Learn English: How to understand native speakers

Do you find it hard to understand casual English conversations? It's not your fault! Native speakers don't speak clearly, but you still need to understand them. In daily conversation, we take shortcuts in our speech. This is usually done by "dropping" consonant sounds. In today's video I'll explain why this happens, and how you can improve your understanding of native speaker pronunciation. You'll get to hear some of the most common words and expressions that English speakers drop consonants from so you'll be prepared when you hear them. I'll also teach you strategies to improve your English listening skills and recommend some listening exercises you can do while listening to music and watching movies.
www.engvid.com/learn-english-h...
TRANSCRIPT
Hi. Welcome back to www.engvid.com. I'm Adam. Today's lesson is a little bit tricky because I want to help you understand native speakers. I want you to understand how they speak. So, for example, if you hear somebody say: "What did you do that for?" You should be able to understand what the person said. Now, whether you understood what I just said or not, not important yet; we're going to get to that. So "Native Speaker Pronunciation".
Now, before I get into this lesson, I want you to understand: I don't want to teach you how to speak like this. Okay? I don't want you to speak like this. I want you to speak good, clear, strong English, just like I'm speaking to you now. But I also want you to understand that when I am with my Canadian friends, for example, I speak a little bit more like this. It's just natural, it's habit. It's not a good habit, but it's habit. Okay?
Now, I had a few comments on www.engvid.com, quite a few people asking me: Why do I understand you? Like why do you understand me, Adam, but when I watch a TV show or when I watch a movie, I don't know what they're saying? Why? Why such a big difference? Well, first of all, let me say that I am speaking to you, knowing what you can and cannot understand, for the most part. So I don't speak to you like I... Like I would with my Canadian friends who are native English speakers. I don't speak to you like Hollywood actors speak on the movie. Okay? I'm speaking to an audience. I know that they need to listen to me, that you need to understand everything I say, so I enunciate, I speak very clearly. I stress each syllable so that you can catch every word I say. But I'm going to talk about when and where to speak like this in a minute.
So, I did actually do a lesson about how to speak like a native speaker before. You can learn how to make elisions, how to connect sounds, how to... When you have two sounds that are the same, to drop one of them. This is a little bit different. We're going to look at dropped sounds inside words.
Now, these words, for example: "listen", no "t"; "plumber", no "b"; "dumb", no "b". These words are not dropped sounds words. These are just the way these words are constructed; we are supposed to make the "t" silent, we are supposed to make the "b" silent. That's just how the word is built.
But native speakers, native English speakers... And I'm sure this is the same in your native language if you pay attention carefully to how you speak and how your friends speak, we like to take shortcuts. Okay? We don't like too many syllables. We like to have fewer and fewer syllables to make the speech go faster. We don't want to think too much about what we're saying.
So, for example, here are a few words. Now, I'm looking at consonant clusters. Does everybody remember what a consonant is? B, c, d, f, g, etc. Vowels: a, e, i, o, u. All the other letters, consonants. So when we have consonant clusters, these are groups when you have consonants bunched together; you have a few of them together. When we have words with this situation, we tend to drop one, maybe two of those consonants.
So, for example, the word "probably". Pro-bab-ly, pro-bab-ly-. I have three syllables in this word, but when I'm speaking in natural speed, I say: "Probly". -"Are you coming to the party tomorrow night?" -"Yeah, probly." Now you're watching me on a TV or you're watching me in a movie, and you're thinking: -"What?" -"Probly." -"What?" -"Probly." Okay? All I'm saying is "probably", but what I'm doing, because I have "b, b, l", I have a little cluster of consonant sounds, I'll just drop this one; I don't need it. You'll understand me without it, right? I think with another native speaker. "Probly". "Good bye", even two consonants, ah, too much. "Gobye. Gobye". I barely even say the o's, I just say like: "Gobye". Okay?
"Old friend". Now, in the other video, I told you if the letters... The very last letter and the first letter are the same, you can drop one, but we do it anyway, even if they're not the same. "I have an ol' friend. Ol' friend who I met for dinner last night. Oh, I met an ol' friend from high school."

