Espresso English Blog

Is your spoken English too fast or too slow?

Speaking English too Fast 

Some English learners – especially at the intermediate and advanced levels – make the mistake of trying to speak too fast. Sometimes it’s from nervousness, and sometimes it’s because the student thinks that speaking fast will sound more “fluent” or “native.”

However, speaking English too fast often makes it more difficult for the other person to understand you. And if your pronunciation isn’t perfectly clear, speaking fast can make your English sound like another language!

Slowing down your spoken English a little will give you more time to think of what to say. It will also help the other person get used to your accent and understand you better. As you get more fluent in English, with time, the speed of your speaking will increase naturally.

Speaking English too Slowly

Other English learners have the opposite problem – speaking English too slowly, with lots of stops and hesitation. This is common among beginners, who don’t yet know a lot of English words. However, some intermediate and advanced students also speak very slowly because they are thinking too much and are worried about making a mistake.

If you have this problem, remember that communication is more important than perfect grammar in spoken English, so you can relax and speak naturally without fear.

Another common cause of speaking too slowly with lots of pauses is that you know lots of individual English words, but find it hard to speak in complete sentences. Here are 3 tips for learning phrases, not just words. Always practice speaking English in complete sentences – developing this habit will help your speaking improve.

The Rhythm of Spoken English

There’s one thing that’s more important than the speed of your speech – it’s the rhythm of your spoken English. English is a stress-timed language, meaning that some parts of words and sentences are “stronger” and more important, and others are “weaker” or less important.

Listen to two examples of a sentence from this article. In the first example, it is spoken with no stress – like a robot! In the  second example, it is spoken naturally. Can you hear the difference?

Other English learners have the opposite problem – speaking English too slowly, with lots of stops and hesitation.

Listen to Robot English

Other English learners have the opposite problem – speakingEnglish too slowly, with lots of stops and hesitation.

Listen to Regular English

How’s your Spoken English?

Do you want a free, professional evaluation of your spoken English? Record a 5-minute mp3 or video of yourself speaking English (you can speak naturally or read a text out loud) and send it to me at help [at] espressoenglish.net – I’ll send you an evaluation of your speaking, correct any mistakes, and give you personalized tips on rhythm and fluency.

Beginning a relationship

Have a crush on someone

To “have a crush on someone” means you feel romantically attracted to that person. Often people keep their “crushes” a secret because they are afraid that the feelings aren’t mutual (that the other person doesn’t have the same feelings).

Example: I have a crush on a girl in my English class. She’s beautiful, smart, and funny – but I’m too shy to talk to her!

Flirt with someone

When you “flirt with someone,” you do things and say things that show you are interested in that person romantically. Another informal phrase is “hit on someone” – it doesn’t mean to hit the person violently; it means to flirt!

Example: Did you see the guy who was flirting with Jenny? He bought her a drink, talked to her all night, and asked for her phone number.

Ask someone out

When you “ask someone out,” you invite them to do something with you in a romantic context – for example, seeing a movie or having dinner in a restaurant.

Example: Peter finally asked me out! We’re going to the theater together on Friday night.

Fall in love

When you “fall in love,” you start having romantic feelings about another person.

Example: I think I’m falling in love with Melissa. I can’t stop thinking about her!

Love at first sight

Some people believe in “love at first sight” – when you fall in love with a person in the first moment you see or meet him or her.

Example: I knew Mary would become my wife from the moment I first saw her at the party. It was love at first sight!

In a relationship

Date

“Date” is both a noun and a verb.

As a noun, it means a romantic activity that two people do together.

Example: My date with Peter last Friday was wonderful. I really enjoyed his company at the theater.

As a verb, it means “in a relationship with”

Example: I heard that your brother is dating a model. Is it true?

Going out with

“Going out with” is another informal way to say “in a relationship”

Example: Did you know that Mark is going out with Andrea?

Stand someone up

When you “stand someone up,” you agree to go on a date with the person, but then you don’t go (and you don’t call or give any explanation). It’s considered rude to do this.

