In this episode, I dive into one of the biggest frustrations language learners face: why doesn’t real English sound like the English in textbooks? I share examples of how natural speech reduces and links sounds, why people from different regions and subcultures speak differently, and why that variety actually makes language richer and more interesting. I’ll also talk about my own experiences learning Japanese, compare textbooks to driving manuals, and give you practical ways to open your ears to real English—through movies, conversations, reading, and just paying attention to the world around you.

Summary and transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BllbZUmM4UlnKNFchAbtsZIk0LaKDhS3wOFo4aWeyL4/edit?usp=sharing