EngWithWen

Day: May 10, 2025

  • How to Speak English Fluently: Practical Tips for Every English Learner

    How to Speak English Fluently: Practical Tips for Every English Learner

    Learning to speak English fluently is a common goal for millions of people around the world. Whether you’re learning English to advance your career, travel confidently, or make international friends, the journey requires more than just grammar rules and vocabulary lists. It takes mindset, practice, and smart strategies.

    Break Free from Limiting Beliefs

    Many learners are held back by common misconceptions: “I’m too old,” “I need to travel to learn,” or “I can’t speak because I make mistakes.” Janet Gerber encourages learners to challenge these ideas. Age is not a barrier, fluency doesn’t require travel, and mistakes are an essential part of learning. Fear of speaking often hinders progress more than lack of knowledge.

    Develop a Positive Mindset

    Your mindset can make or break your progress. A negative attitude breeds fear and hesitation, while a positive outlook builds resilience. Set small, achievable goals, focus on what you’ve learned rather than what you don’t know, and always do your best without comparing yourself to others.

    Set Clear, S.M.A.R.T. Goals

    Saying “I want to speak fluent English” isn’t enough. Instead, define goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example: “I will watch 10 minutes of English news daily for two months and keep a journal of new vocabulary.” These focused efforts lead to steady improvement.

    Reevaluate Your Learning Method

    Traditional grammar-heavy methods don’t work for everyone. If you’ve studied for years but can’t speak fluently, it may be time to change your approach. Learn how you learn best—through videos, conversation, reading, or interactive tools—and use English as a communication tool, not a subject to memorize.

    Improve the Four Core Skills

    • Speaking: Speak often, even if you make mistakes. Use phrases instead of isolated words, record yourself daily, and find language exchange partners online (e.g., iTalki, ConversationExchange).
    • Listening: Listen to podcasts, music, radio, and TV shows in English. Use transcripts or subtitles to reinforce understanding and focus on topics you enjoy to stay motivated.
    • Reading: Read news articles, blogs, and even children’s books. Subscribe to newsletters or Google Alerts on topics you like to keep English reading fun and engaging.
    • Writing: Keep a daily journal, write simple stories, or try writing prompts. Read your writing aloud to catch mistakes and build fluency in sentence structure and vocabulary.

    Immerse Yourself in English

    If you can’t travel, immerse yourself digitally. Switch your devices to English, join English-speaking online communities, and surround yourself with English content. Fluency comes from daily exposure and using the language naturally in your life.

    Final Thought

    Speaking English fluently is not about perfection—it’s about communication. Focus on progress, not perfection. Use the tips that work best for you, stay consistent, and remember: fluency is built step by step.

    A list of useful vocabulary from “How to Speak English Fluently”

    English Word/PhraseTranslationPart of Speech
    fluentlyอย่างคล่องแคล่วadverb
    mindsetทัศนคติ / ความคิดnoun
    goalเป้าหมายnoun
    limiting beliefความเชื่อที่จำกัดnoun
    confidenceความมั่นใจnoun
    mistakeความผิดพลาดnoun
    communicateสื่อสารverb
    improveปรับปรุง / พัฒนาverb
    practiceฝึกฝนverb / noun
    approachวิธีการ / แนวทางnoun
    attainableสามารถบรรลุได้adjective
    specificเฉพาะเจาะจงadjective
    relevantที่เกี่ยวข้อง / ที่สัมพันธ์กันadjective
    measurableวัดผลได้adjective
    immersionการจมตัว / การดื่มด่ำnoun
    exposureการเปิดรับnoun
    evaluateประเมินverb
    resourcesทรัพยากรnoun
    motivationแรงจูงใจnoun
    interactionการมีปฏิสัมพันธ์noun
    environmentสภาพแวดล้อมnoun
    achievementความสำเร็จnoun
    fearfulกลัว / หวาดกลัวadjective
    challengeความท้าทายnoun / verb
    strategiesกลยุทธ์noun (plural)
    progressความก้าวหน้าnoun
    naturalเป็นธรรมชาติ / ธรรมดาadjective
    feedbackข้อเสนอแนะnoun
    consistentlyอย่างสม่ำเสมอadverb
    phraseวลี / กลุ่มคำnoun
  • The Best Netflix Shows for Thai Learners

    The Best Netflix Shows for Thai Learners

    Learning English doesn’t have to mean studying grammar books or memorizing long vocabulary lists. If you enjoy watching TV, why not turn it into a powerful learning tool? Netflix offers many shows with Thai subtitles and clear English, making it a great place to improve your language skills while having fun.

    Here are my top Netflix recommendations for Thai learners, along with a personal favorite that helped me improve my own English.

    🎬 Top Netflix Shows to Learn English (With Thai Subtitles)

    1. Friends

    Level: Intermediate
    A must-watch! This classic American sitcom is full of everyday conversation, useful phrases, and natural slang. The characters speak clearly, and the jokes are easy to understand with Thai subtitles. It’s a great choice if you want to learn how people actually speak in real life.

