You Only Need 200 Words to Have Real English Conversations. Practice with Me

Most people who study English spend almost all of their time reading and listening, and then they get into a real conversation because they have never actually practiced speaking. Today, we're going to fix that. This video is a speaking practice session. You're gonna shadow a full real conversation from beginning to end, meaning you say the words out loud at full speed in real time the way you would in an actual conversation. And here's the part I love about this particular video. The entire conversation uses only 200 words, not because it's a beginner video, but because real conversations between real people, even important ones, run on a surprisingly small set of words. Here's how this video works. First, I will show you the full list. Then, we will go through some tricky words. Then, you will shadow a real conversation between two people. A woman has made a big decision. Her friend is not sure if it's a good one. By the time this video ends, you will have said more English out loud than you probably have in the last several days, or maybe years, or maybe in your whole life, depending on how much you practice. If you're new here, welcome to Lingua Marina. I make videos that help you speak English the way real people actually speak. 11 years ago, I moved from Russia to the US, and I'm trying to master English every single day. I speak to native speakers. I run another channel called Silicon Valley Girl, where I talk about entrepreneurship and AI. So, if you wanna learn with me, subscribe so you do not miss the next video. And before we start, tell me in the comments, when did you find my channel? Was it today, last month, or last year? I'm always curious, because I've been here for a while. Let's see who's here in the comments, and let's get right into it. This is the list. Take a few seconds and look at it. Some of these words you have known since your first week of English. But read through them again, slowly. With these words, you can tell someone you love them. You can explain why you made a hard choice. You can have an argument with someone, and then fix it afterward. The conversation you're about to practice uses only the words on this list. I wanna go through the words we highlighted. These are the ones people get wrong most often, either because the pronunciation is surprising, or because the word means something slightly different from what you might expect. Let's start with pronunciation. These are the words where the spelling gives you no warning about how they actually sound. Honestly. The H at the start is silent. You say honestly, not honestly. If you pronounce the ha, it sounds unnatural to a native speaker. You will hear Sarah say this in the conversation. Honestly, I have been thinking about it for almost a year. Sure. This does not sound like sure. It sounds like sure, sure. One syllable. Are you sure? I'm sure. Er, er. This is how I learned Lithuanian. Whole. W is silent. It sounds exactly like whole, the whole thing, the whole life. There is no W sound at all. Serious. Three syllables. S-E-R-I-O-U-S. Some learners compress it down to two syllables. Slow it down. Serious. That sounds serious. Yeah. This is the informal version of yes, and native speakers use it constantly. It sounds like yeah, not yee-ah. Sure and fast. You will hear it in the conversation right at the start. Right and wrong. Both have silent W, just like whole. Right sounds like right. Wrong sounds like wrong. In this conversation, Daniel asks Sarah, have you written anything down? The W is completely silent. Once. I will let you know once I talk to them. Now, the ones where the pronunciation is fine, but the meaning is not quite what you think. These are words you've probably been using for years, but there is a layer to them that most learners miss. Guess. There are two uses, and they feel completely different. The first is when you try to answer something you are uncertain about. Guess what happened? The second is I guess so, or just I guess, which means something like probably, but I am not completely certain. Americans use I guess all the time to soften an answer. You will hear Sarah say I guess I do at the very end of the conversation. Rather. I would rather means you prefer one thing over another. I would rather try and fail than spend another year wondering. It is stronger than I prefer. It signals a real choice someone has thought about, fair. On its own, it means just or equal, but fair enough in conversation means, okay, that makes sense, I accept that. Daniel says it when Sarah tells him she will talk to her family later. It is a way of dropping the subject without disagreeing. Still. In conversation, still means something is continuing from before. Are you still worried? Means you were worried before, and I am asking if that has not changed. It is different from yet, which is about whether something has happened by now. Yet, used in questions and negative sentences. Have you decided yet? Means up to right now. Has a decision been made? Not yet means no, but maybe later. Till is about continuation, yet is about whether something has happened at all. Actually, most learners use actually to mean in fact, and that is correct, but native speakers also place it at the end of a sentence to express mild surprise at their own feeling. That was hard to hear, actually. It is not emphasis. It is closer to, I did not quite expect that. You will hear Sarah use it exactly this way. After talking to her manager. As a full one word response, same means me too, or I feel the same way. Daniel says, same, I am here. It is very common in spoken English and in text messages. Learners almost always say, me too, which is correct, but same is what native speakers reach for first. And the last group. These are pairs of words that look or sound similar enough that learners use them when they mean the other. Even at advanced level, these come up. Say and tell. Say is just the act of speaking. Tell requires a person. Remember as this moment, whenever I say tell, this goes on in my head. Tell requires a person. A person who receives