[@gsammp]

Adam is absolutely the best teacher I have ever met!

[@monmolcan]

*have ever met

[@gagod]

+Monica Molcan d besth teaxer ai have ever meet

[@nicolasboesch3668]

+Monica Molcan You can drop "have" !

[@gsammp]

Monica Molcan thank you

[@gsammp]

Nicolas BOESCH people will understand after that for sure

[@garryverdier3617]

Adam is a good teacher,he makes everything clear to understand

[@munnakumar-tr4xv]

रद ढेर

[@abdullahiabdi8984]

Haye

[@A24fan]

Absolutely you’re the best teacher I have been seen in my life , when you explain !

[@babakahmadi6569]

All teachers are the bright segment of every society,especially Adam who is teaching with his heart.I appreciate him.

[@CrownAcademyEnglish]

Interesting lesson. It's true that many English learners struggle with speaking with natives. :)

[@gamechallenger177]

I have one question for iltes exam should I speak like a native speaker ?

[@alexcordovac]

I don't think so

[@lavishlyenigmatic]

milad 134t678o no ! cant speak informal English,you have to speak purely formally in order to get through in ILETS Exams !!

[@saadusman22]

Crown Academy of English???? Where have been you work....

[@joaomatheus287]

Mom watches your videos.

[@Margarita-hf6ef]

Thank you for your lessons! Could you, please, make a video where you talk to us not as a teacher but just as a native speaker? It would be interesting to compare :)

[@joyvelez360]

Yeah, I agree, you should. It would be great.

[@willianbarreiro9925]

Man that's a great idea, because I can understand him and other teachers here on KZbin. But on the other hand when I'm watching the news or listen to radio is so difficult to me to understand. 🇧🇷

[@unionbayisa5060]

I am proud of you Adam i haven't ever seen a teacher like you,you're second to none .

[@suhedacelik1021]

This is the actual teaching English method. We non-native speakers need this. Learning formal English doesn't get us somewhere. I really appreciate your efforts and wish you all the best..

[@marcos13000]

Wow, finally someone gave a good explanation of this.

[@mr.q3938]

ذ

[@Noushad-ho5vj]

Exactly

[@angelachanelhuang1651]

I took over three years of spanish. I read english my whole life

[@AnasAhmed-ib1my]

Adam you are a really good teacher!!

[@katyakaterina8230]

I really love your lessons, Adam! Thanks a million!

[@marlyna.1060]

You explain not just clearly but gives advice on how to maximize learning on a certain topic. You are really a good teacher.

[@pierrepigati8704]

Thank you, Adam, you speak very clearly ! After this lesson, I understand why, sometimes (still too often), I don't understand !!

[@michaelvarela7893]

Wow Thank you Adam.. I thought I was the only person with that problem .. often I watch Netflix and I don't understand what the actors are saying but I already I understand why.. Thank very much again ..

[@davidhernandez5898]

michael varela I have the same situation, and I actually thought the same 😂

[@david0411]

michael varela So, do you understand better now?

[@progeek]

yep me too i thought im bad with english cuz i can't understand what they are saying

[@stalinengoma7680]

Hi, Adam I’m constructing my English very well since I’m learning from your KZbin channel. My native language is French and you really help me to improve even if you don’t know. Thanks for this amazing channel.

[@aymanallas4114]

Staline Ngoma Which one is easy for you? English or french ?

[@aymanallas4114]

I’m arabic, but I feel your language is too difficult for me

[@moonchild5769]

@@aymanallas4114 i study English and French and for me there is no doubt that French is more difficult )))

[@aymanallas4114]

RARE Yes man, I feel that. Where are you from ? I’m Egyptian

[@moonchild5769]

@@aymanallas4114 i'm from Russia

[@raimundosepulvedav.8572]

Hello Adam... I am a Chilean Engineer and I am a teacher too. I found your channel days ago and I think that I have learnt a lot of English due to your clear method. Congratulations from South America...

