you how you did it and how they can do it too!
Students who have taken Go Natural English programs often say things
like,
“
I learned more in one day than I did in 12 years of regular English class.
”
This book is for you if you are an intermediate to advanced English learner
hoping to increase your fluency. If you are ready to go beyond traditional
textbook English... if you are ready to understand the secrets to fluent
English
…
if you are ready to enjoy English and make it part of your life... then this
book is for you!
DO
Keep a positive
“
can-do
”
mindset. Stay focused on what you can do and how far you
’
ve come already!
Use both the text and audio. Listen to the audio version alone.
Listen while you read. Repeat what you hear on the audio
version, pausing as you go or using the shadowing technique
(repeat as soon as you hear the words).
If you don
’
t have the audio version, you can find it at
http://gonaturalenglish.com/amazon
DON
’
T
DON
’
T give up if you don
’
t see immediate improvement. It takes time to change the way
you learn and to realize that you are improving.
DON
’
T stop reading if this book seems too difficult. But
DO
put it down if you need a break, try reading something else for a
few days, then come back to it.
DON
’
T compare yourself to others; just try to improve on your own
skills little by little.
DON
’
T focus on what you
can
’
t
do. You go to where you are focused. So, if you focus on what
you cannot do, you will not improve.
DON
’
T try to do everything alone. English is about connecting and
communicating with others.
Quick Start
1.
Include an additional word or phrase every day into your
conversations. This will build your vocabulary and
conversational skills.
2.
Learn to think in English. If you can think in English, your
conversational skills will speed up.
3.
Be consistent and make English a part of your everyday routine.
When you make it a habit, it
’
s easier to improve quickly.
4.
Create relationships with native English speakers. Find common
interests and use every opportunity to connect using English
language as a tool.
5.
Focus on that which you find interesting and fun. Do something
that you enjoy in English each day. When you enjoy English you
will find it easier to improve your skills.
6.
Use your ears. Listen carefully to the sounds and stress patterns
in English as if it were music. Compare it to what you read and
see the difference!
7.
Copy phrases and speaking patterns of native speakers. Did your
teacher tell you not to copy others? Forget that! Copying is
essential to developing fluency!
Practice these tips for speaking better English and you will be excited with
the results on your way to English fluency. This Go Natural English book
will be your constant companion on this journey!
Mindset
Let
’
s make a comparison to something you may enjoy. Do you enjoy playing
games? Learning English can be like an enjoyable game, too. Imagine
each new phrase you learn as points that will help you win the game. Each
time you practice English on your own or with friends is a training
session. And each conversation that you participate in is a game. Each
time you speak, it
’
s like trying to make a goal. Sometimes you make a mistake, but at least
you tried! And sometimes, you make a goal!
It
’
s funny that a lot of English learners want to be able to participate in long
conversations with natives immediately without making mistakes. That
’
s like going straight to the Olympics without any training. To master the
“
sport
”
of
“
playing
”
English, it is essential to train and make a lot of mistakes first. That
’
s the only way to know what really works.
Do you think that it would work to just read about soccer and then win the
World Cup without playing any actual games?
Would you like just reading music notes written on paper, but never
hearing or playing the notes out loud?
Would you like to try to swim without getting wet?
It
’
s time to get used to practicing, playing a lot of games, making a lot of
mistakes, making a lot of sounds and music, and getting wet!
Does fluency mean that you can ask people questions and make small
talk?
Does fluency mean that you can debate politics with native speakers?
Clearly these situations are at different levels of fluency. You can be fluent
in each situation. What you need to do is think about what you want to be
able to do in English. Start with the most simple situations and work your
way up to more challenging situations. Remember that learning English is
about progress, not perfection.
Most English learners buy classes, books and other study tools. They
spend time studying vocabulary and grammar. They really want to be
fluent in English. If all these things are equal for two different people, why
does one learn faster than the other?
