Why You Can’t Speak (But You Understand) 

I’m from Brazil and I’ve been learning English for one year. To be honest, It’has not been easy to study English due the time. But, I’ve been noticing that my English is getting better. This get me so glad!!!

The video discusses the challenges of forgetting a language and how to maintain language skills through regular practice, such as dictation, reading familiar stories, and maintaining an internal dialogue in the target language. Key moments: 04:45 Forgetting one's mother language is possible if not used enough, even encountering individuals who forget minority languages due to lack of practice or environment. -Improving listening skills through dictation by writing down sentences and checking against the original helps in catching details and word boundaries in foreign languages. -Practicing dictation enhances not only listening but also speaking abilities by recognizing syllables and phonetics, aiding in language production. 05:03 Maintaining language skills requires regular practice to prevent forgetting. Vocabulary may fade, but the ability to form sentences and language structure remains ingrained for life, akin to riding a bike. -Regular practice and exposure to languages are essential to retain vocabulary and language skills over time. -The distinction between vocabulary retention and language structure, highlighting the lasting nature of language syntax and sentence formation. -Strategies for language maintenance include communication with others in the language, consuming media, and consistent practice to prevent language decay. 10:07 Using translation to acquire a foreign language involves internalizing the language through an interpreter-like approach, focusing on nuances and context, leading to thinking and speaking directly in the foreign language for enhanced learning and communication. -The importance of maintaining an internal dialogue in the target language for continuous practice and improvement in language proficiency. -The significance of flexibility and self-awareness in language learning, including correcting mistakes in pronunciation and intonation. 15:11 It is crucial to practice listening skills and pay attention to verbs and emotions when learning a foreign language. Understanding various languages does not necessarily mean being able to speak them, as language production requires practice and exposure. -Importance of focusing on verbs and emotions in language learning for effective communication. Learning to express actions and feelings enhances language proficiency. -Challenges in language production despite understanding multiple languages. Exposure and practice are key to speaking fluently in a foreign language. -Identity and language acquisition. Embracing a language as part of one's identity through practice and immersion leads to becoming proficient in that language.

You're a lifesaver - I really needed this. I personally kept my internal dialogue going but I overlooked the importance of 'active' set of vocabulary. From now on I will apply your suggestion to my language-learning journey. Thank you for quality content and hope to see more interesting videos like this.

That title is literally my problem, if it's chat or just listening, I can understand English but if I try to speak it, I will stutter and sometimes forgot what word I'm going to say

Yoa are quite right teacher. It was for about 15 years I have not spoken English. So I had to make review,and I did it the way you are saying. I listened a video many times but also I wrote the sentences. Then I made sure what I wrote was exactly what I listened and after that I corrected myself. Now I can speak better English

My inner talk, seeing the title: Of course, I can't cook and replicate the meals on my table while I can eat and appreciate all its flavors and tastes...But I'm not complaining, I liked the content, thank you!

your sense of timing and humor is perfect, never fails to entertain! ️

Cool information! Thanks for sharing it. I have been bilingual since childhood, have learned English and now I'm trying to remember some Spanish and German base knowledge that I got quite a while ago. I really appreciate this video!

I soooo hit the subscribe button after the first minute of this video! And I'm soooo going to watch all of your other videos. Thank you beforehand for all your knowledge, experience and tips you are sharing with us!!!

Thank you. What a language master!

I am a polyglot myself, and that does not mean I have a superpower. I only understand my own second language, but not all the dialects of all my second languages.

Thanks alot for Sharing ❤

You 're the best keep up the amazing work.

I seriously stumbled upon this by accident and it has been a total game changer listening to Cantonese songs I've heard over 300 times but ***actually writing down the lyrics***. It forces my brain to process bits it has been ignoring for the past 280+ listens! Moreover, at least with my ADHD brain it is 100x times more efficient than Supermemo (or Anki for you young people). With repping software, I get distracted and it takes hours to practice recalling let's say 300 distinct characters. But writing the lyrics to a whole song, you may easily write 300-500 distinct characters as fast as your hand can move across paper to write them. Very efficient. Guys -- take Michael's awesome advice. This new series of videos coming out is top notch, THANK YOU Michael

Hi Michael, I'm going to practice my listening with your videos. I stoped practicing English 6 years ago. I had troubles with listening, maybe I understood a 70%. But I understand around 85-90% of what you're saying and I haven't practiced anything. So I believe it's because You speak not so fast and your pronounciation is clear for me.👌🏻

My problem with English is neither the standard vocabulary nor grammar, but the sheer endless ammount of idioms, synonyms and phrasal verbs, which have to be learned by heart. And the prepositions, the logic of which never ceases to surprise me.

I so agree with you, it fits me

Quite interesting! I have been learning and practicing English and other languages for a few years. The most difficult thing for me is shifting from a language to another: I feel like my brain needs a little time to reset to the other language before being comfortable. Like shifting from French to Spanish is easier to shift from these two to English my native language. The rules are completely differents.

