Episode 42: Understanding Fast Spoken English

[00:00:00] Welcome to English please, the podcast where we explore interesting topics in under 10 minutes, in clear intermediate English. I’m your host Christopher. I live and work in New York City, and I’ve always been passionate about languages and how we learn them. Whether you’re listening on your way to work or while cooking dinner at home, this show is designed to help you with your English listening and comprehension skills.

First of all, thanks for listening. As I’ve mentioned, I’m sending occasional newsletters to assist you on your journey to fluency. If you’re interested, you can sign up at the link in the show notes. Also, if you enjoy this podcast and would [00:01:00] like to support it, you can send a small donation, maybe one to $5 (or the same amount in your own currency) through a site called Buy Me a Coffee at coff.ee/englishplease. It’s an easy way to help me cover the costs of making the podcast. No pressure, but I appreciate anything no matter how small. There’s also a link in the show notes.

Okay, let’s get started!

Today I’m going to talk about three key concepts that will help you understand normal fast English speech.

These concepts are (1) connected speech. (2) common reductions, and (3) training your ears with TV shows or podcasts. I’ll explain each of these concepts clearly, I’ll give you examples [00:02:00] you can try right away, and I’ll suggest some small exercises to build your confidence over time.

First, let’s talk about the concept of connected speech. When native speakers talk, they almost never pronounce each word separately and clearly like you might hear in a classroom. Instead, we blend words together so the sounds flow smoothly from one word into the next word. For example, if you say the phrase, “pick it up slowly,” you’ll hear three separate words: “pick,” “it,” “up.” But when someone speaks quickly, and naturally it often comes out as one continuous sound: “pickitup.” Notice how the “k” at the end of “pick” joins with the “i” of “it,” and the “t” of [00:03:00] “it” links to “up.”

To practice this, pick a short phrase, like “put it on.” Say it slowly, “put-it-on,” and then speed up and repeat: “putiton.” Do this five times, feeling how the sounds connect to each other.

Connected speech also happens when two vowel sounds meet. You might not realize it, but native speakers frequently insert a tiny “y” or “w” sound to bridge the gap between the vowels. For example, “see it” becomes “see-yit,” and “go out” sounds like “go-wout.” Try exaggerating that extra sound: say “see it” slowly, then add the “y” glide to feel the connection—“see-yit.” Over time, that little glide will become more and more natural to [00:04:00] say, and you’ll also start to recognize it when you hear it.

Now, let’s move on to a second concept: common reductions. Reductions are shortened forms of words or phrases that we use in casual speech. In real life, you’ll hear them all the time. For instance, “going to” usually becomes “gonna,” so “I’m going to call you later” turns into “I’m gonna call you later.”

Similarly, “want to” becomes “wanna,” “have to” becomes “hafta,” and “got to” becomes “gotta.” Even “let me” often sounds like “lemme,” and “give me” like “gimme.” Hearing these reductions can feel very strange at first, but once you know they’re common in speech, you’ll start [00:05:00] to pick them out more easily.

To get used to reductions, use online dictionaries that play natural speech. The Cambridge Dictionary, for example, offers both UK and US pronunciations at a conversational speed, including reductions like “gonna” and “wanna.” The Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary has “Listen” buttons, for example sentences that often include these reductions. There’s also an interesting tool called YouGlish (a combination of “you” and “English” that searches YouTube for real examples of a phrase —you can hear “I’m gonna” or “lemme” used by many different speakers in context. Each day this week, pick one reduced form, for example, “wanna,” and look it up in Cambridge or Merriam-Webster. Listen to it three to five times, [00:06:00] and then repeat it aloud three to five times. Try to copy the speaker’s rhythm and pronunciation.

Finally, the third concept is training your ears. You can do this with English language, TV shows or podcasts, and you’ll slowly progress to shows that are created for native speakers.

Think of listening practice like lifting weights. You start light, and then gradually begin to lift more. On day one, choose a show or podcast you already enjoy and set the playback speed to 50% or 75% of normal speed. Listen to a 15- to 20-second clip, Then pause and shadow the speaker. Repeat exactly what you heard, and match their slower speed and tone.

For example, you might listen to someone say, [00:07:00] “Today we are talking about summer festivals.” Then, pause and say it to yourself immediately. Do this several times until you feel comfortable. After a couple of days at slower speed, increase to normal speed. If normal speed feels too fast, try a smaller increase. Keep working until you can follow the conversation at a normal pace without subtitles.

Speaking of subtitles. Here’s another tip: Watch once with English subtitles on reading aloud as you listen. On your second time watching, turn subtitles off and see how much you understand. If you can find a transcript online, read it while you listen a third time.

Highlight every reduction you hear. Gonna have to, and so on and circle [00:08:00] any words you missed. This will help you connect the spoken form to the written form. You can also challenge yourself with active listening exercises. For example, write down each time you hear “gonna,” “wanna,” or “gimme” in a clip. Or choose a 30-second segment, write down exactly what you hear, and then compare it to the real transcript. Finally, after listening, speak or write a short summary of the clip in three sentences. This not only tests your listening, but also your ability to process and reproduce information in English.

Try to spend at least 10 to 15 minutes every day mixing different types of content— documentaries, vlogs, news clips, interviews, and even songs. Keep a notebook of new reductions and tricky phrases so you can review them [00:09:00] with connected speech, common reductions, and a gradual listening plan. You’ll notice your understanding of fast, natural English improving week by week.

Stay consistent, be patient, and enjoy the process. You’ll get there!

I hope you were able to understand most of the English in this episode. As always, there’s a transcript available to help you with your understanding. You can find the link in the episode notes, and you can use this transcript with a clip in this episode for your first practice session.

Again, I’m Christopher and I want to invite you to join me in future episodes of English please to hear about a variety of topics all focused on helping you with your English. Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts, and let’s embark on an adventure together in clear, understandable English. And please, if you [00:10:00] enjoy this podcast and would like to support it, visit coff.ee/englishplease. It will help me cover the costs of making this podcast. No pressure, but I appreciate anything no matter how small.

Sincere thanks as always for listening.

See you soon!