Train Your Mouth to Speak English FLUENTLY in 30 Days | Jack Ma

Hello, my friends. Today, I want to tell you a simple story from my life.

When I was 12 years old, I did something a little strange.

Every single morning, before school, before breakfast, I got on my bicycle and rode 40 minutes to Hangzhou International Hotel.

I didn't go there to eat.

I didn't go there to work.

I went there to talk to foreigners.

I would walk up to them and say, "Hello, my name is Jack.

Can I be your guide today?"

For free.

Yes, for free. I didn't earn any money.

My family didn't understand. My

classmates laughed at me. They thought I was wasting my time.

But I kept going. Not for a few days, not for a few months. I did it for almost 9 years, rain or shine. And

something interesting happened. The

foreigners didn't laugh at me. They

talked to me. They listened. Sometimes

they corrected my English. Without

knowing it, they became my teachers. One

day, one of them said, "Your name is difficult for me. Can I call you Jack?"

I said, "Okay." And that name stayed with me. Now, let me ask you a simple

with me. Now, let me ask you a simple question. Why did I do that? Why would a

question. Why did I do that? Why would a young boy ride a so far every morning just to talk to strangers? Because I

understood something very early. English

is not just a language. It is a door. At

that time, I didn't know what was behind that door, but I knew it was bigger than my small world, and I wanted to open it. That is what I want

you to understand today. Learning

English is not just about words. It is

about opportunities. It is about seeing a bigger world. And the good news is, you can start the same way. Simple. One

sentence at a time. Many people study English for many years.

They learn grammar. They memorize words, and they read books.

Some of them even pass exams. But when a foreigner asks them a simple question like, "Excuse [music] me, where is the train station?" They cannot answer.

train station?" They cannot answer.

Their mind goes blank.

They know the words, but they cannot say anything. Does this

sound familiar? This is not because you're not smart, and it is not because English is too difficult. [music]

The real problem is simple. You trained

your brain, but you did not train your mouth. Let me explain it in an easy way.

mouth. Let me explain it in an easy way.

Imagine you want to learn piano. You

study music. You understand the theory.

And you watch many videos, but you never touch the piano. What will happen when you try to play? Your hands will not move. You don't know where to put your

move. You don't know where to put your fingers. Speaking English is the same.

fingers. Speaking English is the same.

You may know many words in your head, [music] but your mouth is not ready.

Your tongue is not used to the sounds.

Your breathing is not natural. These

things need practice, too. And this is where most people fail. They spend time reading, writing, [music] and listening, but they do not practice speaking.

Reading is not speaking.

Writing is not speaking. Listening is

not speaking. Speaking is different. It

happens in real time. You don't have time to think too much. Someone is

waiting for your answer.

That is why it feels difficult. That is

why many people feel nervous. But this

is also why speaking is so important. If

you want to speak English well, you must practice speaking.

Not sometimes, but every day.

Even a little is enough. But you must use your mouth. Because in the end, language is not only in your brain. It

must come out. I want to talk about something very simple, but very important.

Many English teachers do not say this clearly.

The biggest problem is not pronunciation.

It is not grammar.

[music] It is not vocabulary. The biggest

problem is fear. And I understand this fear, because I had it, too. In many

cultures, children are taught from a young age not to make mistakes in front of others.

If you don't know something, it is better to stay quiet. This teaches

respect, and in many situations, it is a good thing. But when you learn a

good thing. But when you learn a language, this idea can hold you back, because learning a language is different.

You need to make mistakes. You need to try, even when you are not ready.

You cannot stay silent and improve at the same time. It doesn't work that way.

When I was young in Hangzhou, I practiced English with tourists every morning. I made many mistakes. I said

morning. I made many mistakes. I said

things the wrong way. I used the wrong grammar. Sometimes people looked

grammar. Sometimes people looked confused. [music]

confused. [music] One time, I tried to say something simple, but the person didn't understand me at all. In that moment, I felt very embarrassed. I wanted to stop,

embarrassed. I wanted to stop, [music] but I didn't stop. I came back the next day, and the next day, because [music] I made a simple decision.