Thank you ❤😊

thank you,i will try this way i wish it will be helpful for me too

It’s good lesson, thanks!❤

Thank a lot ❤

Super video - Thanks

Thank you

Interesting ideas. As far as my personal experience goes, it's really been the opposite. I learned German as a second foreign language at school (so, as my third language) and it's been about 10 years since I last practiced it. I can still understand "Deutsch" just fine (native speakers speaking at their normal pace), but can't speak, because I remember words, but not enough grammar to tie them together.

00:01 Forgetting native language is about losing ability to form sentences, not comprehension. 04:14 Language learning requires continuous effort and motivation. 05:26 Practice speaking by reading aloud news articles and stories regularly. 08:10 Language structure remains despite forgetting vocabulary 09:33 Improve language understanding through passive exposure 12:26 Translation is like training wheels for language learning. 13:48 Thinking in a foreign language is beneficial for internal dialogue and flexibility. 16:31 Understanding emotions through verbs and language 17:50 Understanding vs Speaking in Foreign Languages 20:08 Multilingual speaker understand more languages than they think.

It's input. The acquisition of the language. You just need time for it. You have Noam Chomsky and many others linguists who explained how the brain works and operate.

Thank you for share

Really good video thx a lot

Hey Michael I've been watching some of your videos lately, I'm a Spanish speaker learning English and I have to say that it's been a long journey since I started to learn the language, there are a lot of unwritten rules that you can only learn by listening to real life conversations, I'm pretty sure that it'll be easier to learn those things living in a English speaker country, but I'm doing my best, I really like the way you express yourself, it's articulated and sounds clear and professional, thanks for the information and tips!

Finally I found this!!

There are four major aspects of learning English: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Listening and Reading are the input procedure, while Speaking and Writing are output procedure. Vecabulary (especily the verb) is essential for all of them. The "inspection" can efficiently improve our Listening. Expression starting from our daily life or routine is the best "handle" of using "real English". Finally, keep going is the key point.😄

I have been learning English for 4 years. I'm still learning because English is not easy to learn as second language learner.

THANKS MAN

Although The title is very specific 'can listen but can't speak' but the whole video is just random rambling , You can't get a beneficial point from this video

I've just got a dream a couple minutes ago where is I'm going to go to the jungle,there are so many trees with chilly situation that makes me cozy, I listened to my friend who speak English fluently like a native and I understand what she was saying but I'm little bit jealous because when I wanna try to talk or respond with I cannot do it, it doesn't came out of my tongue, i just ask her and said "how do you can speak english properly like this, your speaking absolutely perfect" she's not answered me, she just continued talking and talking like a fairytale and then I wake up and realize my earphone stick up still on my ear, apparently I was listening to video of listening practice but I'm getting fall asleep😄

good to see you, I can speak even not too well but I don't have speaking partner,

This video is not just about learning a new language. Is about to overcome yourself to achieve greater goals. Who will benefits everyone around you, near and at distance.

It’s weird the way I learned english. I started at 9yo by myself. Never have been at any English school. I’m very confident and fluent in English. English is like my second language and it’s incredible the way I understand it…it’s comfortable listen to English

I am Chinese, and I think your Mandarin is very good. You have very little accent. It's very impressive.

Something similar happens when Spanish speakers come to Brazil: We can understand many of the words they speak, but we cannot speak their language.

My listening ability improved by increasing my vocabulary and grammar tool box. How can I understand what's being said if I don't understand what's being said?

The problem with learning anything in life is not doing something useful with it. So in general I like learning things that I can use in real life and in that way it's hard to forget them. I also learn from or though what I know already. Learning stuff that are related helps me a lot as well. To be honest I don't think you forget a language you learned fairly well so quick. I mostly practice my German nowadays when I'm in Germany.. like twice a year or at work a little bit but just the same words I need to get the job done so my speaking get rusty but my understanding is still there. PS: Mi lengua materna es el español pero desde hace años decidí aprender todo en inglés. Música, computer science, casi todo lo que miro o leo lo hago en inglés. Una vez te acostumbras parece y se siente natural.

If you are good at writing you can be good at speaking too you just need to hear how native speakers talk and try to mimic them I have a technique I memorize TED Talks and stand in front of a mirror to recite everything like them this way my speaking skills improved quickly

I am a native Burmese Speaker who learned English as a second language and got a C1 on the IELTS Test. I am also learning German, Italian, and a bit of French. Should I take one at a time and learn German first at least till I get to B2, or is it ok if I study them all at once? My German level is at B1.1

I'm the opposite; I always give native speakers the impression I'm better at French or Italian than I actually am because I can speak them well enough and use advanced grammar. However, when they reply I struggle to understand them and no amount of listening practice with authentic materials has improved that significantly over many years. Some people just can't process the spoken word in a foreign language quickly enough before the speaker has moved onto the next sentence, no matter what gifted linguists with a good ear might tell you.