The way you approach learning English makes a huge difference in your
fluency results. Here are three ways to prepare your mind for learning
English.
Understand and believe you have the ability to become fluent. If you can
speak your native language, then you can learn any language. Also, as an
adult you have an advantage
—
you understand things about grammar, language and communication that
children don
’
t know yet.
Don
’
t focus on what you don
’
t know. Instead, focus on the positive. Think about how much you already
do know and how you can use it in many different ways. Imagine the
possibilities for using the English you know now, today. After all, it
’
s the everyday habit of using English that will make you fluent in time.
Third,
enjoy the journey
instead of always focusing on the destination. Stop asking,
“
How long will it take to be fluent?
”
Start enjoying using English on a daily basis to explore things you are
interested in. Take 5 minutes to learn something new each day. After some
time, you
’
ll be surprised at how much you have learned.
Begin with a positive mindset. Make English part of your daily life. Enjoy
every moment on the road to fluency. Remember: you control your mind,
and you
’
re free to change it!
Habits
One key difference between the Go Natural English method and other
English teaching styles is the focus on making English a natural part of
your everyday life.
Think about how you brush your teeth every day. This is how you should
approach English. A little care each day will make a big difference. Don
’
t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. Just as you don
’
t need to be a dentist to brush your teeth every day, you don
’
t need to be a linguist to speak fluent, conversational English.
Add English into your own everyday routine. It will help you to form a
fluency habit that, much like brushing your teeth, will become a non-
negotiable part of your day.
Feel free to start with one or two suggestions and work your way up to
doing all five!
It is important to begin each day with the right mindset because it will
help your brain to receive information and you
’
ll start forming new pathways.
Don
’
t accept common myths like
“
it is very difficult for adults to become fluent in English,
”
or
“
mistakes are bad and should be avoided,
”
or
“
some people are naturally talented at languages, but I am not.
”
These are myths. Let them go. Try reading these positive ideas aloud
instead. You
’
ll be amazed at your fast improvement!
Habit 1
: As soon as you wake up, read these phrases aloud to train your brain for
learning with a positive mindset:
Habit 2
: Listen to music in English while you get ready. Put it on while you
shower and get dressed.
By listening to music in English, you will benefit in three ways. First, you
are immersing yourself in the sounds of English, which you need in order
to become familiar with new sounds and words. Second, if you listen
carefully, you can improve your listening skills and vocabulary. Third, you
can discover new music you like and even learn about some pop culture.
Bonus:
Sing along for added fun and to improve your pronunciation and
vocabulary!
To find suggestions for your playlist, try these sites:
Spotify
YouTube
Habit 3
: Listen to, watch or read in English while you eat breakfast. By watching
programs in English, you will benefit in many ways: listening
comprehension, vocabulary, phrases, and even grammar. Consuming media
in English will immerse you in the language and culture. No matter where
you live, you need to expose yourself to lots of English.
You probably already check the news in the morning, and why not do that
in English?
VOA
If you
’
d rather watch direct English-learning tips, you can always watch
!
Drive on, Learn on!
Do you drive, take a train or bus, or walk to work in the morning? Make
use of the time you spend going to work (or anywhere) and you guessed it;
listen to something in English! Again, you could listen to the news; music
or this is a great opportunity to explore another form of media in English.
Try downloading free podcasts. Put on your earphones and enjoy. There
are two types of podcasts you should download: English-learning podcasts
and authentic English podcasts.
Habit 4:
This one has two parts. First, download free English-learning podcasts
–
like the Go Natural English podcast on
and
Stitcher
for Android
–
that will directly improve your English skills. Each episode will give you
clear and practical English learning tips. With unconventional strategies
and native-speaker phrases, this is not your typical English class!
