The Speak Confident English Podcast19 Kesä 2025

Increase Speaking Vocabulary: How to Activate Passive Words and Speak Fluently

Struggling to find the right words during conversations, even though you've studied for years? Do you often feel stuck or struggle to find words faster when you speak?

You're not alone! Most people have a much larger passive vocabulary, which means they understand more words than they actively use. But what if you could activate those passive words and start using them confidently in your speech?

In this episode, I'll show you exactly how to activate passive vocabulary and turn those forgotten words into ones you can easily recall during conversations.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Why you feel stuck.

02:30 Focus on activating vocabulary

03:25 Passive vs Active Vocabulary

05:09 Writing to activate

08:50 Shadowing to activate

09:50 Teach and explain

11:15 Use in new environments

12:56 Active reading and listening

14:42 Have real conversations
---

Thank you for listening! I share new episodes every Wednesday. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified.

Get the full episode show notes at: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/increase-speaking-vocabulary/

If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠

COME SAY 'HI!'

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/speakconfidentenglish/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠

MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU:

How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English (Free Fluency Training) → ⁠https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/say-what-you-want-in-english/⁠

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! It really helps us get encouragement and actionable advice to nonnative English speakers around the world.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(73)

How to Finish Speaking in English Without an Awkward Silence

How do you finish speaking in English so people know you're done and the conversation can keep moving? Sometimes you finish a story, share an opinion, or give an update… and then everyone waits. In th...

7 Loka 9min

I'm Not Afraid to Speak English Anymore

After years of feeling nervous about speaking English in the United States, Mirtha can now say: "I'm not afraid anymore." In this month's Confident English Conversation, Mirtha and I talk about her e...

30 Syys 29min

Speak English with Confident Authority: Assertive vs Aggressive

Want to speak English with confident authority without sounding more aggressive than you intended? In this episode, you'll hear how your words, tone, and the situation can change what your listener he...

23 Syys 18min

How to Organize Your Thoughts When Speaking English (Stop Rambling)

When someone asks what you think in English, do several ideas come to mind at once? You know you have something to say, but you don't know what to say first. In this episode, you'll learn how to organ...

16 Syys 12min

English Fluency: 3 Types of Speaking Practice You Actually Need

English fluency can feel easy in one conversation and difficult in another. You may answer simple questions easily, then lose your train of thought when you need to speak for several minutes. Or perha...

9 Syys 15min

Should You Stop Saying "Very" in English? No. Here's Why.

You've probably heard this advice: stop saying very in English. Use stronger words instead. In this episode, I'll tell you why the answer is no. Words like very, really, so, and super are called inten...

2 Syys 17min

English Confidence Is a Choice | A Real English Conversation with Anna

Is confidence in English something you have or something you choose? In this real English conversation, my guest Anna and I talk about the myths vs reality of confidence in speaking another language. ...

26 Elo 24min

Build Social Fluency in English Through Authentic Small Talk

A coworker says, "I'm already on my third cup of coffee, and it's not even ten." You understand every word. But what do you say next? That small moment is an invitation, and knowing what to do with it...

19 Elo 11min