Welcome to Speak English Now podcast with your host Georgiana.
The podcast that will help you to speak English fluently, with no grammar and no textbooks.
In this episode, I'd like to focus on the passive vocabulary.
There are two kinds of vocabularies that we all acquire in time, no matter whether it's your native language or a foreign language.
The first and more obvious one is the active vocabulary.
These are the words we use when we speak or write.
On the other hand, there's the passive vocabulary, and these are all the words we understand when we read or listen.
Let me make myself clear.
You fully understand the meaning of these words.
You don't just guess their meaning when you read or listen.
However, you can't use them in a conversation.
It's complicated to use passive vocabulary when you speak, because understanding the words isn't enough.
You'll need to listen and read those words several times before they become part of your active vocabulary.
At this point, you may think that using passive vocabulary is only difficult when you're trying to speak in English.
But unfortunately, you'll find the same difficulty when using your mother tongue.
Let me give you an example.
Let's say that you are reading an article about the economic situation of a country.
You fully understand the whole article.
But if you had to speak about this topic, I'm convinced that you would use words that you are more familiar with.
If you had to talk about the economic situation of a country, you would use the active vocabulary and not the passive one.
When it comes to English, it's the same.
You can only use about 20% of the vocabulary you've learned.
So if you know 1,000 words, you will probably use only 200 words.
The best way to activate your passive vocabulary is by repetition.
If you listen to the same audios many times, you will be able to transform passive vocabulary into the active vocabulary.
We tend to use the words we listen to more.
For example, the verbs to be, to go, or objects like car, paper, etc.
These words are so common that they have become part of your active vocabulary from the very beginning.
The natural process when learning English is to activate words gradually.
But at the same time, you expand your passive vocabulary.
So, there will always be words that you understand, but you won't use them when you speak.
It's natural.
Don't worry about it.
Therefore, you need to be patient.
Understanding the words is always the first step.
The second step will be repeating these words in many different occasions until you're capable of using them in a conversation.
My suggestion is, enjoy the process of learning English.
In time, you'll start using a more enhanced vocabulary.
There's no doubt about it.
Okay, let's continue with a mini-story.
Here I will use the question and answer technique.
This is the perfect lesson for automating your spoken English.
This is how it works.
I'll give you some information, a phrase or two.
I'll ask simple questions.
After each question, there will be some seconds of silence.
It's your turn to answer the question.
Try to give an easy and a short answer.
After you answer, I'll give you a correct answer.
This process will continue.
And just like that, I'll be telling a story using questions and answers.
Today we'll use the first and the second person with the questions.
Let's get started.
Last summer, I could have used about 500 words and understood 2,000.
Could I have used 500 words last summer?
Yes, you could have used 500 words last summer.
Could I have understood 2,000?
Yes, you could have understood 2,000.
How many words could I have used?
500 words.
You could have used 500.
Could I have used 2000 words in a conversation?
No, you couldn't have.
You just could have used 500 words.
When was that?
Last summer?
Last summer, it was last summer.
You could have used 500 words and understood 2000.
I wanted to increase my active vocabulary.
Did i want to increase my money?
No no, You didn't want that.
This is not what you said.
You wanted to increase your active vocabulary.
Did I want to decrease my passive vocabulary?
No, you didn't.
You didn't want that.
You wanted to increase your active vocabulary.
What did I want to increase?
Your active vocabulary Did I want to extend my active vocabulary?
Yes, you wanted to extend or increase your active vocabulary.
For five months, I listened to a podcast in English for an hour a day.
Did I watch TV?
No no.
You didn't watch TV.
You listened to a podcast.
Did I listen to a radio show?
No, neither.
You didn't watch TV nor listen to a radio show.
What did I listen to?
A podcast.
You listen to a podcast for one hour a day.
Did I listen to a podcast for two hours a day?
No, no.
You didn't listen to a podcast for two hours a day, but one.
How many hours did I listen a day?
One.
One hour a day.
You listen for one hour a day.
What did I listen to?
An English podcast.
You listen to an English podcast.
Listening to a podcast has helped me add more words to my vocabulary.
Has the podcast helped me?
Yes, it has helped you.
Has the podcast helped me add more words to my vocabulary?
Yes, it has.
It has helped you add more words to your vocabulary.
Has the podcast helped me decrease my vocabulary?
No no, it has helped you to add more words to your vocabulary.
How has listening helped me?
It has helped you increase your vocabulary.
Now I'm sure that my active and passive vocabularies have doubled.
Am I sure that my active and passive vocabularies have increased?
Yes, you're sure about that.
Your passive and active vocabularies have increased.
They have doubled.
What has doubled?
Your passive and active vocabularies.
They have doubled.
Has my active vocabulary doubled?
Yes, it has doubled.
Your active vocabulary has doubled.
What has happened with my passive vocabulary?
It has doubled too.
Your passive vocabulary has doubled too.
Okay, it's the end of this mini-story.
As you can see, you are answering easy questions all the time.
They are easy on purpose.
And this technique helps you develop your speaking skills.
It's like practicing with another person.
Now you can improve your speaking with my fluency course only by listening.
Go to speakenglishpodcast.com slash courses.
And start speaking English fluently once and for all.
Well, that's it for today.
Please help me spread the word about the podcast.
Tell your friends about the show.
And leave a comment on iTunes when you have a minute.
That would make me very happy.
I'll be back next week.
Take care.
Bye-bye.
Get the transcript now at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com.