It
’
s a good idea to listen to a variety of materials. Listen to materials at a
variety of levels of difficulty and listen to materials on different topics by
different speakers. Listen to materials of different lengths, 1 minute to
begin with or 1 hour to challenge yourself. Finally, look for materials
about diverse topics. Start with topics that are familiar to you, then push
yourself to explore new topics that are outside your familiarity zone. That
is a great way to build your vocabulary and listening comprehension. This
way, you will be able to talk about a variety of topics.
Bonus:
Try translating the everyday objects you see on your commute into the
words you know in English. Double Bonus: if you have a commute that
involves public transport and you are around other English speakers, try
speaking with them!
Have a plan!
Habit 5:
You usually make a plan for your day, right? Well this habit is going to
take that a step further! Make the effort to think about what you will do
each day, in English! You
’
ll benefit even more if you write a to-do list for the day in English as well.
Do this task as you would in your native language. Use as many words in
English as you can without looking them up in the dictionary.
It
’
s OK if you don
’
t know how to express everything you want to. Try to write it in another
way in English using simple words you already know. The important thing
is that you are using English as a tool for success in your daily activities.
Make a note of any words or ideas you don
’
t know and look them up later. Stay organized and keep your to-do list at
your fingertips no matter where you go using your smartphone or a small
pocket-sized notepad.
One of the best ways to improve your fluency is to think in English. Most
non-native English speakers are still translating from their own native
language into English in their heads. This can lead to unclear
conversations because, as you’ve probably seen for yourself, not all words
or phrases translate exactly from one language to another. But, if you can
train your brain to start
thinking in English,
you just might find that conversations become a little bit easier. So, in
order to get you started on the path to not just speaking and reading in
English, but also thinking in English, I’ve created some tips that might
help:
Start small
– this is as simple as using the words that you know. And it’s as
easy as thinking “I want an apple for breakfast” or “Should I go
to the store today?”
Start slow
— Take your time and speak slowly to yourself in your thoughts.
You could begin with just one short sentence and repeat it over
and over for a few minutes.
Learn a song
— Song lyrics are easy to remember because the tune and
rhythm helps the words “stick.” Think or sing a favorite song to
yourself! Is there a real-life situation where you might use the
words in the song?
Be Imperfect
– it’s totally fine to make mistakes, I mean; you’re in your own
head so who’s going to know?
Identify objects
- Start making note of what’s around you; on your desk, the parts
of your car or bike, in your kitchen. Start labeling those things in
English, in your head.
Plan
- Plan for the future, plan a trip, plan your day. But do it in
English.
Make up stories
- This one is my favorite! Start with a short story that you might
tell a child and see how complicated you can make it only using
the English words you know!
Make up conversations
- Is there a conversation you would like to have? Maybe a
situation you are anticipating? Imagine a conversation in your
mind based on what you would say the next time you have the
chance to speak English.
Visualize
— Your mind is a powerful visualization machine! Think of
words or phrases and images to go along with them. You could
identify objects in your mind, or imagine the phrase spelled out
in your mind like text in a book.
If you are doubting your ability to learn English fluently, see if you may be
making some of these common mistakes and learn to avoid them.
Don
’
t rely on your teacher or a textbook. You must be an independent
learner!
Don
’
t focus on what you
can
’
t
do; focus on what you can and want to do!
Don
’
t focus on how long it will take until you reach fluency; enjoy
the journey!
Don
’
t give up if you don
’
t know the answer immediately; take your time and ask lots of
questions!
Don
’
t try to be perfect; try to make progress, to communicate and to
make connections with people!
Don
’
t make English your main goal; make English a tool to reach
your life goals!
Don
’
t make excuses like
“
I don
’
t have time.
”
Just 15 minutes a day can improve your English fluency!
Everyone who can speak one language can learn a second one. It is your
human ability and it is almost impossible
not
to speak a second language when you learn with the right method.
English learners create a lot of problems for themselves when they try to
equate the spelling of a word with the way it sounds in conversation. Put
simply, English spelling does not always clearly inform us of the way a
word sounds. For example, the English
“
o-u-g-h
”
spelling has many different pronunciations. One reason for the multitude
of pronunciations is that many English words are borrowed from other
languages. Sometimes, the words aren
’
t spoken exactly as they are spelled.
