Dear English Learner,

Do you want to know if your English is natural? Are you using textbook expressions or
expressions that native speakers use? I want to help you speak fluently like a native speaker
and not like someone who uses textbook expressions. How can you do this?

First, I have to tell you something. If you already read my free e-book, you know that the most
important advice is to just start speaking. Even if your English isn’t natural. Don’t worry! Just
start speaking. The natural English guide that you downloaded here is to help you stop any bad
habits and to recognize how you can improve.

Do you ever wonder why your English sounds different than native speakers? What exactly are
the differences? I want to teach you how to understand the differences between your English
and a native speaker’s English.

There are three reasons why it’s good to know the differences between your English and
natural English:
1. It will help you speak better.
2. It will help other people understand you better.
3. It will help you understand native English materials (like TV shows and movies) better.

These three reasons are all linked together:

 When you speak naturally, you can connect with other English speakers and have
conversations together.
 When other people can understand you well, your confidence grows because they
don’t ask you to repeat yourself a lot.
 When you can understand English TV shows and movies, you can learn about other
cultures and talk about these materials with your new English speaking friends!

On the third page of this guide, I will give you some links to resources that you can use to
expand your knowledge of natural English. And, as always, feel free to contact me on our
Facebook page, on Twitter, on Periscope, or on the contact page.

Your teacher,
Vanessa

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*Check out the resources on Page 3 to get started with these six tips

1. Listen to natural materials every day

If reading and writing for 10 years didn’t help you speak better, try listening instead.
*Vanessa’s Tip: Start with podcasts and YouTube. Find a style that you like.

2. Write new expressions in a special notebook

Even if you don’t read it again, the act of writing it down will add to the repetition.
*Vanessa’s Tip: Write the entire sentence that you heard and read it out loud to exercise
your speaking muscles. Bonus: Organize your notebook with different categories.

3. Repeat a story and compare with the original

Listen to a short, two minute story and repeat it out loud in your own words.
*Vanessa’s Tip: After you listen to the story, first write down your own version and
compare it with the original. Secondly, use your phone to repeat the story out loud,
record your voice, and compare it with the original.

4. Shadow real English materials once a week

Listen to natural material and repeat after every sentence or every couple seconds.
*Vanessa’s Tip: Use shadowing (imitating directly after the speaker) with #1 and #3 to
exercise your English speaking muscles when you don’t have a speaking partner.

5. Get feedback as you speak

The most personalized way to know which textbook expressions you use is to have an
English teacher give you instant feedback as you speak.
*Vanessa’s Tip: Are you busy? Check online for a teacher or language exchange partner.

6. Learn from other people’s mistakes

English learners are going to make mistakes, and it’s okay. But you don’t have to make
the same ones!
*Vanessa’s Tip: Check out the “50 Natural English Expressions” course to help you avoid
the textbook English expressions that English learners use.

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Resource Guide:
1. Listen to natural materials every day
Podcasts: All Ears English (for English learners) http://allearsenglish.com/
Story Corps (for native speakers) http://n.pr/1Io9QVP

YouTube: English Anyone (for English learners) http://bit.ly/1Rln0EO

Soul Pancake (for native speakers) http://bit.ly/1gUD0x8

2. Write new expressions in a special notebook

Use any notebook! 

3. Repeat a story and compare with the original

Stories for beginner English learners (shorter) http://www.eslfast.com/begin2/
Stories for intermediate English speakers (longer) http://www.rong-chang.com/usalife/

4. Shadow real English materials once a week

Use the podcasts, YouTube channels, or stories on this list (and others, of course!)

5. Get feedback as you speak

Meet me on Skype: http://www.speakenglishwithvanessa.com/trial-lesson
Find a local language exchange group: Learn how to use Meetup.com here

6. Learn from other people’s mistakes

Watch 60+ free expression videos: http://www.speakenglishwithvanessa.com/lessons
Join the course “50 Natural English Expressions” and use the expressions in our group

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