Transcript
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Lily and Sam open with a story about freezing while trying to order coffee in Spanish. They introduce the main topic: why learners can understand English but struggle to speak it.
Hello everyone and welcome to another conversation here on Sound English Channel.I'm Lily.
And I'm Sam.Lily, please tell me I am not the only person who suddenly forgets how to talk.
Wait, you forgot how to talk?But you're talking to me right now.
No, not like this.I mean in another language.I was trying to order coffee in Spanish this morning.
Oh, you've been practicing Spanish on your phone, right?
Every single day.I know the words, I know the menu.I walked into the cafe feeling great, but when the barista looked at me and said something, I just stood there.
Oh, no.What did you say?
Nothing.My mind just went blank, completely empty.
So you just stared at him?
Yeah, for like 5 seconds.And I panicked, pointed at the machine, and just said, "Coffee, please."in English.
You spoke English in a Spanish cafe?
I panicked.I knew the Spanish words, Lily.I really did, but my brain just stopped working.
You know, that is exactly what we are talking about today.And I think almost every English learner listening right now knows that exact feeling.
It is the most frustrating feeling in the world.
It really is.You listen to English podcasts, you watch YouTube videos, you understand everything, but when you open your mouth, nothing comes out.
Yes.Or you only say very simple things like yes, no, or thank you.
Exactly.So today, let's talk about why this happens.
They explain that listening and speaking are different skills, using sports and real-life conversation as examples. The discussion also introduces passive versus active vocabulary and how learners often rely on only a few familiar words.
Why can you understand English perfectly, but you can't speak it when you really need to?
I used to think I just wasn't smart enough.
No, it has nothing to do with being smart.I think it's because listening and speaking are two completely different skills.
What do you mean?They're both English.
True, but think about sports.Do you watch football, Sam?
Yeah, I watch it all the time.
Okay, so you understand the rules, you know what a good pass looks like, you can see when a player makes a mistake.
Sure, I shout at the TV when they do something wrong.
Right, but if I put you on a football field with professional players, could you play?
Uh, no.I would probably fall over.
Exactly, because understanding the game and playing the game use different muscles.Language is the same thing.
That actually makes a lot of sense.When I listen, I don't have to do the hard work.The other person is doing the work.
Exactly.When you watch a movie in English, you're safe.You're just receiving information.
And if I don't understand one word, it's fine.I can guess the meaning from the picture, or I can just turn on the subtitles.
Right, but real life doesn't have subtitles.
I wish it did.Life would be so much easier.
So, when someone asks you a question in real life, you suddenly have to produce the language.You have to find the right words, put them in the right order, and use the right grammar.
And you have to do it fast.I think the speed is the real problem.
Yes, it's because you're on the spot.
On the spot.Yeah, all the attention is on you.
Right, when you put someone on the spot, you ask them to do something immediately with no time to prepare.That pressure changes everything.
It really does.If you give me 5 minutes, I can write a beautiful English sentence, but if you look at me and wait for an answer, my mind just goes blank.
There's that phrase again, go blank.It's like a computer screen turning off.
Exactly.You know, I actually disagree with you about one thing, Lily.
Oh, about what?
You said listening and speaking use different skills.I think the real reason we can't speak is just vocabulary.We don't know enough words.
Hmm, I'm not sure about that.I think most learners actually know a lot of words.
Really?Then why can't we find them when we talk?
Because there are two types of vocabulary, passive and active.
Okay, now you sound like an English teacher.
Let me explain.Think about your clothes.You have a closet full of clothes, right?
Yeah, too many clothes.
Passive vocabulary is like all the clothes you own.You know you have them, you recognize them, but active vocabulary is the clothes you actually wear every day.
Ah, I see.
When you listen, you use your passive vocabulary.You hear a word and your brain says, "Oh, I know that word."
But when I speak, I need my active vocabulary.
Exactly.And if you don't use a word very often, it stays in the back of the closet.When you're on the spot, you don't have time to dig through the closet to find it.
That is a great way to think about it.I have so many English words in the back of my closet.
We all do, even native speakers do.So, to the people listening right now, does this happen to you?Do you feel like you know thousands of words, but you always use the same 10 words when you speak?
I bet everyone is nodding right now.I know I do that when I try to speak another language.I want to say something interesting, but I end up saying that is very good.
Yes, I always just say, "Oh, nice."It sounds so boring.
The speakers explore the habit of translating in your head and how it slows conversation down. They also identify perfectionism and overthinking as major reasons learners freeze when speaking.
But there's another big reason why speaking is so hard.It's a habit that almost every learner has.
What is it?
You translate in your head.
Oh, yeah, that is a trap.I used to do that all the time.
I think everyone starts by doing this.Someone speaks to you in English.First, you translate what they said into your native language.
Right, then you think of your answer in your native language.
Then you have to translate your answer back into English.
And then you check the grammar.
And then finally you open your mouth to speak.
But by that time the other person has already walked away.
Exactly.It takes too much time.You cannot translate in your head and have a natural conversation at the same time.The brain just can't work that fast.
It's exhausting.I remember doing this a few years ago.Actually, no, many years ago when I first started learning.After a 10-minute conversation I felt like I had run a marathon.
Because your brain is doing four jobs at once.Listening, translating, thinking, and translating again.
So how do we stop doing that?It feels automatic.
It takes practice.You have to start forcing yourself to think in English even with simple things.
Like when you wake up just think I am tired instead of thinking it in your language.
Yes, but there's something else that makes us translate and hesitate and it's probably the biggest problem of all.
Let me guess, fear?
Close, perfectionism.We want to be perfect.
Oh, definitely.We overthink everything.
