2 Hour C2 Level Advanced English Listening Practice || C2 Level English Podcast for Learners

[Music] hello and welcome to the learn English lab I'm Mike and uh I'm so glad you could join us for this deep dive into something really important for Success well in any field but especially if you're a student time management and to help us make sense of it all we have Sarah an expert in making every minute count hi everyone it's always so exciting to see how we can make the most of our time I don't about you but uh my school years always felt like I was racing against the clock you know classes homework

trying to have some kind of social life right it felt like there was never enough time to get everything done yeah I bet some of you listening feel the same way I think a lot of students can relate to that so why is time management so important for students well good time management it's kind of like a superpower that can help you reach your goals faster and it's not just about like cramming more into your schedule it's about making choices about what to focus on and when it's about working smarter not harder exactly when you

manage your time well you actually free up more time for the things you enjoy Hobbies friends even just taking a break it's about creating a more balanced and less stressful experience as a student yeah I think we all want that right that's stress yeah so what are some of the best ways students can like take control of their schedules and find time for everything okay well one of the most basic but important strategies is planning and scheduling you know you know it might sound simple but it can really make a difference imagine this you have

a colorcoded schedule that shows all your commitments classes study time even when you're going to the gym or hanging out with friends okay and then you use your agenda to keep track of daily tasks and deadlines it's like having a road map for your time I like that a road map for your time yeah so it's like taking the guesswork out of your day exactly and within that road map you can use something called time blocking time block yeah it's where you basically divide your day into blocks of time and you assign specific tasks to

each block so for example Monday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 you're researching for that history paper Tuesday afternoon is for working on those presentation slides so it's like planning your day in advance to help you stay focused exactly have you ever tried time blocking oh yeah definitely did it work for you it really helped me especially during exam season when I felt overwhelmed time blocking made those long study sessions seem less scary because I broke them down into smaller chunks that makes sense so we've got our schedule we're time blocking what's next well let's be

honest one of the biggest challenges these days is all the digital distractions you know social media notifications that urge to just check your phone one more time oh yeah I think we've all been there tell me about it it's a constant battle for our attention so how can students fight those digital distractions what are some practical things they can do one important thing is to create a dedicated study space you know find a spot that tells your brain okay it's time to focus so like a quiet corner of the library a desk in your room

even a cozy spot in a coffee shop exactly the key is to make it distraction free so no phone no TV no unnecessary tabs open on your laptop it's like building a fortress against distractions you got it but what about those times when you can't physically escape the noise like in a noisy dorm or on a crowded bus oh in those situations noise cancelling headphones can be a lifesaver they create a bubble of focus even in the most chotic environments some people also find that listening to calming music or white noise can help drown out

those distractions I love white noise it's like a blanket for my brain yeah Okay so we've carved out a steady space we're armed with noise cancelling headphones what else can students do to minimize distractions Sometimes the best thing to do is a digital detox you know especially during those dedicated study blocks digital detox yeah turn off your phone completely or use one of those website blocking apps to temporarily block those time wasting websites and apps it might seem extreme but it can be really freeing it's like hitting the pause button on the digital world so

you can get some actual work done exactly but of course we can't live in a digital free bubble all the time so what about those times when you need to be connected but you still want to stay focused right that's a good point are there any strategies for that definitely one thing is to be mindful of your notifications do you really need to see every email or social media update as it comes in probably not consider turning off those non-essential notifications during study time and if you're working on your computer try closing any unnecessary tabs

or windows that might tempt you to stray from your work this is about being more intentional with technology instead of letting it control our attention exactly Okay so we've created a Haven for Focus we're battling those distractions what's next on our time management Adventure well another challenge many students face is those big looming assignments research papers find exams they can feel so overwhelming oh I remember those the procrastination monster would always show up whenever I had a big deadline right so how can students conquer procrastination and Tackle those big tasks without feeling completely overwhelmed the

key is to break those large assignments down into smaller more manageable chunks instead of staring down a 10-page research paper focus on writing one paragraph a day instead of cramming for an exam the night before break the material into smaller C and review them over time it's like how do you eat an elephant yeah one bite at a time exactly breaking it down makes it seem less scary and more doable that's a great analogy and each of those smaller bites can have its own mini deadline this creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay

on track it's like building a staircase to success one step at a time I like that speaking of tackling big challenges have you ever heard of the eat that frog technique I have it's a great way to overcome procrastination yeah the the idea is to tackle your most challenging or dreaded task first thing in the morning like ripping off the Band-Aid get that big scary task out of the way then you could approach the rest of the day feeling accomplished and less stressed exactly and once you've eaten that frog everything else seems easier in comparison

okay so we're getting things done we're managing our time but we're also working smarter not harder right exactly working smarter not harder is all about maximizing your efficiency and Effectiveness okay I like the sound of that so how can students Embrace that work smarter philosophy one of the key things is to focus on one task at a time we live in a world that glorifies multitasking but research actually shows that it can make us less efficient and lower the quality of our work it's like trying to run in two directions at once you'll end up

getting nowhere fast I've definitely fallen into that multitasking trap before and it always makes me feel scattered and exhausted it's so much better to just focus on one thing at a time and then move on to the next task once it's done absolutely so how can students train their brains to resist multitasking it takes practice but you can try setting a timer for like 25 minutes and commit to focusing on just one task during that time even short bursts of focused work can be really productive and then when the timer goes off you can take

a short break to recharge before moving on to the next task so it's like giving your brain permission to really dive into one thing at a time yeah I can see how that would lead to better results and less mental fatigue what are some other ways students can work smarter not harder another helpful tip is to use time tracking apps time tracking apps yeah they can really open your eyes to how you're spending your time they're like a mirror that shows you those hidden time syncs that you might not even be aware of once you

know where your time is going you can make better decisions about how to use it more effectively that's a great Point yeah I think we all have those sneaky time wasters that we don't even realize are eating up our day yeah do you have any Favorite Time tracking apps that you recommend there are lots of good ones both free and paid rescue time toggle and clockify popular they can track your computer usage your phone usage even how much time you spend on specific tasks cool I like to check those out Okay so we've planned our

time battled distractions learned to work smarter what else is important for students who want to master this whole time management thing one thing that's often overlooked is the power of downtime you know breaks and holidays it's easy to just think of them as time to relax and forget about school but you can actually use that time to catch up on studies or get ahead on a assignments that's such a good point it's like using the offseason to prepare for the next game exactly even spending a little bit of your break to review material or start

on upcoming assignments can make a big difference when you go back to your regular schedule it's all about setting yourself up for success I wish I'd known that back when I was a student right okay so we've talked about planning distractions working smarter and utilizing downtime what else is important building good habits is really important it's like laying being a strong foundation for Success when you establish consistent routines for studying sleeping and even Leisure Time you create structure in your life and that naturally improves your time management in the long run routines are so powerful

it's like putting your productivity on autopilot exactly when you have established routines you don't have to waste energy deciding what to do next or when to do it it frees up your mind to focus on the task at hand so it's like your brain is saying okay it's study time or it's time to relax and your body just follows along exactly what are some good routines that students can try to incorporate into their lives it can be simple things like having a consistent wakeup time and bedtime creating a dedicated study schedule or setting specific times

for meals and exercise the key is to find what works for you and stick with it it's about finding a rhythm that works for you a rhythm that supports both your productivity and your well-being right and another important part of those routines is good sleep hygiene sleep is often the first thing to go when we're stressed but it's the foundation for a day exactly when we don't get enough sleep it's like trying to function with a foggy brain it's so much harder to focus learn and remember things so consistency is key stick to a regular

sleep schedule even on weekends and create a relaxing bedtime routine to help your brain wind down that makes sense I know that caffeine and alcohol before bed can really mess with my sleep and having a calm sleep environment dark quiet and cool can make a huge difference are there any other sleep tips you'd like to share well Stress and Anxiety can definitely interfere with sleep so finding healthy ways to manage stress like exercise meditation or spending time in nature is really important for good sleep hygiene so it's about taking care of both your mind and

body yeah it's all connected when you take care of yourself you're naturally more equipped to manage your time and reach your goals exactly Okay so we've talked about routines and sleep what else should students know about time management another important skill is learning to say no say no isn't that a little rude not at all it's about realizing that you can't do everything and it's okay to set boundaries it's about knowing how much you can handle and making sure you're not overc committing yourself to the point of burnout I think a lot of students struggle

with that you know they feel like they have to say yes to everything or they'll disappoint people but sometimes saying no is the best thing you can do for yourself you're absolutely right it's about setting healthy boundaries and understanding that your time and energy are val valuable it's like that saying you can't pour from an empty cup exactly and sometimes saying no to one thing allows you to say yes to something else that's even more important to you it's about making choices that are aligned with your values and priorities okay I see your point and

on that note it's also really important to be flexible when it comes to time management oh absolutely life is unpredictable it is things happen plans change right and sometimes you just have to go with the flow right so how can students build that flexibility into their time management plans well one way is to build some buffer time into your schedule buffer time yeah don't fill every minute of your day with tasks and appointments leave some wiggle room for unexpected things or just for those moments when you need to take a break and don't be afraid

to adjust your plans as needed it's about embracing the unexpected and knowing that things won't always go according to plan exactly and most importantly remember to make time for things that you enjoy absolutely it's so easy to get caught up in being productive and achieving goals that we forget to take care of ourselves right what are some ways students can make sure they're not neglecting their well-being while trying to manage their time it's about making time for those things that nourish your soul whether it's spending time with loved ones pursuing Hobbies getting out in nature

or just taking some time for yourself to relax and recharge those things aren't luxuries they Necessities I love that it's about creating a life that feels balanced and fulfilling not just productive exactly and when you feel good you're naturally more motivated and productive it's a win-win I like that a win-win right well Sarah this has been great you shared so many helpful tips I'm sure our listeners are ready to put them into action I hope but before we move on to the next part of this deep dive I want to hear from you our amazing

listeners mhm what are your biggest time management challenges what strategies have worked for you share your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to like share and subscribe to the learn English lab for more deep dives into topics that matter we'll be back soon with even more practical tips and strategies to help you become a time management Master okay great you know one of the things I hear a lot from students is that they just feel overwhelmed like there's just too much to do and not enough time yeah that's the classic time management dilemma

too much to do too little time it is and that's where prioritization comes in it's not about like magically making more time it's about figuring out what's really important and then focusing your energy on those things so it's about being more strategic with your time like a detective you know analyzing your schedule figuring out where your time is going and then choosing how you want to spend it more effectively that's a great way to put it and there's a tool that can be really helpful for that kind of detective work it's called the Eisenhower Matrix

have you heard of it yeah it's a way to decide what tasks are most important by looking at how urgent they are and how important they are I like to think of it as a way to visualize your to-do list so you can see which tasks need to be done right away which ones you can schedule for later and which ones you can maybe delegate or even get rid of altogether I love that visualizing your to-do list it really helps you see what deserves your time and energy so let's say a student is feeling super

stressed because they have exams and assignments and extracurricular activities all happening at the same time how could they use this Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize everything and get a handle on their workload okay well first they would write down every single task and commitment they have then using the Matrix they'd categorize each task ask based on whether it's urgent and important or urgent but not important important but not urgent or maybe not even urgent or important at all okay so let's break that down a bit what are some examples of those different types of tasks sure

an urgent and important task would be like a paper that's due tomorrow or studying for an exam next week you know those are things you need to do right away yeah those are the drop everything and do this now kind of tasks what about urgent but not important those might be things like answer ing emails that aren't super important or going to meetings that could have just been an email you know they seem urgent but they might not really help you reach your goals uh so it's about figuring out which urgent tasks are actually important

