I work in a Call Center and sometimes it's kind of frustrated when you're speaking to a client on the phone and they say "I don't understand you. Can I speak to someone else?" even if you know you're speaking clear. Thank you for your encouragement!. ✌️✌️
YES! I thought it needed to be said - it is NOT you, it is very often them. I can imagine how frustrating that is. Because speaking on the phone is stressful for many people, they might be more impatient than usual and make a quick decision that they don't understand. But please don't take it personally - just keep working on that clarity!
The reason I speak clearly is that I emphasize my words through word and sentence stress. You can definitely learn how to do this through the videos on my channel. 😊
I completely agree! Sometimes communication challenges become more obvious when you're on the phone because you are only listening to the other person.
Kim você é maravilhosa, adoro sua pronúncia, sua sinceridade em relação aos assuntos e sua objetividade. Sou muito sortuda em ter encontrado você aqui. Continuo assistindo assiduamente seus vídeos muito satisfeita, obrigada por sua excelente colaboração :)
Obrigado pelas palavras amáveis :) Bem vinda ao meu canal. Eu entendi tudo o que você disse, mas escrever é mais difícil para mim. ;) Thank you for your kind words and for understanding the intentions behind my work!
Hi Kim, I didn't know that some native speakers choose to not understand people with a different/foreign accent, that is so sad.. But I think that the majority of native are not like this, I would make an effort to get every word If my mother tongue was English.. because I know how difficult is to learn and speak a different language.. By the way your videos about intonation, word stress, content words are very helpful for people who want to sound more natural.. Keep going this way, you're doing a great job👍
You're completely right - most native speakers WILL try to understand you. So if someone doesn't understand you, it's probably them. It's important to focus on the people who don't have this mental block. And you've made a GREAT point - if you've learned another language, you're much more likely to be patient with non-native speakers. The type of person who isn't comfortable with non-native accents has probably never tried to speak another language. They have NO IDEA how hard it is! I'm glad you appreciate my videos on stress and intonation - this is my area of expertise and so much more important than most people realize - but I know you get it! 😉
It happens. I am a native Spanish speaker who speaks English as a second language at work everyday. I communicate with a coworker to do my job, yet he says I have a language barrier. It's probably due to the fact that I don't speak as a native speaker. But I understand English is my second language. As long as I make myself understood, I don't see why someone would say I have a language barrier.
Yes this is real, the same thing happens between some Spanish-speaking countries, them choose don't understand to people with a foreign accent, although you speak more slowly and with good pronunciation. This happened to me when I arrived in Chile.
You're right - this can definitely happen even if you're a native speaker with another regional accent! I sometimes have trouble understanding people from New Zealand and some parts of the UK and Ireland. I'll have a video about why we react to accents coming out soon!
It took me a while to understand indians and chinese speak English. After years of working with them everyday, it's so easy for me now to understand them.
Thanks for sharing your experience! As I mention in this video, it can take some time to adjust your ear to accents you're not familiar with, but it's definitely worth the effort. We have to meet each other halfway.
That's awesome. As I explain in the video, stress and intonation are essential for being understood, and you can clearly hear the words I stress. Be sure to check out this video on how to train your ear to hear this in other people's voices: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-X8S17no_g3Y.html
Hi Kim. Thank you so much for your lessons. I've learned a lot! I'd like to ask you about the proper (natural) ways to follow conversations. When I talk with English speakers, I want to show that I am listening to what they are talking by saying 'okay, or 'right' from time to time. But, sometimes it seems that it is not the right way to do (I know from their reactions). Could you suggest me the right way to do this? Should I say something or just listen? Thanks.
Great question! What you're talking about is called "active listening" - showing people you're listening either by responding with rejoinders, asking questions, or nodding your head. I share five strategies for active listening in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UaWEAYooP-U.html As you'll learn, your tone of voice really matters when you're showing active listening. If your voice falls steeply, it can sound like you're annoyed or bored. Watch the video and practice the intonation and then let me know if you have other questions - this is a really important aspect of conversations in English!