I told myself, "It's okay to feel embarrassed now. Later, I will be

embarrassed now. Later, I will be better." That decision helped me

better." That decision helped me continue. And slowly, step by step, I

continue. And slowly, step by step, I improved. Let me tell you about someone.

improved. Let me tell you about someone.

I want you to picture her clearly. Her

name is Rose. She's 26 years old. She

grew up in a normal city, studied hard, and did well in school. Her English is not bad. She can read articles. She can

not bad. She can read articles. She can

write emails. But when it comes to speaking, [music] everything changes. In

meetings, she stays quiet. When she has a video call with international colleagues, her microphone is always off. When her manager asks for her

off. When her manager asks for her opinion, her heart starts [music] beating fast. She knows the answer. She

beating fast. She knows the answer. She

has the idea in her mind. But when it is time to speak, she freezes. She starts a sentence, then stops. She smiles

nervously and says, "Sorry, my English is not very good."

[music] And then she becomes silent again. After

the meeting, she thinks about it again and again.

She tells herself, "I knew the answer.

[music] I could have said it." But the moment is gone. And slowly, something more

gone. And slowly, something more dangerous happens. She starts to believe

dangerous happens. She starts to believe a story.

She tells herself, "My English is not good enough.

Maybe I am not good at speaking. Maybe I

will speak later, when I am more ready." But here is the problem. That moment never comes,

problem. That moment never comes, because if you only prepare, but never practice, you are not improving. You are

just waiting. I have seen many people like Rose. They are smart. They

like Rose. They are smart. They

understand a lot. They have good ideas, but they don't speak.

And when you don't speak, silence becomes a habit. And habits are not easy to change. So, let me tell you something

to change. So, let me tell you something simple.

The English you have right now is enough to start. Not perfect, but enough. You

to start. Not perfect, but enough. You

don't need better English to begin. You

need to begin to get better English.

That is the difference. So, don't wait.

Speak with what you have. That is how everything starts. I applied to Harvard

everything starts. I applied to Harvard 10 times, and 10 times they said no.

After I finished university, I applied for many jobs, and I was rejected again and again. When KFC came to my city,

and again. When KFC came to my city, many people applied, but I was the only one not chosen. I also tried to join the police, but I failed there, too. Why am

I telling you this? Because today, when people see me, they see confidence. They

see someone who can speak in front of many people, sometimes even in English, without fear. They think I was always

without fear. They think I was always like this. But that is not true.

like this. But that is not true.

[music] At that time, I also felt confused. I

asked myself, "Why do I keep failing?"

Sometimes, I felt tired. Sometimes, I

felt I was not good enough. But I did not stop.

Because slowly, I understood something important.

Rejection is not the end.

Rejection is feedback.

It shows you what you need to improve.

It shows you where you are still weak.

And this is the same when you learn English. When you speak and make a

English. When you speak and make a mistake, it is not failure. It is a signal. It is your mind telling you you

signal. It is your mind telling you you need more practice here. People who

speak English well are not perfect.

[music] They're not people who never make mistakes. They're people who keep

mistakes. They're people who keep speaking, keep learning, and keep trying the next day again. So, do not be afraid of mistakes. Use them. Learn from them.

of mistakes. Use them. Learn from them.

And move forward, step by step. Here is

something very important I want you to understand.

Your mouth is a muscle.

This is not just idea. It is real. Your

tongue, your lips, your jaw, they are all muscles, just like your arms or your legs.

[music] And like any muscle, they get better with practice. When you speak English,

with practice. When you speak English, you are not only thinking about words.

You are also moving your mouth in new ways. Some sounds are very different

ways. Some sounds are very different from your native language. Your tongue

may need to touch your teeth in a new position. Your lips may need to change

position. Your lips may need to change shape in a way that feels strange at first. That is why many people say, "I

first. That is why many people say, "I understand English, but I can't [music] speak."

speak." Understanding is only in your brain.

But speaking is both your brain and your body. You may know the words,

body. You may know the words, but your mouth is not trained yet. So,

what should you do? The answer is simple. You need to speak more, not just

simple. You need to speak more, not just listen, not just read. You need to open your mouth and make sounds every day.

