Episode 7
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Read the Transcript
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Hi, everybody! I’m Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com.
Welcome to a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast.
Today, I want to talk about something frustrating.
You study. You listen. You practice.
At first, you see progress.
Then, after some time, it feels like you are not getting better.
Maybe this has happened to you.
There’s a word for this: plateau.
It means your progress seems to stop.
A simpler way to say it is: you feel stuck.
The same word also describes a large, flat area of land.
Imagine walking up a mountain.
You go higher and higher.
Then you reach a flat area.
You’re still walking, but you’re not going up.
Learning English can feel like that.
In the beginning, progress is often easy to see.
Later, progress becomes more gradual.
The changes are smaller.
Sometimes they are not noticeable.
That’s when you may start to worry.
You may lose motivation.
You may feel discouraged.
And maybe you start changing everything.
A new app.
A new teacher.
A new course.
A new method.
But sometimes, nothing is wrong.
Your English is still growing.
The change is just hard to see from day to day.
Think about someone you see every day.
If their hair gets a little longer, you may not notice.
But if you don’t see them for three months, you notice right away.
English can be like that.
If you want to check your progress, go back to something from a few months ago.
Try an old podcast episode or lesson.
Listen again.
You may understand more words.
The speaker may seem slower.
You may not need the transcript as much.
That is progress.
Regular practice matters.
Keep listening to English you can understand.
This gives you more exposure.
Your brain also gets time to adapt.
Repeat useful material.
Repetition helps reinforce what you know.
Then, one day, you may have a breakthrough.
Something that felt hard may suddenly feel easier.
Should you do more?
Maybe a little.
If your material is too hard, choose something easier.
If you’re bored, choose a topic you enjoy.
Maybe you usually listen for thirty minutes a day.
For a week or two, you could listen for forty-five minutes.
But you don’t need to force yourself to study for three hours.
The goal is to maintain a routine that works for you.
And don’t overlook small progress.
Understanding one more sentence without translating is progress.
Answering a little faster is progress.
Hearing an expression and understanding it right away is progress.
So if you feel stuck, stick with it.
Keep going.
Progress may feel slow, but it can still be happening.
Okay. Let’s practice with a Point of View lesson.
You’ll hear the same story three times.
First, you’ll hear it in the past.
Then you’ll hear it in the present.
Finally, you’ll hear it in the future.
Don’t study the grammar.
Just listen and notice how the language changes.
Let’s start!
Continue practicing with my complete English courses. Choose the course that fits your level and goals, and learn to speak more naturally and confidently.
GRAMMAR MADE EASY
POV Story: Grammar in Context
Follow the same story in three versions and notice how the grammar changes naturally.
| 01 |
First version Past Tense |
Last year, Emma started learning English.
She listened every day.
At first, she improved fast.
After a few months, she understood more English.
She also answered simple questions faster.
Then her progress felt slow.
Emma kept listening, but she felt stuck.
She started to worry.
For a few days, she looked for a new app, a new teacher, and a new method.
Then she had an idea.
She found one of her first English lessons.
She remembered that it had been hard.
She listened again.
This time, she understood almost everything.
She didn’t need the transcript.
She didn’t need to stop the audio.
Emma smiled.
Her English had improved.
She just hadn’t seen the change.
So she kept her normal routine.
She kept listening every day.
A few weeks later, another podcast felt easier.
Emma was happy.
She could finally see her progress.
| 02 |
Second version Present Tense |
Emma starts learning English.
She listens every day.
At first, she improves fast.
After a few months, she understands more English.
She also answers simple questions faster.
Then her progress starts to feel slow.
Emma keeps listening, but she feels stuck.
She starts to worry.
For a few days, she looks for a new app, a new teacher, and a new method.
Then she has an idea.
She finds one of her first English lessons.
She remembers that it was hard at the beginning.
She listens again.
This time, she understands almost everything.
She doesn’t need the transcript.
She doesn’t need to stop the audio.
Emma smiles.
She thinks, “My English is better. I just didn’t see the change.”
So she keeps her normal routine.
She keeps listening every day.
A few weeks later, another podcast feels easier.
Emma is happy.
She can finally see her progress.
| 03 |
Third version Future Tense |
Next year, Emma will start learning English.
She’ll listen every day.
At first, she’ll improve fast.
After a few months, she’ll understand more English.
She’ll also answer simple questions faster.
Then her progress will feel slow.
Emma will keep listening, but she’ll feel stuck.
She’ll start to worry.
For a few days, she’ll look for a new app, a new teacher, and a new method.
Then she’ll have an idea.
She’ll find one of her first English lessons.
She’ll remember that it was hard at the beginning.
She’ll listen again.
This time, she’ll understand almost everything.
She won’t need the transcript.
She won’t need to stop the audio.
Emma will smile.
She’ll think, “My English is better. I just didn’t see the change.”
So she’ll keep her normal routine.
She’ll keep listening every day.
A few weeks later, another podcast will feel easier.
Emma will be happy.
She’ll finally see her progress.
Excellent!
That’s the end of the Point of View lesson.
If your English feels stuck, remember Emma.
Don’t only compare today with yesterday.
Look back a few months. You may see more progress than you expect.
Keep listening to English you can understand.
Repeat useful material.
And give yourself time.
You can get the transcript at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast.
For more listening and speaking practice, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/courses.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Bye-bye!
Review
Vocabulary
Review the 12 key words and expressions before listening again.
Plateau
A time when progress seems to stop.
Adapt
To get used to a new situation.
Gradual
Happening slowly, little by little.
Reinforce
To make learning stronger through repetition.
Noticeable
Easy to see or notice.
Breakthrough
A moment when something suddenly becomes easier.
Lose motivation
To stop feeling the desire to continue.
Maintain
To keep something going.
Discouraged
Feeling less hopeful because something is difficult.
Overlook
To fail to notice something.
Exposure
Time spent hearing or seeing English.
Stick with it
To continue even when something feels difficult.
Continue practicing with my complete English courses. Choose the course that fits your level and goals, and learn to speak more naturally and confidently.
thank you for keeping me learning English
Thank you teacher You’re my best help thank you a lot
I’m happy to know that I can help dear Amboise!
Thank you so much teacher. I glad to connect you
Hi Georgiana,
You became my best friend in the last days…. Just to you know!!
Thank you teacher I’m from Algeria I’m improving my english level since I started heard your podcasts
Thank you very much for encouraging
Thanks! The lesson really helped me understand how my brain works. Now, I believe in my capability to learn English. I see my progress day after day.
Thank you teacher. I hope the best for you, God bless you
Hi Georgiana.
Thanks for your lessons .
Now I am on a plateau and I try hit it,but I didn’t do it yet .
I hope it take time and follow your suggestions I hit plateau.
Bye.
This video helped me a lot, I was thinking of giving up.
After studying this class, I saw that my English is better. This technique is amazing
I will improve my english
Thank you so much 💓
I am exactly plateau that you explain it. This situation is bad to continou learnig English
Hellow my dear teacher I like your video very much I want to improve my writing and speaking skills but I couldn’t succeed When I try to write and speak the words do not come in my brain I confused shy and disheartened sometimes I think I can’t achieve my goal long time I try to achieve but I am still at zero I don’t know what is the reason help me and guide me please