Here
’
s an interesting example. If English letters always made the same sounds,
then the word
“
ghoti
”
would sound like the word
“
fish.
”
That is because in the word
“
cough
”
the letters
“
gh
”
make an
“
f
”
sound. In the word
“
women,
”
the
“
o
”
makes an
“
i
”
sound and in
“
motion
”
the
“
ti
”
makes a
“
sh
”
sound. Welcome to English!
English has many words which contain silent letters such as the words
should, would, and could, or the words
“
lamb,
”“
knife, and
“
castle.
”
English also contains homonyms. Words like
“
err
”
,
“
air
”
, and
“
heir
”
are all spelled completely differently, have completely different
meanings, and yet are all pronounced the same.
This doesn
’
t even take regional accents into account either. The way we say words
can change depending on where and how we learned English. Standard
English, the way reporters speak, is the rule
–
but many native speakers do not talk like that.
How do you improve your listening skills? You need to start with an open
mind, immerse yourself in the sounds of English, and use the Go Natural
English method to help you remember all the sounds as you hear them in
conversation.
The best way to think about this, particularly for mastering speaking
fluency, is to remember how the words sound to you, instead of how they
are spelled in English. It
’
s especially important to get those sounds from listening to how they are
pronounced by native speakers. You can listen and copy what you hear. Say
the word or phrase immediately after you hear it. This helps not only your
own understanding of spoken English, but it will also help you to sound
more like a native speaker yourself if you can mimic those same sounds.
Seek out native speakers and start conversations using words and phrases
that you are learning. Read books to increase your vocabulary and
grammar skills, and watch different TV shows and movies to fine-tune
your listening skills. Yes, even those movies that are fun to watch can help
you learn!
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Watch a TV show you enjoy and shadow what the characters say.
To shadow means to repeat what you hear immediately, as soon as you can.
Do this for a few minutes, then repeat and review. This exercise will be
easier with subtitles, but be careful because you should repeat what you
hear not simply read out loud. The difference is that when you repeat what
you hear, you will say phrases like the native “speaker. If you read
subtitles out loud, you may read them using rules from your native
language. This does not help your accent improve.
Don’t worry if you can’t catch every word. Just try to repeat as much as
possible! You can do this with music too.
Now that’s all well and good, but what if you’re struggling with your
listening practice when it comes to learning English? Well then, this next
lesson is for you!
Read or watch a short news story in English. Are there words you are
unfamiliar with? Try guessing the meanings through the context of the
story. Later, you can check the meanings to confirm if your guess is
correct or not. Don’t skip the step of guessing through context! It really
helps you to remember new words and how to use them.
Pronunciation
At first, you may find it difficult to speak like a native. There are some
specific sounds that give English learners a challenge no matter where you
are from. Let
’
s take a quick look at six of the most challenging points for everyone and
how to improve your pronunciation.
Remember that when you see a letter of the alphabet in an English word, it
may make sounds that are very different from the sounds the letter makes
in your native language! That is why you must listen with your ears, not
your eyes. Be careful not to read or speak in English using pronunciation
rules from your first language. Again, it
’
s very important to remember just as with listening;
spoken
English sounds very different from
written
English. This next section will help you to identify some of the more
confusing sounds in the English language and hopefully, how to master
their pronunciation in certain words.
Sounds
The letter
“
r
”
and the sounds it makes are special in English.
“
R
”
alone is formed with your tongue in the middle of your mouth
—
not touching anywhere.
For example:
Nurse =
“
nerse
”
First =
“
ferst
”
World =
“
werld
”
TH
If
’
s you can make the
“
th
”
sound correctly, everyone will think you
’
re a native!