You can speak when you are alone. You

can speak [music] in your room, in the shower, or while you are walking. It

does not matter if it is perfect. What

matters is that you practice. [music]

If you do a little every day, your mouth will slowly get used to English sounds.

And one day, speaking will feel easier and more natural.

I want to tell you about another person.

Let's call him Daniel. Daniel was 22 years old, and he had just started his first real job. He worked in a company where some people spoke English, and once a month,

[music] they had an online meeting with a team from another country. Those meetings

were always in English. At first, Daniel thought it would be okay. He could

understand many things, maybe not everything, but enough to follow the conversation. Around 60%, but when it

conversation. Around 60%, but when it was his turn to speak, [music] everything changed. His mind suddenly

everything changed. His mind suddenly went blank. He knew what he wanted to

went blank. He knew what he wanted to say, but he could not say it. The

sentence stopped in the middle.

He looked at the screen and saw everyone waiting. No one spoke.

waiting. No one spoke.

They were waiting for him, and the longer he stayed silent, the harder it became to speak. So, he

said a few words, then stopped, and the moment passed.

This happened again, and again, and again. After three meetings, Daniel felt

again. After three meetings, Daniel felt very frustrated. He didn't feel stupid.

very frustrated. He didn't feel stupid.

[music] He knew he could understand, but he could not express himself. And

maybe you have felt the same. You

understand English, but when you speak, [music] nothing comes out.

After the third meeting, Daniel made a simple decision. He said, "I will fix

simple decision. He said, "I will fix this problem myself." He didn't have money for a teacher. He didn't have time to go to a class, so he chose something simple that he could do every day. Every

morning, he took his phone, he pressed record, [music] and he spoke for 5 minutes. He didn't

prepare. He didn't write anything. He

just spoke. Sometimes he talked about his day, sometimes about the weather, sometimes about his work, sometimes about what he

was worried about. He spoke like he was talking to a friend, but the friend was just his phone. In the beginning,

it felt uncomfortable. When he listened to his voice, he didn't like it. He

stopped many times. He used the same simple words again and again. He said

"um" too often. Sometimes he didn't finish his sentence. It was not good, but he did not stop. He listened

carefully, not to judge himself, but to understand what was happening. He started to notice small things.

Where he stopped, which words he didn't know, which sentences were too difficult. And the next day, he tried

difficult. And the next day, he tried again.

After about 3 weeks, something changed.

Not a big change, but a small one. He didn't stop as much.

His sentences became a little smoother.

He still made some mistakes, but they were different mistakes.

[music] And this is very important. When your

mistakes change, it means you are improving. After 6 weeks, Daniel had

improving. After 6 weeks, Daniel had another international meeting. He still

felt nervous. His heart was beating fast, but this time, something was different.

[music] When his manager asked him, "Daniel, what do you think about this?" he didn't stay silent. He took a breath, and he

stay silent. He took a breath, and he answered, not perfectly. He paused a little.

He made some mistakes, but he spoke a full idea, a clear thought, and people understood him. After the meeting, one

understood him. After the meeting, one of his colleagues sent him a message.

"Good point today." Just three words.

But for Daniel, it meant everything.

[music] He read that message many times, because for the first time, he felt it. "I can

do this." What Daniel learned is something very simple, but very powerful. If you want to speak better,

powerful. If you want to speak better, you need to hear yourself speak. Because

when you listen to yourself, you don't imagine your problem. You see it clearly. You hear where you stop. You

clearly. You hear where you stop. You

hear which words you repeat too much.

You hear where your sentence breaks.

Many people only learn in their heads.

They read.

They listen. They think, but they don't speak.

[music] And because they don't speak, they don't improve. Speaking is a physical skill.

improve. Speaking is a physical skill.

Like playing a sport, you cannot learn it only by watching. You have to practice. So, here is something you can

practice. So, here is something you can try. Take your phone. Speak for 5

try. Take your phone. Speak for 5 minutes every [music] day. Don't worry

about mistakes. Don't try to be perfect.

Just speak.

[music] Then listen again, not to criticize yourself, but to understand yourself.

And slowly, day by day, you will see a change. Not suddenly, but clearly.

change. Not suddenly, but clearly.

Because the goal is not perfect English.

