How to respond faster in English?

Transcript
Leo: Hey everyone!
Leo: Welcome back to another episode of Podcast and Chill, dear listeners.
Leo: I'm your host, Leo, the guy who teaches you while making you laugh.
Gwen: And I’m Gwen, your informative host, here to help you learn useful information
through today’s topic.
Leo: I know many of you feel nervous about answering quickly, and it’s hard when you’re
still learning, right?
Gwen: Absolutely! The fear of not knowing what to say or needing more time to think can
make anyone feel nervous.
Leo: But don’t worry, today we’re here to give you tips that will really help.
Leo: Whether you’re chatting with friends, ordering food, or answering questions at work,
we’ll help you respond faster and more naturally.
Gwen: That’s right! We’ll make it simple with easy steps you can use right away.
Leo: Are you ready to join us?
Leo: Let’s get started!

Leo: Firstly, we will get tired when we learn something too difficult.
Gwen: This helps you respond faster because when you know them well, you don’t have to
think much before saying them.
Leo: Exactly! Think about it: we all have phrases we use every day without thinking.
Leo: Like, when someone says, “How’s your day going?” you don’t stop to translate.
Leo: You just reply, “I’m doing well, how about you?”
Leo: That’s because you’ve said it so many times, it feels natural.
Gwen: This is what you should focus on in English.
Gwen: Choose common responses you’ll use often. For example, if someone compliments
you, practice saying, “Thank you, that’s so kind of you!”
Gwen: Or if you don’t know something, say, “I’m not sure, let me check.”
Leo: To make it easier, think about situations you face every day.
Leo: If you’re in meetings, practice phrases like, “That’s a great idea” or “Can you explain
that again?”
Leo: If you’re at a café, try saying, “I’d like a coffee, please.”
Leo: The more you repeat, the better you’ll get!
Gwen: Here’s a tip: Write down 10 to 15 common phrases that fit your life and practice them
every day.
Gwen: Say them out loud, write them down, and use them in conversations as much as
possible.
Leo: By repeating them, you create “muscle memory.”
Leo: It’s like when athletes practice the same moves again and again until they can do them
automatically.
Gwen: That’s right. Studies show that practicing common phrases helps your brain connect
them to real-life situations.
Gwen: It helps you respond quickly without stopping to think.

Leo: I want to share a technique that I often use when learning to speak.
Leo: Do you know what it is, Gwen? It’s pretty common.
Gwen: Let me guess. I think I know it.
Gwen: You mean shadowing, right?
Leo: That’s correct! One of the best ways to get faster at speaking is by using shadowing.
Leo: Shadowing is when you listen to a native speaker, then repeat what they say right
away.
Leo: You copy their pronunciation, rhythm, and speed.
Gwen: It’s like following the speaker’s shadow. That’s why it’s called shadowing!
Gwen: It’s a great way to practice because it helps your brain learn the language faster.
Leo: Yeah, you’re not just learning how to say words, you’re learning how to think in the
same rhythm as native speakers.
Gwen: Yes, it helps you respond quickly without overthinking.
Gwen: Start with easy podcasts or YouTube videos, like Practice English with Jessica or our
podcast, Gwen & Leo’s English Zone.
Gwen: Listen to short sentences and repeat them right away.
Leo: You don’t have to be perfect on your first try. The goal is to keep practicing until you
can follow the speaker smoothly.
Leo: When you do this, you’ll notice it gets easier to respond quickly in real conversations.
Gwen: Research by Kara M. Stauffer shows that shadowing improves your fluency,
listening, and how fast you respond in conversations.
Gwen: It’s like exercise for your brain.
Leo: A good way to practice is to spend 10-15 minutes each day shadowing. Just start with
short sentences, then move on to longer conversations.

Leo: Alright, now let’s talk about something that really slows down your responses:
translating in your head.
Gwen: Oh yes, this is a big one! Many learners translate from their own language to English
when speaking, which takes more time and makes it harder to reply quickly.
Leo: The solution is to start thinking in English.
Leo: Thinking in English helps you respond faster because you don’t have to translate in
your head.
Gwen: It might seem hard at first, but it’s easier than you think.
Gwen: Start with simple things in your daily life. For example, while walking, think in English
about what you see: “The sky is blue,” or “That car is red.”
Gwen: When shopping, think of what you need: “I need milk, bread, and eggs.”
Leo: One trick is to describe what you’re doing in English throughout the day. It might feel
silly at first, but it helps improve your fluency.

Leo: Did you get what Leo and I shared? Just let us know if you have any comments.
Gwen: Now let's learn some vocabulary below, so you can understand the topic better
before continuing to listen.
Vocabulary:

● Response
Definition: A reply or answer to a question or situation.
Example: She had a quick response to the question.
● Muscle memory
Definition: Doing something without thinking after practicing it a lot.
Example: Athletes develop muscle memory through practice.
● Fluency
Definition: The ability to speak or write a language smoothly and easily.
Example: Practicing regularly will help improve your fluency in English.
● Technique
Definition: A method or way of doing something.
Example: Shadowing is an effective technique for language learners.
● Silly
Definition: Showing a lack of thought, understanding.
Example: It might feel silly to talk to yourself in English, but it helps.

Gwen: Next, practice with some questions below to see how well you understand the topic.
Don't forget to type your answer in the comment section to discuss with others.

Questions:

1. What types of media can you use for shadowing?

Answer: Podcasts and YouTube videos are great for shadowing.
2. What is the main benefit of practicing common phrases?
Answer: It helps you respond faster without thinking too much.

