Questions? Please feel free to contact us at service@flowenglish.com

Yours in English Learning,

Chris

English Learning Tip: GREAT SPEECH COMES FROM GREAT LISTENING

It seems simple, yet most students focus their study on reading. Reading real English novels and books IS a great way to learn. It will improve your reading and your writing.

However, if you want to SPEAK faster, you must focus on listening. The more you listen to real English, the faster you will speak. 

You have faster spoken grammar.  You understand native speakers faster.  Your pronunciation is better.

We talk about listening in our books and reports. We talk about listening on our blogs and our podcasts. We talk about listening in all of our email courses. 

We focus on listening because it is the most important activity for students. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU LISTEN TO?

Well, first let’s talk about what you should not listen to. Avoid listening to textbook conversations. Often, they are too formal and are not real English. The pronunciation may be strange and unnatural. There is no emotion in them.  And the vocabulary comes from English writing, not from English speaking.

So avoid textbook tapes or CDs. What should you listen to?

Any natural (real) English from native speakers.  We recommend podcasts, TV shows, movies, natural English lessons, and recorded conversations.   There are many of these on the Internet.

Interested in more? Start listening to our podcast Flow English: Slang of the Week at:
http://www.FlowEnglish.libsyn.com

Good luck,

Chris Moses
President
Flow English, LLC

PS:  Our natural English lessons are a great way to speak English faster.   Learn about the new Flow English Lessons at:
http://www.FlowEnglish.com

“I just want tell you my own experience with the Flow English course. I began to enjoy it approximately 5 months ago. I tried to follow the method  because of my work. I work with General Electric as a contractor. Well, I went to Atlanta, GA last November (a whole month!) for training purposes.

I was very surprised because I realized that the method works. I felt confident and relaxed all the time. During the meetings I could understand almost 90% of the conversation. When I answered something, the words came out almost automatically… I could express my thoughts and feelings! I’m so happy with the course. I’ll continue studying so I can talk more fluently.”
–Jose Antonio Abrajan Perez, Mexico

Most students learn written English in textbooks – even most “English Conversation” Textbooks. 

However, when we speak, we use different vocabulary, different grammar, and different pronunciation than what is in textbooks.

For example, in most textbooks, you might find a sentence like this:
“The theater sold all the tickets”

However, in normal speech, we would usually say,
“They sold out”.

“Sold out” is a two-word verb – also called a “phrasal verb.” You don’t find many phrasal verbs in textbooks, but we use them constantly in speech.

In fact, for most common actions we have two (or more) ways to say it – the more formal one-word form, and the more common two-word form.

LEARN ENGLISH TIP: FOCUS ON ENGLISH THAT IS SPOKEN INSTEAD OF WRITTEN

Focus your study on real spoken English, instead of on formal written English. For example, listen to the radio, watch English language TV, listen to English podcasts. 

By doing this, you will learn to understand and speak to native speakers fast.

Good luck,

Chris
Director of Education and President

Flow English, LLC

http://www.FlowEnglish.com

PPS: Antoine Jean Penel of France writes:

“No word seems to be enough to explain to you my happiness when I received these lessons. Thanks a million!”

“Thank you very much for your support with my English lessons. In fact, I´ve been working the way you suggested by listening to mini-stories.  I have gained more fluency when speaking and self-confidence. As a result, I was able to get a job as an interpreter of the English Language.

 -Victor Escobedo, Venezuela

“I’m improving very much with these lessons, this method is the greatest surely! When I talked with my girlfriend in Philadelphia through yahoo in September, I didn’t understand her well, and my speaking was bad too. Instead, this month, to her surprise, my speaking was very much improved!!! And I could understand her better! But I must improve a lot again!!! I must be patient!!! But because this method is fantastic, I am hungry for English! I want to speak well and enjoy it!!! Thanks Again!!! I will certainly tell my friends about this Great System!!!”

-Antonello Bacchetti, Italy

The reason many students cannot understand native speakers is that students don’t understand common pronunciation, especially contractions.