and which ones you can push back on exactly and then you have the tasks that are important but not urgent so maybe working on a long-term project planning for the future or learning a new skill those are the ones that are easy to put off cuz they don't have an immediate deadline but there are the things that can make a big difference in your life in the long run you got it and then finally you have those tasks that are neither urgent nor important things like scrolling through social media watching mindless TV or getting caught

up in drama those are the real time wasters yeah those are the ones we got to cut out exactly so by using the eyes inhow Matrix students can start to see their workload more clearly and make better choices about what to focus on and what to let go of I like how this tool can help you take control of your schedule and make choices that support your goals and priorities it's like having a personal time management coach it is so we've talked about prioritizing and using the Eisenhower Matrix what else can help students manage that

feeling of being overwhelmed and make the most of their time well sometimes the best thing you can do is just say no wait say no isn't that a bit rude not really it's about realizing that you can't do everything and it's okay to set boundaries for yourself it's about knowing your limits and not taking on so much that you burn yourself out yeah I think it's a tough one for a lot of students they want to do everything and please everyone but sometimes saying no to one thing means you can say yes to something else

that's even more important to you you're absolutely right and it's not just about saying no to other people it's also about saying no to those pressures you put on yourself you know that pressure to be perfect or to do everything at once yeah that's so important to remember it's about progress not Perfection I love that progress not Perfection it takes the pressure off and helps you enjoy the process exactly so learning to say know is really important for managing your time and avoiding burnout it's about taking care of yourself and making sure you're not spreading

yourself too thin you so it's about stepping back looking at what you're committed to and making sure it lines up with what you value and what you want to achieve it's about being intentional with your time and energy instead of just reacting to everything that comes your way exactly and along with saying no it's also important to embrace balance uh balance yeah that elusive thing we all want I know right really finding that balance between being productive and taking care of yourself it can be really hard especially for students who have so much going on

what are your thoughts on finding that balance well for me it's about recognizing that we're not robots you know we need time to recharge to connect with people to do things that bring us joy and make us feel inspired it's about creating a life that feels good and not just busy so it's about finding a rhythm that works for you a rhythm that includes work and play effort and rest yeah about listening to your own needs and limits you got it and it's about making choices about how you spend your time you know asking yourself

is this really important to me does this help me reach my goals or is it just draining my energy it's like being a curator of your own time choosing what you want to fill your days with I like that it's about being Mindful and making choices instead of just letting things happen so we've covered prioritizing saying no and finding balance what other time management secrets are you willing to share let's talk about downtime I know it seems like the opposite of time management yeah how can taking a break help you manage your time better well

think of it like this when you're always go go go and pushing yourself to the Limit your brain gets tired it's like a muscle that gets overworked it needs time to rest and recover it's like running a marathon without stopping for water you're going to hit a wall eventually exactly downtime gives your brain a chance to rest so you can come back to your work feeling refreshed and energized so it's not just about working harder it's about working smarter Harder by taking breaks exactly and when you take a break make sure you really disconnect get

away from screens get some fresh air move your body do something that makes you happy and helps you relax so it's about giving your mind and body a chance to recharge and when you come back to your work you'll be more focused and productive exactly so downtime isn't a luxury it's essential for anyone who wants to do their best work and have a good balance in their life it is it's an investment in yourself I love how you've changed the way think about downtime it's not about being lazy it's about being strategic and setting yourself

up for Success right so we've talked about prioritizing saying no finding a balance and the importance of downtime what else can we learn about time management let's talk about those little bits of time that we often waste you know those 10 minutes between classes that half hour commute those times when you're waiting for a friend yeah those little pockets of time can really add up but it's easy to just zone out or scroll on your phone what are some more productive things you can do with that time well you can use that time for those

quick tasks that you keep putting off like answering emails making a to-do list reviewing notes or even just doing a quick meditation or some stretching so it's about paying attention to those small moments and using them intentionally instead of letting them disappear exactly and you might be surprised by how much you can get done when you start seeing those little bits of time as opportunities instead of just wasted time that's a good point yeah yeah it's about shifting your perspective and becoming more aware of how you're spending your time even those tiny moments exactly and

be prepared to use those moments you know keep a book with you for when you have to wait have a to-do list on your phone that you can easily check off or download a meditation app so you can do a quick mindfulness exercise whenever you have a few minutes free so it's like having a time management toolkit that you can use whenever you have a little bit of time exactly and if you plan ahead and think about how you want to use those little pockets of time they can become productive and even enjoyable parts of

your day okay Sarah this has been amazing you've given us so much great advice M I'm sure our listeners are feeling inspired to take control of their time and create a better more Balanced Life I hope so but before we finish up this part of our Deep dive I want to hear from you our awesome listeners what are your favorite ways to manage those small pockets of time share your tips in the comments and be sure to like share and subscribe to the learn English lab for more deep dives into topics that matter we'll be

back soon with the last part of this episode where we'll talk about some common time management mistakes to avoid and give you even more resources to help you become a time management Master welcome back to the learn English lab we're wrapping up our Deep dive into time management and I'm really curious about those sneaky little things that can trip us up even when we think we have a good plan what are some of the most common pitfalls that students should watch out for well we've talked a lot about planning and setting priorities but you know

one of the biggest obstacles to good time management is procrastination it's that voice in your head saying you can always do it later but later often turns into a mad rush the night before something is due oh yeah that voice I know it will it's a master of making excuses and convincing you that tomorrow is the perfect day to start that big project exactly and then tomorrow becomes next week and suddenly that task is hanging over you like a big scary cloud so how can students escape the procrastination trap what can help them actually start

working on something instead of feeling intimidated by it one really helpful strategy is to break those large overwhelming tasks down into smaller more manageable pieces so instead of thinking about a 10-page research paper try focusing on writing just one paragraph each day it's much easier to get started on something small and specific than something big and daunting it's like that saying a journey of a th000 miles begins with a single step and once you take that first step you build momentum and procrastination starts to lose its power over you I like that once you start

moving it's easier to keep going and maybe you could even set up little rewards for yourself when you finish those smaller tasks you know a little treat or a break to do something fun it can really help to keep you motivated that's a great idea rewards can definitely help you stick to good habits and speaking of things to watch out for another common Pitfall is over commitment you know it's easy to get excited about New Opportunities or to feel like you have to say yes to every request but if you try to do too much

you'll end up burning yourself out and that can actually make you less productive in the long run I think a lot of students especially those who are really motivated and want to get the most out of their experience they struggle with finding that balance between being involved in things and taking on too much that's so true it's really important to be honest with yourself about how much you can handle saying no doesn't mean you're weak it means you're strong and self-aware you're choosing to prioritize your well-being and make sure you're not sacrificing your health just

to please other people or live up to some impossible standard it's about setting boundaries and deciding where you want to invest your time and energy and sometimes that means saying no to things even if they seem like good opportunities and it's also a good idea to check in with yourself every now and then and see if your commitments still align with your goals and interests as you learn and grow you might find that some things aren't as important to you anymore and that's okay absolutely it's about being in control of your time and your choices

instead of letting things just happen to you so we've covered procrastination over commitment are there any other time management traps that students should be aware of one that often gets overlooked is perfectionism that little voice inside that says it's not good enough yet or you need to keep working on this until it's perfect oh yeah perfectionism I think we all struggle with that a little bit there's so much pressure these days to be the best at everything it can be hard to just put something out there and be okay with it not being perfect and

the truth is perfection doesn't really exist it's always changing so instead of trying to be perfect just focus on making progress embrace the learning process even if you make mistakes along the way I love that progress over Perfection it's so much more freeing and when you celebrate the small wins instead of always chasing after some ideal that you might never reach it's way more motivating it is it's about focusing on the things you can control and letting go of the need to be perfect so as we wrap up this deep dive into time management what's

your final piece of advice for our listeners time management it's a journey not a destination there's no magic formula it's about figuring out what works for you experimenting with different strategies and being willing to adjust things as you go along be patient with yourself celebrate your wins and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it that's such great advice it's about finding that balance between structure and flexibility between planning and going with the flow and most importantly between trying your best and being kind to yourself it's about creating a life that feels

right for you well that's a wrap on our deep dive into time management we hope you found this helpful and are feeling ready to take charge of your time and create a life that's both productive and fulfilling big thanks to Sarah for sharing her expertise with us and don't forget to like share and subscribe to the learn English lab for more deep dives into topics that matter remember you have the power to manage your time well and create the life you want so go out there and make the most of every moment all right welcome

to the Deep dive today we're tackling something thing that uh can feel pretty tricky honestly especially if English isn't your native language we're talking about networking you know at those professional events those conferences all that oh yeah I mean for anyone it can be kind of nerve-wracking but yeah if you're thinking okay I got to go to this corporate Summit or there's that industry conference coming up or even just like a local startup thing you know a pitch session or a Meetup I mean how you connect with people there it really matters and for you

listening well we want to make that whole thing way easier exactly like we want you to feel like you can walk into those things and actually you know start conversations that go somewhere build actual relationships that last not just like survive the event you know yeah totally I mean even for people who are like Advanced English Learners you know you've got great language skills but it's those little things like conversations they're so spontaneous right and then there's all that unspoken professional etiquette stuff it can make it feel like whoo the Saks are high here right

like what do I do with my hands so where do I stand exactly so that's what we're doing today we're going to be your guide your personal guide and we're going to give you really practical strategies not just to survive like we said but to actually do really well in these situations to walk out of there feeling like yeah I got this I am the master networker yeah exactly all right so over the next few minutes we're breaking it all down how to walk in feeling confident how to start those conversations that lead somewhere and

how to to build those relationships that actually last perfect okay let's get into it first things first and this is even before you pick out what you're going to wear it's preparation oh yeah preparation is huge it's everything I mean it might sound obvious but how you get ready beforehand it can make a world a difference so true showing up and just hoping for the best that's not going to cut it you got to be strategic about it yeah and step one right off the bat research that event yeah do your homework what's it all

about is it about the newest Innovations is it about companies making deals with each other is it even like for recruiting figuring out that main purpose it shapes how you approach the whole thing you know and it helps you decide what your goal should be right and knowing the purpose well that helps you figure out who's probably going to be there exactly like are we talking about the big names in your industry potential clients you've been wanting to connect with maybe even hiring managers if you're you know looking at new job options knowing that ahead

of time it lets you tailor your approach like say you know a big industry leader is going to be presenting you might want to yeah do a little digging into their work you know see what their company's been up to maybe read some of the recent stuff it's not just about being prepared it gives you a natural way to start talking to them like imagine you're a software developer going to this Tech conference right and you find out the CTO of some huge AI compan is doing a keynote well spend a little time read their

stuff on LinkedIn check out their company's press releases all that it's not not just good prep it's like your ticket into a cool conversation with them you can be like hey I read your article on blah blah blah and they'll see you're genuinely interested right it shows you're not just there for the free snacks exactly for you it shows you're serious yeah that's a good point so that actually leads us nicely into preparing discussion topics and we're not talking about like a script you memorize you know word for word but having some relevant things to

talk about based on you know Trends in your field big changes happening even some recent company news it shows the people you meet that you're engaged you know what's going on and you're ready to actually talk right like what are the Hot Topics everyone's talking about in your industry what are those big debates those discussions going on What new technologies are coming out and everyone's buzzing about having a few of those in your back pocket it makes starting those conversations way easier it's like having your talking points ready yeah exactly and another important thing go

into the event knowing what you want to get out of it you know what are your goals are you actively looking for a new job maybe you want to find companies to partner with or are you mainly there to learn about the latest trends having those specific goals it's like your compass right it guides you the whole time you're there totally now a really important part of getting ready and this is big is crafting your elevator pitch ah yes the elevator pitch so for those who might not know this is basically your short and sweet

