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How to understand native English speakers

Hi! I’m Vanessa, from SpeakEnglishWithVanessa.com. Do I speak slowly? Let’s talk about it. I get a lot of e-mails from students telling me, “Vanessa, I’m so glad! I can understand everything you say. But then I turn on an English TV show, and I can’t understand anything? Does this mean that you’re speaking slowly?” I wanted to talk about this today because it’s a great question. I want to make sure that you know exactly the truth, and find out what’s the next step.

First of all, when I’m explaining something, like today, in these short videos, I want to make sure that you can understand everything. So my pronunciation isn’t unnatural. I’m. Not. Talking. Like. This. Very. Slowly. For. Children. I’m not talking like that, but I am talking clearly, and a little bit reduced. A little bit slower, because I want to make sure that you can understand everything.

I’m also talking to a camera. I know that you are watching, but on my side, I see a camera, so it’s a little bit difficult to have a natural conversation when someone’s not there. The reason why I wanted to tell you this, is because I have a lot of videos on my YouTube channel with other English-speakers.

There’s videos with people through Skype. There’s videos with people in my house, around my city … I think this is a really good way to take your English listening to the next level. Start with these videos, more slower explanations, and then watch videos with my voice … You already understand my voice … plus one other person. I’ll make sure that in the description and at the end of this video, I link to some of those videos so that you can check them out.

Then the next step is to watch a TV show, or another YouTube video with someone who’s not me. Someone who you don’t completely understand already. I think those are good steps, starting with these explanation videos, then watching a conversation video that I’ve had, and then going to someone else.

That way, you can test your skills and grow them step-by-step. Because my goal is to prepare you for the real world, kind of like a parent who’s raising a child and the goal is to send them out as an adult and prepare them for the real world, my goal for you is so that you can understand anyone, and really communicate in any situation.

Not just with me. I think that this three-step plan, start with these basic videos, then go to conversation videos with me, and then go to conversations with other people who have a completely different style of speaking … That’s going to really help you. This is something that I integrate into the course The Fearless Fluency Club.

Each month, we have a conversation with me and another English-speaker. Sometimes two other speakers. That way, you can hear how this natural conversation sounds. It’s usually pretty fast, but you already understand my voice, so it’s going to help you to increase step-by-step.

Now, I have a question for you. I want to know, when you study English, do you mainly focus on English learning materials, like this kind of video? Or do you mainly focus on English TV shows or movies, some bigger content that’s meant for native speakers? I think it’s good to start with more basic content, and then move to those more challenging things, but I want to know for you.

What do you mainly enjoy as you’re studying English? Let us know in the comments below, and I can’t wait to see what you have to say. Thanks so much, and I’ll see you the next time. Bye!