Hi Kim! :) Definitely, every point that you said fits with me at some degree, but I think I'm more of the 5th; the reason why is because I tend to mislead words or expressions in a conversation (even here in the comments LOL :P), so that affects directly my confidence. Then I start hesitating. The ironic part is that it doesn't happen the same when I practice alone with myself; actually I feel that I'm much more fluent and capable to use a wide variety of words and expressions. I think it has to do with judgment issues! What do you think? Thanks so much with your amazing support! :) Have a wonderful week! Blessings!!
I am definitely more of the fifth when I speak Spanish, too! Before the other person gives me a clear signal that they understand and want to hear more, I tend to hesitate and question myself. We tend to give more enthusiastic conversational cues in the US, too, so I have high expectations. 😂 That's so interesting that you feel more fluent when practicing on your own! I think we all have this natural fear of judgment or rejection, especially if we feel like we're using "someone else's language" - like we're pretending, until they confirm we're okay. This same fear does arise for native speakers in public speaking situations, though. We all just want to be accepted!
The comment section can be overwhelming and it's easy to miss comments. Try leaving comments on more recent videos on "smaller" channels. Mention something you learned from the video and then share your perspective. 👍
In my experience second native speakers (countries where English is a second language) are more likely to get angry at you when they can't understand you. I never ever had even 1 case when an English person didn't understand me, but constantly was misunderstood in Malta (English as a second language). no idea why. I talk to the English - all understood, I talk to the Maltese - huge misunderstanding, but the Maltese understand the English. strange isn't?
Thank you for sharing your experience with me. That's a really interesting perspective. I noticed in classes filled with people from very different countries that people from some regions couldn't understand people from the opposite side of the world. Some people get used to hearing native English accents as well as English spoken in the non-native accent of their region/language, but it's frustrating for them when they can't understand people who are speaking English with a different non-native accent. It is another step in training your ear. As English becomes a more global language, it's important to adjust to other non-native speakers with a different accent, too. Once again, I appreciate hearing your story!
As far as I'm concerned, the time it will take to become fluent is as unique as the individual. It depends on so many factors! I became fluent in Spanish because I moved to Argentina and spoke Spanish every single day. In fact, I avoided using English. I share what I did to start thinking in Spanish here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-P6UXuOIqTA0.html
In a great number of cases is # 1. If the native speaker were a car salesman and you were a millionaire trying to buy a car, more than likely he would understand your accent
I thoroughly agree. He would likely make a serious effort to understand you if he knew your income level. (That said, millionaires don't always "look" rich or dress differently than the average person, so he might not treat you well and still lose your business!)
Hi Amanda! I'm glad you're studying English. My videos are for more advanced learners, but I suggest you watch the other videos on my channel to see if you like my advice. Even if it's not right for you at the moment, you might find something that helps you.
The problem with native English speaker it's that they don't understand the words if you do not pronounced as they do (which is quite hard) they look at the right sound instead to the words... in Italian I will understand you even with your English pronunciation and I don't get why it's so hard for them understand a different pronunciation 🙄
As I mention in this video, it isn't always the pronunciation of sounds that makes it hard for a native English speaker to understand what someone is saying. It's the fact that native English speakers often identify words (even words with other pronunciation errors in them) by which syllable is emphasized most, or stressed. Without this clue, some native English speakers struggle to identify the word. As someone who has never really had a problem understanding non-native accents (whether in English or Spanish), I don't relate to this struggle, but I do understand where it comes from.
@@Englishwithkim Finding things in common is challenging. But not only that, maybe I don't try hard enough to achieve that connection. There might be other reasons as well. For example, I write something to a person in youtube comments, then they answer me, I answer them. After that, there might be silence, and at that moment, I start wondering about the reasons for that silence. But as I said in my other comment under this video, maybe they were busy with something else and didn't notice my response to their comment.
I'm not sure what you're referring to, but I believe it's the first point, that people may choose not to understand you. Unfortunately, this does happen. That said, someone shared an insightful comment with this perspective: "If someone chooses not to understand you, that means they actually understand you. They are just choosing to pretend that they do not understand you."