the information. You tell someone something. You can't just tell something. She said it was fine, works. She told me it was fine, works. She told it was fine, does not work. Tell always needs a person after it. You will hear both in this conversation. Right and right. These two words sound completely identical. Both are pronounced right. The only way to know which one is meant is context. Right is an action. You write something down. Right means correct or a direction. Both appear in this conversation, so pay attention to the meaning when you hear them. Ask and tell. You ask a question, you tell information. The difference sounds simple, but learners mix them up constantly. She told me if I wanted coffee is wrong. It should sound like she asked me if I want a coffee. Ask is always a question or a request. Tell is always delivering information to someone. You cannot tell a question. You will hear both in this conversation. Hear and listen. Hearing happens without any effort. It's automatic, you hear things. You hear a sound, you hear someone talking near you, whether you want it or not. Listening is a choice. You decide to pay attention. Learners often say, I was hearing him, when they mean I was listening to him. Or please hear carefully, instead of please listen carefully. You'll hear Sarah say, Daniel, listen, in the conversation. She's asking him to stop reacting and actively pay attention to what she's about to say. Let's get into the conversation. We are going to go through this conversation in two passes. The first time, just listen. Sarah is calling her friend, Daniel. She has made a big decision about her job and she needs to tell someone. Daniel is not sure it's a good idea. Just listen, follow the story, get familiar with what Sarah says and how she says it. Let's start. Daniel, hey, do you have a moment? Yeah, of course, what is it? I need to tell you something. I have been thinking about it for a long time and I finally decided. Okay, that sounds serious. What is it? I am leaving my job. Wait, what do you mean? I mean, I am done. I gave them my answer this morning. You gave them your answer this morning and you did not tell anyone first? I told myself every day for a long time. That was enough. Okay, how long have you been at this job? Four years since I came back. Four years and you never said anything was wrong. I told myself it would get better, that I just needed more time. But it did not get better. No, at some point I said, this is not going to change. I need to be the one to move. Section two, Sarah has just dropped the news. Now Daniel wants answers. Are you serious? Sarah, when did you decide this? A few weeks ago, but honestly, I have been thinking about it for almost a year. A year? Why didn't you say something? Because I wasn't ready to talk about it. I needed to be sure first. And you are sure now? Yes, I am. Okay, I am trying to understand. What is your plan? What about money? I have been saving, not a lot, but enough to give myself some time. How much time? Maybe six months, maybe a little more. Have you thought about what happens if six months is not enough? Yes, then I find work again, but I am not going to decide that now. You sound ready. I have been thinking about it every day for a long time. I know what I want to do. This is a big thing, Sarah. I know. Does anyone at work know yet? My manager knows. We had a long talk last week. How did that go? Better than I thought. She said she understood. That was hard to hear, actually. Why hard? Because I thought she would try to talk me out of it, but she did not. She said, if this is what you need, then go. That sounds like someone good to work for. She is. Honestly, I did not think it would feel that way. Section three. Daniel is still not convinced. Sarah tells him the real reason. Six months is not a lot, Sarah. Daniel, listen. I know six months is not a lot, but I cannot stay in a place where I feel like I am wasting my time. Every morning, I wake up and think, is this really what I want to do with my life? I didn't know you felt that way. I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry. Why did you not say something? Even just that you are not okay? Because I did not want to worry you, and I did not know how to say it yet. You should always tell me things like this. I know. I know that now. Don't be sorry. So what do you want to do instead? I want to build something of my own. I have an idea. It is small right now, but it is real. I would rather try and fail than spend another year wondering what would have happened. That sounds like you. What does that mean? It means you have always known what you want, even when it makes everyone around you nervous. Section four. Daniel starts to come around, but he still has questions. It means I know you, and I know that when you decide something, you have thought about it more than anyone else would. But Sarah, what is the idea? You said you have one. What is it? It is a service for people who are moving to a new country, helping them with the things no one tells you about. The real things, not just the paperwork. Okay, that is specific. Have you told anyone else about this? A few people. They think it is good. And what happens after six months if it is not working yet? Then I look for work again. I am not saying this will work. I am saying I need to find out. You sound calm about this. I have been thinking about it for a long time, Daniel. The calm came later. At first, I was terrified. And now? Now I am ready, or close enough. Have you written anything down? A real plan? Yes, I have something. It is not perfect, but it is a start. Can I see it? Of course, I would really like that. Show me when you are ready. I will, maybe next week. And what do you need from me right now? Not later, right now. Just this, to talk it out with someone who knows me. You have that. I know, that is why you are the first person I call. Last section, how does it end? So are you saying you support me? Or are you still worried? I am always going to worry a little. That is just how I am. Daniel. Yes, I support you. I just needed to hear the whole thing. That is why I called you