This content argues that learning natural English "chunks" (common phrases) is significantly more effective for achieving fluency than memorizing individual words, backed by a two-month experiment.
Mind Map
Click to expand
Click to explore the full interactive mind map • Zoom, pan, and navigate
50 chunks beat 500 words. I tested this
for two months. The results
absolutely insane. Today,
Today,
I'm giving you the exact 50 chunks, the
science behind why they work, and the
fastest way to start using them today.
By the end of this video, you'll speak
English like you've been living in
America your whole life.
Stay until chunk 43. That's the one that
changes everything. Let's go.
All right. Here's what happened two
months ago. I took 30 students, split
them into two groups. Group A memorized
500 individual words. flashcards,
vocabulary lists, the traditional way.
Group B learn just 50 chunks, natural phrases
phrases
Americans actually use.
After 60 days, we did a speaking test.
Same conversation,
same topics,
same native English speaker evaluating
them. Group A, the 500word group. They struggled.
struggled.
Long pauses,
awkward sentences,
lots of translating in their heads.
They knew the words
but couldn't speak naturally.
Group B, the 50 chunk group, they spoke
like natives. Fast, confident, natural,
natural,
no hesitation.
How is this even possible?
50 beats 500. That sounds crazy.
But stick with me because I'm about to
show you the exact reason why. And more importantly,
importantly,
I'm giving you those 50 chunks
right now. But first,
let me tell you something critical. If
you just memorize these chunks,
nothing will change. You need to understand
understand
how your brain stores them. You need to
know why they work better than words.
So, here's the plan. First,
I'll give you the first 10 chunks.
Then I'll show you the science, the
brain research that proves why chunks work.
work.
Then the next 20 chunks for everyday situations.
situations.
And finally, the last 20 chunks, the
ones that make you sound completely native.
native.
Sound good? Then let's start with the
first 10.
These 10 chunks
are the foundation.
Master these and you're already speaking
better than most intermediate learners.
Chunk number one, how's it going?
Not how are you?
Americans say how's it going?
This is the most common American
greeting. Chunk number two.
I'm going to not I am going to
real English is
I'm going to
I'm going to get coffee.
I'm going to call you later. I'm going
to think about it.
Americans say this
50 times a day. Chunk number three. That
makes sense.
This is how you show understanding,
not I understand.
That sounds robotic.
That makes sense. Sounds human.
human.
Chunk number four. Let me check.
This is your safety chunk.
Someone asks you something you don't
know the answer.
Let me check.
buys you time. Sounds professional.
Feels natural.
Chunk number five.
Sounds good.
This is your agreement chunk. Better
than yes or okay.
Want to meet at 3.
Sounds good. Can you send that email?
Sounds good. Chunk number six.
I'm not sure.
Better than I don't know.
Why? Because I don't know sounds finished
finished
like you don't care.
I'm not sure. Sounds thoughtful,
thoughtful,
like you're considering it.
Chunk number seven.
By the way,
this is your transition chunk. How to
change topics smoothly.
smoothly.
By the way, did you finish that report?
By the way, I wanted to ask you
something. Chunk number eight.
It depends.
This is your nuance chunk. Life isn't
black and white, and neither is English.
Is English hard? It depends. Should I
study grammar?
It depends.
Native speakers say this constantly.
Chunk number nine. I'd say
this is how you give opinions without
sounding aggressive.
How long does it take to learn English?
I'd say about a year for basic fluency.
Softer, more conversational.
Chunk number 10. Let me know. This is
your closing chunk. Better than tell me.
Let me know if you need anything. Let me
know when you're free. Friendly,
natural, perfect. Those are your first
10 chunks.
Now, here's why they work better than
individual words. This is the part
most people skip and it's the most important.
important.
When you memorize individual words, your
brain stores them separately
like files in different folders.
So when you speak, your brain has to
find each word, then build the sentence.
word plus word plus word slow
slow exhausting
exhausting unnatural
unnatural
but chunks
chunks are stored as one unit
I'm going to is one piece not three words
words
so when you speak your brain just grabs
the chunk no building no translating
just speaking.
That's why 50 chunks beat 500 words
because your brain treats 50 chunk like
50 units.
But 500 words,
your brain treats them like 500 separate things.
things.
The math is simple. 50 is faster than 500.
500.
But there's more. Chunks also contain
grammar automatically.
You don't learn
going to becomes gonna.
You just use
I'm going to.
The grammar is built in. No rules,
no memorization,
just natural English. That's the secret.
That's why group B spoke fluently after
60 days.
and group A still struggled.
