Now the next thing I want you to think about is focus on the English that you need to use.

Now there's two different ways to think about this.

The first way is to think really broadly about English as a language.

The reality of English or any language is that there are thousands and thousands of words yet,

only a percentage of those are used frequently in daily conversation

and I'm talking about native English speakers here, not English learners.

An average native English speaker actively uses around ten to twelve per cent of English words.

That's their active vocabulary, words that they use to express themselves when they write and they speak.

Now this is the full vocabulary that they use out in the world but satisfies their need to communicate in every part of their life.

Now this same average native speaker keeps about twenty-three to twenty-four per cent of English words in their passive vocabulary

which means that, you know, their words that they read and they listen to and they understand but they don't really use them themselves.

There is a percentage of English words that you need to know and understand

and I invite you to focus on more specific and useful parts of English

rather than feeling completely overwhelmed by this really huge and complicated language.

To put it simply, if you know ten per cent of English words, you'll be as good as a native English speaker.

So break that down for yourself, you know.

Focus on the first one thousand words then move on to the next three thousand, five thousand.

I've shared some really useful links about this in the description box below

so if you're interested in getting word lists and the most common uses of words, grab the links in the description.

Now the second way to think about this is to think more specifically about how you use English.

So become fluent in that particular area of English.

Be an English expert in the space that you need to use it.

So if you're a freelance graphic designer or a web developer and you want to work with international clients,

you need to become fluent in that area, in your area of expertise.

What are the conversations that you're going to have with those clients?

What topics do you need to discuss?

What words do you need to express your ideas?

Now this is exactly the English that you need to focus on and this translates directly into your interests and your hobbies as well.

If you're passionate about photography or growing vegetables or flying drones,

you want to be able to talk about those things in English too, right?

You'll want to meet other English speakers who are also interested in those things.

So focus on the vocabulary and the expressions that you need to do this.

You need to find your people, others who are as passionate as you are.

You need to join online groups and communities or even meet up in person if you can.

Grab the Skillshare trial that I mentioned at the start of this lesson.

Just take all of the courses in photography, learn as much as you can about the things that you love.

You'll be able to listen to native speakers talking about the topic.

You'll learn new words and expressions and ways of talking about your interests, right?

You need to expose yourself to that particular type of English.