answer to that classic question so what do you do yeah you're going to hear that a lot and it's amazing you should really pay attention to this how often that simple question it throws people off your elevator pitch it's got to be quick ideally under 30 seconds but it's got to make an impact leave a good impression it's like your professional snapshot you know it says who you are what you do and this is key for connecting what makes you valuable what you bring to the table right and to make this super clear let's look

at an example say Maria she's a ux designer right she meets someone new she might say hello I'm Maria I'm a ux designer and I specialize in making really intuitive digital experiences for e-commerce Brands my last project I helped a startup boost their sales conversions by 30% I'm here to learn about the latest trends in ux design and to connect with other people in the field see how much she fit in there she nailed it she really did for you the key things to notice there are that she clearly says what she does her specific

area a real achievement that shows her impact that 30% boost and what she's hoping to get from the event she doesn't just say her job title she shows the actual result she gets and importantly she ends by saying she wants to connect with people which like we said that's the whole point of networking so let's give you some actionable tips to make your own awesome elevator pitch first keep it short like we said under 30 seconds really highlight what makes you stand out your special skills your relevant experience your big wins all that and this

is important don't make it a one-size fits-all you got to adapt it a little depending on who you're talking to like if you're talking to a potential investor you might emphasize different things than if you're chatting with a colleague right yeah being flexible is key and of course practice makes perfect you want your pitch to sound natural confident not like you're reading it off a q card say it out loud record yourself practice in front of a mirror whatever works until it feels smooth and natural right not robotic exactly and speaking of not sounding like

a robot let's talk about some common mistreats to avoid you know nerves can get to us all and sometimes that makes us talk super fast which can make it hard for others to understand especially if English isn't their first language either so pace yourself yeah take a breath and I think we've all been there where we want to tell them everything we do all our accomplishments right we overload them with info yeah but remember the goal with that initial elevator pitch is to spark their interest get the conversation going not to recite your entire resume

keep it focused and concise that's how you make it good impression like you want to leave them wanting more exactly and finally watch out for using too much dargon it's fine to use industry terms when you're talking to people in your field they'll get it but if you're talking to people from different backgrounds or people who are still learning English avoid those super complex words those Niche terms that might confuse them Clarity is key always so you've done your research your pitch is polished now comes the moment of truth actually walking into that networking space

and let's be real even for Pros that can bring on the nerves oh absolutely it's totally normal to feel a little nervous even people who Network all the time they might feel some anxiety before diving into a crowded room the trick is having ways to manage that nervousness positive selft talk can really help remind yourself of what you're good at your experience what you bring to the table remember everyone else there they're there for the same reason to connect right and another tip think about getting to the event a bit early might seem counterintuitive but

being one of the first people there it can actually help you relax get comfortable it's calmer before the rush right it gives you a chance to get the lay at the land and maybe even strike up a few conversations while it's still chill it's a good confidence booster before things get crazy so true and don't underestimate body language it's powerful for First Impressions walk in Stand Tall keep an open posture you know arms uncrossed shoulders back make eye contact smile genuinely those nonoral cues they say hey I'm confident I'm approachable it makes people more likely

to start a conversation with you for you that can make a huge difference in how people see you like imagine you're at this business seminar right instead of hovering by the snacks looking lost you walk up to a smaller group that's already talking you smile confidently open posture and it shows them you're open to joining in makes it way easier for them to welcome you in exactly now the big question is how do you actually approach a group or someone you want to talk to if you're going for a group take a second observe them

are they in deep discussion or is there a pause look for a natural opening where you can politely jump in without interrupting maybe you overhear something that relates directly to your field or something from the event that's your cue like a simple approach could be excuse me I couldn't help but overhear your conversation about digital marketing Trends that's something I'm really interested in do you mind if I join in boom you're in the conversation and you've shown genuine interest in what they're talking about perfect and if you're approaching an individual ual being direct but friendly

works best you could try hi I'm your name I noticed you're from company name I've heard good things about your recent product launch it shows youve done a little homework even if it's just from the event materials and it gives you a specific thing to connect on Beyond just Hi how are you great and a friendly handshake a genuine smile those go a long way it's all about showing you're open to connecting to building those relationships so you've started a conversation great now how do you keep it going how do you make it actually mean

meaningful this is where the art of small talk comes in now small talk sometimes gets a bad WAP but for you in a networking situation it's essential it's like the oil that keeps things running smoothly it breaks the O you build that initial connection before you get into the serious stuff it's like building a little bridge to those more important topics I like that the bridge analogy yeah and there are some go-to topics you can always use for small talk at these events the event itself is always a safe bet you can ask what do

you think of the keynote this morning or have you been to this conference before easy starters everyone has an opinion and Industry Trends are another good one you can ask how do you think all this AI stuff is going to change content Creation in the next few years or what are some of the biggest challenges your company's facing with all these changes happening these questions show you're engaged with the bigger picture thinking about the industry as a whole right you're not just thinking about your own little bubble exactly and don't forget about personal interests but

keep it professional of course like asking someone what got you into this field in the first place can lead to some really interesting conversations it can help you find common ground Beyond just your current jobs totally and what's really cool and you should pay attention to this is how you smoothly transition from that initial small talk to deeper more meaningful conversations the key is to really listen to what the other person is saying and look for those opportunities to dive deeper into stuff you're both interested in ask open-ended questions the kind they can't just answer

yes or no to questions make them think and share their experiences so instead of asking are you enjoying the conference which they might just say yeah it's all right try something like what have been some of the most insightful sessions you've attended and what made them so valuable for you that gets them talking right and if they mention a challenge their industry is facing a good followup for you could be what do you think are some potential solutions to that or what strategies are people using to address that or if they talk about a project

they're excited about ask them to tell you more about what makes it so engaging what they enjoy about it these kinds of questions show genuine interest and make the conversation go deeper to make this real for you imagine you meet a digital marketer at an event you start with some casual small talk about the event itself maybe a speaker you both liked then you naturally move into talking about Trends in social media advertising from there you ask how they're seeing brands use storytelling to really engage Their audience now you're having a real conversation sharing insights

learning from each other's experiences exactly the goal is to move past those surface level chitchat and really get into shared interests common challenges those potential ways you could work together that's where the good stuff happens the real connections and once you've had that good conversation it's so important to exchange contact info so you can stay connected absolutely you've made a good connection now you got to keep that momentum going after the event business cards are still a thing they're valuable make sure you yours are up to date and have them ready to go yeah keep

those cards handy and these days connecting on LinkedIn is pretty much Essential a simple it was great talking with you can I send you a connection request on LinkedIn that's a standard effective way to stay in touch professionally if you can personalize the request mention something specific you talked about it helps them remember you and why they should connect and after the event's over the follow-up that's where you really build the relationship don't underestimate a quick thoughtful email to the people you met a simple message like hi name it was great meeting you and I

really enjoyed our conversation about mention the topic let's stay in touch it can go a long way what's really impactful is sending a personalized followup if you remember something that were particularly interested in or you come across an article or a resource you think they'd like share it with them like you could send an email saying hi name remember we talked about the latest trends in sustainable Tech at the conference I saw this article and thought of you it shows you are listening and you're thinking of them even after the event and if the conversation

was really good and you both think there's potential to work together don't be shy about suggesting a follow-up meeting maybe a virtual coffee chat or an in-person meeting depending on where you both are and what you talked about it's a chance to explore those possibilities now let's be honest networking can be awkward sometimes things happen especially when you're doing it in English so let's talk about some of those tricky situations you might run into one that happens to all of us it's totally normal is forgetting someone's name after you just met them it's a human

thing the key is to handle it smoothly be polite direct and just ask for a reminder you can say I'm so sorry I've completely blanked could you remind me of your name most people are totally understanding or if you're feeling brave use some humor a little oh dear names are my weakness please remind me can lighten the mood and make it less awkward for both of you yeah humor can be a lifesaver another important skill is knowing how to gracefully exit a conversation when you're ready to move on you don't want to be stuck talking

to one person the whole time and miss out on other connections use a polite transition something like it's been great talking with you I want to make sure I connect with a few more people before the event ends that's a professional way to move on or if you see someone nearby that you think the person you're talking to might also want to meet offer to introduce them you could say it was really interesting talking about topic have you met Sarah yet she's also working on Rel area you two might have things in common it's a

natural way to excuse yourself and you might even help them make a connection exactly and for those of you who might feel a little shy about your English in these situations remember focus on communicating clearly don't worry about using fancy words or complicated sentences if you can't think of the right word paraphrase explain it another way the important thing is getting your ideas across right most people at these events they get it they just want to understand you so focus on making self understood and keep your confidence up even if you're feeling unsure about your

English what really matters is your willingness to engage to connect to share your experiences absolutely all right let's quickly go over what we've covered we talked about how important preparation is from researching the event and figuring out who's going to be there to really nailing your elevator pitch we talked about how to walk into that networking space feeling confident using positive selft talk to manage those nerves and using open open approachable body language to make a good first impression we went through mastering Small Talk giving you some go-to topics and then explain how to take

those initial conversations to a deeper level asking open-ended questions and really listening we also talked about the best ways to exchange contact info and how to follow up afterward emphasizing the importance of personalizing those messages and finally we tackled some of those awkward situations that can come up giving you tips for dealing with things like forgetting names gracefully ending conversations and offering advice for those who might not feel 100% confident in their English the big takeaway here is that networking in English just like any other skill it takes preparation confidence and practice by using these

strategies you'll be way better equipped to connect with people build those strong lasting professional relationships and open up new opportunities for yourself so here's what you can do right now to put all this into practice first practice your elevator pitch stand in front of the mirror say it out loud maybe record yourself and get comfortable with it second if you can go to a virtual networking event it's a lower pressure way to practice and build your confidence from home third at your next in-person event challenge yourself to start conversations with at least three new people

and finally after each event think about how it went what felt good what were the challenges what can you improve for next time this brings up a really interesting thought think about the amazing connections and opportunities that could come from you just step stepping a little outside your comfort zone at your next networking event you never know who you'll meet what you'll learn or what doors might open just by putting yourself out there and making that effort to connect it's true you never know what might happen and that's the Deep dive for today thanks for

listening thanks for having me it was fun hello and welcome to the learn English lab I'm Mike and I'm so glad you could join us for another Deep dive into well whatever we find interesting and think could help you on your English Journey it's great to be here and today we're joined by Sarah Sarah are you ready to help our listeners unlock fluency I think so Mike I hope so okay well we're diving into a 100 daily English conversation topics for fluency and this is uh I really like this resource actually because it Taps into

something I think we all crave and that is connection through conversation right and uh whether you're prepping for like a job interview or maybe you're traveling to a new country or you just want to feel more at ease you know like just chatting with friends these topics I think can be like a FasTrack to fluency what do you think Sarah you know what I really like about this resource is how it's structured okay um it's designed to kind of help you build confidence gradually okay um the tip section is really good too it emphasizes practical

application consistency and active engagement which are all really important for making real progress yeah with the language I completely agree and the range of topics is just amazing it's like they've thought of everything right from just everyday conversations about commuting technology to uh more personal things like childhood memories or funny incidents you know there's really something here for everyone and I think it's particularly clever how they've included topics that encourage you to use a variety of tenses and vocabulary yeah um like for instance discussing childhood memories that naturally pushes you to use past tenses yeah

and descriptive language and because memories often have like strong emotions attached to them it can really help you remember the new vocabulary more easily that's a great point and speaking of those personal experiences I think the topic of funny Incident That's pure gold everyone loves a good laugh and sharing funny anecdotes is just a fantastic way to connect with people and loosen up in a conversation for sure plus using humor can make learning English feel less like work and more like play yeah it's true laughter can break down barriers and make us more receptive to