Leo: Building your vocabulary helps you answer quickly, but it’s not just about learning new
words.
Leo: It’s about knowing how to use them in the right way.
Gwen: Yes, that's right! When you learn words or phrases in a sentence, you can see how
they’re used in real conversations, and that makes it easier to use them.
Gwen: For example, instead of just memorizing the word “amazing,” you can say, “That
concert was amazing!”
Leo: When you learn words in sentences, you’re not just learning what they mean, you’re
learning how to say them naturally.
Gwen: You can do this by reading or listening to things you like in English. Look at how
words are used in sentences, and try using those phrases when you talk.
Leo: Another tip is to write down new phrases and how they’re used. Then, practice using
those phrases in sentences until you feel good about them.

Gwen: Have you heard of the phrase "active listening"?

Gwen: It means paying close attention to the talk, not just the words, but also the tone,
expressions, and the speaker’s body language.
Leo: If someone asks, “What do you think of the new project?”, you don’t need to
understand everything to reply.
Leo: You can simply say, “It sounds interesting! What do you think?”
Leo: You’re focusing on the main idea and responding naturally.
Gwen: Active listening means paying attention to important words and tone. This helps you
understand the speaker’s feelings and what matters in their message.

Leo: Alright, let's talk about role-playing. This is a great way to practice answering quickly in
real situations.
Gwen: Yes, exactly! Role-playing means acting out a real conversation with a friend,
teacher, or even by yourself. You can pretend to order food, talk to someone, or ask for
directions.
Leo: The more you practice, the faster and more naturally you’ll respond in real life. It’s like
training for a sport. When the real game happens, you’re ready!
Gwen: You can practice with a partner or even alone in front of a mirror. Think about
conversations you often have, and make up dialogues from them.
Gwen: For example, if you’re getting ready for a job interview, practice answering common
questions like: “Tell me about yourself” or “Why do you want this job?”
Leo: Role-playing can help you feel more confident when speaking. And it’s fun too!

Gwen: Finally, one of the most important things to remember is to stay calm.
Leo: Yes, if you worry too much about making mistakes or saying the perfect thing, it can
slow you down and make it harder to answer.
Gwen: That’s right! It’s easy to worry about sounding perfect, but the goal is to
communicate, not be perfect.
Gwen: If you focus on sharing your message instead of fearing mistakes, you'll answer
faster.
Leo: And here’s the truth: native speakers make mistakes too! It's okay to make grammar
mistakes or say a word wrong.
Leo: Just keep going and don’t let those small mistakes stop you.
Gwen: Exactly! One way to stay calm is to do breathing exercises before you speak. Deep
breaths can help you calm down and focus on the conversation, not mistakes.

Gwen: We will learn the last 5 words for today. You can write new words down in a
notebook or type them in the comments section to remember them.

Vocabulary:

● Context
Definition: The situation in which something happens and that helps you to
understand it.
Example: Understanding context is important for using words correctly.
● Naturally
Definition: In a way that feels normal and comfortable.
Example: You’re focusing on the main point and reacting naturally by practicing
active listening.
● Expression
Definition: The look on a person's face that shows emotion or feeling.
Example: Her expression showed that she was surprised.
● Relaxed
Definition: Calm and not worried.
Example: Staying relaxed can help you respond better in conversations.
 ● Perfection
Definition: The state of being perfect.
Example: You don’t have to achieve perfection on your first try when learning
English.

Leo: Please continue to discuss the questions below. I'm sure other listeners would love to
hear your answers too.

Questions:

1. What does it mean to learn words in context?

Answer: It means understanding how words are used in sentences and real
conversations.
2. What is active listening and why is it important?
Answer: Active listening means paying attention to words, tone, and body language,
which helps you understand better.

Leo: So, that’s it for today’s episode!

Leo: We hope these tips help you answer faster and feel more confident in your English
conversations.
Gwen: Remember, it’s all about practice and getting better.
Gwen: Start using these tips, and don’t forget to share your progress with us. We love
hearing your stories!
Leo: If you found this episode helpful, make sure to subscribe to our channel.
Leo: Also, leave us a comment with any questions or ideas for future episodes.
Gwen: See you next time!
 Study Materials: How to respond fast in English? 🎙

Vocabulary
Word Pronunciation Definition Example

She had a quick

A reply or answer to a
Response /rɪˈspɑːns/ response to the
question or situation.
question.

Athletes develop muscle

The ability to do
memory for their
Muscle memory /ˈmʌsl meməri/ something automatically
movements through
by repeating it.
practice.

The ability to speak or Practicing regularly will

Rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/ write a language help improve your
smoothly and easily. fluency in English.

Shadowing is an
A method or way of
Technique /tekˈniːk/ effective technique for
doing something.
language learners.

It might feel silly to talk

Showing a lack of
Silly /ˈsɪli/ to yourself in English,
thought, understanding.
but it helps.

The situation in which

Understanding context
something happens and
Context /ˈkɑːntekst/ is important for using
that helps you to
words correctly.
understand it.

You’re focusing on the

In a way that feels main point and reacting
Naturally ˈnætʃrəli/
normal and comfortable. naturally by practicing
active listening.

The look on a person's

Her expression showed
Expression /ɪkˈspreʃn/ face that conveys
that she was surprised.
emotion or feeling.

Staying relaxed can

Relaxed /rɪˈlækst/ Calm and not worried. help you respond better
in conversations.

You don’t have to

The state of being achieve perfection on
Perfection /pərˈfekʃn/
perfect. your first try when
learning English.
 Pre-listening Questions:
1. Have you ever tried shadowing? What was your experience?
2. What do you think is more important: knowing many words or knowing how to use
them?

Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the main benefit of practicing common phrases?
2. What does it mean to learn words in context?
3. What is active listening and why is it important?

Post-listening Questions:
1. What types of media can you use for shadowing?
2. What can deep breaths help you do before a conversation?

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