Why native English speakers can’t speak English!

OK, in fact we CAN speak English. However, we have to remember that not everyone has the same level of fluency that we do. English is the lingua franca in the world today. Over 2.4 billion people speak English. However, only 400 million people speak English mother tongue. When native English speakers are speaking in English to audiences whose grasp of English is not at the same level, the audience frequently has trouble understanding them. Why? There are a variety of reasons. Fortunately, there are things that native English speakers can do to ensure that they are understood. In this short speech at the 2024 European Speechwriters Network Conference in Cambridge UK, I discuss why native English speakers are so often misunderstood. I also offer several ideas on how we can make it easier for non-native speakers to understand us. If you would like to know more about the European Speechwriter Network, please visit: If you would like more tips and insights on how to improve your public speaking, please visit: TIMESTAMPS 00:00 A Story from Boston 02:43 Question for the Audience 03:40 Some Interesting Statistics about English 04:50 English and Other Languages 08:08 Tip No. 1 - Clarity over Eloquence 09:15 Tip No. 2 - Active Voice over Passive Voice 10:28 Tip No. 3 - Affirmative over Negative 11:00 Tip No. 4 - Simple Words 12:24 Tip No. 5 - Eliminate Unnecessary Words 13:32 Tip No. 6 - Contractions in English 14:50 Tip No. 7 - Phrasal Verbs in English 16:50 Tip No. 8 - English Idioms 17:29 Tip No. 9 - Colloquialisms and Cultural References 18:34 Tip No. 10 - Working with Interpreters 20:18 Tip No. 11 - Respect the Audience 20:44 A Story from Iran