The goal is real communication. And that

starts with one simple habit. Speak and

listen to yourself.

Now, I want to give you something clear and practical. Something you can start

and practical. Something you can start tonight.

[music] Not just ideas, but a real plan. And I

will tell you honestly how it will feel, because this is how people really learn.

For the first 10 days, every morning, spend 10 minutes speaking English.

Not sometimes, every day. Find a quiet place. You don't need anything special.

place. You don't need anything special.

Just stand there and talk. [music]

Talk about your day, your plans, or how you feel. For example, you can say,

you feel. For example, you can say, "I woke up at 7:00.

I feel a little tired today.

I have a lot of work. I hope I can finish it." That is enough. You don't

finish it." That is enough. You don't

need big words. You just need to speak.

At night, before you sleep, take two or three minutes to record your voice.

Answer a simple question like, "What did I do today?" or "What made me happy today?" Then listen again. Don't stop

today?" Then listen again. Don't stop

because you feel shy. Listen until the end. You will hear where you stop, where

end. You will hear where you stop, where you don't know a word, [music] or where your sentence is not clear.

The next day, you try again. The first

few days will feel strange. This is

normal.

Your voice will sound different.

You may not know what to say.

After 1 minute, your mind may go blank.

You may want to switch to your own language, but don't do that. Stay with

English. Even if your sentence is simple, even if you speak slowly, even if you pause in the middle, this is how your brain learns.

Think about a child. A child speaks slowly, makes mistakes, but keeps going.

[music] That is why they improve. You

are doing the same thing.

From day 11 to day 20, you start shadowing. This means you listen and

shadowing. This means you listen and repeat. Choose a short video or podcast.

repeat. Choose a short video or podcast.

Not too long. Maybe 3 minutes. Listen to

one sentence. Pause. Repeat it.

Try to copy the sound. Not just the words, but how it sounds.

For example, when a speaker says, "I want to go home." Notice how fast or slow they speak.

[music] Where they stress the words. Then try to say it the same way.

At first, you may feel a bit silly. That

is okay. Everyone feels like that. But

after a few days, it becomes easier.

Shadowing is powerful because it trains your ear and your mouth together. Many

learners understand English, but cannot speak. Why? Because they only use their

speak. Why? Because they only use their brain, not their mouth. Shadowing fixes this.

It helps you feel the language, not just understand it. It's like learning a

understand it. It's like learning a song. You don't just read the lyrics.

song. You don't just read the lyrics.

You sing it. Do this for about 20 minutes every day, [music] and still keep your recording habit from the first 10 days.

For the last 10 days, you need to speak with another person. This is the hardest part for most people. But this is also the most important part. You don't need

a native speaker. [music]

You don't need someone who's perfect.

You just need someone who's learning like you. You can find a partner online,

like you. You can find a partner online, join a group, or talk to a friend. Speak

English for 15 to 20 minutes every day.

Don't prepare too much. Don't try to be perfect.

[music] Just talk. Ask simple questions like,

Just talk. Ask simple questions like, "What did you do today?" or "What do you like to do on weekends?"

[music] You will make mistakes. That is normal.

Sometimes you will laugh. That is good.

It means you're relaxed.

[music] In real life, this is how people improve.

Not by studying alone, but by using the language.

Think about people who move to another country.

At the first, they struggle. But after a few months, they speak better. Why?

Because they use the language every day.

You are creating the same situation for yourself. After 30 days, something will

yourself. After 30 days, something will change. Speaking will not feel as

change. Speaking will not feel as difficult as before. You may still make mistakes, but you will not be as afraid.

[music] Your sentences will come faster. Your

mind will not stop as much. It will feel more natural. Not perfect, but

more natural. Not perfect, but comfortable.

And that feeling is very important.

Because when something feels familiar, you will continue.

And when you continue, you improve.

After these 30 days, you may ask, "Why does this method work?"

[music] The answer is simple. Because you are not just learning English in your head.

You are using it with your mouth, your ears, and your daily life. In the first 10 days, you train yourself to think in English. You stop translating your mind.

English. You stop translating your mind.