    2. The Good Place

    Level: Intermediate to Advanced
    This comedy-drama mixes humor with thoughtful ideas about life and morality. It’s fun and fast-paced, with creative storytelling and modern English. Thai subtitles help you keep up with the dialogue, especially in episodes with more complex vocabulary.

    3. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

    Level: Intermediate
    Set in a police station, this sitcom is full of quick jokes, lighthearted moments, and friendly characters. The English is modern and full of useful expressions for casual conversations. Even if they speak fast, the humor and subtitles make it easier to follow.

    4. Modern Family

    Level: Intermediate
    A hilarious mockumentary-style sitcom about three families. Great for learning how people of different ages and personalities speak. You’ll pick up both formal and informal expressions. It also teaches cultural references and everyday life situations.

    5. Emily in Paris

    Level: Beginner to Intermediate
    This romantic comedy follows an American woman working in Paris. The English is clear and simple, perfect for learners. It also mixes in a bit of French, making it extra fun. The story is light, fashionable, and easy to follow with Thai subtitles.

    6. The Crown

    Level: Upper Intermediate to Advanced
    If you’re interested in British English, this historical drama about the British royal family is a perfect match. It uses formal and elegant language, which is excellent for learners who want to improve listening and vocabulary. Subtitles will be very helpful here!

    7. Never Have I Ever

    Level: Intermediate
    A fun coming-of-age comedy about a teenage Indian-American girl balancing high school life and family drama. It uses current slang and teen-friendly language, making it relatable and useful for younger learners.

    🌟 My Personal Favorite: Friends

    When I was learning English, Friends helped me a lot. It’s funny, the episodes are short, and the language is natural. I used to watch with Thai subtitles first, then re-watch the same episode with English subtitles. That way, I could understand the jokes, learn new vocabulary, and even practice speaking by repeating the lines. I still remember phrases like “How you doin’?” from Joey!

    💡 Tips for Learning English on Netflix

    • Start with Thai subtitles, then switch to English as your confidence grows.
    • Use the pause and rewind buttons—there’s no rush!
    • Write down useful phrases or new words.
    • Repeat lines out loud to practice pronunciation.
    • Watch one episode multiple times to improve comprehension.

    Final Thoughts
    Netflix isn’t just for entertainment—it’s a fun, low-pressure way to improve your English every day. Choose shows you enjoy, turn on the subtitles, and relax while you learn. With time, you’ll understand more, speak better, and enjoy the language like never before!

  • 🎙️ Pronunciation Tips for Thai Learners: Learn This and Your English Will Sound Totally Different!

    🎙️ Pronunciation Tips for Thai Learners: Learn This and Your English Will Sound Totally Different!

    If you’ve been learning English for a while but still feel unsure when speaking, you’re not alone. One of the biggest problems Thai people face is pronunciation. The good news? You don’t need to fix everything — just focus on a few key things, and you’ll sound clearer fast.

    Here are 5 simple pronunciation tips made especially for Thai learners like us.

    1. Practice the “TH” Sound

    Many Thai speakers say “sank you” instead of “thank you,” or “dis” instead of “this.” That’s because Thai doesn’t have the “th” sound.

    How to fix it:

    • Put your tongue gently between your teeth. Blow out a little air.
    • Practice saying:
      think, thank, this, that, three

    It feels strange at first, but it gets easier with practice.

    2. Say the Ending Sounds

    In Thai, we often skip the final sound. But in English, it’s very important.

    For example:

    • “cap” (หมวก)
    • “cab” (แท็กซี่)
    • “cat” (แมว)
      Each one ends with a different sound — p, b, t — and that changes the meaning.

    How to fix it:
    Say each sound clearly at the end. Try these:
    walked, helped, laughed

    It helps to speak a little slower when practicing.

    3. Long and Short Vowels

    Some words sound very similar but mean different things. The only difference is vowel length.

    Examples:

    • ship (เรือ) vs sheep (แกะ)
    • bit vs beat

    How to fix it:
    Short vowels are quick. Long vowels are stretched.
    Practice slowly:

    • “I saw a ship.”
    • “I saw a sheep.”

    4. Word Stress Matters

    In English, one part of the word is usually stronger. In Thai, all syllables sound even, so this can be tricky.

    Examples:

    • comfort (not COMfort)
    • about (not About)

    How to fix it:
    Listen to how native speakers say the word and copy the rhythm. You can also look up the word on a dictionary app — they usually show which part is stressed.

    5. Record Your Voice

    This tip helped me the most. Sometimes we think we sound right — until we hear ourselves.

    Try this:

    • Record yourself saying a sentence like:
      “I think three sheep were sitting on the ship.”
    • Then listen to it. Are you saying “think” or “sink”? “Sheep” or “ship”?

    It may feel weird at first, but it really helps you hear and fix your mistakes.

    Final Thoughts

    You don’t need a perfect accent. But if you practice these small things every day, your pronunciation will get better — and you’ll feel more confident speaking English.

    Quick Practice

    Try saying these words slowly and clearly:

    • think
    • this
    • cat
    • cap
    • bit
    • beat

    Then say this sentence:
    “I think three sheep were sitting on the ship.”

    You’ve got this.
    And I’m walking this English journey with you.

    See you in the next article.