Consonants Together
For example:
Worked =
“
wer-k-t
”
Months =
“
mon-th-s
”
Stars =
“
s-t-ar-z
”
Stretch =
“
s-t-re-t-ch
”
Squirrels =
“
s-k-wer-l-z
”
Flapped T
For example:
Waiter =
“
waider
”
Pretty =
“
predy
”
City =
“
cidy
”
Butter =
“
budder
”
Water =
“
wader
”
For example:
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Try saying these words with challenging sounds. Record yourself. Listen
to your pronunciation. Get a native speaker to give you feedback. Re-do it
if needed.
Know, Now
Sheep, Ship
Bad, Bed
Peach, Pitch
Word-level Stress
Be careful not to make each sound in an English word the same strength.
In fact, you should not pronounce every sound exactly as you might think
it should sound. English words have strong and weak parts, known as
syllables
. Most weak syllables get the
“
schwa
”
sound. This is true no matter what the vowel of the word
’
s weak part is.
This is really important for any long word with more than one syllable.
There are exceptions to the rule, but let
’
s keep it simple and look at some examples that are always true.
For example:
Apartment =
“
uh-PART-muhnt
”
Massachusetts =
“
Muhs-uh-CHU-suhtts
”
Excellent =
“
EX-suh-luhnt
”
Of course, you still need to remember those short and long vowels when
pronouncing the words above. Syllables just help you to remember where
the emphasis goes in each word.
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Say these words with the correct schwa sound. Use an online audio
dictionary to check how they should sound. Record yourself and compare
to the official dictionary audio or check with a native speaker.
Garage
Pleasant
Dozen
History
Mountain
Curious
Famous
President
Vocabulary
Have you ever tried to pick up a new skill and find yourself getting
frustrated because you didn
’
t get it as quickly as you thought you should? Well, that can be a common
occurrence in language learning as well because there is so much to take
in.
Learning English is a new skill, and it requires the same effort as learning
any other skill. Don
’
t get nervous, or anxious, and certainly don
’
t give up. Just relax, and learn new words or phrases while continuing to
use the ones that you already use in your conversations. Everything around
you can be turned into a vocabulary lesson. For example, read license
plates out loud while you commute to work. Name things you see around
you.
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Make a list of everything you see around you. If you don’t know the word
in English, look it up! Time yourself for 15 minutes and write down
everything — objects, textures, actions, etc.
Using words in pairs makes it easier to create sentences and express full
thoughts. Many words love to be together just like best friends. Words like
“
salt and pepper,
”“
bread and butter,
”“
dollars and cents,
”
and
“
high flying
”
are just a few examples of collocations. It
’
s worth exploring collocations to discover what words go together
naturally.
Using words in pairs also affects our listening and pronunciation. Note
that sometimes when we use two words together, the word sounds change.
And sometimes the sounds are deleted.
For example:
Knife fight =
“
naifait
”
The word
“
knife
”
ends in an
“
f
”
sound and the word
“
fight
”
begins in an
“
f
”
sound, which makes it sound almost as though the two words have been
combined.
Diamond necklace =
“
diamonnecklace
”
The
“
d
”
at the end of
“
diamond
”
is not a strong sound. It gets lost between the
“
n
”
sounds. Though, you will hear some native speakers separate these two
words distinctly.
Want to =
“
wanna
”
Going to =
“
gonna
”
The
“
ing
”
sound disappears and again the preposition
“
to
”
is dropped completely so that it sounds like a schwa
“
uh.
”
Would you =
“
Wud-ja
”
Could you =
“
Cud-ja
”
Should you =
“
Shud-ja
”
Is he =
“
Izi
”
These are just a few examples to explain why it seems that native speakers
talk quickly or are difficult to understand. Natives change and omit
sounds, causing you to feel natives are speaking faster than they really are.
Knowing how words and sounds act together is a very important part of
becoming a great English speaker.
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Use these three steps to rapidly increase your memory for new English
words and phrases.
1.
