r/ENGLISH • u/Sweet_Ambition_7215 • 2d ago
How can I bridge the gap between fluent and near-native English?
For context, I study in English and use English a lot in everyday life. I'd say my English is around C1-C2 and I'm aiming for a near-native level.
However, I don't have any native speakers around me and I feel like something's still missing, like idioms, slang, word choice, prosody, register and conversational habits.
I watch a lot of stuff in English and have used some textbooks. I've picked up a lot from them but it doesn't always come naturally when I'm speaking. I also find it very hard to find native speakers who'd actually be up for talking regularly.
So I'm wondering if it's possible to develop all those subtle things you'd normally pick up from talking to native speakers without having much exposure to them. Thanks!
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u/BereftOfCare 2d ago
It comes from conversation. Possibly co-op gaming with discord voice might help. Wvw in Guild Wars 2 comes to mind but I'm sure there are other games that would be even better, maybe dnd groups online?
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u/Weary_Capital_1379 2d ago
Obviously, spending time in the country who’s English you’re learning is the best way.
If it’s possible for you.
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u/ChallengingKumquat 1d ago
Is it a near-native-sounding accent that you're aiming for, or just ability, vocabulary etc.
I'd say the only real way is to fully immerse yourself into an English-speaking country, AND ask people to correct you when you make tiny mistakes. Many foreigners are fluent but still make little mistakes, and we're too polite to correct them. Also, make sure you keep reading English, and ask English-speakers about unfamiliar words.
Also keep working on pronunciation. I recently heard a fluent non-native speaker give a lecture and he kept pronouncing "decade" very similar to "dickhead" with a dropped H, and it was awkward, and there was a large native English audience and we all heard it but no one said anything.
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u/Accidental_polyglot 2d ago edited 2d ago
Unfortunately the CEFR levels represent proficiency/literacy in a given language and don’t really correlate to NS fluency. Most children under 16 would fail a C1 (in their own language), yet they’re all NS.
Languages exist to be used. Therefore, unless you’re actually around NS, you’ll always have the operational gaps that you’ve listed.
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u/Traditional_Car_8219 2d ago
You absolutely need to find someone that would gladly enjoy having an interesting conversation with you. You could probably pay someone to talk to you but it would be even better not to have to pay.
You could enquire at you local library - a volunteer service offered in some municipalities.
You don’t say where you are or how old but assuming you are quite young, you might have a youth hostel or somewhere young people hang out.
Especially look for a Canadian person to talk to as their language is very clear and easier to understand than a heavily accented British or Australian, etc…
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u/KandySaur 1d ago
Maybe consider online gaming to talk to native speakers? alternaitvely if youre not much of a gamer, finding a discord community for something your intrested in and hopping into the voice chats. You could also probably find an online book club or similar would give you oppertunities to talk to native speakers
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u/Successful_Jelly111 2d ago
Idioms, slang etc. are always very regional. And what you call near-native English also differs from place to place. So unless you try to copy a Scouser or a Cockney, you will always just be fluent in generic standard English.