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How to understand FAST English?

Date

Dec 9, 2024

Author

Daily Native English

Summary

1️⃣ Diversify Your Listening Practice:

  • Watch unscripted content like podcasts, reality shows, and interviews.

  • Listen to different accents (US, UK, Australian, etc.).

2️⃣ Develop Listening Prediction:

  • Train your brain to guess what’s coming next while listening.

  • Try the Pause Prediction Game to improve comprehension.

3️⃣ Learn Linking and Reductions:

  • Understand how native speakers connect words (e.g., “Did you” → “D’you”).

  • Practice common reductions like “at home” → “at ome”.

4️⃣ Build a Mental “Cultural Bank”:

  • Learn idioms, humor, and cultural references to bridge gaps in understanding.

  • Example: “At the end of the day…” or “You know what I mean?”.

🎯 Goal: These steps will help you understand fast English and improve both listening and speaking skills.

Action Steps:

💡 Download the FREE PDF Guide:

  • Contains 30 cultural phrases used by native speakers daily.

  • Boosts listening comprehension and helps you sound fluent faster!

👉 Link to Download: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mVlzyLrelRRRncvAShrORJvuA76zGFAT/view?usp=sharing

Transcript

Noah Hey everyone, quick question: Can you understand what we’re saying right now? I mean Obviously, we are discussing a variety of topics and study skills in English, and we are using vocabulary that is used in everyday life.

Luna Mhm, if you can, that’s really amazing! It shows you’ve already got a strong foundation in English.

Noah And it means you’re ready to level up. I mean, to tackle fast English—the kind native speakers use every day.

Luna And today’s video is all about that—how to understand fast English, even when it feels super tricky. we’re going to introduce four top methods to help you understand fast English more easily.

Noah But, before we jump into the methods, let me ask one more question: in real life, Have you ever found yourself talking to native speakers and feeling like they’re speaking another language? Like They are talking in a way that is not the same as a textbook or an English lesson.

Luna Oh, that’s so common! It can be super frustrating when you understand lessons or videos online but can’t keep up in real conversations.

Noah Right? And that’s exactly why we’re here today—to show you how to bridge that gap and finally understand those fast-paced, real-life conversations.

Luna Oh, and besides that, we’ve got a little surprise for you—a secret pdf guide we’ve made just for this episode.

Noah Right! It’s packed with 30 super practical examples of phrases and sentences that native speakers use all the time.

Luna Not only will this guide help you improve your listening, but it’ll also boost your speaking skills. Imagine sounding like a native speaker!

Noah So, are you ready? Stick with us, and let’s dive into today’s tips.

Noah Diversify your listening exercises

Noah Alright, let’s get into the first tip: Diversify your listening practice. Now, if you’re just starting out, it’s totally fine to watch content that’s familiar to you—something related to your hobbies, like cooking videos or gaming streams.

Luna Yup, that’s a great way to ease into learning English. You already know the topic, so you can focus more on the language itself.

Noah But, here’s the thing—if you want to move to the next level and truly understand fast English, you need to mix it up a little.

Luna So guys, tell us—what kind of English videos are you watching right now? Are you sticking to teaching videos like ours? Or maybe TED talks or English lesson videos?

Noah Those are all great options, but they can sometimes be a bit easier to understand, right? They’re scripted and usually slow-paced. But, when you try watching a movie or having a random conversation with a native speaker, it can feel like you’re listening to an alien language!

Luna Oh yeah, for sure. The difference is huge! That’s why it’s so important to focus on unscripted materials—things like reality shows, podcasts, or even casual interviews.

Noah These are all real-life conversations, and they’re fast! They force your brain to really pay attention and start picking up on the flow of speech.

Luna And don’t just stick to talking to one or two people. Try to talk with different people every day. You’ll get used to hearing different speech patterns, slang, and accents.

Noah Oh, and speaking of accents, make sure you expose yourself to a variety of them. Try listening to English from the US, UK, Australia, and even other places like South Africa or Canada.

Luna That’s such a good point! If you only listen to one accent, you might get too comfortable with it and struggle when you hear something different.

Noah Exactly. It’s all about training your ear to catch the different ways people speak English around the world. It keeps you from being too reliant on just one type of English.

Luna So, mix it up—watch different types of content, listen to different accents, and practice every day!

Noah Develop Listening “Prediction”

Noah Now, let’s move on to the second method: Developing “Listening Prediction.” This is such a game-changer when it comes to understanding fast English.

Luna Yep, this is a skill that native speakers use all the time without even thinking about it. They can predict words or phrases based on context and patterns before someone finishes speaking.

Noah But as beginners, we don’t have that skill yet, so speech can feel like it’s moving way too fast. It can be overwhelming!

Luna So, how do we get better at this? Well, it all starts with training your brain to anticipate what’s coming next. It’s like preparing for the next step in a conversation, so you’re never caught off guard.

Noah One fun way to do this is with what we call the “Pause Prediction Game.” Here’s how it works: Find a fast English video, pause it every 5 seconds, and try to guess what comes next based on the context.

Luna Oh, I love that game! For example, if someone says, “I’m so hungry, I could...,” you might predict “eat a horse” or “grab some food.” By the way 'eat a horse' is a very native expression used to describe you as being very hungry or having a good appetite, and if you've never heard it before you may also be confused as to what the person is saying.

