Have you ever had a moment where English didn’t feel like work anymore… it just happened? In this episode, I’m breaking down what that “click” really feels like—because it’s not random, and it’s not magic. It’s a progression.You’ll learn the 5 stages English learners move through as fluency becomes more natural: from describing what you see, to summarizing meaning, to giving real opinions, to expressing ideas with vivid comparisons, and finally… blending it all together without thinking.If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck translating in your head, or like you can understand English but can’t be yourself in English yet—this episode will help you recognize what stage you’re in, what’s supposed to feel hard right now, and what to practice next so you can keep moving forward.What You’ll LearnThe 5 stages of the “English finally clicks” processWhy describing is the first real shift away from translationHow summarizing helps you keep up—even when you miss wordsThe stage where English starts sounding like you (not a textbook)How to disagree and give opinions without fearHow conceptualizing makes your English more vivid and memorableWhat it means when the “seams are gone” and you’re just talkingHow to practice in a way that leads to Stage 5 naturallyKey Moments / Segment BreakdownStage 1: Describing — English matches real life in real time (quiet surprise)Stage 2: Summarizing — you catch the point instead of every word (relief)Stage 3: Giving opinions — you stop being polite-only and start being real (you return)Stage 4: Conceptualizing — you paint pictures, use comparisons, show personality (delight)Stage 5: Combining fluidly — describing + summarizing + opinion + vivid language in one flow (home)Why Stage 5 isn’t a “new skill,” it’s a resultHow to know what to practice based on your current stageMindset Shifts“Fluency means perfect sentences” → “Fluency means real-time meaning”“I must catch every word” → “I can understand the point”“English makes me smaller” → “My real voice belongs here too”“I need the exact word” → “I can describe and still be powerful”“The click is sudden” → “The click is built—stage by stage”Practical Takeaways (Try This Today)Stage 1 practice: Narrate what you see for 2 minutes (in your head or out loud).Stage 2 practice: Listen to a short clip and summarize it in 1–2 sentences: “Basically, it’s about…”Stage 3 practice: Use one opinion starter daily: “Honestly, I think…” + one reason.Stage 4 practice: Use one comparison a day: “It’s like…” / “It felt like…”Stage 5 growth: Don’t force mixing—build each stage until it becomes automatic.Listener Reflection QuestionsWhich stage feels most natural for me right now?Where do I still translate the most—in speaking or listening?Do I understand English but struggle to show my personality in it?What’s one daily habit I can do for my current stage this week?What would “home” in English look like for me?If you want to sign up for the free English email newsletter, go to https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/newsletter

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related