How to Talk Like a Native Speaker | Marc Green | TEDxHeidelberg

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Published 2018-01-09
Marc talked about the process of learning a foreign language and the different levels of fluency. He will show that there is a higher realm of language proficiency and explain what it takes to reach this “native” point where the benefits far surpass mere communication skills. Marc’s passion is the study of languages, their manifestation in local dialects, as well as their expression in poetry and folkloric song. He has acquired a near-native proficiency in six languages and their sub-forms and has given various musical performances. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

All Comments (21)
  • @abiagilan
    I'm tryng to improve my english by lestening to ted
  • @catic6587
    Recording yourself while speaking it's also a way to check how you actually sound like and improve your pronunciation. Most of the time we think we sound pretty good... Until we hear our own voice 😁
  • @alexwasem7612
    my english improved a lot, watching and listenig TED's
  • @yuriy8756
    Areas to work to become a native speaker: 09:45 Eliminate your accent 11:22 Colloquial Speech 12:47 Adopting cultural traits 14:55 Immersion 15:43 Learn the lyrics of songs 16:05 Right mindset: Sound like a native Express yourself like a native Act like a native 16:27 Main thing - work on your pronunciation!
  • Linguist here. Native fluency and master level are different concepts. For European languages, there is a scale from A1 to A2, B1, B2, C1 and finally C2. They represent different levels of speaking areas and skills, being A1 the basic fluency and C2 the academic one. A native speaker tends to be around B2 or C1, whilst the educated person (who has a bachelor degree, for instance) will probably speak a more sophisticated level of that language, which would be C2. Pronunciation is also different from accent. They are both connected, but having an accent doesn't make you worse speaker than a native person, on the contrary, it just shows one speaks other languages. The main point is if having an accent makes the other person confused or lead to misunderstandings, then you must correct it. I agree with the other points he said. Exposure to the language is very important: read, write, listen and speak as most as you can. That's the only way to be really fluent.
  • @user-zl2gf3jj3x
    English is my fifth language which i am learning. And I can tell you the best way to improve your comprehension of any language is listening videos more and more and then try to imitate the sounds.
  • To summarize, first is to work on your pronunciation (eliminate your accent with a native speaker); second is Colloquial Speech (you have to learn expressions and idioms used by native speakers); third is Cultural Traits (internalize cultural traits of people of a particular language). That's all))) hope it will help you to save your precious time...
  • I am sure my fluency in English is improving a lot, I usually listen to Ted videos and also I practice my speaking by simulating English tests situations. I am going to try recording myself while I answer the task questions. And finally, after watching this video, I can conclude that we are the only ones that put or erase the limits to ourselves in learning a new language.
  • @lorik5440
    Our accent is a part of our personality! I remember one of the British ladies told me, 'Larisa, do whatever you want to do with your English, but please do not change your accent. it is so beautiful.'
  • It might be weird but I learned English just watching series (with subs) and repeating what actors saying. I was sitting in my room watching and copying phases like I was in front of a camera acting myself. I didn't plan anything. I was just imagining I am fluent already 😂 Years passed and now I live in the UK and doing my BA course because at certain moment my school grades for English became better (from 0, I couldn't say even "my name is XXX") and I saw so many new prospects I'm not saying my English is perfect now. I just can't believe that my whole life changed so much just because I've got a habit repeating words from tv shows
  • @wesleymelis1725
    Being a native Portuguese speaker and having learned both English and Spanish fluently, I totally agree when he says you kinda show a different "personality" when speaking in another language. I definitely feel like that when speaking in Spanish, for example. It's like a candid impersonation of somebody else.
  • @justinliao123
    I’m from china,I’m struggling for learning english very hard just because of my interest, thanks for TED’s video!
  • @lowgrasswhite
    The "ouch" example was great, that stuff is too difficult to control! :D You can be as fluent as possible, but if someone knocks a tray out of your hand, you'll swear in your mother tongue. Let me chip in with: NUMBERS. No matter the level of language proficiency, when you read a text and there are numbers in it, they'll come to your mind in your native language first... I think when you overcome that, that's when you've officially become like a native speaker, lol Written by my smartass English identity
  • I agree! I’m a language teacher and most people underestimate the importance of pronunciation! In fact, I think as a beginner or at an intermediate level you can have a limited vocabulary and only basic grammar skills but you’ll communicate in a more natural way with natives if your pronunciation is as authentic as possible. So keep working on that!
  • 0:00-3:40 The speaker's experience when visiting Soviet Union and how it affec him 3:41-4:26 Interacting with the audience 4:28-6:04 The metaphor with opening deck of cards and the chart with different levels of English 6:05-8:11 How his bilingual background influence him 8:12-9:35 Back to the chart with different levels of English 9:36-14:57 Three areas to focus on when learning a language: 9:36-11:20 (1) Eliminating/minimizing your accent 11:21-12:46 (2) Using verbs and expressions local used 12:47-14:38 (3) Adopting cultural traits 14:58-16:22 Tips for those who do not have many native speakers around them 16:23-16:49 The most important thing of his talk: pronounciation 16:50-17:37 How he overcame his fear of the Russian language and saying goodbye in a foreign language
  • My godness, this man domine many lenguages while I struggle just with learning english.That's amazing
  • Great video, thanks for making it easier for me to understand. Much appreciated.
  • @katebeemakes
    I can confirm the accent thing. I worked on my mandarin accent a lot and when I speak to Chinese people, especially in my own country, they are really happy and friendly towards me, even giving me discounts when it’s a shop owner
  • I am watching Ted talks to improve my fluently and listening skill . Thank you Ted .
  • @rosed6411
    That's incredible!!! Thanks for the way you're conveying the information!!! So pleasant to hear this all, my heart is full of many thanks to you!!! The video is useful, thank you very much!!!