Make a pathway
How should you create the neural pathways? Think about your learning
style.
2. Make connections
Connect what you learn in English with something else that you already
know. You could connect a new vocabulary word with an old one. Connect
a new vocabulary word with a sound, image, number
—
anything that you can think of that makes sense to
you.
an acronym.
For example, when teaching English I like to use the word
“
CRU
”
. Now
“
CRU
”
is an acronym that means
“
Connect, Repeat, Use
”
.
Everyone creates their own mnemonic devices in their own way. It might
take more time initially, but you
’
ll save yourself a lot of time in the end.
Don
’
t just listen or read. You need to write, speak, and use the language.
Many English learners feel a big distance between their high school
English class and the way native speakers converse in the present day.
Textbook English can seem old-fashioned and stiff
—
not how you want people to see you! You are a modern, smart and fun
person
—
so you want people to understand that from the way you speak!
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Find a pop star, movie star, or other famous person who you admire. It is
best to choose a person who is currently famous, around your same age
and gender.
It
’
s time to get down to the business of learning about phrasal verbs using
the word
“
get.
”
If you really want to get your message across, you need to become
familiar with naturally spoken English. As you will see in this English tip,
native speakers tend to use phrasal verbs with
“
get
”
more than they use the formal verbs.
You get out of your English learning effort what you put into it.
You don
’
t want to just get by in your studies, you want to excel and become the
best English language speaker you can be.
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Can you match the phrasal verbs with “get” with the more formal way of
saying the same thing?
To wakeTo get up
To complete To get to
English, just like any other language, has a lot of rules. And as is often the
case, these rules are difficult, confusing and one of the hardest parts to
master when learning a new language. Let
’
s look at some of the more common problems English language learners
face, how to overcome them and sometimes even when to break the rules
altogether.
The simple past and simple present are probably the two most common
verb tenses. For example, if something occurred in the past, you might say
something like,
“
I ate all my vegetables
”
or
“
I wrote a long letter to my grandmother.
”
If you are in the act of performing an action, you might say,
“
I study English on a daily basis.
”
T
here are six main grammar tenses that every English language learner
should know to understand about 80% of all native-level conversations. So
let
’
s take a look at what those are:
Simple Present:
“
I am, I work, I study.
”
Present perfect:
“
I have studied
”
Simple Past:
“
I studied, I worked.
”
Future:
“
I will
”
or
”
I am going to
”
plus a verb
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Practice each of the tenses quickly by writing and saying one short
sentence for each of the following:
Talk about something you have been doing on and off for the last
few years (present perfect continuous)
Talk about your experience, where you have traveled (present
perfect)
Future Tense
I will...be going to
Now, let
’
s take a closer look at the
future tense
with
“
going to
”
plus a verb. This phrase is often used to speak of the future but with a link
to the present. For instance, you might say,
“
I think it
’
s going to rain because it is cloudy.
”
“
Going to
”
is also often used to talk about plans that you have already made.
Fluent in 15 Minutes
1.
“I will help you with your homework,” means to volunteer to
help.
2.
“I am going to help you with your homework,” means a plan you
already thought about to help.
3.
“Maybe I will go to Paris,” means a dream, not a definite plan.
4.
“I am going to Paris,” is a definite plan, not a definite plan.
Like all languages English has many grammar rules and infinite ways of
making sentences. For this reason, many English learners can become
frustrated and lose motivation because they cannot learn
everything
quickly. Keep it simple and learn
enough
quickly. To do that, there are two principles that you should know that will
help you on your English-language learning journey.
If you still have trouble with some of those six tenses and really just want
to communicate, you can make yourself understood with the creative use
of one, two or three tenses
—
the simple past, simple present, and future.
Don
’
t wait until you have the perfect sentence ready in your head to express
yourself or that day may never come!
Think about the minimum viable grammar you would need for the
situations you are likely to have. Do not learn grammar just to know the
grammar, just in case you might someday need it. Think backward from
the situation or context you want to experience, and prepare the grammar
you will need for the specific event.