[@jackyyang4336]

The most clever teacher I once have learned from online, thanks Adam.

[@armineshamtsyan2551]

Thank you, Adam! Your classes are really useful and interesting!

[@dellobina8472]

Adam is the best teacher for me. i'm in a call center industry and my coworker and sometimes my trainer or supervisor having a hard time understanding me when i speak to them in English saying that i have a problem with my enunciation. well most of my caller don't have a problem understanding me tho cause i'm speaking native like they do and go with their own pace. it's the people around me that have a problem cause they're bunch of perfectionist, i mean who need to enunciate every word when you're just having a normal conversation, it's not like you're on an interview. Adam is right, you can do all the shortcuts when you're having a normal conversation but never do it in a formal or like in an interview situation.

[@jackyyang4336]

Adam, you know, my poor english couldn't sustain me once until I met you, from whom taught us in a very easy understanding way. Thanks a lot.

[@annaloveytvideos3702]

Thank you very much Adam for sharing your knowledge with us! I like your videos very much!

[@top5Shiva]

The way you patiently teach this lesson is exceptionally impressive. Great job Mr. Adam

[@optimalenglishwithreggie7050]

Mani! I'm a TESOL teacher if you have any more English questions let me know :)

[@xasanalifarey3834]

Master Adam We need more of this lesson thank you The best teacher

[@samzed7136]

Your explanation is really helpful !! Great job. Thumbs up !!!

[@mariadomchenkova6287]

thanks Adam! Love ur lessons, everything is clerly explained!!

[@ibrahimalotaibi9861]

The only one who explain clearly how non native can pronounce correctly. I'm lucky I found your videos. AMAZING!!!

[@zeusunozoglu]

You're exactly best English teacher in the world. I have ever seen. Thanks a lot Adam👏👏

[@katerynaartemyeva2434]

Adam, you are the best teacher in the World! Thank you!

[@themainmansteve9563]

it's weird knowing people don't understand what he's saying, when I have heard these terms my whole life. This is a real eye opener for just how expansive language/culture is around the world.

[@EquestriaGuy]

Adam is by far the best teacher I've ever had.

[@leticiamendez2653]

thank you very much for your classes , I understand everything and since I watch them I improve my english alot.

[@SydneyOnline]

You are doing a very good job Adam.

[@user-lq2rf7se6k]

I wish everyone spoke like Adam) He sounds very clear. As I watch his lesson I start to think that I'm native English speaker)))) thank you for a nice work

[@AllIsGrace]

Yes, 🖕👍

[@testytesty3404]

You are the best teacher on this chanel. I listen to you every evening. Thank you doing good job.

[@Thomback13]

Holy hell! I just realized I don't need to focus anymore to understand most of english speakers! Thank you Adam, your tips were precious!

[@handrick01]

From Korea, of course South Korea, I do appreciate your helpful lucture on understanding fast spoken English

[@Vukf1]

of course hahaha

[@sportlovers1508]

I tought you from north

[@jamesscott3151]

Nationalist

[@mamedabd4627]

😂😂😂

[@ainurabakytzhan6916]

I lost you on KZbin, now again have found you 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@darsy54]

Thank you Adam! You are very good teacher. I love your lessons! They help for my practice ! Good bless you!

[@horaciogomez2627]

You're absolutely right, Adam, on this issue of the use of languages in daily vs more formal situations; many of us non-natives tend to complain the way some Americans pronounce English in movies, songs or street environments, to the point we don't understand a message, sentence or word, without realizing, as you say, that if we pay more attention to how we speak our own languages we'll find a lot of the same consonant clustering, dropping of letters, and so on that's is so common in every language. Thanks for approaching this topic and for helping me find new ways to see it in a more extended context!