Of course, you learned basic contractions. For example, you know that “I’m” means “I am,” and you know that “you’re” means “you are. But native speakers use more that you probably don’t know.  

You may know these contractions, but we use many more that you probably don’t know – especially when you are listening to a native speaker.

For example, when native speakers speak FAST, they always use words like “outta”,  “gettn”, “till”,  “havta”, and “gonna”.  When you hear these, do you understand them INSTANTLY?

“Outta” means “out of.” For example: ”I’m gettin outta here” (I am getting out of here = I am leaving).

In normal conversation, we almost never say individual words clearly. We always put them together into contractions. 

Most textbooks, however, teach individual words. You never learned to understand contractions or to speak in contractions fast.

SECRET TIP: FIND SPONTANEOUS SPEAKING WITH LOTS OF CONTRACTIONS

As you know, listening is the key to speaking. So your first step is to find spoken English with lots of (a lot of) contractions. 

This can be difficult. Why? Because many English podcasts are read. So, the speaker pronounces every single word slowly and carefully- this is good when you are a beginner but less good when you are an advanced student.

Another problem – many podcasts, news shows, and radio shows use a more formal kind of English. The speakers want to sound clear, so again they pronounce every single word separately.

You need to find SPONTANEOUS speaking. Spontaneous speaking is unplanned speaking. Try to find stories that aren’t planned. Listen to them everyday, and you will quickly learn natural pronunciation.

You’ll learn to understand native speakers, and speak to them.

Good luck,

Chris Moses
President
Flow English, LLC

http://www.FlowEnglish.com 

PS:  Our new Flow English Lessons use lotsa (a lot of) contractions. You speak English Fast when you use them. Try them now at:
http://www.FlowEnglish.com

“I put the lessons on my iPod and listen to them on the bus and when walking to work. In just three months, my speaking has improved. The lessons are fantastic! I’m telling all my friends about you.”

- Ramon Torres

The bad news: educated native speakers know more than 50,000 English words! 

Wow, that’s a lot of vocabulary. Plus, educated native speakers are masters of spoken English grammar. That big grammar book you studied in the past – we know all of it – and we never have to think about it. 

All those words and rules may make English seem difficult. But here’s the good news: educated native speakers use only the same 3000 words in normal conversations! To speak excellent English, you don’t need to know 50,000 words and you certainly don’t need to study hundreds of grammar rules.

LEARN ENGLISH TIP: USE THE 80/20 PRINCIPLE

The 80/20 principle means that ~80% of success comes from ~20% of the effort.

It’s easy to use this idea – simply focus on “high frequency” words, phrases, and grammar. You need to MASTER the words, phrases, and grammar that English speakers use every day – so you can use them super-fast, without thinking.

If you master that, the other 80% will be easy. Don’t waste time trying to learn big word lists or studying big grammar books. Instead learn the 3000 most common words, the 100 most common idioms, and the most common English phrases (totally learn them – so you understand and use them automatically).

Do this, and you will be amazed – your speaking and listening will improve very FAST.  You will speak easily to native speakers. 

Good luck,

Chris Moses
President
Flow English, LLC

 
PS:  Flow English Lessons help you speak English FAST:
http://www.FlowEnglish.com

PPS:  Maria Giraldo writes:

“When I started the lessons, my speaking was very slow. After using the lessons for 6 months, I now speak fast! I have improved so much. I Love it!”

“My God! The lessons are Great!. I love the lessons and I love the method. I also love your excitement! You make learning English easy, fast, and fun.” -Marta van Lunteren

1. Learn Phrases
2. Don’t Study Grammar
3. Use Listen & Answer Mini-Stories
4. Learn English Idioms
5. Learn Phrasal Verbs
6. Focus on Listening, not Reading
7. Use the 80/20 Rule
8. Use Lots of Contractions

Imagine speaking FAST – like a native speaker.

Imagine speaking English automatically – without thinking, without translating.   

Imagine using correct grammar fast – without thinking about grammar rules. 

Imagine feeling relaxed every time you speak English.   

With our Flow English Lessons, you can!