It really all depends on whether or not your mistake affects the overall
meaning of what you originally meant to say. So, if you realize that your
grammar mistake means that the other person didn
’
t understand you, or might come to the wrong conclusion from what you
said, well you
could say
:
“
Oh, I
’
m sorry, I made a mistake. What I meant to say was
…”
But honestly, you don
’
t even need to apologize.
You don
’
t even need to say you made a mistake.
Or
–
if the mistake you made was kind of superficial, meaning it doesn
’
t affect the meaning and everyone still understands everything that you
meant to say
–
there
’
s no miscommunication, it
’
s okay to let it go.
Yep, It
’
s totally OK.
Don
’
t even worry about it.
So, if it doesn
’
t affect the understanding or your communication, just move on.
Trust me, this will help your fluency overall because you won
’
t be stopping the conversation
–
saying,
“
ooh, oh, I meant, ooh, uh,
”
and people will enjoy talking with you more because if the mistake was
little, chances are, the other person might not even notice! So just take a
deep breath and keep talking.
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Learn a little; use it a lot! Select a verb tense, for example the present
perfect, and write as many sentences and questions as you can in 15
minutes. Use a stopwatch to time yourself.
For example:
You can repeat this exercise for each verb tense. As you write, don’t worry
about mistakes. You can check those with a native speaker later. Just let
yourself write freely.
And finally,
“
I should have paid more attention to my English teacher, but I fell asleep
in class.
”
This shows that you wished you had learned more, but were too sleepy to
focus.
“
Would have been
”
is talking about the logic of events
–
if one thing didn
’
t happen, another thing
would have
happened.
“
Could have been
”
is talking about potential or possibility.
Which is to say one thing might have happened one way, had the
conditions been just right.
Fluent in 15 Minutes
“Are you confused or in doubt about any grammar point so far? Are you
feeling lost as an independent learner without a teacher to tell you the
right way? Luckily, nowadays we have tools like search engines that we
can actually use to show us the right way. Get online on your computer or
smartphone and search for a word or structure that you’re not 100% sure
about. Use Google.com, type in the structure (for example, “If I were you,
I would...,” and see all the results for examples.
Culture
First, you may notice that English feels faster or slower than your native
language. One reason for this could be what
’
s called
“
wait time.
”
The silence between the end of one speaker and the beginning of another
is called wait time. In some conversations you
’
ll notice ample time between speakers. In other more animated
conversations, you may notice zero wait time and people may even be
talking on top of each other, interrupting, to join the conversation. Observe
and apply appropriate wait time for your conversations in English based
on the situation and the people.
Next, there are some taboo topics in English. Unless you are familiar with
a person, we tend to avoid discussing gender, race, religion, politics,
economic class, money, age and relationship status. Avoid making jokes,
confronting, debating or asking direct questions too soon about these
topics.
Small Talk
Mastering small talk requires being a good listener, asking easy questions
to answer, and making connections with your conversation partner.
Common topics include weather, work, family, future plans, local special
events, the immediate environment and hobbies.
Try making a list of 10 questions you could ask anyone in small talk, for
example,
“
What do you do for work? And what do you like to do when you
’
re not working?
”
Does the thought of speaking English to strangers make you nervous? Don
’
t worry about speaking perfectly. Think more about how you can connect
with a new person instead. Two of my favorite ways to start a conversation
with anyone are:
Fluent in 15 Minutes
“Conversation Starters”
Of course there are many different ways to start a conversation, here are a
few of the more “traditional” options:
Today, can you start a conversation with someone in English using one of
these? Your conversation can be in person or online, or even in your own
head!
Of course there are many different ways to start a conversation, here are a
few of the more
“
traditional
”
options:
Today, can you start a conversation with someone in English using one of
these? Your conversation can be in person or online, or even in your own
head!