learning yeah and these personal experience topics are just uh they're designed for those kind of engaging interactions but it's not all fun in games right yeah this resource also tackles some serious topics that can really challenge you to use more complex language and express nuanced ideas definitely topics like a life-changing event encourage you to delve into your emotional vocabulary use idioms and structure more complex sentences which are all really essential skills for advanced fluency right you're not just memorizing words and grammar rules you're expressing yourself authentically which is a huge part of what fluency is

all about and then there are topics like job interviews remote work and learning new skills which are just so relevant for personal and professional growth it's like they've tapped into the pulse of what people are talking about today exactly and by discussing these topics in English you're not only practicing the language but also gaining valuable insights and perspectives it's a win-win it is you're expanding your vocabulary improving your grammar and broadening your horizons all at the same time that's right and let's not forget the cultural and social topics right talking about festivals and celebrations or

social issues is a great way to learn about different cultures and practice expressing your opinions in a respectful and thought-provoking way it's like opening a window to the world through conversation you know you can learn about different Customs traditions and perspectives which can enrich your understanding of both the language and the world world around you okay now just when you think it can't get any more interesting we hit the hypothetical and fun section things like if you won the lottery a day without technology or even superpowers these lighter topics are often overlooked in language learning

but they're so valuable because they allow you to be creative with language explore your imagination and have fun while practicing it's like giving yourself permission to play with the language that's right and when you're having fun you're more likely to stay motivated and keep learning exactly these fun topics can also be really effective for practicing fluency because they take the pressure off of being correct you can focus on expressing yourself freely and creatively which is really crucial for developing confidence and natural flow and that brings us to a crucial Point Sarah mhm the tips section

of this resource really highlights the importance of actually using these Topics in real life conversations right it's not enough to just passively read through them you need to actively engage find a language partner join a conversation group or even just chat with yourself in the mirror that's such a great point the more you use the language the more comfortable and confident you'll become yeah this resource provides the framework but it's up to you to bring it to life through active practice so we have this incredible resource with a 100 conversation topics covering everything from the

mundane to the Fantastical but what does it all really mean for our listener what's the key takeaway here well I think the main takeaway is that fluency isn't about memorizing grammar rules or vocabulary lists it's about developing the confidence and skills to actually use English in a variety of situations and this resource gives you the tools and inspiration to do just that it's like a road map to fluency with different routes and destinations depending on your individual goals and interests and the best part is you get to choose your own adventure right it's all about

making language learning personal relevant and enjoyable and this resource empowers you to do just that so we've got the topics we've got the tips but let's dive a little deeper into some specific examples what are some of your favorite topics from this resource Sarah the ones that really get you excited to practice oh that's a tough one yeah there are so many great options here but if I had to choose just a few I think travel experiences is always a good one okay everyone loves to share stories about their Adventures right and it's a great

opportunity to practice all that travel related vocabulary absolutely and talking about travel experiences can some really interesting conversations about different cultures customs and perspectives for sure and it can also lead to some funny anecdotes about mishaps and unexpected encounters along the way I love those yeah those are the kinds of stories that stick with you okay what else what other topic from this list really Sparks your interest let's see a life-changing event is another one that intrigues me it allows for deeper conversations and challenges you to express complex emotions in English that's a powerful one

for sure it's not just about fluency it's about connecting with others on a meaningful level and sharing something truly impactful right and it forces you to push Beyond simple sentence structures and really delve into the nuances of the language okay and how about from the hypothetical and fun category which one of those topics really gets your imagination going oh superpowers definitely okay it's pure fun and allows for so much creativity and language use plus who doesn't secretly dream about having a superpower I'm right there with you on that one one it's like a mental escape

hatch and a language learning opportunity all ruled into one exactly and it can lead to some really entertaining and imaginative conversations so we've got travel Adventures life-changing events and superpowers just a small taste of the incredible variety this resource has to offer We've Only Just Begun that's right we're about to embark on the second part of our Deep dive into 100 daily English conversation topics for fluency but before we do we want to hear from you what are your favorite topics from the list so far share your thoughts in the comments below we'd love to

know what sparks your conversation engines yeah it has been really interesting so far it has and we've only just scratched the surface but I think our listener is already getting a sense of the power this resource holds I agree and one thing that really strikes me is how well organized it is it's not just like a random jumble of topics it's like a carefully crafted Learning Journey you know moving from the amiliar to the more challenging just like you would progress in a good language course that's a great observation it is designed to kind of

build your confidence gradually you know starting with those everyday life topics just to get you warmed up and then as you become more comfortable you can move on to the personal experiences and the professional topics which often require a richer vocabulary and a deeper understanding of grammar it's like starting with the shallow end of the pool and gradually waiting into deeper water exactly speaking of everyday life life we talked about commuting earlier right but what about something like grocery shopping oh yeah that's a topic that I think everyone can relate to absolutely and it's packed

with opportunities to learn new vocabulary you could talk about different foods Brands shopping habits even online versus inore shopping which is such a Hot Topic these days it's like a mini course in Supermarket vocabulary and you know it could even lead to a discussion about cultural differences in food and shopping habits which is always fascinating it is yeah you're right it's amazing how these seemingly simple topics can open up whole new worlds of conversation they do and speaking of Technology the topic technology use another one that's just incredibly relevant today right think about all the

vocabulary you could learn just by discussing smartphones apps social media the impact of technology on our lives it's a gold mine it is a gold mine yeah and it can lead to some really thought-provoking conversations you know are we too reliant on technology is it connecting us or isolating us these are questions that people all over the world are grappling with And discussing them in English is a great way to practice expressing your opinions and engaging in a meaningful debate right yeah those deeper conversations can be so valuable for language learning because they force you

to think critically and use more sophisticated vocabulary and really engage with those nuances of the language I completely agree okay let's shift gear to personal experiences we talked about childhood memories and a funny incident but what about something a little more profound like a life changing event that's a great example of a topic that can really stretch your language skills think about the vocabulary you need to describe such an event words for emotions feelings perhaps even some idioms or metaphors to add color and depth to your story and it's a topic that can really Forge

a connection with a person you're speaking with yeah sharing personal stories even difficult ones can build empathy and understanding and that can actually strengthen your communication skills overall it's not just about fluency it's about creating genuine human connection that's so true sometimes the most powerful conversations are the ones where we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and share our authentic selves and doing that in a foreign language can feel especially challenging but also incredibly rewarding okay let's move on to professional and educational topics these are super relevant for anyone who's learning English for career advancement or

personal growth we mentioned job interviews earlier but what about a topic like remote work which is so relevant in today's world oh remote work yeah that's a fantastic conversation starter because it touches on so many different aspects of Our Lives technology work life balance communication Styles even the future of work itself it's a topic that's constantly evolving which means there's always something new to discuss and learn and it allows you to practice using more formal language which is important for professional settings think about all the vocabulary related to meetings deadlines presentations collaboration it's like a

mini MBA course in English I love that analogy and it highlights how language learning can be integrated into so many different aspects of our lives right it's not just about studying grammar rules it's about developing the skills and confidence to communicate effectively in real world situations now let's not forget about the educational side of things a topic like learning new skills is perfect for anyone who's committed to personal growth which I imagine describes most of our listeners right it's a great opportunity to talk about different learning styles strategies for staying motivated and the challenges and

rewards of expanding your knowledge base and it ties in beautifully with our overall theme here which is the power of conversation to enhance language learning Yeah by talking about learning new skills or actually putting those very skills into practce ractice it's like a metal learning experience you're learning about learning while you're learning okay Sarah we've covered quite a bit of ground here let's take a quick break and then dive into the final categories cultural and social topics and hypothetical and fun we'll be right back after a short pause I know right it feels like we

just started it does but we've already I think given our listener a really good sense for just how diverse and engaging these topics are but before we wrap up we've got two more cat categories to explore cultural and social topics and hypothetical and fun right these categories are all about broadening your horizons both linguistically and culturally so let's start with cultural and social topics I'm particularly intrigued by the topic festivals and celebrations oh yeah it's such a rich and vibrant area to explore full of interesting vocabulary and cultural insights oh I couldn't agree more think

about the vocabulary you would use to describe a festival the food the music the costumes the Traditions It's A Feast for the senses yeah and it's just a fantastic way to learn about different cultures around the world it's like taking a virtual trip around the globe through conversation exactly and it can also lead to some fascinating discussions about the history and significance of these celebrations absolutely you could talk about the origins of the festival the symbolism behind the rituals the way it's evolved over time it's a great way to really delve into the cultural richness

of the English language now let's shift gears to a topic that might spark some Lively debate social issues okay this is an area where you can really practice expressing your opinions in English using persuasive language and supporting your arguments with evidence right it's a chance to really engage with the language on a deeper level to Grapple with complex ideas and to consider different perspectives it's not just about fluency it's about using language as a tool for critical thinking and meaningful dialogue and you know even if you don't agree with the person you're talking to practicing

respectful disagreement is a valuable skill in any language that's such an important point being able to articulate your views clearly and respectfully even when you disagree with someone is a Hallmark of a truly fluent Communicator okay Sarah I'm ready to have some fun let's move on to hypothetical and fun topics the category where we can let our imaginations run wild all right sounds good sometimes the most enjoyable conversations are the ones where there are no right or wrong answers just Pure Imagination and creativity so let's start with a classic if you won the lottery who

hasn't DD dreamed about that it's the ultimate whatif scenario and it's a gold mine for language practice you can talk about your wildest dreams your plans for the future even the things you would avoid doing if you suddenly became a multi-millionaire and it's a great opportunity to practice using conditional tenses like if I won the lottery I would exactly it's a fun way to experiment with different grammatical structures without even realizing you're learning it really is and it allows for so much creativity and personal expression no two conversations about winning the lottery will ever be

the same okay let's try another one a day without technology this is a thought-provoking topic that challenges us to imagine life without our smartphones our computers and all the digital distractions that fill our days it's a digital detox in conversation form and it's a great way to practice describing your daily routines your hobbies the things you value most in life you might even discover some hidden talents or passions that you never knew you had you never know and even if you don't completely unplug in real life it's a valuable exercise to consider how much we

rely on technology and whether it's truly enhancing our lives or simply consuming our time and attention it's a conversation that can spark some real self-reflection both in English and in life it can well Sarah we've reach the end of our Deep dive into 100 daily English conversation topics for fluency already wow I feel like we've only scratched the surface of what this resource has to offer but I hope our listener is feeling inspired and ready to start practicing oh I hope so too we've explored such a wide range of topics from the mundane to the

extraordinary and I think the key takeaway here is that fluency isn't about perfection it's about practice engagement and having fun with the language that's right so to our amazing listener out there we encourage you to pick a topic find a conversation partner and start talking the more you use English the more confident and fluent you'll become and don't be afraid to make mistakes mistakes are part of the learning process embrace them learn from them and just keep moving forward on your journey to fluency absolutely and remember we're here to support you every step of the

way thank you for joining us on this exciting Adventure it's been fun and to all our wonderful listeners thank you for tuning in to the learn English lab don't forget to like share and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more language learning tips and inspiration until until next time happy learning all right so you're here you're listening in because you really you want to level up your communication yeah right you want to you want to be able to express yourself sure with more Nuance yeah you know and really kind of Master the art of language

in a way that just makes you a more effective Communicator absolutely so consider this deep dive a shortcut to that yeah you know we're going to be looking at all sorts of advanced vocabulary today and really kind of pulling out yeah the gems MH the words that you can actually use in your everyday life in your professional life right to really enhance how you express yourself exactly and we're not talking about you know just throwing in big words to sound smart it's really about finding those words that help you get your point across right more

precisely and more more impactfully yeah impactfully yeah exactly so we've gone through a bunch of different sources and we kind of curated this selection for you and covers a whole range of are yeah I mean we're talking about how to express your opinions more effectively how to describe people and their personalities yes um you know some really powerful vocabulary for professional and academic settings MH how to articulate your emotions and feelings with greater depth and you know some Advanced vocabulary for winning those debates and discussions oh absolutely being able to hold your own yeah in

