508. Not making progress in English? Here's what might need to change

Learn more about Beyond here: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N  Feeling stuck in English and haven't seen progress, even though you've been working on your English for a while?  This is probably because of 1 of 2 reasons: Reason 1: You're not practicing consistently Reason 2: You're learning in a way that is not actually effective This video is focused on how to shift your mindset, build better habits, and create a learning experience that helps you feel more confident, more free, and more like yourself in English. I'm sharing with you 5 powerful values that can completely transform the way you practice English: Action over comfort Practice builds confidence Communication over perfection Lead with care Own your growth These are the same values we use inside Beyond, our English practice community, and they can help you change not only how you learn English, but how you show up for yourself.

In this pronunciation episode, we're breaking down the most common "CH" sounds you'll find in English (hint: there is more than one way to say it!)  Follow along and repeat out loud in today's pronunciation practice! Did you enjoy this practice? Want more? Join my free 14-day pronunciation plan! https://bit.ly/3YAWcJ5  * There are two other pronunciations of CH not mentioned in the episode. Yacht → the CH is silent Loch →  in some dialects, it's pronounced as a /x/.

Improve your vocabulary, pronunciation and pace while reading a story out loud with me! We're reading a part from The Housemaid by Frida McFadden.  Download the PDF to read along with me and learn the vocabulary from the episode! https://bit.ly/4sqQeb7  #readaloud #readoutloud #thehousemaid #reading  Want more reading practice? Check out my read along playlist! https://bit.ly/4dcJedr

Have you ever listened to a native English speaker and thought… wait, that sounds funny!  You HEAR one thing, but you SEE  something completely different when it's written. Today, I'm going to share with you a linguistic feature of English called coalescence (also known as fusion).  It's one of the most common processes in spoken English. Once you understand it, a lot of things that used to sound confusing will suddenly make perfect sense, AND know this will help you understand native speakers so. much. better.  To practice more, download the free practice sheet here → https://bit.ly/4sTJH8O  For more information about consonants, check out my consonants masterclass → https://bit.ly/4sZkkTb

In this interview, I'm bringing Jelena to the stage! Jelena is one of my New Sound and Beyond students from Serbia, who now lives in the US. When she arrived, she could barely leave her apartment. She avoided grocery stores, doctor's appointments, and meetings with her supervisor. Today? She's a research fellow, teaches salsa in English, and has a thriving social life she once thought to be impossible. In this conversation, she shares: What it really felt like to be isolated and dependent on her husband's English The turning point that proved she could communicate outside a "safe environment" Why pronunciation work was the key that unlocked her confidence How mindset shifts that changed everything What she'd recommend to anyone stuck in the same loop she was in This is the kind of conversation I love having: a public catch-up with a former student who is living proof that English doesn't have to be an obstacle to the life you want. 👉 Learn more about New Sound: https://bit.ly/4uqgMuD  👉 Practice with my Sprints for free: https://bit.ly/43pCotf  Jelena's story is not unique, it's what's possible. If you've ever avoided a doctor's appointment, stayed silent in a meeting, or felt like a different person in English, this one's for you. ❤️

Are you actually learning vocabulary the right way? Most English learners aren't, and it's holding them back from real fluency! In this episode, I break down the vocabulary groups every English learner has, why your passive vocabulary is secretly your biggest asset, and the #1 mistake people make when trying to memorize new words (hint: it's all about quantity vs. quality)! If you've ever felt like you know a word but can't find it when you're speaking… this episode is for you! ♥️ Download my FREE vocabulary planner: https://bit.ly/3XiF0qv  Join Beyond: https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N

Take the quiz and find out your stage: https://bit.ly/3PbGOl0 Want to move up and need a boost to make it happen? Join Beyond Community? https://bit.ly/4nrfM5N For years, we've been told that fluency is measured from A1 to C2. But those levels measure grammar and comprehension. They don't measure how you show up when you speak. You can be "B2" and still avoid conversations. You can understand everything… and still feel anxious when it's your turn to talk. So what if fluency isn't about levels… but about stages of speaking confidence? In this video, I introduce a different way to think about fluency! With the 5 Speaking Stages.  1️⃣ The Avoider 2️⃣ The Anxious Speaker 3️⃣ The Brave Speaker 4️⃣ The Challenger 5️⃣ The Influencer ✨ Want to find out YOUR stage? Take the Speaking Stage Quiz here! https://bit.ly/3PbGOl0

Get ready to practice with me! In this lesson, we're going to train our pronunciation and vocabulary by shadowing an iconic scene from The Matrix. Shadowing is one of the most effective ways to improve rhythm, stress, intonation, and connected speech. Instead of just listening, we repeat with the speaker in real time. We copy the melody, the reductions, and the flow. In this episode, we will: Break down key pronunciation challenges Practice connected speech and reductions Learn natural vocabulary from the scene Repeat together step by step And more!  Download the Matrix PDF here: https://bit.ly/3MMXI8L

Have you seen that trend going around on social media where native speakers share a word they mispronounced once… and it still haunts them years later? Today we're turning those viral confessions into a pronunciation lesson 🙈 You'll learn how to pronounce Hepatitis, chihuahua, paradigm, fatigue, stomachaches, Yosemite, Arkansas, Connecticut, chaos, elbow, and manslaughter.  I'll explain where the primary stress goes, why some letters are silent, how American pronunciation changes certain sounds, why English spelling can be so confusing and why even native speakers get it wrong! Here's the truth: English is not a phonetic language. You cannot always guess the pronunciation from the spelling. That is exactly why mispronunciations happen. And not just to non-native speakers. If you want more lessons on pronunciation, fluency, and building confidence in English, make sure to subscribe to my FREE Accent Crash Course! https://bit.ly/3BnPC0S

Are you ready for another read out loud practice? In today's episode, we're reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This is an excellent way to grow your vocabulary, practice your pronunciation, and improve your flow while reading.  Download the book excerpt with vocabulary definitions and audio: https://bit.ly/4tzLMYQ  Liked these? Check out more videos like these: Read along with Harry Potter: https://bit.ly/401eST4  Read along with Let Them: https://bit.ly/4tldKHs  Read along with Atomic Habits: https://bit.ly/4qyEq4N