You start speaking directly, even with simple words. In the next 10 days, you

simple words. In the next 10 days, you train your ears and your pronunciation.

You learn how real English sounds.

Not textbook English, but natural English. And in the final 10 days, you use English with real people.

This is the most important step, because language is not for studying. It is for communication. Now, think about your own

communication. Now, think about your own experience. Maybe you understand English

experience. Maybe you understand English when you watch videos. Maybe you can read and know many words. But when

someone ask you a simple question, like what did you do today? You stop. You

think. You feel nervous. And sometimes,

you don't answer at all. This happens to many people. Not because they're not

many people. Not because they're not good at English, but because they don't practice speaking enough. This plan

helps you fix that problem step by step.

You don't need perfect grammar. You

don't need the big vocabulary. You just

need to speak a little more every day. So, don't wait.

You don't need to prepare too much.

Start small. Tonight, say one simple sentence in [music] English. Tomorrow,

say a little more. That is how progress begins. Most people will listen to this

begins. Most people will listen to this and do nothing. [music]

But if you are serious about changing your English, you can start now. One

day, one sentence, one step at a time.

And slowly, your English will become part of your life. Before I share these final ideas, I want you to be honest with yourself. How many times have you

with yourself. How many times have you wanted to speak English, but stayed silent? Not because you didn't know the

silent? Not because you didn't know the words, but because you were afraid. If

that sounds like you, then this message is for you. I have shared many things with you, but I want to leave you with just three simple ideas. Not 10, not 20.

Just three. Because three is something you can remember and use. The first idea is this.

Silence is the only mistake you cannot fix. If you speak and make a mistake, it

fix. If you speak and make a mistake, it is okay. You say something wrong,

is okay. You say something wrong, someone corrects you, and you learn. You

try again, [music] and you improve. But if you stay silent, nothing happens. You don't learn

nothing happens. You don't learn anything. You don't move forward. Think

anything. You don't move forward. Think

about your daily life. Maybe you are in a class, or at work, or talking to someone online. You understand the

someone online. You understand the question. You know some words, but you

question. You know some words, but you stay quiet. That moment feels safe, but

stay quiet. That moment feels safe, but it does not help you grow. So, here is something you can do right now. After

this, say one sentence in English. It

can be very simple. For example, today [music] I'm learning English. That is enough.

The second idea is about fluency.

Fluency is not about how many words you know. It is about how many words you are

know. It is about how many words you are willing to use. [music]

I have seen people who know a lot of vocabulary, but they cannot speak.

They are always waiting to be perfect.

They're afraid to make mistakes. But I

have also seen people with very simple English, and they can communicate well. When they

don't know a word, they explain it in another way. For example, if they forget

another way. For example, if they forget the word umbrella, they say, "The thing we use when it rains." And people understand. This is real communication.

understand. This is real communication.

In real life, people don't need perfect English. They need clear ideas. So,

English. They need clear ideas. So,

don't wait until you know everything.

Use what you already know. The third

idea is about your accent. Many people

worry about how they sound.

They think, "My English is not good because my accent is not like a native speaker."

But this is not true. Your accent is not a problem. It is part of who you are.

a problem. It is part of who you are.

When I speak English, I also have my own accent.

But that has never stopped me from sharing my ideas.

People listen to the message, [music] not the accent. In real life, you will meet people from many countries.

Everyone speaks differently. That is

normal. What matters is that you speak clearly and with confidence. So,

remember these three things. Don't stay

silent. Don't wait to be perfect. And

don't be afraid of your accent.

And there is one more thing I want you to understand.

You are not someone who can't speak English.

You are someone who is learning to speak. That is a very important

speak. That is a very important difference.

Many people tell themselves, "I can't speak English." And they stop trying.

speak English." And they stop trying.

But the truth is, they just haven't practiced enough yet.

Every time you speak, even one simple sentence, you are improving. It may feel small, but it is real progress. Think

about your daily life.

Maybe you watch English videos and understand a lot.

But when it is your turn to speak, [music] you feel nervous.

And you stay silent.

That moment is very important. If you

stay silent, [music] nothing changes. But if you try,

nothing changes. But if you try, even with simple words, your brain starts to learn.

That is how speaking grows.