a really engaging and thought-provoking way exactly so let's Dive Right In all right let's start with something I think we can all relate to expressing our opinions and ideas okay you know we all have thoughts and we want to share them but sometimes the words we use just don't quite cut it don't quite cut it they don't have that oof right so our sources highlighted some really interesting upgrades in this area Okay so take the word articulate for instance all right it's more than just speaking it's about expressing yourself clearly and fluently M you know

like somebody who can take a complex idea right and break it down in a way that anyone can understand exactly it suggests that there's a real thoughtfulness behind their words and not just rambling they've carefully constructed their message to be easily understood and then there's eloquent ah yes eloquent now this is also about fluent expression mhm but it adds a layer of Grace and persuasiveness right it's like that speaker who not only informs you but also moves you yes you know there words have a certain Beauty and Rhythm to them that just captivates the audience

so you can almost think of it as articulate gets the message across MH eloquent gets the message across beautifully and convincingly absolutely a great distinction yeah and the examples they gave were things like she is an articulate speaker who can explain complex topics effortlessly right and then his eloquent speech moved the entire audience you can really feel the difference there yeah and it makes you think you know have you ever been in a sit situation where you just couldn't quite find the right words oh all the time and you're just like ah if only I

had that one perfect word to really nail what I'm trying to say exactly and that's where these nuances come in right exactly they give you that extra level of precision and impact in your communication so think about a time when you really wanted to get your point across clearly or maybe advocate for something you were passionate about mhm how do you think having those words articulate or eloquent at your fingertips would a change that interaction I love that you're prompting the listeners to really connect this to their own experiences yeah because it's not just about

learning new words right it's about actually being able to use them exactly making them a part of your natural vocabulary and on that note of being clear and effective mhm our sources also talked about concise and Lucid yes these are so valuable especially in today's fast-paced world oh absolutely like being able to get to the point quickly is huge asset it shows respect for people's time you know yeah no one wants to listen to someone Ramble On and On exactly so concise is about conveying a lot of information yes clearly but in as few words

as possible it's about being succinct getting straight to the heart of the matter and then there's Lucid which is kind of like concise but with a focus on being easily understood right it's like those instructions that are so clear you don't even have to ask any questions yeah they just make perfect sense exactly and that's the power of lucid communication yeah there's no room for misinterpretation mhm and then there's this word perspicuous okay which I just love I don't know why I love that word it is a good one it is a good word it

has a certain ring to it it does yeah and it basically means expressed in a way that leaves no doubt or confusion mhm it's like the professor whose lecture is so perspicuous right that it clarifies every single question you had it's like the idea is illuminated yeah yeah exactly and and it's interesting because I feel like perspicuous is almost like proactive Clarity I see right you man you know it anticipates potential misunderstandings and addresses them before they even arise that's a really insightful point so having this whole spectrum of words like concise lucid and perspicuous

and perspicuous allows you to really tailor your language to the situation and to the person you're talking to absolutely it gives you the tools to be both efficient and effective in your communication Okay so now let's shift gears a bit right and talk about describing people okay and their personalities because let's face it we meet all sorts of people in our lives oh yeah and having a rich vocabulary to describe them just makes things so much more interesting and insightful absolutely it allows us to paint more Vivid and nuanced portraits of the individuals we encounter

so one word that came up was gregarious oh I love that word it's such a fun word it is and it describes someone who loves the company of others who's always up for socializing yeah like that person who just lights up a room right they bring energy and enthusiasm to every social Gathering the example they gave was he is a gregarious person who loves attending social events perfect example yeah you could just picture that person right absolutely now let's contrast that with someone who's meticulous this describes someone who pays extreme attention to detail right they're

all about precision and accuracy yeah like a surgeon or an editor M you know they're the ones who catch the tiny errors exactly and the example her meticulous approach ensures no errors in her work really highlights how crucial that trait can be in certain professions yeah absolutely and then there's pragmatic ah the pragmatist there's someone who's very practical and down toe right they're focused on what works rather than getting caught up in abstract ideas yeah they're all about finding the most efficient and effective solution precisely and the example they gave was he takes a pragmatic

approach to problem solving it's about getting things done exactly so for you listening think about the different areas of your life mhm where could a more pragmatic perspective help you achieve better results I love that you're constantly bringing it back to the listener and their personal growth well that's the whole point right it's not just about learning these words in a vacuum it's about applying them to make positive changes exactly okay so moving on to another interesting word astute okay this this describes someone who's sharp intelligent and has really good judgment H they have a

knack for understanding situations quickly and making wise decisions yeah it's like they just have this Natural Insight the example they gave was she made an astute investment that paid off well it suggest that there was more to it than just luck there was a real understanding of the market and the ability to see potential where others might not absolutely and finally in this section we have magnanimous ah magnanimous such a powerful word it is it describes someone who's generous and forgiving M especially towards someone who's maybe less powerful or who has wronged them in some

way yeah it speaks to a real nobility of character right the example they gave was despite their disagreement he remained magnanimous and forgiving it's about Rising above pettiness and showing compassion even in challenging circumstances it's a beautiful quality it really is so as you can see having these words at your disposal just allows you to describe people m in a much more nuanced and interesting way it's like having a whole new set of colors to paint with exactly instead of just saying someone is nice or smart you can use words like gregarious or astute to

really capture their Essence okay so now let's dive into the world of professional and academic vocabulary because let's face it these are the words that can really boost your credibility and make you sound like an expert oh absolutely they give you that extra Edge in more formal settings so let's start with the business World okay one word that's thrown around a lot is synergy synergy yeah it's all about the power of collaboration right it's that idea that when people or teams work together effectively the results are greater than the sum of their individual contributions exactly

it's like 1 plus 1 equals 3 yeah the example they gave was the Synergy between the marketing and sales teams increased Revenue significantly it highlights how that collaboration can create a real multiplier effect and then there's proactive ah yes being proactive this is so important in the workplace it really is it's about taking initiative anticipating problems and taking action before they even arise it's about being a step ahead exactly and in customer service it's about going above and beyond to ensure a positive experience absolutely now on the flip side there's ambiguous okay this is a

word you want to be careful with it is it can lead to a lot of confusion it basically means that something can be interpreted in more than one way right it's unclear and open to multiple meanings and the example they gave was the contract's ambiguous wording led to costly legal disputes oh yeah ambiguity in legal documents is a recipe for disaster exactly so it's important to be very precise and clear especially in formal settings absolutely now shifting gears to something more positive right there's entrepreneurial ah the entrepreneurial spirit this describes someone who's willing to take

risks and start new Ventures right they're driven by Innovation and the desire to to build something from the ground up the example they gave was his entrepreneurial Spirit led to the rapid growth of his Tech startup it captures that combination of vision passion and a willingness to embrace uncertainty absolutely and speaking of success in the business World mhm there's lucrative yeah yes lucrative this describes something that produces a significant profit or wealth right it's all about financial gain the example they gave was investing in renewable energy can be a surprisingly lucrative Venture in the long

term it highlights the potential for financial rewards in Emerging Markets all right so now let's move on to the academic world okay because there are some really interesting words here that can elevate your Communication in this Sphere for sure so one word that comes to mind is extrapolate extrapolate this is all about taking existing data or Trends and using them to make predictions or inferences about the future right it's a key skill in research and Analysis yeah the example they gave was based on current research we can extrapolate potential long-term effects it highlights how we

can use what we know to make educated guesses about what might happen exactly and then there's Paradigm ah paradig this is a big one it refers to a dominant Theory framework or way of thinking within a particular field right it's the accepted model or set of beliefs that shapes how people approach a subject the example they gave was the scientific Paradigm shifted dramatically with the theory of relativity that's a great example because it shows how a groundbreaking discovery can completely change our understanding of the world and then there's cogent coent this describes an argument or

reasoning that is clear logical and convincing right it's about presenting your ideas in a way that is both compelling and persuasive the example they gave was her cogent analysis of the data persuaded the panel of experts it highlights how a well-reasoned argument can really sway people's opinions absolutely now here's a word that comes with a bit of a caution esoteric uh yes esoteric this describes knowledge that is understood by only a small specialized group of people right it's specialized knowledge that can be quite difficult for Outsiders to grasp the example they gave was the nuances

of quantum physics can seem quite esoteric to those outside the field it's a reminder that while specialized language is essential within certain disciplines using it too broadly can alienate your audience exactly so it's all about knowing your audience and using language that is appropriate for the context absolutely and finally in this section we have audite ah this describes someone who possesses or displays great knowledge and learning right they're well read well informed and just have a deep understanding of a wide range of subjects the example they gave was his arite presentation covered centuries of philosophical

thought it suggests a breadth and depth of knowledge that is truly impressive so these professional and academic words they really give you the tools to communicate effectively yeah in these specific context absolutely they allow you to engage with the material on a deeper level and really show that you know your stuff okay so now let's move on to the fascinating world of emotions and feelings right because sometimes simple words like happy or sad just don't cut it right they don't quite capture the complexity of our emotional experiences so our sources provided some really great vocabulary

to help us articulate those nuances okay so one word that stood out to me was exuberant exuberant it describes someone who's just full energy excitement and enthusiasm right they radiate joy and positivity yeah the example they gave was her exuberant greeting made everyone feel instantly welcome it's like their happiness is contagious yeah actually it just spreads to everyone around them now on the other end of the spectrum we have despondent ah despondent this describes someone who's lost all hope and is in a state of deep sadness or despair right it goes beyond just feeling down

it's a profound sense of hopelessness yeah the example they gave was he felt utterly despondent after receiving the bad news it suggests that they're really struggling to cope with a difficult situation and then there's nonchalant nonchalant okay this is someone who appears calm and unconcerned even in stressful situations right they have this air of indifference the example they gave was she remained nonchalant despite the obvious danger it's like they're completely unfazed by what's going on around them which can be both intriguing and a little unsettling yeah you're left wondering what's really going on beneath the

surface exactly are they truly unbothered or are they just really good at hiding their feelings and then we have Melancholy ah Melancholy this is a beautiful word it is it describes a pensive sadness often thoughtful and maybe a bit wistful right it's a more gentle introspective kind of sadness the example they gave was the old photograph evoked a feeling of melancholy it's like a Bittersweet longing for the past yeah exactly and finally for expressing extreme joy we have ecstatic ecstatic this is pure unadulterated happiness right like being on top of the world yeah the example

they gave was they were ecstatic after their team won the championship it's that feeling of overwhelming joy and excitement so having all of these words at your disposal M just allows you to express your emotions and feelings with much more depth and accuracy absolutely it's like having a more refined vocabulary for your World okay so let's wrap things up with our final category Advanced vocabulary for debates and discussions all right let's get argumentative now these are the words that can help you really hold your own in any debate they give you the tools to articulate

your points clearly analyze opposing views and just navigate those discussions more effectively so a key word in any debate is rebuttal re mudle this is a direct counterargument to a claim or point right it's about addressing the opposing Sid's arguments head on the example they gave was her well-reasoned rebuttal effectively addressed the criticisms it shows that you're not just ignoring the other side's perspective yeah you're actively engaging with it and presenting a counterargument and taking a step further there's refute refute okay this means to prove a statement or Theory wrong or false right it's about

providing evidence or logic to dismantle the opposing argument the example they gave was the New Evidence conclusively refuted the long-held belief it's a stronger claim than just disagreeing you're actually demonstrating that the other side's position is incorrect now for those really tricky situations M there's conundrums ah conundrums yes this refers to a difficult problem or dilemma with no easy or obvious solution right it's those situations where you're just like how do I even approach this the example they gave was the ethical conundrum of artificial intelligence continues to be debated it's a great example because AI

