How to Sound Smart - English Like A Native

ah I'm glad you're here because I'm about to give you eight tips that will

make you sound smart regardless of how intelligent you are so let's get started

the first way to sound smart when having a conversation is to stop talking of

course I don't mean stop talking entirely I simply mean don't fall into

the trap of talking too much if you are well versed on the topic being discussed

then try not to dominate the conversation instead show a curiosity

into other people's thoughts and opinions if it's a subject you are

unfamiliar with then don't be tempted to pretend otherwise making up facts and

feigning opinion and understanding of that topic instead have a quiet calm and

curious air about you as if you know a lot but you're intrigued to find out

what the other person knows or thinks about the matter and you may or may not

be surprised to find that you can learn a lot from actively listening to others

number two use unexpected but common words it can be really tempting to learn

a list of obscure advanced words which are rarely used thinking that by using

these words you'll sound super smart but in reality you will likely alienate your

listener who will have no idea what you're saying

and will probably think that you're trying to show off however switching

commonly used words for other words which are used often enough that most

people know what they mean well they can have a great impact on how you come

across take these words and phrases which I said in the last tip don't fall

into the trap of well-versed feigning air about you and intrigued I

chose these words and phrases to make me sound like I have a rich vocabulary and

therefore sound smarter one way of improving your knowledge and gaining a

richer vocabulary is to read and watch the news which is why I strongly

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number three use question tags now instead of making statements like oh

that's interesting it's fascinating it's unbelievable create a question by using

a question tag it's interesting isn't it it's fascinating isn't it it's

unbelievable isn't it this will create an illusion that you already know about

the issue you're being told about and it allows you to ask for and to show that

you in agreement you know bonding and all

that number four quotes a well-placed quotation can be inspirational and

filled the listener with awe and respect so pick up a handful of great quotes and

when the opportunity arrives unleash those powerful words here are a few

examples okay I need your advice I've been offered this job in a huge fashion

brand but I don't know whether I should take here because well I'm not sure I've

got the necessary skills for the job anyway and I'm not really sure what they

expect from me and I just don't want to fail in the job and I feel all

overwhelmed about it what do you think Anna you should take the job

don't worry about the unknown in the words of Toni Morrison if you surrender

to the wind you can ride it wow that was really profound you're absolutely right

I should take the job and I will take the job I wish I was as smart as you

Anna it's very difficult to work with you at times you can be so unreasonable

yes I am unreasonable and in the words of George Bernard Shaw reasonable people

adapt themselves to the world unreasonable people attempt to adapt the

world to themselves all progress therefore depends on unreasonable people

hey Ana what was matter I have had a terrible day I ran the final test on the

new product and it failed miserably it turns out I miscalculated a few things

and I'm an idiot listen to me you're not an idiot

sometimes we make mistakes and that's okay

no in the words of Bill Gates success is a lousy teacher it seduces smart people

into thinking they can't lose number-5 brush up on your general

knowledge you don't have to know everything to appear smart but it helps

if you know a few things so commit a few facts to memory like the

population of your country dates of historical events like the moon landings

and stay up to date with some general current affairs like knowing the names

of some of the world leaders and being aware of particular issues affecting the

world know what everyone else is talking about then you can pepper some of these

facts into conversation to give the listener confidence that you know stuff

for example when discussing the loss of green belt in the UK green belt is green

areas fields and grassy areas so when discussing the loss of green belt in the

UK you could throw in this fact with over 65 million people now in the UK all

needing homes it's not surprising that the government is considering

encroaching on green belt number six confident body language never

underestimate the power of body language sit or stand upright but staying relaxed

not slouched and not too stiff this shows confidence be open in your

upper body not like this make your listener feel at ease and

finally make good eye contact both while you're talking and while you're

listening looking away looking down at your feet or looking at your phone

it will make you appear disinterested if you're listening and insincere or unsure

about what you're saying if you're speaking so keep good eye contact going

number seven clear and confident voice the sound of your voice can make a big

impact on your listener your soothing sounds call all your listener into a

deep dream filled lumber and a quiet creaking jittery voice can just put the

listener on edge or just make them feel disinterested and certainly doesn't make

you sound smart and confident therefore in order to sound super smart you should

speak clearly enunciated every word you should speak at a reasonable volume not

too loud and not too quiet and you should never

speak fast you are a thinker a smartypants of the highest order

with a very large intellect so always be calm and collected which brings me to my

last tip and perhaps the most dramatic tip the use of pauses number eight a

dramatic pause deciding to pause before or after an important point will help to

give extra weight and authority to what you're saying but don't overuse pauses

or you risk sounding like you've forgotten your point and avoid filling

pauses with what I lovingly call brain farts you know these noises Oh like you

know he was these noises are called fillers

and they are used commonly by most natives but if you are wanting to sound

super smart then you need to minimize these

unnecessary sounds and words there we go I'm now looking at a sea of smartypants

so go and impress the world with your intelligent demeanor but first do click

on that link in the description box below and check out the awesome content

sensations English will send you it will definitely help please also share your

feedback in the comment section below and I'll see you in the next lesson

smarty pants