Example: I was planning to have dinner with Barbara, but she stood me up. I waited for her at the restaurant for three hours, but she never came.

Hug

When you “hug” someone, you put your arms around them:

Kiss

You use your lips to “kiss” someone:

Propose

When you propose to someone, you ask the person to marry you. In English, most people propose with the words, “Will you marry me?”

Example: John proposed to Sarah on the beach at sunset.

Engaged

When a person is “engaged,” it means they have agreed to marry someone.

Example: Did you hear? John and Sarah are engaged! They’re planning a June wedding.

It’s common for women who are engaged to wear an engagement ring:

Engagement rings often have a diamond.

Fiancé / Fiancée

A man who is engaged is called a fiancé, and a woman is called a fiancée.

Example: My fiancée has already sent out the wedding invitations.

Note: Fiancé and fiancée are always used with a possessive such as “my” “his” and “her.” So we don’t say “She’s a fiancée.” We say “She’s engaged.”

Get married

When two people make the commitment to stay together as husband and wife.

Example: We got married in 1972, so we’ve been together for more than 30 years!

Note: Click here to learn about the difference between commonly confused words “marriage,” “wedding,” and “married”

Note: On the day of the wedding ceremony, the woman is called the bride and the man is called the groom

Honeymoon

When a recently-married husband and wife travel or take some vacation time to be together.

Example: They went to Costa Rica for their honeymoon.

Anniversary

The date on which the husband and wife got married. Many couples celebrate this date every year by going out to dinner or exchanging gifts or flowers.

Example: My parents’ wedding anniversary is May 22nd.

Note: Anniversary is different from “birthday.” Birthday is the celebration of the day you were born; anniversary is the celebration of the day you were married.

Ending a relationship

Break up / Split up

These words mean “end a relationship” – it can be a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship or a husband/wife relationship.

Example 1: Jerry and Amanda split up because he wanted to have children and she didn’t.

Example 2: I think I’m going to break up with my boyfriend. We just don’t have much in common.

Separated

To be “separated” means that a husband and wife are not living together, but are not officially divorced.

Example: I heard that Sandra and her husband are separated at the moment. I hope they can work out their problems.

Divorce

To “divorce” means that a man and woman formally and legally end their marriage.

Example: “I divorced my husband after he became an alcoholic.”

Ex-

Add ex- to describe people you had relationships with in the past: ex-husband, ex-wife, ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend.

Example: I’m not friends with my ex-boyfriend because our relationship ended pretty badly.

Note: Some people say only “ex” without saying husband, wife, etc. For example, “My ex won’t stop calling me! I wish she would stop!”

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TELL / TOLD

Tell means “to give information to a person” – so tell (present) and told (past) are always followed by a person: me, you, him, her, us, them, John, Jane, the teacher, etc.

Examples:

• Tell me about the movie. Did you like it?
• Peter, I told you not to eat any cookies before dinner!
• Did you tell Sam about what happened at school today?
• The police told us that the situation was under control.
• Derek and Melissa told everybody that they were engaged to be married.
• You should tell her what you think about her idea.
• Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone your secret.

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SAY / SAID

With say (present) or said (past), we can use these structures:

1.  say (something)
2. say that (something) 
3. say (something) to (a person)
4. “(something)” a person said

Examples: 

1. Francis says she doesn’t like chocolate.
2. I said that the new website design was great.
3. What did the teacher say to you when you failed the test?
4. “Nice to meet you,” Harry said.

Don’t make this common mistake!

• He said me that he had to leave.
• He told me that he had to leave.

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SPEAK/SPOKE

Use speak (present) and spoke (past) with languages, and with talking in general (no specific details). We can use speak with (somebody) and speak to (somebody)

Examples:

• I speak English.
• Does Donna speak Italian?
• We spoke to the boss this morning. (general conversation, no specific details)
• Emma is going to speak in front of 500 people at the conference.
• I need to speak with you about the new project. (general topic, no details)

Click here to take a quiz on this lesson!