Oh, my gosh! This guy speaks Chinese very well 😂❤

I can understand Spanish as I lived there many years ago, but I struggle to get the words out of my mouth as quickly as I'd like, so the speed I can receive is quicker than the speed I can express

yo no entiendo ni hablo per llevo 4 años con input y al menos ya entiendo muy pocos mensajes (este tipo de cosas de verdad desmotivan a aprender ingles)

I'm Russian, and I've tried to learn German, French and English before. I can probably use English in my life, I'm talking with people in chats, but if I'm joining a voice call... I just cant say anything. I can fully understand people, but I can't say anything. Probably, that method with voice messages will work, so I'll test it.

Thank you so much for this video, it's so beneficial 🩷

And about being capable to understand you but it's difficult with certain persons

and what should I do if I can speak but I don't understand a simple sentence or question?

so i am learning japanese and spanish. native english speaker. and with japanese i have been studying for 3 years. I can understand it well but only if i read japanese. hearing japanese is hard for me and speaking it is about the same. I think the problem is, i dont use it enough, having very little japanese speakers outside of japan doesnt help either. on the other hand is spanish. ive been studying it for about half a year and ive seen drastic improvements in the language. I think the difference is, i can use spanish more, because i live in SO-CAL so there are more spanish speakers. A LOT. At the job, grocery store, my boyfriend speaks spanish, and my family to name a few. so i get more listening and speaking practice. Spanish is also very similar to english. its very interesting.

#50-100 emotions #Bunch of movement verbs Then you can start internal dialogues very quick

I can speak, read and write English, but listening is a mess. I think it is because I never had been speaking with a native. Make a video about that, please.

I have the opposite problem...

A mi me pasaba lo contrario, comencé a hablar pero no podía entender bien todo lo que escuchaba! 😂

I feel like even though I learn everything that the most intelligent man on the earth can learn, I'll be bad at speaking. I don't like the way I speak but I guess there's nothing I can do about it. I better not to push it more. As it seems some people have limits.

I am firmly believe you are the best english teacher in the world

Hi Michael. Thanks for the great video. I had an accident and it damaged the way my brain encodes / organised things, and my memory is not great. I was a quick learner and I’m now 3 months into trying to learn German to help retire my brain. Have you heard if this works?

this is my problem, i can undertand when someone is speaking, but i can't answer.

great

Your Chinese is so good 厉害👍

One day inchallah I will a professional spiker english😊

You can fly with your ears

I understand Spanish but cannot speak it, it is very frustrating 🤷‍♂️

That’s terribly clever about how we know wildly different Englishes, but don’t speak them. I don’t feel inferior or a non-native because I don’t know Scottish slang. Talking regularly and creating that identity makes sense.

the name of the app?

Am so glad 160k other ppl have the same issue

I can read and understand Chinese but I can't write the characters at all. Like I can see them and know what they mean but I can't really recreate them myself. As an analogy, I think it's like being able to see a photo of an animal, you could see 1000s of different animals and know what they all are, but you're absolutely unable to draw 1000s of different animals. And in such a way that no one would confuse them for other similar ones. It's hard. But it's easy to just see a photo and know what it is. You know what I mean?

Cant understand but can speak

你的汉语发音这么好😂

Ye .That ' s actually I can understand what people say but they can't understand what I say😅

I got an opposite problem - able to say but not to understand.

Btw 你中文說得很好

❤❤

You found my issue😅

7:27

I get question is better to learn French or Spanish after learning english and my mother language is Arabic 😊

I don't know,

Concordo

Can I speak English like you

What About the opposite? Can speak but struggle to understand.

Sir i wanna connect with you online

Reading regularly fixed thid for me.

No.i have another problem i can speak but i don't understand

中文真不错hhh

There is an unbelievable amount of misconceptions here... You do not need to practice dictation to learn how to understand a language. You only need to listen and understand most of what you listen to. And possibly be listening to something interesting to you. Dictation is slow and boring and the fastest way to get you disgusted with learning a new language. You only need if you want to learn to WRITE correctly. Conscious translation is a horrible way to try to learn a language. In fact you might say that you become proficient in a foreign language the moment you stop translating and directly think in that language. Effortlessly coming up with the same sentence in another language is not "translation". By translation we usually mean the conscious act of taking a word or a group of word in one language and lookin up the corresponding words in another language. This sucks. The correct way to do it to learn a language is not to focus on the word but on the meaning. Express the same idea, the same meaning in another language, not "translating the words".

I do not speak or understand this strange language despite many years of studying it. It is incomprehensible to me.

I gave up already I've been trying to learn English for years, but I can't express myself i'm really disappointed

What’s annoying is that I can speak a good amount of Spanish but I struggle to understand when people are speaking to me. They talk too god damn fast

What if can speak, cannot understand it then?

Talked about everything in the video except what the title is about.

Я могу говорить, но ничего, совсем ничего не понимаю. Моя проблема обратная этой

My god I wanna marry this guy

I am the opposite😅 i can speak but i have problems about understanding 😂

That's a nice shirt

😭 i frogot how to speak japanesse i was fluent at it

Some foreigner speak by not moving lips, they just not speak out of their mouth mostly English people