presents all sorts of complex challenges with no easy ANW exactly and then there's fallacy fallacy this is a mistaken belief or unsound argument based on flawed logic right it's about identifying those errors and reasoning that can lead to false conclusions the example they gave was his entire argument rested on a wellknown logical fallacy it highlights the importance of critical thinking in any debate or discussion yeah being able to spot those fallacies can really help you avoid getting misled absolutely and finally we have juxtapose juxtapose okay okay this means to place two or more things side

by side M for the purpose of comparison or contrast right it's a great way to highlight similarities or differences the example they gave was the author cleverly juxtaposed the character's contrasting viewpoints it shows how this technique can be used to create tension or emphasize key distinctions so all of these words they really equip you to not only participate more effectively in debates H but also to analyze the arguments presented by others with the more critical eye absolutely they give you the tools to be both a persuasive speaker and a Discerning listener so as we wrap

up this deep dive into advanced vocabulary yeah it's clear that expanding your linguistic toolkit can really make a difference oh for sure it empowers you to communicate with greater sophistication and precision absolutely and for you our listener I encourage you to think about which of these words really resonated with you which ones do you think you could start using today yeah in your everyday conversations in your writing absolutely and you know it might feel a little awkward at first but the more you use them the more natural they'll become exactly and soon they'll be a

seamless part of your vocabulary and this brings us to a final thought for you to consider okay how do you think even just incorporating a few of these more advanced words could subtly shift the way others perceive you your intelligence your confidence your command of the English language it's a powerful question it is and remember this deep dive MH it's just the beginning the Journey of expanding your vocabulary it's ongoing absolutely there's always more to learn and explore so what new linguistic Adventures will you embark on next I can't wait to find out me too

me too hey everyone and welcome back today we're going to be doing a deep dive into daily English practice a comprehensive guide awesome we'll be breaking down its key insights and helping you create a personalized plan to boost your English skills you know a lot of people I think find that even opening a guide can feel like a chore sometimes oh yeah for sure so we're here to make this fun defin and most importantly useful for you exactly exactly I think one of the things that stood out to me immediately um in the guide was

this emphasis on a holistic approach right you know so many people get hung up on yeah you know grammar rules and and things like that but this guide really encourages you to just leave English into your daily life yeah in a way that feels natural and not so much like study study study it's interesting you say that because that's one of the first things that jumped out of me as well was like rather than being this very strict kind of like you must do this type of guide it brings in the element of fun and

it encourages people to make it a part of their lifestyle yeah and and speaking of weaving it in the guide suggests something that seems super simple but I think could be a GameChanger have have you ever tried switching your phone and computer settings to English I have I actually have and it's fascinating how effective it can be it's all about what we call passive learning so it's constantly exposing your brain to the language even when you're not actively sitting down and studying oh I like that you think about it you hear a song on the

radio a few times and suddenly you find yourself humming along without even realizing you learned the lyrics that's true that's true it's the same with language yeah yeah that's a great analogy so it's like your brain is secretly absorbing all those patterns and nuances in the background exactly exactly and the guide takes this idea of subtle immersion even further it suggests labeling everyday objects around your house oh yeah with their English names now I know it might sound a little bit silly right but it's just those little visual reminders they can really cement those vocabulary

words in your mind I'm picturing like a sticky note on my fridge that says beware snack monster lives here yes what about you any funny label ideas come to mind well my coffee maker would definitely need a label that says life blood oh yeah definitely definitely but all jokes aside yeah the guide's point is to make the language a tangible part of your surroundings it's about making those constant little connections between the words and and the things they represent exactly I can see how that would make a huge difference but before we go slapping English

labels on everything the guide is really clear that we need to take a step back and set some solid goals absolutely I couldn't agree more because it's like setting out on a road trip without knowing where you're going yeah so what are you hoping to achieve with your English skills is it for work travel MH to connect with family and friends MH or maybe just for the joy of learning yeah yeah it's a great Point knowing your why can make all the difference in terms of staying motivated oh for sure and on track but sometimes

even when we have a clear why like I know why I want to do it but it's hard to know where to start um and I think that's where the guide's tips on all the different types of practice come in absolutely the guide breaks it down into several key areas uh starting with engaging with English media okay so let's talk about that movies TV shows podcasts audio books I mean there are so many options out there I know do you have any favorites that you would recommend ooh that's a good question I think it really

depends on your personal interest yeah if you're a fan of documentaries for example you could check out some of the amazing Nature Documentaries on platforms like Netflix or BBC oo good idea there's so much out there and I know a lot of people are into True Crime podcasts these days there's so many great ones to choose from yeah do you think it matters what kind of accent the speakers have that is a great question um I think being exposed to different accents is definitely beneficial it helps to train your ear to understand different ways of

speaking English But ultimately the most important thing is to choose something you genuinely enjoy listening to whether it's British crime drama or an American Comedy podcast right it shouldn't feel like homework exactly exactly and speaking of things that might feel like homework the guide also talks about the importance of speaking practice but for a lot of people that can feel super intimidating any tips for overcoming that fear of speaking well the guide suggests a technique that might sound a little unconven at first have you ever considered talking to yourself in English I know I know

it sounds a bit strange but I think there's something to it absolutely it's a safe space to practice without that pressure of an audience yeah you can experiment with different vocabulary work in your pronunciation and just get comfortable with the rhythm of the language and you don't have to worry about making mistakes EG because you're only listener is yeah although if you start answering yourself back in a different accent that might be ass sign you need to get out more exactly maybe take a break from the English practice for a little bit but you know

even narrating your daily activities like I'm making breakfast now or I need to find my keys those little things can make a difference it's about getting those English words out of your head and and into the real world in a way precisely and if you were ready to venture Beyond talking to yourself okay the guide also suggests finding a language partner okay that sounds sounds a little bit less daunting than you know giving a presentation in English right where do you even find a language partner and and how does that actually work well there's a

few different ways to go about it the guide mentions online platforms like conversation exchange.com okay and apps like tandem or hello talk uh where you can connect with people from all over the world so for example if I'm learning English and I'm also fluent in Spanish I could find someone who's learning Spanish and wants to practice English we could help each other out yeah it's a great way to get real life conversation practice Yeah and learn from each other's experiences it's like a language learning buddy system but what if you're not really into the whole

online thing right are there offline options for finding language Partners definitely the guide also suggests checking out local meetups or language exchange events okay you could look for language cafes conversation clubs or even just search for English conversation groups on websites like meetup.com I love that idea I think that's a chance to meet people face to face and practice your English skills in a relaxed and supportive environment and you never know you might even make some new friends along the way you never know exactly it opens up a whole new world of possibilities definitely definitely

all right so I think we've covered some really good ground here in terms of you know setting ourselves up for success for sure um we've got the goals yes we've got the idea of immersing ourselves in the Lang language and kind of finding those opportunities to practice speaking I'm really excited to dig into the next section which is all about vocabulary building two but before we do that how about we take a quick break just to let all this information sink in so good we'll be back soon to delve into the secrets of building a

powerful English vocabulary okay wait welcome back I am ready to tackle vocabulary now it just feels like such a key part of feeling confident in a new language absolutely it's like the building blocks right and the guide really Dives deep into this offering both you know classic approaches and some maybe a little bit more unexpected okay yeah we all know about flashcards do you use those I have tried them I have to admit I sometimes get a little bored just flipping through cards I know they work for some people but I'm always looking for ways

to make it you know more engaging right what does the guide say about that well it acknowledges that flashcards and apps like Quizlet can be helpful yeah especially for learning those initial words but it really emphasizes that true fluency goes beyond simply recognizing words in isolation so it's not enough to just memorize a list of words right I guess that makes sense like you could know a ton of words but still not know how to actually use them exactly in a real conversation it's like having all the ingredients but not knowing the recipe yeah yeah

exactly what I find really interesting is the guides focus on understanding words in cont context right it's about seeing how words work together how they're used in different situations and even how their meanings can shift depending on the surrounding words so it's about moving beyond the dictionary definition and seeing how words behave in the wild precisely and it suggests a few ways to do this one is to create your own sentences with new words okay try to use them in a variety of ways another is to just pay attention to how words are used in

the books or articles or podcasts that you're already enjoying that sounds a lot more interesting than just memorizing definitions I like that yeah the guide also mentions something called collocations yes I've heard of those but I'm not totally clear on what they are or why they're so important can you kind of break that down for us of course collocations are basically words that tend to go together naturally okay like we say make a decision not do a decision right or catch a cold not grab a cold okay yeah you know they're these little pairings that

native speakers just instinctively know yeah and using them correctly can make your English sound much more natural and fluent oh I see it's like those Unwritten rules of the language that you pick up yeah through exposure and practice exactly and the guide stresses that becoming aware of collocations can be a real GameChanger for your vocabulary development okay it's not just about learning individual words it's about understanding how they connect and interact with each other so how can we train ourselves to notice and use collocations correctly it's all about paying attention as you read and listen

to English start noticing those common word pairings you'll find them everywhere yeah and the more you encounter them yeah the more natural they'll become in your own speaking and writing got it it's like training your brain to recognize those patterns and then incorporating them into your own language exactly this makes me think about something we touched on earlier active listening it it seems like that could be a really helpful skill for picking up on collocations too right oh you're absolutely right active listening is not just about understanding The Words MH it's about tuning into those

subtle nuances right of how words are used together it's about becoming a language detective ooh I like that analogy so beyond just paying attention what are some specific techniques that we can use to make our listening more active and effective well the guy offers some really great advice here one key tip is to minimize distractions oh yeah good point put away your phone turn off the TV and really focus on what you're listening to right create that space exactly yeah you'll be amazed how much more you absorb mhm when you eliminate those external distractions it's

like creating a mental space where you can fully immerse yourself in the language exactly another tip is to take notes while you listen okay it doesn't have to be anything fancy you know just jotting down keywords phrases or even questions that come up this can really help you process the information and remember it better it's almost like having a conversation with the material yeah you're not just passively absorbing it you're actively engaging with it precisely and if you're listening to a podcast or audiobook yeah don't be afraid to pause and Rewind if you need to

catch something mhm the beauty of those formats is you can control the pace right and go back as many times as you need to yeah that's such a good point I used to feel almost guilty rewinding like I was somehow failing at listening oh yeah but it's really just about giving yourself the time and space to fully grasp what you're hearing absolutely and remember active listening isn't just about comprehension right it's also about noticing those subtle aspects of language like collocations Yeah Yeah the more you expose yourself to authentic English the more you'll internalize those

patterns and nuances Okay so we've got active listening down but what about reading yes how can we make sure we're getting the most out of our reading practice that's another area where the guide offers some great insights okay it encourages us to go beyond simply reading for pleasure uhhuh you know which is definitely important too yeah of course but it suggests approaching reading as a way to actively expand your vocabulary okay and deepen your understanding of grammar and sentence structure so it's about reading with a purpose not just to pass the time or get lost

in a story exactly and the guide offers a few techniques to make your reading more active and purposeful okay like what one is to preview the text before you start reading okay look at the title yeah headings subheadings anything that gives you clues about the topic and the main ideas so it's like creating a mental map of where the text is going to take you right then as you read ask yourself questions about the text okay what's the author's main point what evidence do they use to support their arguments yeah how does this information connect

to what I already know it's like having an internal dialogue with the author like challenging their ideas yes and making connections to your own knowledge exactly yeah and finally after you finish reading take a few minutes to summarize what you've learned okay you could do this mentally yeah or even better write down a brief summary in your own words uhh this helps you solidify your understanding right and identify any areas where you might need to go back and reread it's about making those ideas stick and speaking of making things stick the guide also emphasizes the