Now you know the why. Let's give you the
next 20 chunks.
These are for specific situations. Work,
Work, social,
social,
daily life.
Chunk number 11.
I'm working on
better than I do.
I'm working on a new project.
I'm working on improving my English. Active,
Active, engaged,
engaged, natural.
natural.
Chunk number 12.
I'm good at how to talk about your
skills. I'm good at solving problems.
I'm good at learning languages.
Confident, not arrogant.
Chunk number 13.
I'm trying to
shows effort. I'm trying to speak more fluently.
fluently.
I'm trying to understand this concept.
Human, relatable, native.
native.
Chunk number 14.
I used to
talk about the past naturally.
I used to live in Brazil. I used to be
shy about speaking English. Simple,
clear, conversational.
Chunk number 15.
I'd rather
express preference without being rude.
I'd rather meet tomorrow. I'd rather
take the train. Polite, soft, American.
American.
Chunk number 16.
I can't help but
This is advanced native speech. I can't
help but think you're right. I can't
help but laugh when I see that. Sounds
Sounds sophisticated.
sophisticated.
Chunk number 17.
As far as I know,
show you're being careful with information.
information.
As far as I know, the meeting is at 3.
As far as I know, he's still working
there. Thoughtful, accurate,
accurate, native.
native.
Chunk number 18.
It's up to you. Let others decide where
should we eat.
It's up to you.
Friendly, flexible, natural.
Chunk number 19. I don't mind.
Show you're easygoing. Do you want
coffee or tea? I don't mind. Casual, relaxed,
relaxed, American.
American.
Chunk number 20.
That's fine with me.
Similar to 19, but slightly more formal.
Use this at work. Can we reschedu?
That's fine with me. Professional, cooperative,
cooperative, natural.
natural.
Chunk number 21.
I'm about to
talk about near future. I'm about to leave.
leave.
I'm about to call her. Immediate.
Immediate. Clear.
Clear. Native.
Native.
Chunk number 22.
I'm kind of
soften statements. I'm kind of tired.
I'm kind of busy right now. less direct,
more conversational.
Chunk number 23.
I feel like
express thoughts casually.
I feel like we should wait.
I feel like pizza tonight. Relaxed, natural,
natural, American.
American.
Chunk number 24.
I can't wait to
show excitement. I can't wait to see
you. I can't wait to finish this project.
project. Enthusiastic,
Enthusiastic, warm,
warm, native.
native.
Chunk number 25.
I'm supposed to
talk about obligations. I'm supposed to
finish this today.
I'm supposed to call my mom. Responsible,
Responsible, natural,
natural,
real English. Chunk number 26.
I ended up
explain unexpected outcomes.
I ended up staying home.
I ended up loving that movie.
Storytelling chunk. Very native.
Chunk number the 27.
I should probably
make suggestions to yourself. I should
probably go to bed. I should probably
study more.
Self-aware, natural, conversational.
Chunk number 28.
I tend to
talk about your patterns.
I tend to overthink things. I tend to
wake up early. Reflective
mature English
chunk number 29.
I'm planning to
discuss future plans.
I'm planning to move next year. I'm
planning to take a course.
Forward thinking. Clear native. Chunk
number 30.
I'm looking forward to
show anticipation.
I'm looking forward to the weekend.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Positive, professional, American.
American.
Those are 30 chunks.
You're more than halfway.
And here's what I want you to notice.
Every single one of these chunks
contains grammar.
But you didn't study grammar, did you?
You just learned the chunk. That's the
power. The grammar is invisible.
It's built in. You're learning grammar
without studying grammar.
Now, the final 20. These are the game changers.
changers.
The ones that make you sound like you've
been speaking English your whole life.
Pay attention to chunk 43. That's the
one. My students say changed everything.
Chunk number 31.
To be honest,
introduce truth.
To be honest, I'm not sure.
To be honest, I didn't like it. Direct. Authentic
Authentic
native chunk number 32.
At the end of the day,
summarize what matters.
At the end of the day, we did our best.
At the end of the day, it's your decision.
decision. Philosophical
Philosophical American
American powerful
powerful
chunk number 33.
When it comes to introduce a topic specifically.
specifically.
When it comes to learning English,
chunks are best. When it comes to food,
I'm not picky. Sophisticated, clear,
native chunk number 34.
The thing is,
explain the reality.
The thing is
I don't have time today. The thing is
it's more complicated than that.
Honest, conversational, natural.
natural.
Chunk number 35.
I might as well
accept a situation.
I might as well start now.
I might as well tell you the truth.