Order our Original Flow English Lesson Set at www.FlowEnglish.com and download the Flow English Guide. In it you’ll find all 8 tips to help you speak excellent English!

Good luck,

Chris Moses

Director of Education,

The Flow English System

http://www.FlowEnglish.com

PS:  Begin by ordering our Flow English Lesson Set at www.FlowEnglish.com and download the Flow English Guide. After you thoroughly review our guide, download your first MP3 lesson set “Baseball Pig Lessons.”  Listen to Baseball Pig every day for 1 to 2 weeks and answer every question every time you listen to the story.

“I can’t believe it! Just by listening to your lessons I have improved. It really is automatic. It’s easy too, because the lessons, articles, and stories are so interesting. Thanks so much.”

- Karzan Murad

TIP: LISTEN UP

Research shows that students who learn English with scientifically designed Listen & Answer Stories learn 2-4 times faster than students in normal English classes. In these stories, the teacher asks a lot of easy questions while telling a story.  The questions encourage students to think and respond quickly in English, without translation. They also let you:

• Gain more fluent speech
• Gain greater confidence
• Gain better listening comprehension
• Make maximum progress each minute
• Have fun while learning

This is why we use Listen & Answer Mini-Stories in all of our Flow English Lesson sets. Your time is valuable and we want you to make maximum progress for each minute you spend with our lessons! Science has shown it and we guarantee it!
You can use Flow English to learn deeply AND have FUN!

www.FlowEnglish.com

Good Luck, 
Chris Moses
President
Flow English, LLC

HAVE FUN!

Research shows that anxiety blocks language acquisition/learning. In other words, more relaxed students actually learn English faster. They improve their vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speech faster than students who are worried, nervous, anxious, or bored. This is why our lessons use crazy, weird, spooky, and  funny stories!

We want you to laugh while you learn English – because when you are enjoying English you are actually learning it much faster and much deeper. [There is a large amount of academic, peer-reviewed research on fun and laughter in language learning].
You can use Flow English to learn deeply AND have FUN!

www.FlowEnglish.com

Good Luck and Have Fun, 

Chris Moses
President
Flow English, LLC

A podcast is like a radio show – but on the Internet. In our podcast, I talk about my life, about slang English, about learning English, about news and ideas and Flow English Events… 

This is great English listening practice for you – and it’s free! Practice listening, learn more tips for speaking, and learn more about our powerful learning system.  

Listen to our podcast on our webpage:

http://www.flowenglish.com/podcast/

On Libsyn:
http://www.FlowEnglish.libsyn.com

On iTunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=275313105

Have a great day, and good luck.

Chris
President
Flow English, LLC

PS:  On our podcast page, you can write comments and ask questions:
http://www.FlowEnglish.libsyn.com

PPS:  Learn more about Flow English Lessons at:
http://www.FlowEnglish.com

-Aristotle, (384 BC – 322 BC) Greek Philosopher

Working as teacher over the past 15 years, I’ve worked with many students. Some students had bad habits and some had good habits. Most students have so-so habits.

What kind of English learning habits do you have? Are they working for you? Could some of your learning habits be working against you?

Excellence in English speaking won’t come from textbooks. It won’t come from grammar lessons. It won’t come from vocabulary lists. In fact it can’t. It’s just not possible!

Language learning is different from other kinds of learning. We can’t learn English deeply with the same habits and methods we use for math, science, or history. Research has shown again and again that happy & relaxed students acquire languages faster than anxiousand bored students. Are you happy and relaxed with your English study?

There are English lessons that keep students happy and help students make maximum progress. How?

1) A Combination of Humor and Fun. Imagine looking forward to studying English. Lessons that are wild, scary, weird, sexy, and outrageous! No more forcing it day after day. No more fear or worry. Most important, no more boredom!

2) A student’s Maximum Progress and Passion. When you have fun and feel the progress with your English speaking and listening, you become passionate about your learning.

Passion for English + Fun with English = Excellence.

Learn more about learning English: sign up now for our free email series “English Learning Secrets” in the blue box on the right…

-Chris