This content argues that mastering conversational "chunks" (pre-fabricated phrases) is a more effective and natural way to achieve fluency in spoken English, particularly on phone calls, than memorizing individual vocabulary words.
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Stop saying hello on phone calls.
Americans don't.
I recorded 347
real phone calls from work, from
friends, from strangers.
Only 12 people said hello.
Everyone else,
they used chunks.
Today I'm showing you 57 chunks
that make you sound like you've lived in
America your whole life.
Not textbook English, real English.
The kind that makes people want to keep
talking to you. Let me prove it right
now. Hope I'm calling you. Answer like a beginner.
beginner. Hello.
>> See that? Just hello.
Now, I don't know if you're the right person.
person.
If you can talk. Nothing.
Nothing.
Awkward silence starts, but watch this. Hope.
Hope.
Boom. Two words changed everything.
This is hope. I know who you are. I relax.
relax.
Conversation flows.
And here's why this works. And
vocabulary lists don't. A beginner
memorizes 200 phone vocabulary words.
They still freeze on real calls.
Why? Because words need grammar.
You think, do I say is or are, did or does.
does.
Your brain translates. Your mouth waits.
Silence happens. Chunks.
Chunks.
No translation.
No grammar thinking.
Your mouth just says it automatic.
This is hope.
You don't think about sentence structure
in it's one piece ready to use. 57
chunks like this equals 200 words of fluency
fluency
but faster, natural,
natural, real.
real.
That's the power we're unlocking today.
Now, here's what nobody tells you. Phone
calls have three danger zones.
The first five seconds where you sound unprofessional,
unprofessional,
the middle
where conversation dies,
and the ending where it gets weird.
weird.
Most people survive the first five
seconds, then they crash and burn. I'm
gonna fix all three with three tricks
using 57 chunks.
By the end, you'll handle any call,
work, friends, strangers, all of it.
Let's start with danger zone one.
Here's the trick. Answer with identity,
not greeting. Most people say hello and
wait. Wrong. You identify yourself immediately.
immediately.
Listen to the difference. Hope beginner version.
version. >> Hello.
>> Hello.
>> Oh, okay. Um,
>> Painful right now. American version.
See how fast that was? Hope speaking.
I knew immediately. No confusion.
Professional version.
This is hope.
Super casual with friends. Just Yeah.
All three work. Pick your situation.
But here's where it gets interesting.
What if you don't know who's calling?
Most people panic. They answer. Hear a
stranger's voice.
Freeze. But you, you take control. Watch.
Watch.
>> Oh, hi. This is Mark from the marketing department.
Who's calling, please?
You're polite, but you're asking questions.
questions.
Work version.
May I ask who's calling
now? They have to explain themselves.
Okay. Someone calls, asks for your boss.
Sounds unprofessional, like you don't
know what you're doing. Instead,
>> One moment, please. I'll see if she's available.
Two chunks. Professional in control.
Now, you sound like you run the place,
but what if your boss isn't available?
Don't panic.
>> I'm sorry. She's not available right
>> Professional. Helpful. Done. All right.
Pause the video right now. Say this out
loud. This is your name. I'm serious.
Say it out loud. Did you do it?
Good. That's the only way your mouth learns.
learns.
Reading doesn't work. Speaking works.
Okay, unpause.
Let's keep going.
Remember those 347
calls I recorded?
Here's what Americans actually say in
danger zone 2.
This is where most conversations die,
but not yours. Not anymore.
Danger zone two, the middle. This is
where conversations die. You answered
well. Started strong, then
then silence.
silence.
Awkward pauses.
You don't know what to say.
They don't know what to say.
Call ends fast.
But here's the trick. Take control of
the conversation immediately.
Don't wait for them. You tell them why
you called. Watch.
Hi, Hope. I'm calling about tomorrow's meeting.
>> I'm calling about. Clear, direct, no
confusion. Or,
hey, I wanted to check in. See how
I wanted to check in. shows you care.
Builds relationship.
Someone called you earlier. You're
calling back.
I'm returning your call.
Shows you're responsible.
Now, here's where most people mess up.
They get the call started. Then they
stop driving the conversation.
The other person talks. They just say
yeah or okay.
Energy dies. But if you use these chunks,
chunks,
people want to keep talking to you.
Here's how. React with energy. Someone
tells you something. Don't just
acknowledge it. React.
>> Oh, really? That's awesome. Tell me more
>> Three reactions.
Oh, really? Shows surprise.
That's awesome.
Shows excitement.
Tell me more about that.
Opens the door.
You just gave them three reasons to keep
talking. Compare that to
>> Conversation dies.
But those three reactions,
conversation explodes.
They tell you everything. Here's the secret.
secret.
Americans use reaction chunks constantly.
constantly.
It's how they show they're listening. Watch.
So, I went to the beach yesterday
>> Yeah.