Resigned but positive. Very English.
Chunk number 36.
Come to think of it.
Realize something new. Come to think of
it. You're right. Come to think of it. I
do have time. Thoughtful. Reflective.
Reflective. Native.
Native.
Chunk number 37.
Speaking of which,
connect to previous topic.
Speaking of which, did you finish that?
Speaking of which, I saw him yesterday. Smooth,
Smooth, conversational,
conversational, advanced.
advanced.
Chunk number 38.
Now that you mention it,
react to someone's comment.
Now that you mention it, I do remember.
Now that you mention it, that makes sense.
sense.
Engaged, responsive, native. Chunk
number 39.
I wouldn't say
disagree politely.
I wouldn't say it's impossible.
I wouldn't say he's wrong. Diplomatic, soft,
soft, American.
American.
Chunk number 40. If anything,
add a counterpoint.
If anything, it's too easy. If anything,
we need more time. Nuanced, sophisticated,
sophisticated, native.
native.
Chunk number 41.
No wonder.
Express understanding of cause.
No wonder you're tired. No wonder it
didn't work. Empathetic.
Clear. Conversational.
Chunk number 42.
That reminds me.
Connect to memory. That reminds me of a
story. That reminds me. I need to call
John. Natural storytelling
storytelling American
American
chunk number 43.
I take it.
Make an inference. I take it. You're not coming.
coming.
I take it. The meeting went well. Intelligent.
Intelligent. Perceptive.
Perceptive. Native.
Native.
This is the chunk my students say
changed everything.
because it shows you're thinking. You're
not just speaking,
you're engaging.
You're making inferences like a native
speaker. Chunk number 44.
As a matter of fact,
emphasize truth.
As a matter of fact,
I was just thinking the same thing. As a
matter of fact,
I do know him.
Confident, assertive, native. Chunk
number 45.
In that case,
respond to new information.
In that case, I'll wait. In that case,
let's cancel. Logical, responsive,
responsive, natural.
natural.
Chunk number 46.
That being said,
add contrast. That being said, I still
think we should try. That being said,
it's not impossible.
Balanced, mature, American.
Chunk number the 47. For what it's worth,
worth,
give opinion humbly. For what it's worth,
worth,
I think you're right.
For what it's worth,
I enjoyed it. Modest,
Modest, thoughtful,
thoughtful, native.
native.
Chunk number 48.
I hate to say it, but
deliver difficult truth.
I hate to say it, but we might be late.
I hate to say it, but I don't think
it'll work. Honest. Careful, conversational.
conversational.
Chunk number 49.
You never know.
Acknowledge uncertainty. You never know
what might happen.
You never know. It could work out. Optimistic.
Optimistic. Realistic.
Realistic. American.
American.
Chunk number 50.
Fair enough.
Accept someone's point. I see your perspective.
perspective.
Fair enough. You're right. Fair enough.
Mature. Agreeable.
Very native. There you have it. 50
chunks. The ones that beat
500 words.
Now, here's what you do next. Don't try
to memorize all 50. That's the old way. Instead,
Instead,
choose 10.
10 that feel useful for your life. Write
them down. Use them this week in conversations.
conversations.
Real conversations and with people, with
yourself, with AI,
because chunks only become yours
yours
when you use them. And here's the secret.
secret.
Nobody tells you once you own 10 chunks,
the next 10 become easier.
Your brain starts thinking in chunks,
not words.
That's when fluency happens.
That's when confidence appears.
That's when you stop translating and
start speaking.
One last thing right now, write in the
comments which chunk you're using first.
Just write the number. Chunk three,
chunk 12, chunk 43. I want to see which
chunks are the most popular.
And I'll know you actually watched this
and you're serious about fluency
because here's the truth. You watching
this video changes nothing.
But you using these chunks, that changes everything.
everything.
I tested 50 chunks versus 500 word for
60 days. The chunks won. Now it's your
turn to test them.
Pick 10. Use them this week and watch
what happens.
I'm Mark. This is English flow. Thank
you for trusting me with your English
journey. Now go speak confidently,
naturally, fluently. See you in the next one.
Click on any text or timestamp to jump to that moment in the video
Share:
Most transcripts ready in under 5 seconds
One-Click Copy125+ LanguagesSearch ContentJump to Timestamps
Paste YouTube URL
Enter any YouTube video link to get the full transcript
Transcript Extraction Form
Most transcripts ready in under 5 seconds
Get Our Chrome Extension
Get transcripts instantly without leaving YouTube. Install our Chrome extension for one-click access to any video's transcript directly on the watch page.