[@wilkmathiu]

Adam, I find your lessons amazing for several reasons: 1. You keep it simple, 2. You don't beat around the bush 3. You have excellent sense of humour 4. The overall impression is so good as far as your lessons are concerned 5. You just seem to be a nice person So... Keep doing what you do, because you are one of the best teachers and have a good luck!

[@AllIsGrace]

Hi, your Comments 🖕says that your a good writer. I seen your analogy in your comments.👍

[@miriamalvarez3693]

I would to begin with the first lessom

[@miriamalvarez3693]

How can I do for it?

[@NovellaTravel]

Such a good series of videos!

[@user-pl8ht8pg8p]

Thanks Adam, I've been learning English for two years, but I easily understand you! That's great)) I love your channel!

[@almasanchezramos6789]

Thank you Adam, I love the way you explain the lesson

[@regikusnadi5171]

good adam, you,re help me to undestand what native saying. i wish i could learn more things in english with your lesson. Thank you

[@jamesjosephaquino897]

*you

[@kwangk6008]

Excellent tutoring !!!

[@Ryan-md5gm]

Tutoring

[@valetprivet2232]

+Ryan Liu totoring

[@ABD7_2166]

Best teacher ever seen to teach the English language.

[@batoolmustafa3385]

Love the way he explains

[@infinite19951114]

Your tutoring is excellent :) We've been told to speak clear and strong English since childhood. But i think learning to understand how native speaker naturally speaks is more essential and thus I won't feel confused about lyrics of songs or subtitles of movies. Thanks for sharing!

[@user-uh5wn5ch8s]

Thank you, Adam

[@zebiikhan8560]

great brother!!! that was awesome!!!

[@diegonimo96]

These tip are incredible for the call centers here in colombia, THANKS A MILLION

[@carloscorreia8928]

Amazing lesson, Adam. Thank you so much.

[@mileusa7527]

So hard! For this reason it's very difficult understand when a native person speak! 😳

[@antoniocosta7565]

Muito bom, sempre desconfiei disso, tentava acompanhar músicas em inglês mas sempre desaparecia alguma consoante, obrigado! Thank you, i understand

[@WeslleySSouza]

You're a great teacher! I'm Brazilian and I'm learning the English. Thanks

[@goroku5721]

Thanks Adam! A fantastic informative video as per usual.

[@JafiOfficial]

Does someone know if Adam has Twitter or Facebook?(: Excellent video!!

[@cinimashakuni]

Ok, I can understand native people, the problem is they can't understand me,,,

[@504ever4]

That is the same with me and my bilingual friend. I can understand when she speaks Spanish but when I talk to her in Spanish she never understands me haha.

[@user-wj4db3qn2f]

Yhahahahhahahhaha. Exactly

[@esrefozcelik7286]

There is more frustrating situation,native speakers misunderstand me when I speak like a native speaker😂

[@504ever4]

@@esrefozcelik7286 Yeah that's tough. It's hard because sometimes putting one word in the wrong part of a sentence can change the meaning completely.

[@PeaceIjeoma496]

@@esrefozcelik7286 funny lol

[@thethrusday123]

I really find your videos very educative and understandable, I always watch them when I have doubts... thank you very much and keep the great work

[@zahiradn7860]

I really adore his English and his way of explaning

[@arifonan5245]

I found this information very impressive, thank you.

[@skyada6468]

So good

[@qawalieshub4561]

hi

[@Sunnykalraofficial]

Your gesture are so awesome

[@yadermercado921]

Amazing teacher, I've learned alot of things with you !!

