Mastering Fast Spoken English
The Secrets of Connected Speech & Weak Forms
Module 1: Ear Training & Neuroscience (10 Mins)
Native speakers do not speak fast to confuse you; English is a stress-timed language. Content words are stressed, while function words are reduced to maintain the rhythm.
The Golden Rules of Reduction
- The Invisible 'H': Pronouns like he, him, his drop the initial /h/ sound in fast speech.
- The Invisible 'TH': The pronoun them loses the /θ/ sound and becomes 'em.
- The Lazy Vowels (Schwa /ə/): Unstressed words like to, for, and shift their vowels to weak sounds (tuh, fer, 'n).
Module 2: Speed Training – Slow, Normal, Fast (15 Mins)
Listen closely to how words blend as speech speed increases. Focus on the rhythmic shift.
Exercise 1: "Where did he go?"
Slow: /Where/ /did/ /HE/ /go/
Normal: /Where did he go/
Fast: "Where di-dee-go?" /wɛər dɪdi ɡoʊ/
Exercise 2: "I told him to call his brother."
Slow: /I/ /told/ /HIM/ /to/ /call/ /HIS/ /brother/
Normal: /I told him to call his brother/
Fast: "I tol-dim tuh call-is brother." /aɪ toʊldɪm tə kɔːlɪz brʌðər/
Exercise 3: "I got this for them and for you."
Slow: /I/ /got/ /this/ /FOR/ /THEM/ /AND/ /FOR/ /you/
Normal: /I got this for them and for you/
Fast: "I got-this fer-em 'n fer-you." /aɪ ɡɑːt ðɪs fərəm ən fər juː/
Exercise 4: "Give it to them."
Slow: /Give/ /it/ /TO/ /THEM/
Normal: /Give it to them/
Fast: "Giv-it tuh-em." /ɡɪvɪt təəm/
Module 3: Detective Challenge – Identification Exercise (10 Mins)
Listen to the fast native clips and identify the original full sentence and the reductions used.
🎧 Clip 1: "What did 'e say tuh 'im?"
Reveal Answer & Analysis
Full Sentence: What did he say to him?
Reductions Used:
- he $\rightarrow$ dropped /h/ ('e)
- to $\rightarrow$ schwa sound (tuh)
- him $\rightarrow$ dropped /h/ ('im)
🎧 Clip 2: "Ask 'im fer 'is number."
Reveal Answer & Analysis
Full Sentence: Ask him for his number.
Reductions Used:
- him $\rightarrow$ dropped /h/ ('im)
- for $\rightarrow$ reduced vowel (fer)
- his $\rightarrow$ dropped /h/ ('is)
🎧 Clip 3: "We saw 'em 'n told 'em tuh wait fer 'is call."
Reveal Answer & Analysis
Full Sentence: We saw them and told them to wait for his call.
Reductions Used:
- them $\rightarrow$ dropped /θ/ ('em) [x2]
- and $\rightarrow$ reduced to /n/ ('n)
- to $\rightarrow$ schwa sound (tuh)
- for $\rightarrow$ reduced vowel (fer)
- his $\rightarrow$ dropped /h/ ('is)
Module 4: Wrap-Up & Shadowing Homework (5 Mins)
Retention Homework: The Shadowing Technique
- Select a 10-second clip from a TV show or movie.
- Write down the transcript and highlight all function words (he, him, to, for, and, them).
- Practice shadowing (repeating out loud simultaneously with the audio) at least 5 times.