Try giving yourself a daily English challenge like speaking to a stranger!
Deep Conversation
Many people, native and non-native English speakers alike, get stuck in
superficial conversation. What about when you want to bring the
conversation to a deeper level? How do you do that?
You need a toolkit to work on your English skills. In your toolkit, you keep
topics that you are ready to talk about. You keep questions you can ask
anyone. You keep examples and stories from your experience. You keep
phrases and idioms that you like to use. Prepare your toolkit before you
have an English conversation by imagining the kinds of things you would
like to be able to say.
Here are several more specific strategies for developing a longer, more
enjoyable conversation with a partner.
1. Ask authentic questions to ask about your partner
’
s experience and opinions or to clarify what your partner is saying.
4. Extend the conversation by inviting others in. If there are other people
nearby who might like to join, you could ask them a question to draw them
into your conversation.
Fluent in 15 Minutes
Without preparation, record yourself speaking, and just speak, don’t worry
about whether or not you’re making mistakes and don’t try to use a
canned/rehearsed speech. Just start talking and try speaking for 15
minutes, or stop when you feel like you’re done. Then have an English
speaking friend/native listen to your recording and offer suggestions for
any mistakes you might have made. Take note and try again.
Conclusion
After years of study, learning other languages and teaching English, the Go
Natural English Team took some time to think about what
really
works. We took notes from professional linguists. We reflected on our
own language learning experience. We also interviewed our own students.
1.
Think and Plan:
Think and plan what you will say in English so you do not feel surprised in
the moment you need it. What do you want to be able to understand and
say and to whom? Imagine the people and situations in which you would
like to use English.
2.
3.
Be Curious
Notice new words that you see more than once. Instead of ignoring them,
write them down and find out the meaning. Remember to do this after
listening, after conversations, and after reading
—
not during.
4.
Repeat
Repeat new words out loud and with emotion immediately! If it is not
possible to repeat them out loud immediately, repeat them in your head.
Repeat new words often and use flashcards or a notebook to remind you.
5.
Connect
You can connect new words with a related word, idea, or thing that you
already know, even in your own language. For example, Gabby always
remembers that
“
o-waiso
”
means
“
the check
”
in Japanese because it sounds like
“
eye sore,
”
something painful to look at.
6.
Use:
Try using new words as soon, and as often, as you can. When you use
words, you get feedback from people you are talking with. Did they
understand? If you can
’
t talk with an English speaker right away, then try writing a message on
social media, an email, or simply in your journal.
7.
Review
Repeat all the steps to grow your vocabulary and fluency in English.
Remember that it is necessary to review, repeat and consistently use
English every day for improvement.
Sing English songs. Learn an English song, know the lyrics and
tune and sing it to yourself or to others.
By using these steps, you will be able to develop your English skills
whether you
’
re in an English-speaking country or not
!
Final Thoughts
Do you remember when you learned how to ride a bike? I bet you fell
down a lot at first.
Learning a new language, like any skill, takes time, effort, a lot of practice
and yes, even a few falls along the way. However, it
’
s important to learn that when you set out to learn a new skill, your
mastery isn
’
t determined by whether or not you are perfect right from the start. Your
mastery is determined by the time and dedicated effort you put into
learning that skill every day. The key is to pick yourself up from each fall
and get back on the bike, or continue to speak English in this case.
With that in mind, here
’
s how to use mistakes to your advantage to improve your English:
i.
Be aware of your mistakes
–
If you know you
’
re making mistakes, find out exactly what you
’
re doing wrong and how to fix it.
ii.
Find out the correct way
–
Once you know what your mistakes are, it
’
s important to know the proper way instead right? Don
’
t be afraid to ask someone to help you if you make a mistake.
iii.
Practice and use the correct way
–
After you
’
ve noted and corrected your mistakes, it
’
s important to remember those answers in the future so that you
don
’
t make the same mistakes again, now you
’
re free to make new ones!
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