Listening: Understanding Natural Connected Speech B2 - Lesson 1: Understanding Features of Fluent Speech (assimilation, elision, intrusion)

The Secrets of Natural Connected Speech CEFR Level B2 Lesson Goals In this lesson, you will learn to recognize and understand three key features of fluent speech that make English sound fast and natural: assimilation, elision, and intrusion. Why Does English Sound So Fast? Have you ever felt that native speakers talk too quickly? It's often because they use "shortcuts" in their speech. These are not lazy habits; they are natural rules that help the speaker's mouth move from one sound to the next more easily. Let's explore three of these "secret rules." 1. Assimilation (Sounds Change) Assimilation is when a sound changes to become more like the sound that follows it. This happens to make the transition between words smoother. Written Form: "good girl" Spoken Form: "goog girl" The /d/ sound in "good" changes to a /g/ sound to prepare for the /g/ in "girl." Written Form: "ten boys" Spoken Form: "tem boys" The /n…