And then I saw this huge jellyfish.
>> No way. Keeps energy up.
I see what you mean.
Shows understanding.
These little chunks.
They're like fuel.
They keep the conversation engine
running. More reactions.
Someone says something that makes sense.
That makes sense.
They share good news.
That's awesome.
Bad news.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Empathy, connection, they feel heard.
Now, here's the real trick to being
interesting on phone calls.
Ask questions that make people talk,
not yes no questions.
Open questions.
What happened? Opens them up. They tell
you the whole story compared to
>> Dead.
But what happened? They talk for five
minutes. Other powerful questions.
How was it? What happened next?
These questions,
they're magic.
People love talking about themselves.
You just gave them permission.
Okay, that's danger zone 2 handled.
But wait until you see danger zone 3.
This is where 90% of learners sound
weird, the ending. Most people either
end too abruptly or they don't know how
to end.
So, the call drags on forever.
But you, you're about to master it.
Final danger zone, ending the call. Most
people just say bye and hang up. Rude,
awkward, or they don't know how to end.
So, the call drags on forever.
Both bad. Here's the trick.
Signal, then exit.
You can't just say, "I have to go now."
Too abrupt. You need to signal first
that you're wrapping up. Then exit
smoothly. Watch the difference.
Abrupt version.
>> Okay, I have to go now. Bye.
>> Rude right now. American version.
I should probably let you go.
Signals end. Gives them time to wrap up
their thought. Then
Then
>> Shows consideration or
>> Acknowledges their time. These signals,
they're polite warnings.
We're about to finish.
Then you thank them.
>> Appreciative. Or if they helped you.
>> Shows gratitude.
Enjoyed the call. It was great talking
warm leaves good impression.
Want to talk again soon?
>> Or the classic.
>> Everyone knows this one. Professional
call. Show you'll take action.
responsible,
organized, and here's the final trick.
The last thing you say, that's what
people remember most.
So, don't just say bye. Add warmth.
>> Kind
or eh,
positive or
or
>> Leaves door open. All right, pop quiz.
Your friend calls you right now. What do
you say in the first 3 seconds?
Think about it. I'll give you the answer
in 5 seconds.
Did you guess? Here's what Americans
actually say.
what's up? That's it. Not hello. How are
you doing today?
Just what's up? Or even shorter. Hey,
Hey,
you call someone, they don't recognize
your voice.
>> It's me.
They figure it out from context.
No awkward explanation needed.
Now, here's a power move. Someone calls
you and you're actually happy to hear
from them. Show it.
>> Good to hear from you. Warm, friendly.
People remember how you made them feel.
Now real world problems. Bad connection.
Can't hear. They talk too fast.
Don't suffer in silence. Fix it immediately.
immediately.
>> Addresses it. They'll adjust. Or
I can't hear you very well. Could you
>> Two chunks. Polite gets results. They're
talking too fast.
>> Professional works every time. Didn't
catch something they said.
>> Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you
>> Happens to everyone. No shame. They use
a word you don't know.
Direct shows you're trying to understand.
understand.
Need them to spell something.
>> Common in business calls. Bad timing.
Can't talk right now. Don't fake it.
>> I'm in a meeting right now. Can I call
>> I'm in a meeting right now.
Can I call you back?
Honest, respectful, or
>> this isn't a great time.
>> That's boundary. And when you do, call back.
back.
>> Shows you remembered. Builds trust.
There you go.
57 chunks, three tricks. Answer with
identity, react with energy, signal,
then exit. These three tricks using 57 chunks
chunks
beat memorizing 200 vocabulary words.
Why? Because words you have to think
about, chunks you just use, your brain
grabs them automatically. like what's
up. You don't think
what auxiliary verb do I need here.
You just say it. That's the power of
chunks. And that's why 57 chunks
equal 200 words of fluency, but faster,
more natural, more real.
Now, here's what I want you to do.
Think about your life. Do you answer
calls at work?
You need opening chunks.
This is Mark.
May I ask who's calling?
Do you call friends a lot? You need
casual chunks.
What's up? It's me. Good to hear from you.
you.
Do you struggle with endings? You need
exit chunks.
I should let you go. Talk soon. Take care.
care.
Pick your five chunks. The five for your situations.
situations.
Write them down. Practice them out loud
right now. Say them to yourself. Get
your mouth used to the sounds. Then use
them today. Next phone call you get, use
one chunk. Just one. See how it feels. Tomorrow
Tomorrow
use two.
By next week, these chunks will be automatic.
automatic.
Comment below which scenario you need most.
most.
Work calls, friend calls, ending calls.
I'll reply with the exact five chunks
you should practice first.
And if you want the complete practice system,
system,
15 minutes a day, solo practice, no
partner needed,
check the description. I made you a
guide. This is English flow. Chunks beat
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