importance of keeping a vocabulary Journal have you ever tried that I have and I think it can be a really helpful tool it's not just about writing down definitions it's about creating your own personal dictionary okay where you can record new words example sentences collocations even little sketches or diagrams oh wow that help you remember the meanings it's like a visual representation of your expanding vocabulary exactly but let's be honest even with all the best techniques building vocabulary takes time and effort what does the guid say about staying motivated when those words just don't seem

to be sticking well the guide offers a few strategies for those moments when you feel like giving up okay one is to set realistic goals yeah don't try to learn a 100 new words a day right start small maybe five or 10 words and gradually increase the number as you feel more comfortable it's about building that vocabulary muscle gradually rather than trying to do a mental Marathon right out of the gate exactly and another key tip is to review those words regularly cor repetition is key when it comes to learning anything new yeah and vocabulary

is no exception so make sure you're revisiting those words using them in different contexts and testing yourself to see how well you remember them it's about making those words a part of your active vocabulary not just something you passively recognize exactly but what if we're not sure what words to f focus on should we just start at the beginning of the dictionary and work our way through that might not be the most efficient approach the guide encourages us to be strategic about our vocabulary choices okay think about your goals what do you want to be

able to talk about in English what topics are you most interested in right focus on words that are relevant to your interests and goals that makes a lot of sense so if I'm you know passionate about cooking I should prioritize learning words related to food recipes ingredients cooking techniques exactly and don't be afraid to personalize your Learning Journey yeah choose resources that you find interesting and engaging whether it's a cookbook a food blog or even a YouTube channel dedicated to your favorite Cuisine it's all about making learning fun and relevant to your life Okay so

we've got some solid strategies for building vocabulary but let's be real sometimes even the most motivated language Learners kind of hit a wall yeah what does the guide say about pushing through those moment of frustration and staying on track the guide emphasizes the importance of finding your why that deep-seated reason that's driving you to learn English when you connect with your why it can fuel your motivation and help you push through those challenging times it's like remembering the bigger picture and why this journey is important to you exactly yeah and don't forget to celebrate those

Milestones along the way oh yeah good point did you finally master that tricky grammar rule were you able to have a conversation with a native speaker without feeling lost give yourself a pat on the back yeah celebrate those wins those small victories can make a big difference in keeping you motivated it's about acknowledging those wins and recognizing how far you've come absolutely but what if you're not seeing the progress that you hope for how do you stay positive when you feel like you're stuck the guide reminds us that language learning is a journey not a

race I like that there will be bumps along the road plateaus where you feel like you're not moving forward yeah yeah for sure the key is to be patient with yourself Embrace those challenges as part of the process and keep moving forward even if it's just one small step at a time it's about having a growth mindset and seeing those setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve exactly and remember you're not alone on this journey there are countless others out there who are learning English facing similar challenges and celebrating similar victories don't be afraid to

connect with other Learners share your experiences and support each other along the way that's such a great point it's about building a community of language Learners who can encourage and Inspire each other precisely and speaking of community the guide also delves into the world of technology yeah and how it can support our language learning Journey ready to explore some of the digital tools and resources that are out there absolutely I'm always curious about new apps and platforms that can make learning more fun and accessible well you're in luck yeah the guide highlights a wide range

of tech tools okay from language learning apps to online courses and language exchange platforms okay I'm all yours let's dive into the digital side of language learning all right so we're back and ready to explore the world of tech for language learning it feels like there's a new app or platform popping up every day what are some of the standouts that the guide mentions what breaks them down into a few main categories starting with language learning apps you've probably heard of some of the big names like dualingo Babble and Rosetta Stone have you tried any

of those I've dabbled in dualingo I like the game ofi approach yeah but sometimes it feels a bit superficial like it's not really getting me to where I want to be that's a good point I mean dual lingo is great for beginners especially for building basic vocabulary and grammar yeah it's fun and engaging but it might not be enough to get you to you know true fluency so if someone wants to go a little deeper what would you recommend it really depends on their learning style and goals okay Babel for example is known for its

focus on practical conversational skills it covers a wide Rod of real life topics and situations so it's great for Learners who want to be able to use English in everyday settings so if someone's planning a trip abroad Babel could help them with phrases for ordering food asking for directions navigating those everyday travel scenarios exactly yeah then there's Rosetta Stone which takes a more immersive approach it teaches English through pictures audio and text without relying on translations okay it's known for being effective for building pronunciation and speaking skills it's almost like learning a language the way

children do yeah through exposure and immersion rather than through direct translation it's fascinating how these different apps use different methodologies to achieve similar goals it is it is and that's what makes exploring these tools so interesting it's not a one siiz fits-all situation right the guide really stresses that the key is to find an app that aligns with your individual learning style and the specific skills you want to develop it's about choosing the right tool for the job but apps are just one piece of the tech puzzle right yeah what about online courses are we

talking about those massive open online courses like the ones on corsera or udemy those are definitely part of the landscape the guide highlight platforms like those which offer a huge variety of courses from grammar and vocabulary to business English and exam preparation wow they can be a great way to Deep in your knowledge in a specific area okay or to work towards a particular certification so if someone wants to improve their English for a specific career field like healthcare or technology they could find a specialized course that caters to their needs exactly and one of

the great things about online courses is the flexibility yeah you can learn at your own pace on your own schedule from anywhere in the world it's like having a personalized English tutor available 247 it is but even with the best apps and courses I think there's something to be said for the human element of language learning what does the guide say about that you're so right and it actually dedicates a whole section to the importance of you know Finding Your tribe connecting with other English Learners and creating that sense of community I love that idea

it's like forming a support system where you can share resources practice together and celebrate each other's wins where do you suggest people find their language learning tribe well the guide mentions a few options starting with online communities redddit for example has tons of subreddits dedicated to language learning like English learning or language exchange these online forums can be great places to ask questions get advice and connect with people from all over the world it's amazing how technology can bring people together who share a common passion for language learning it really is it really is and

if you prefer face-to-face interaction are there offline options too definitely the guide also suggests checking out those local meups or languag exchange events you could look for language cafes conversation clubs or even just search for English conversation groups on websites like meetup.com I can imagine those meetups being a lot of fun it's a chance to practice your English skills in a relaxed and supportive environment and who knows you might even make some new friends along the way exactly it's about creating that social aspect to your language learning journey and making it more enjoyable and engaging

well we've covered a lot of ground today we've explored the core principles of daily English practice delved into specific techniques for improving our skills and even ventured into the world of technology and community building but before we wrap up I'd love to hear your thoughts on something that I think a lot of listeners struggle with and that's motivation how do we keep the momentum going and make language learning a sustainable part of our Lives that's such a great question and it's something that the guide addresses directly one of the key takeaways is that consistency is

key mhm it's much more effective to practice for a short time each day than to try to cram everything into one long study session once a week so it's about finding those little pockets of time in our day where we can weave in some English practice whether it's listening to a podcast during our commute or reading an article before bed exactly and it's also about setting realistic goals uh-huh and celebrating those small wins along the way don't get discouraged if you don't see results overnight language learning is a journey and it takes time effort and

patience it's about focusing on progress not Perfection precisely and remember you're not alone on this journey there are countless others out there who are learning English facing similar challenges and celebrating similar victories don't be afraid to connect with other Learners share your experiences and support each other along the way absolutely we're all in this together well this has been a fantastic Deep dive I feel like we've really uncovered some amazing strategies and insights from daily English practice a comprehensive of guide that our listeners can start using right away I agree I think there's something in

here for everyone definitely and to all our listeners out there keep practicing stay curious and most importantly have fun on your language learning adventure we'll see you next time for another Deep dive all right so you guys have given us like a ton of material this time yeah lot to unpack and it's all about you know those things that get in the way when you're trying to actually like achieve something big so what we want to do in this uh Deep dive is is to go beyond just you know lifting out those roadblocks we want

to really dig into why these things you know based on what you guys have sent in trip us up and more importantly how to actually you know get past them absolutely I think and like you said you've given us so much material so diverse um but I think one of the things that it really emphasizes is that you know success is such a personal thing right right it could be you know for some people Financial Security for other people it's uh a deeper sense of purpose you know for other people it's really strong connections or

leaving you know some kind of lasting impact yeah but what I think is fascinating is that even though those definitions are all over the place the reasons that we stumble you know those underlying reasons often share kind of these commonalities right so it's almost like a you know a personalized road map of what are those things that get in our way yeah okay so like let's just dive into it something I think resonates with pretty much everyone fear of failure yeah your research like really emphasized this as you know just like a Bas level obstacle

for so many people absolutely and one of the things that um I remember from U one of the studies you guys sent me was you know almost describing it as this like deeply ingrained protective mechanism you know we're we're naturally inclined to you know avoid potential harm and in many ways you know failing at something it it activates that same kind of cautious response right makes sense um but I think one of the things that I really like was was just Stark was the statistic that over half of people like dream of starting a business

but only a small fraction actually take that step yeah it's a huge difference over 50% are held back by you know what are what are the big things what are they what are they afraid of I think the big things are you know and they were pretty consistent across the board um losing their their financial investment the money they put in facing you know kind of public scrutiny judgment ridicule ridicule exactly or just even like damaging their reputation yeah you put yourself out there and totally it it doesn't work and it doesn't work but I

think the really kind of crucial point that a lot of the Articles brought up was you know that this fear itself can create this barrier right that you know by avoiding that risk of failure people are kind of you know sometimes inadvertently preventing the possibility of success yeah so it's almost like we're we're preemptively defeating ourselves exactly and I know you know there was some interesting stuff about uh changing our perspective on failure right absolutely like how do we how do we look at that differently well I think you know rather than seeing it as

this kind of you know definitive end point yeah you know the Articles really encouraged you to see it as this like indispensable part of the process yeah you know that that that learning and the example that kept coming up uh was Thomas Edison and his light bulb you know that he had all of these you know atts that didn't work right thousands but they weren't yeah they weren't useless it was yeah each one was informing you know the next step The Next Step so each one was like data it was just information gather information gathering

exactly and that's that's exactly what it is yeah um you know but but I think you how do you actually how do you actually change that yeah how do you make that shift especially when it feels you know when it feels scary you know when it feels like there's a lot at stake totally and I think a lot of the Articles had a really practical suggestion which is start small okay like start with with with more manageable risks like baby steps kind of baby steps exactly and and it it's almost like you building a tolerance

yes you know you're you're you're getting used to um that feeling of potential setback yeah and you're learning from it in a in a way that's um less threatening right but I think the really important thing is and this was emphasized a lot is you know to to Really consciously reflect like after after every attempt regardless of the outcome sit down and really think about you know what what can I take from this how can I how can I change what I'm doing moving forward I like that it's taking the data and doing something with

it totally that makes a lot of sense okay so next up something that I you know I've definitely struggled with lack of clear goals oh yeah where you know you have an idea of what you want but you haven't really nailed down the specifics absolutely and I think your sources they they really hit on this as as you know just this major thing that gets in the way because you know these really General aspirations like you know I want to be more successful or you know I want to be happy or whatever like it just

doesn't give you that direction to you know really fuel consistent action you know like how are you actually going to measure that yeah it's it's almost like you know I was reading one of the things that you uh pulled out it was about Fitness yes and it was like saying you know I want to get in shape is so different than saying you know I want to be able to run a 5K in under 30 minutes by the end of the year exactly one is a wish and the other one is like almost instructions yeah

so how do you get from that vague desire to something more concrete well everything pointed to this smart framework okay which is specific measurable achievable relevant and time bound okay that's that's a lot but um but I think what it really does is it forces you to like Define those aspirations in a way that you can act on them and you can track them okay so walk us through it like let's say you know I want to improve my finances right how do we make that smart Okay so instead of you know I want to