Not in your head, but through your mouth. Most people will listen to this

mouth. Most people will listen to this and feel motivated for a moment, and then do nothing. This is the truth. But

if you want a different result, you need to take a small action today. Not

tomorrow, not next week. Today. Your

English will not improve in silence. It

improves when you use it again and again in real situations. Let me tell you something from my own experience. I

started with nothing.

I built a company step by step. Today,

that company serves millions of people.

I have spoken at global events in many countries with people from different cultures. And none of that

different cultures. And none of that would have happened without English.

Not because English is something special, but because it helped me connect with the world.

[music] It helped me learn new ideas, meet new people, and see things in a different way. In real life, English is not just a

way. In real life, English is not just a subject.

[music] It is a tool.

It helps you find better opportunities, better jobs, and better connections.

Even something simple, like joining an online meeting, or sending a message to someone in another country, becomes possible when you can speak. And I did

not learn English in a perfect way.

I did not have the best method, and I did not feel ready. I learned by using it. Every day, I tried to speak.

it. Every day, I tried to speak.

Sometimes, I used the wrong words.

Sometimes, my grammar was not correct.

Many times, I stopped in the middle of a sentence because I did not know what to say next. But I did not stop. I

say next. But I did not stop. I

continued. And that is the only reason I improved. If you think about it, this is

improved. If you think about it, this is how we learn everything in life. When a

child learns to speak, they don't wait to be perfect. They try. They make

mistakes, and they try again. In real

life, when you talk to someone in English, you may feel nervous. Maybe

your mind goes blank. Maybe you only remember simple words. That is okay.

That is part of the process. The problem

is not making mistakes. The problem is stopping. So, you don't need a perfect

stopping. So, you don't need a perfect plan. You don't need a perfect accent.

plan. You don't need a perfect accent.

[music] And you don't need to wait until you feel confident. Confidence comes

after action, not before. If you keep waiting for the perfect moment, you will wait forever. There's no perfect time.

wait forever. There's no perfect time.

There's only the moment when you decide to start. Right now, after this, I want

to start. Right now, after this, I want you to do something very simple.

[music] Say one sentence in English. Just one.

It can be about anything. For example,

today I am practicing English.

Or I feel a little nervous, but I will try. Say it out loud, not in your head.

try. Say it out loud, not in your head.

When you speak out loud, your brain and your mouth start working together. That

is how real learning happens.

[music] And then tomorrow, do it again. Maybe

you say two sentences, maybe you talk for 1 minute. It does not need to be perfect. [music] It just needs to

perfect. [music] It just needs to happen. This is how your journey begins,

happen. This is how your journey begins, not with something big or complicated, [music] but with something small that you repeat every day. Some days will feel easy. You

every day. Some days will feel easy. You

will have more energy, more ideas, and you will speak more.

But some days will feel difficult. You

will feel tired. You will not know what to say. You may even feel like giving

to say. You may even feel like giving up. That is normal. Everyone feels that

up. That is normal. Everyone feels that way. What matters is that you continue.

way. What matters is that you continue.

Even one sentence on a difficult day is still progress. Over time, something

still progress. Over time, something interesting happens. One sentence today

interesting happens. One sentence today becomes two sentences tomorrow. Then you

start to connect your ideas. One day you can speak for 1 minute, then 2 minutes, then you can have a short conversation, and slowly, without you even noticing,

English becomes part of your daily life.

You don't need to think too much anymore. It starts to feel natural. This

anymore. It starts to feel natural. This

is why consistency is more important than perfection. Perfection stops you.

than perfection. Perfection stops you.

Consistency moves you forward. Even if

your step is small, if you take it every day, you will go far. So don't worry about being perfect. Focus on showing

up. Focus on speaking, even a little.

up. Focus on speaking, even a little.

That is enough. Thank you for listening.

I hope this message stays with you, not just today, but tomorrow and the days after. Now it's your turn. Open your

after. Now it's your turn. Open your

mouth, say your first sentence, and keep going. Goodbye for now.

going. Goodbye for now.

Your progress doesn't [music] end here.

To continue advancing your English skills, click on the next video [music] or explore the additional video that we thoughtfully selected for you.