[@user-cv8cv6ui3v]

Hi, I’m chiya and I had learned English with your lectures before going abroad. Thank you for always sharing the great English lecture, I appreciate so much. As your lectures are so great and helpful, I would like to share this video on my Twitter account with Japanese subtitle to introduce your account to Japanese people who wanna learn English because most Japanese can’t understand your great lecture due to lack of English skills. However, to do this, I have to download this video first and edit to put Japanese so i think I need your permission. I will introduce your KZbin channel with putting your URL as citation in tweet. In this case, there is no profit for me. Could you give me a permission for this? Thank you.

[@lakshmipriya1855]

Great work mam

[@Ollivier10x56]

I think if you add him at the credits it's ok mate

[@MSIsaied]

I'm looking for a Chinese entrepreneur who runs his business in Bangladesh. I am interested to run a business with him.

[@vadyaandropov2235]

in russian we very often use these methods.For example Hello it's ZdraVSTVuite but we use Zdraste)I think it's usefull video and I'm glad for you english speakers.Pardon for my mistakes)

[@abdourahmanembodji6971]

Thank you Adam Witherspoon your lessons i understand very much

[@manuelcampos9239]

Thanks, Adam, for your help. You are a great teacher and your accent is very clear. We are learning a lot from videos like this. God bless you.

[@user-vx3hh9ek7v]

Adam, you're the best! Thanks you for Russian man)

[@Sergey-mq3ol]

Выучил английский?

[@Larious_]

Why im watching this as a native speaker of english is beyond me

[@rylie4122]

In the same boat as you

[@ScientistDog]

To be polite and speak properly when you are with a non-native speaker xD.

[@mohammadshadabshakir1645]

@@rylie4122 hi can you help me for speak.. English

[@user-er6tl3td4c]

Md.Shadab Shakir can you help me? I need practice, but I haven’t partner to practice. I have very low level, I need practice.

[@melezenisaun502]

@@user-er6tl3td4c you must watch English movies, apparently many non- native speakers learned English through watching TV.

[@cavkas5550]

You do excellent job, Adam! Thank you!

[@onkhamrattanatary2970]

Adam is the great teacher and he explains very clearly, I like to watch him more often to upgrade my English thanks very much,

[@ezequielgervasio]

Very nice ! :')

[@ancamdr1786]

ur really a good teacher!thanks so much 👍😄

[@pmancok5663]

You 're the best teacher, I love you and thanks for helping me to improve my english !

[@erwinnsyam]

I love the way you deliver ur lessons, Adam.

[@klodgta2003]

Now the language turns more complicated.

[@Samirakhudiya]

thank u sir u helped us may Allah bless u

[@SoliMartini15]

jamila

[@luismanuelg.b9470]

That's true.

[@andullahaljefri8953]

it's called God not Allah

[@craigdaubbeats-rapinstrume9185]

It is the same thing. Allah is just the Islamic name for God. Those in the know, Know that they are all describing the same higher power. Please don't disrespect others for what they believe!

[@SoliMartini15]

alla zubi

[@maybellerepalda3042]

Thank you Adam. Starting to watch all your videos 😊😊

[@saddamhossen2988]

you are diligent and eloquent!!! yours all lessons is very helpful for me...

[@alisongold9448]

Hello! I am from the USA and I speak English fluently. If anyone has questions about the language feel free to ask me anything.

[@Nik0lay11]

Alison Gold What sounds native speaker pronounce when he says "pretty" (to a high degree) or "pretty much" quickly? It sounds like "pury" or "pery" and its confusing and difficult to speak like that.. Which of the sylables should i drop?

[@lillypiorkowski]

Nik0lay11 when saying "pretty much" I think there is two different ways that people say it, one is "pre much" dropping both T's and dragging out the e. The second would be like "pretee much" dropping one t, and quickly saying the t when pronouncing pretty. I hope this isn't confusing, the English language can be hard to explain! I'm from the USA and speak English fluently and have been my whole life.

[@nergizarif2423]

Alison Gold hello ,can u help me to speak English fluently .I am serious to learn English very well because this is my major and i will be future teacher .How can help me?:(

[@fatizahra1336]

Alison Gold I wanna someone to speak with him daily .. 😢

[@mats351]

Lilly and why did you say 'there is two different ways' not 'there are two different ways'?