improve my finances you might say I will increase my savings by $5,000 within the next 12 months okay by allocating $400 per month for my current income so there's you know action getting specific you're getting specific and and exploring One new side income opportunity that I will dedicate at least 5 hours per week too so you know in that case it's specific right increase savings by a particular amount it's measurable $5,000 hopefully it's achievable you know depending on your financial situations it's relevant right to I want to improve my finances and then it's time bound

within the year within 12 months and I think and this was emphasized a lot in the material is breaking it down and you know like weekly tasks monthly tasks it really makes a difference in terms of you know staying motivated and and not feeling overwhelmed yeah that makes sense when you see it broken down that way it seems a lot more attainable absolutely okay um let's move on to another thing that pretty much everyone I know struggles with procrastination oh yeah like that tendency to put off what's really important for something you know that's not

yeah and you know in a nutshell you know you guys Define it as that act of delaying important tasks right often favor of something that's more immediately gratifying or you know just less demanding right like gives you that instant gratification but it's not moving you towards you know where you want to be long term and and I think there was a stat like 20% of adults yeah something like that identify as chronic procrastinators which is a lot of people yeah that's a lot yeah um and and I thought it was really interesting like it you

know the research said it's it's not laziness it's uh what was the term emotional regulation yeah yeah that was interesting a lot of the sources talked about that and and I thought that's you know that's really insightful because I think we think oh I'm just being lazy right but it's actually more about um almost like a way of avoiding these negative feelings that come up when you think about the task okay so like give us an example like what kind of negative feelings are we talking about well you know you might think about a task

and it feels overwhelming sure or you know really boring yeah um or you know it's super stressful or there's a chance you might fail at it or you might fail at it exactly and so by putting it off you know you're getting this like temporary relief from that discomfort but then but then what happens well then you know as as a lot of your sources pointed out like that avoidance can really backfire yeah because you know as the deadline gets closer and closer the stress the guilt the anxiety it all kind of piles up right

like that student who puts off studying all semester oh yeah classic and then it's like the night before and they're cramming totally and they haven't really you know absorbed the material so so how do you how do you stop that like how do you break that cycle well you know there were there were a lot of great strategies in your sources yeah um and one of the the key recommendations that came up again and again was to you know kind of figure out what your personal procrastination triggers are you know like what are those things

that that that make you want to delay so almost like know thyself yeah exactly you you know once you once you kind of figure out what those patterns are you know then you can start to like okay how do I how do I deal with this okay um another technique a lot of them mention the two-minute rule which I love I like that it's it's so simple you know if you can do it in under 2 minutes just do it just do it get it done yeah and and it really it really helps you kind

of you know build that momentum yeah get those little things out of the way exactly okay and then what about the bigger things like you know I can see how that works for the small stuff yeah well I think for bigger tasks breaking them down into smaller steps like really small steps um and a lot of times just starting with like the easiest thing okay you know that can can be enough to to kind of get you over that that initial hurdle yeah just got to start somewhere okay so let's talk about something that you

know is sometimes mistaken for diligence yeah seeking Perfection ah perfectionism the double-edged sword yeah it really is it it you know it it gets praised a lot as a virtue right um but but as you know your sources were really pointing out like it can really get in your way yeah you know it's it's great to have high standards but if you were waiting for the perfect moment the perfect plan the perfect outcome you're never going to do anything I know so many people like that and and honestly I've been guilty of it myself it's

like you get in that analysis paralysis you know you're waiting for all the stars to align and it it never happens and the cost of that you know according to the material that you sent me yeah is that you miss opportunities you know because especially you know in in the world that we're living in today where things are changing so quickly speed and iteration are way more valuable than trying to you know Reach This ideal that doesn't even exist so how do we break free of this this this need for everything to be perfect I

think one of the the key insights from all of the material is to embrace the idea of good enough you know especially for the first iteration okay you know have high standards but also understand their feedback and actually putting it out in the world you know is going to be give you the most valuable information yeah you know and there was this quote from Reed Hawkman I don't know if you know him he's the co-founder of LinkedIn and he's you know he famously said if you're not embarrassed by the first version of your product you've

launched too late I love that it's it's it's so true you know getting something out there and and seeing how people respond to it is so much better than you know working on it in secret for years and trying to make it this you know this perfect thing yeah and I think that ties into what we're talking about earlier like taking failure as data totally so you put it out there maybe it's not perfect you get that feedback you learn from it absolutely you make it better okay let's uh let's move on to something else

that you know I think underpins a lot of successful things self-discipline yeah and you know a lot of your sources were saying like it's more important than just motivation totally you know I think motivation is great you know get you started yeah it's that initial Spark It's the spark but um as all the sources were saying you know it's not a sustainable fuel source it's fickle it comes and goes it really does and I think you know real success whatever whatever that means for you it's so much more about consistent effort even when you don't

feel like it you know I think a lot of us we do things when we feel like it yeah you're relying on that motivation but the material is really making a distinction between dreamers and Achievers right and the Achievers are the ones who just show up consistently like day in and day out rain or shine yeah yeah um and I think you know you guys sent me some some really great examples of this you know Serena Williams her training regimen you know she does it all year round wow even in the offseason even in the

offseason yeah and then you had Stephen King you know he he writes a certain number of words every day regardless of whether he feels inspired or not like his job is to write that's his job exactly yeah okay so how do you cultivate that like if it doesn't come naturally to you how do you become more self-disciplined well all the advice that you sent was you know start small like really small yeah you know choose one or two kind of key habits that you want to build okay and and really focus on those you know

it could be as simple as you know spending 15 minutes every day on a particular task you know or a really short exercise routine um and a lot of your articles mentioned you know habit trackers yeah which are you know they give you that visual reinforcement it's like checking things off yeah it's like checking things off and it it it does give you that sense of accomplishment like you're building momentum You're Building momentum and over time you know you start small you're consistent and and and it really strengthens your capacity for self-discipline so you're not

so reliant on that that fleeting motivation exactly got it okay let's talk about um something that's so important I think in in in anything you want to do which is not underestimating the power of learning oh yeah continuous learning it's induced learning yeah and especially in you know the world today it's changing so rapidly constantly that if you you know refuse to you know learn and adapt it it's going to be a big problem yeah you know if you think you already know everything you need to know you're you're going to be obsolete you're going

to be like Left Behind totally left behind and there was a great example you guys sent me about um a marketing professional who was using like all these old school techniques like while the internet's happening well the internet's happening social media like come on yeah yeah you know and it's it's just like you know trying to use you know tools from like the rotary phone era right to fix a smartphone totally to fix a smartphone exactly yeah that's not going to work but I think you know and this was emphasized you know a lot is

it's not just about professional development yeah this this is for anybody this is for anybody who's you know trying to you know improve themselves achieve any any goal really yeah um and the example you guys had about Warren Buffett oh yeah like spending most of his day reading yeah you know it shows that that that commitment to to learning to to acquiring knowledge is is something that even people at the highest level yeah they don't just stop yeah exactly okay so what's the like what do we do what's the proactive thing how do we make

as a habit well I think you know one of the things that your sources really emphasized was adopting a growth mindset yeah you know like believing that you can actually you know improve you can learn new things and your your intelligence can be developed right um actively looking for new information you know and there's so many sources now you know books podcasts articles you know online courses mentorship talking to other people talking to other people yeah people who disagree with you yeah exactly like getting getting different perspectives yeah um and just making time for it

you know even if it's just you know a little bit every day every week it's just about you know staying curious and knowing that that pursuit of knowledge is ongoing yeah it doesn't end doesn't end okay curiosity that's that's the key okay um let's talk about your environment okay surrounding yourself with the wrong people oh that's a big one that's a big one like how how big of a deal is this it's it's massive your emphasized how much the people you're around you know they influence your thoughts your beliefs and ultimately your actions yeah and

you know being around people who are negative or who lack ambition or you know who discourage you like it can create this real drag on your progress you know think about friends who you know just dismiss your ideas right or a partner who you know just is resistant to change yeah or or colleagues who you know they just gossip all the time it's like you're trying to run a race and you've got like people just hanging on to you totally trying to pull you back yeah yeah yeah it it's it's like trying to you know

climb a hill and people are pulling you down yeah exactly um and one of the quotes that came up a lot um was Jim Ron he said you're the average of The Five People You spend the most time with oh I've had that one yeah it's a good one and it really it really you know sums up this idea and a lot of your material was was also referenc you know there's there's actual studies that that that show like how Behavior how attitudes you know they spread through through social networks so it's it's almost like

we catch these things totally totally from the people we're around exactly okay so what's the takeaway here well I think it's about you know it's almost like you need to consciously choose your environment curate it curate it exactly be really intentional about who you're spending time with and you know look for those people who you know who inspire you who challenge you in a good way you know who offer support who who share your values your Ambitions yeah you know and it might mean actively seeking out mentors yeah you know joining groups or communities that

that are aligned with your with your goals or or just you know spending more time with the Positive influences that you already have right and it's also okay you know to limit your exposure to those relationships that that drain you yeah that you know that aren't necessarily bad people yeah but you know you need to protect your energy you need to protect your time so it's it's almost like creating like a healthy ecosystem for yourself totally totally okay so that makes sense okay let's talk about another kind of drain overc committing oh yeah you know

saying yes to everything yes I am so guilty of this oh me too I think we all are yeah yeah and I think especially if you're the kind of person who you know is driven you see opportunities like yes I want do that you want to help you want to help exactly yeah but as all of your sources pointed out the the the cost of that is that you're diluting your focus you know and and your impact yeah you know but think about you know that freelancer who takes on every single project regardless of how

much it pays or if it's even a good fit yeah and then they're just overwhelmed yeah and they can't they can't do their best work or you know the entrepreneur who you know has like 10 different things going on at once and nothing really you know gets the attention it deserves it's like spreading yourself too thin spreading yourself too thin totally and the result is a lot of times you feel busy but you're not really productive exactly you're busy but not productive yeah yeah and I think you know real success it it requires that Focus

yeah you know it it it requires that you're making deliberate decisions about where to put your energy yeah so you're saying it's almost more important to say no sometimes yeah absolutely and and it's not just saying no to to bad opportunities it's even saying no to good opportunities if they don't align with your priorities so even if it's something that you know you'd enjoy doing totally totally you have to think about like what's the bigger picture here what's the bigger picture and there was a great example you know about Steve Jobs and how he simplified

Apple's product line oh yeah that was drastic it was drastic but he he basically he cut out all these distractions you know so so that they could really focus on making you know a few things amazing so it's like focusing by subtrac C yes exactly and that's so powerful so yeah how do we how do we get better at saying no yeah I think that's something we could all use some help with totally well the the material that you sent you know it it suggested that we you know sit down and really clarify our values

you know our top priorities like what's most important to us yeah and and then when you have that clear understanding you know it's it's easier to look at the requests that are coming in and and decide like okay does this fit in does this fit does this fit in with my values and my goals and be able to say no to those things that don't yeah even if it's hard yeah because you're protecting your time you're protecting your energy which ultimately makes you more effective exactly okay um let talk about something that's so basic but

it's easy to overlook okay ignoring your health oh yeah like in the pursuit of everything else you know we sometimes let this one slip absolutely and I think you know all of your sources really emphasize this like right it's it's shortsighted you know if you're sacrificing your sleep you know good nutrition exercise just to you know to be more productive in the short term it's it's going to catch up with you yeah it's not sustainable it's not sustainable like a lot of your research was pointing to like how it affects our mental capacity too oh

absolutely you know I mean there were there were several articles that talked about how you know if you're stressed you're sleep deprived you're you're not going to be thinking as clearly yeah and you're less creative less creative you're not making good decisions it's like trying to run a marathon on an empty tank totally totally um and and and I think the the really key takeaway you know that came up again and again was there's there's this connection between you know your physical and mental well