English with Thiago Why You STILL Can't Speak English Fluently (It’s Not Your Vocabulary)
Feb 19, 2026
A breakdown of why fluency fails even with strong grammar and vocabulary. Techniques for creating stronger opinions: zoom in on details, zoom out to big themes, and play devil's advocate. Practical practice prompts for sustaining conversations and handling objections. Tips for adding one deeper layer to your takes and bridging the gap between who you are and how you sound in English.
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Fluency Is An Opinion Problem
- Fluency problems often stem from weak opinions, not lack of vocabulary or grammar.
- Thiago Alencar calls this the "opinion muscle" issue that hurts conversational fluency.
Zoom In On Specific Details
- Zoom in on a topic by choosing one or two specific details and focus your comment.
- Ask your listener a question afterwards to keep the conversation going.
Ferris Bueller Example
- Thiago describes talking about Ferris Bueller by focusing on Principal Rooney and Cameron's transformation.
- He used those details to speak for about two minutes without covering the whole movie.