[@fatihakbas8529]

The problem is that whenever I try to sound like a native speaker, people don't understand me 🤐

[@rahulbhattacharyatheH2]

It's a rookie mistake we all make brother, don't try to sound like them. Just focus on the pronunciation and the way you express yourself ( not talking about accent btw ). More than that, while you are having conversations with yourself, try to conduct that in English. Go slow 👍👍. And if you need help talking, I can help..

[@sasukesbussy7101]

Something I’ve learnt when learning Japanese is: don’t try to to be native speaker level. Native speakers have had a lifetime to learn how to speak the language casually. It’s not impossible but an unrealistic goal in my opinion. Just focus on being clear and concise.

[@tarfaaljadeed872]

Thank you for make it clear for us

[@albinobrignone8236]

Thanks Adam, your explanations are very well, nobody teaches like you.

[@valetprivet2232]

2 dislikes? who are these monsters?

[@onizheng]

+Valet Privet probably 2 offended Americans? :P

[@leszek8460]

+Wayne Cheah ya made my minute

[@Ceyhungirgin]

+Valet Privet donald trump

[@elikarpinski2460]

+Ceyhun Girgin 9 donald trumps

[@firecellgamingfcg6863]

+Valet Privet Justin bebier and miley cirus

[@user-gs4oc7bq3e]

Anyway, at the end he said "Bye" instead of "Good Bye" :D

[@fatyaal8499]

Thank you for the lesson! So useful 🧡

[@magdasoares6013]

You're an amazing teacher! Thank you🤝

[@HoangggAnhhh]

i wonder : what native speakers will think if I talk to them and speak really clearly every, single word ???

[@thatguyfromthere1168]

You will immediately be recognized as a foreigner

[@guilhermefernandes9984]

+Mysteriousness And there's no problem with being recognized as foreigner, since you speak correctly.

[@thatguyfromthere1168]

Guilherme Fernandes Yes

[@suarez4489]

a

[@BwantleyBoo]

I am a native American English speaker. I wouldn't mind (: it doesn't bother me either way because I know it is hard to learn a language and I would be happy at least that I can understand you. Pronunciation is the most important thing. I think most Americans would agree.

[@ShelliLoop]

What advice do you have about the BRITISH blubbering? I get furious when they speak! Are they correct when they “drop Hs and Ts” ??? Thanks

[@silviacruz1362]

You're simply the best! Thank you!

[@benjamindkadoch8993]

Darn, your elegance comes in the way. Rewatching it for the message now 👏🏻👏🏻

[@tutosss7492]

8:33 hahahahahahahaha *singi*

[@lorenaquintero5218]

vamos a ver qué puedo aprender...hasta el momento nada...😰😰😰

[@ibrvef4608]

Lorena Quintero listen up I can speak spanish too. Despacito despacito despacito cheetos doritos favoritos despacito despacito despacito cheetos doritos favoritos favoritos favoritos baby

[@ibrvef4608]

Lmao

[@cooks4490]

I'm from India... and his teaching is absolutely good and understandable by anyone Thank you Adam for making english easy for me and everyone.👍

[@user-lm2kj7kw7b]

Adam, you are a great teacher! I'm listening to your lessons like a music. Thank you very much.

[@Genesis-hl3ss]

Me: trying to pay attention Also me: I can't concentrate with this teacher, he's so handsome

[@julietasantz]

excellent explanations in every video!!! you're the best Adam! 🇨🇦❤ Greetings from Argentina

[@richardmanangon6434]

Hello Adam. I´m ecuatorian. Thank for your classes. It´s are very important for my english improve.

[@bissash103]

Thanks for this lecture, I'm leaning lot of things with your videos!

[@nuriddinerkinov8602]

Thanks for your lessons Adam