Noah Yes, That's why we have made a pdf containing 30 of the most common expressions used in everyday life, it also contains example sentences and how you should use them, which will be very helpful for you to improve your English! Now back to our topic, The goal is to focus on the logical flow of the sentence, not translating word by word. You’re trying to understand what makes sense next in the conversation.

Luna Right, because when you stop translating everything, you start picking up on the natural rhythm and structure of the language. It’s all about trusting your instincts!

Noah Yep, and the more you practice this, the easier it’ll become to follow fast conversations in real life. Your brain will start anticipating words naturally, just like a native speaker.

Luna So, give it a try next time you’re watching a fast English video. Pause it, guess what comes next, and then check if you were right! It’s a fun and effective way to train your ear.

Learn Linking and Reductions

Noah Alright, let’s dive into Part 3: Linking and Reductions. This is a big one! Native speakers often link words together in ways that can be really hard for non-native listeners to catch.

Luna Oh yeah, for sure. One of the most common things they do is drop sounds, especially with certain words. For example, in some dialects, the “h” sound just disappears.

Noah Yep! Like, when someone says “at home,” it often sounds more like “at ome.” Or when you hear “in his,” it might sound like “in is.”

Luna That’s a huge difference! And it’s not just with “h-dropping.” Native speakers also connect words in ways that make them sound very different from how they’re written.

Noah Exactly! For instance, “Did you” often sounds like “D’you.” It’s like a shortcut that makes speech faster and smoother.

Luna Right, and if you're not used to it, it can sound confusing. But if you learn these linking patterns, you’ll understand fast speech a lot better!

Noah So, how do we make sense of all this? Well, it's important to get used to “conversation glue” phrases. These are words or phrases that native speakers use to connect their thoughts.

Luna Phrases like “You know what I mean?” or “At the end of the day…” are common in everyday conversations. They might seem a little extra, but they’re shortcuts that give the speaker time to think or pause.

Noah Yup, and by learning these filler phrases, you start to understand the flow of a conversation, even when things are moving quickly.

Luna It’s like learning the little “glue” that holds a conversation together. So, next time you hear someone use one of these phrases, don’t just ignore it—pay attention!

Noah Exactly Luna! These phrases are like little markers that help you follow along. They’ll make fast English sound more natural and understandable.

Luna So, if you want to get better at understanding native speakers, start practicing with these linking and reduction patterns. They’re key to catching fast speech.

Noah Build a Mental “Cultural Bank”

Noah Okay, let’s wrap things up with the final method: Building a Mental “Cultural Bank.” This is super important for understanding fast English.

Luna Absolutely. When you're listening to native speakers, a lot of what they say is influenced by culture—whether it’s references, idioms, or humor. Without understanding these cultural aspects, even clear speech can feel confusing.

Noah Right, and this is why many learners struggle to understand native English. The words might be clear, but the context—those little cultural bits—can make everything feel like it’s in another language.

Luna Yep! That’s what we call "cultural gaps." They’re moments when you just don’t quite get the meaning because it’s tied to cultural knowledge.

Noah Exactly. But don’t worry, we’ve got a solution for you! We’ve created a secret pdf guide with the Top 30 cultural phrases that native speakers use every day.

Luna This pdf is a game-changer because it teaches you those cultural phrases you might not hear in traditional lessons. These are the phrases that come up in casual conversations and are essential for understanding fast English.

Noah For example, if someone says “It’s a piece of cake,” they’re not talking about food. They’re saying something is easy. Without knowing this phrase, you might think it’s a literal cake!

Luna Oh my, You have to know what this expression means, or you're going to be confused. That’s where cultural knowledge comes in. By building your “cultural bank,” you’ll understand these expressions and references, and you’ll start catching on faster when native speakers use them.

Noah So, the idea is to familiarize yourself with common idioms, humor, and references that are part of English-speaking cultures. These aren't always explained, but they’re essential for understanding how people talk in real life.

Luna And it’s not just about knowing the words—it’s about understanding the cultural context behind them. That’s what makes fast English feel more natural and less confusing.

Noah Right, and with our pdf, you’ll have a shortcut to all the phrases you need to know to fill those cultural gaps and really start understanding native conversations.

Luna So, make sure to download that guide, and start building your own cultural bank. It’ll make understanding fast English so much easier!

Noah Alright, let’s quickly summarize what we’ve covered today. To understand fast English, you need to diversify your listening practice, right?

Luna Yep! Don’t just stick to familiar content. Try watching reality shows, podcasts, or interviews, and expose yourself to different accents.

Noah Then, we talked about the importance of developing listening “prediction” skills. Predicting what comes next helps you catch up with fast speech.

Luna And we also discussed linking and reductions. Native speakers often connect words and drop sounds, so getting used to that flow is key!

Noah And finally, we touched on filling those cultural gaps by building a Mental “Cultural Bank”—learning those everyday phrases and idioms that native speakers use.

Luna That’s right! Now, don’t forget—if you want to really level up your listening and speaking, make sure you download our secret pdf guide. It’s packed with 30 cultural phrases to boost your understanding of fast English.

Noah Yeah, you’ll definitely want to check that out! Thanks for joining us today, and we’ll see you in the next video. Keep practicing, and stay curious!

Copyright © Daily Native English

Copyright © Daily Native English