Yes, you overthink the grammar.You worry if you should use in or on or at.
I have a heavy fear of making mistakes.
A strong fear.
Right, a strong fear.You see, even now I make mistakes.But when I was younger I overthought Wait, over thought I overthought every single sentence.
And what happens when you overthink?
You freeze.Your mind goes blank again.
Exactly.I remember when I was traveling in France a woman asked me for directions to the train station.I knew the way, it was just down the street.
Did you know the French words?
I did.I knew straight, left, and right.But I wanted to make a perfect sentence.I wanted to say, "You need to walk straight for two blocks and then turn left."
That's a complicated sentence for a quick question.
I know.And because I was trying to build this perfect sentence in my head, I just stood there looking at her.Finally, I just pointed and said, "There."
Just there?
Yes.I felt so stupid.I walked away thinking, "Why didn't I just say go straight?"
Because you overthought it.We all do it.We want to sound smart.We want to sound like native speakers.
But real communication isn't about being perfect.It's just about sharing a message.
Lily and Sam offer simple strategies like speaking quickly, doing role plays, practicing alone, and shadowing native speakers. They emphasize training the mouth and building speed without worrying about perfect grammar.
So, what is the solution?If I'm at a cafe or talking to a co-worker and I feel my brain freezing, what should I do?
You just need to spit it out.
Spit it out.I love that phrase.
Yeah.When you spit something out of your mouth, it's fast, right?You don't hold it.In conversation, it means just say the words.Don't worry if they are beautiful.Just spit it out.
If you need water, don't stand there thinking, "Excuse me, could I possibly have a glass of water, please?"Just say, "Water, please."
Exactly.Let's actually try this.Let's do a quick role play.
Uh-oh.Am I on the spot again?
Yes, you are.I'm going to ask you a question.You cannot translate in your head.You cannot overthink the grammar.You just have to spit it out.Ready?
Okay.I'm ready.
Sam, what is the best thing you ate this week?
Uh pizza.I had pizza on Tuesday.It was great.
Good.See?You hesitated for a second, but you didn't try to build a huge sentence.
It was hard, though.My brain wanted to say, "The most delicious meal I consumed this week was
Nobody talks like that in real life.
I know, but when we learn English from textbooks, we think we have to sound like a book.
Right.Now, let's turn it over to the audience.We're going to do a mini practice with you right now.
Ooh, I like this.Listeners, are you ready?
I am going to ask you a simple question.Don't think about it.Don't pause the audio.Just answer out loud wherever you are.Spit it out.
Even if you're on a bus, just whisper it.
Here is the question.What are you going to do this weekend?
Did you say it?Or did your mind go blank?
If it went blank, that's okay.It just means you need more practice making your active vocabulary work faster.
So, how do we actually practice this?I can't always find a native speaker to talk to.
You don't need one.You can practice by yourself.
Like talking to the wall?
Yes, actually.Or talking to the mirror.Or just talking to yourself while you clean your house.
I actually do this.When I'm driving, I describe what I see in English.That car is red.The traffic is bad today.
That is a perfect exercise.It trains your mouth to make the sounds without pressure.
Wait, is the mouth thing important?Like the physical muscles?
Very important.Speaking is physical.If your mouth has never formed the English words, it will feel strange when you try to say them in a real conversation.
That makes so much sense.I can read a word 100 times, but if I never say it out loud, my mouth doesn't know how to move.
Exactly.That's why shadowing is also a great tool.
Shadowing?Like following someone in the dark?
No.Shadowing is an English practice technique.You listen to a native speaker, like on a podcast, and you repeat exactly what they say right after they say it.
Oh, like an echo.
Yes, it helps you with pronunciation, rhythm, and just getting used to the feeling of speaking English.
So, I could shadow this podcast.
Absolutely.Listeners, you can take any minute of this episode and just repeat after us.Don't worry about understanding every single grammar rule.Just make the sounds.
They wrap up by encouraging learners to accept mistakes as part of real communication. The episode ends with a recap, a call for comments, and a final joke about Lily returning to the cafe to try again in Spanish.
I think the biggest takeaway for me today is accepting mistakes.
Yeah, you have to be okay with sounding a little bit silly sometimes.
If you wait until your English is perfect before you speak, you will never speak.
Exactly.Real life is messy.Conversations are messy.We start sentences and don't finish them.We forget words.We use the wrong tense.
Even in our native languages.I forget words in my own language all the time.
We all do.So, why do we expect our English to be 100% perfect?
Because school taught us that mistakes are bad.
Right.In a test, a mistake means you lose points.In real life, a mistake just means you're trying.As long as the other person understands you, it's a successful conversation.
I need to remember this next time I try to order coffee.
Yes, please.Don't let your mind go blank next time.
I will try, but if I get put on the spot again,
just don't overthink it.Don't translate in your head.
I won't.I'll just spit it out, even if it's bad Spanish.
Bad Spanish is better than standing in silence for 5 seconds.
Fair enough.
Well, we covered quite a lot today.I hope this helps anyone who feels stuck between understanding and speaking.
It is a very normal stage of learning.Don't be too hard on yourself.
Exactly.Keep practicing your active vocabulary.Talk to yourself in the car.Answer questions out loud.
And before we go, we want to hear from you.
Yes.tell us in the comments, what is a situation that always makes your mind go blank?Is it ordering food, talking on the phone, or answering a question at work?
Let us know.We read all the comments.
If you found this conversation helpful, please like the video and subscribe to Sound English Channel for more real English practice.
And share it with a friend who also forgets how to talk sometimes.
Thanks for listening everyone.
And tomorrow, I'm going back to that cafe, I will order that coffee in Spanish.
I'll believe it when I see it.
I'll take a video.