first. Your family doesn't know yet? I will tell them when I am ready. Okay, take your time. I will let you know once I talk to them. Same, I am here. Just stay open, I need that from you. Fair enough, so what happens now? Now I figure it out, one day at a time. We will figure it out together. Yeah, I know. Okay, I am here if you need anything. Thank you, Daniel. This conversation helped more than you know. Go, you have work to do. I guess I do. Talk soon. Now, the most important part. Everything you just did. Listening to each section, following the story. That was preparation. This is where the real practice happens. The whole conversation from the beginning, no stopping, no slowing down. Shadow Sarah and Daniel when they speak. Do not wait for a pause. Stay with your pace. Match the feeling behind what they are saying and do not stop even if you miss something. Keep going. This is what fluency actually feels like. Words coming out before your brain has finished thinking about them. That is what we are training right now. Daniel, hey, do you have a moment? Yeah, of course. What is it? I need to tell you something. I have been thinking about it for a long time and I finally decided. Okay, that sounds serious. What is it? I am leaving my job. Wait, what do you mean? I mean, I am done. I gave them my answer this morning. You gave them your answer this morning and you did not tell anyone first? I told myself every day for a long time. That was enough. Okay, how long have you been at this job? Four years since I came back. Four years and you never said anything was wrong. I told myself it would get better, that I just needed more time. But it did not get better. No, at some point I said, this is not going to change. I need to be the one to move. Are you serious? Sarah, when did you decide this? A few weeks ago. But honestly, I have been thinking about it for almost a year. A year? Why didn't you say something? Because I wasn't ready to talk about it. I needed to be sure first. And you are sure now? Yes, I am. Okay, I am trying to understand. What is your plan? What about money? I have been saving, not a lot, but enough to give myself some time. How much time? Maybe six months, maybe a little more. Have you thought about what happens if six months is not enough? Yes, then I find work again, but I am not going to decide that now. You sound ready. I have been thinking about it every day for a long time. I know what I want to do. This is a big thing, Sarah. I know. Does anyone at work know yet? My manager knows. We had a long talk last week. How did that go? Better than I thought. She said she understood. That was hard to hear actually. Why hard? Because I thought she would try to talk me out of it, but she did not. She said, if this is what you need, then go. That sounds like someone good to work for. She is. Honestly, I did not think it would feel that way. Six months is not a lot, Sarah. Daniel, listen. I know six months is not a lot, but I cannot stay in a place where I feel like I am wasting my time. Every morning, I wake up and think, is this really what I want to do with my life? I didn't know you felt that way. I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry. Why did you not say something? Even just that you are not okay? Because I did not want to worry you, and I did not know how to say it yet. You should always tell me things like this. I know. I know that now. Don't be sorry. So what do you want to do instead? I want to build something of my own. I have an idea. It is small right now, but it is real. I would rather try and fail than spend another year wondering what would have happened. That sounds like you. What does that mean? It means you have always known what you want, even when it makes everyone around you nervous. It means I know you, and I know that when you decide something, you have thought about it more than anyone else would. But Sarah, what is the idea? You said you have one. What is it? It is a service for people who are moving to a new country, helping them with the things no one tells you about, the real things, not just the paperwork. Okay, that is specific. Have you told anyone else about this? A few people. They think it is good. And what happens after six months if it is not working yet? Then I look for work again. I am not saying this will work. I am saying I need to find out. You sound calm about this. I have been thinking about it for a long time, Daniel. The calm came later. At first, I was terrified. And now? Now I am ready, or close enough. Have you written anything down? A real plan? Yes, I have something. It is not perfect, but it is a start. Can I see it? Of course, I would really like that. Show me when you are ready. I will, maybe next week. And what do you need from me right now? Not later, right now. Just this, to talk it out with someone who knows me. You have that. I know. That is why you are the first person I call. So are you saying you support me? Or are you still worried? I am always going to worry a little. That is just how I am. Daniel. Yes, I support you. I just needed to hear the whole thing. That is why I called you first. Your family doesn't know yet? I will tell them when I am ready. Okay, take your time. I will let you know once I talk to them. Same, I am here. Just stay open. I need that from you. Fair enough. So what happens now? Now I figure it out, one day at a time. We will figure it out together? Yeah, I know. Okay, I am here if you need anything. Thank you, Daniel. This conversation helped more than you know. Go, you have work to do. I guess I do. Talk soon. You just had a real conversation in English. Someone's making hard decisions, someone else is trying to understand it. Both of them are figuring it out together. And you were right there with them, saying the words out loud. Every single word in that conversation came from a list of 200. 200 words used well in a real moment between two people. That is what fluent English actually sounds like. Please, I'm looking forward to reading your comments. This is the new format for this channel. Did you like it? If you did, please let me know and I'll see you in the next video.