Name: Learn English like a baby. | English Learning Secrets
Uploaded: 2026-01-26T07:25:57.000Z
Duration: 15 min 57 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Present continuous

Today we're talking about something super interesting.

Why is it that so many people find it hard to think in English or reply quickly even when they understand what's being said?

It's like you know the words, you get what people are saying, but

then it feels like your brain freezes up when you want to respond.

And one thing we've noticed is that a lot of English learners spend years on grammar.

When they start learning, they're studying rules, but they're barely speaking.

They just listen and try out sounds until they make sense.

So if you start learning like a baby, you can start to think and respond naturally in English too.

What do babies do differently from adults when learning a language?

Or do you think you're smarter than a baby?

Well, we're about to spill those secrets in today's episode.

But first, Noah, here's a fun question for you and our dear.

How many English words do you think you need to know to master everyday conversation?

That sounds like a good number to cover most situations.

We'll reveal the answer at the end of the episode, so stick around.

Alright, so let's talk about some common mistakes beginners make when learning English.

One big one is spending too much time on grammar, especially in the early stages.

Oh, yeah, and this is something that comes up a lot, especially in schools and textbooks.

They're always pushing grammar rules from day one, right?

You open a textbook and boom, grammar rules right in your face.

But honestly, that's not how we naturally learn a language.

They don't know what a verb or a noun is.

It's all about absorbing the language first.

And when beginners focus too much on grammar, it can actually slow them down.

Grammar can be complicated and even frustrating.

Sometimes people feel like they're stuck because they're too worried about getting every rule perfect.

Yeah, and that frustration can make people lose motivation.

I mean, who wants to be memorizing rules instead of actually talking?

It's like trying to solve a puzzle instead of just having a conversation.

So here's what beginners should don't stress about grammar at the start.

Instead, focus on listening and understanding how phrases flow together.

Trust that you'll pick up on the patterns naturally, just like a baby does.

The grammar will come to you over time once you're used to how sentences sound in real life.

And honestly, you'll find that a lot of grammar just starts to make sense once you've heard enough.

English totally let grammar take a backseat for now.

In real conversations, it's way more important to understand and respond than to have perfect grammar.

So that's one big mistake over focusing on grammar.

Now let's move on to another one, which is skipping listening practice.

Babies spend months just listening before they even try to say a word.

They're constantly observing and picking up on sounds, rhythms, and context.

But in many language classes, there's not enough focus on listening.

Students end up jumping straight into speaking and writing exercises without spending enough time just listening to how English really sounds.

And when you skip listening practice, you miss out on some essential parts of language, like pronunciation, intonation, and

If you're watching conversations right and without that foundation, speaking can feel awkward because you don't have a natural feel for how sentences flow.

Listening gives you that sense of rhythm and context.

So for beginners out there, we can't stress this enough.

You could listen to podcasts, watch shows, or even just play English music in the background.

The more you listen, the easier it gets to understand and pick up new words and phrases.

It'll help you start thinking in English, too.

So instead of diving into grammar, spend that time listening.

Treat it like you're immersing yourself in the language, just like a baby would.

Speaking of immersing, Another secret of babies language learning is repetition and imitation.

Yes, babies learn by hearing the same words and phrases over and over.

They repeat what they hear and mimic the sounds, even if they're not perfect at first.

So for anyone learning English, don't be afraid to repeat what you hear.

If you're watching a show or a YouTube video, try pausing it, repeating what they just said, and

And if you want to get really serious about it, try recording yourself when you mimic.

Then listen to your recording and compare it to the original.

You'll catch little details like the intonation or rhythm.

Yes, this helps you notice where your pronunciation is different from a native speaker's.

You'll start hearing the small things that make English sound more natural.

Here's another tool you can use Daily Dictation.

We're putting the link in the episode description.

It's a free website with tons of dictation exercises.

You listen to a sentence, write it down, and then check your answer.

With dictation, you're training both your listening and writing skills.

And since you're writing what you hear, you'll get better at recognizing common phrases and sounds.

Plus, it builds up your vocabulary and helps you understand how words are pronounced in real conversations.

It's also a low pressure way to practice without needing a speaking partner.

So to sum this part up, don't just read textbooks.

Mimic the sounds, repeat the phrases you hear and make it a habit to listen and repeat every day.