Why Native Speakers Don’t Adapt Their English And Why That’s Not the Real Problem

Why Native Speakers Don’t Adapt Their English (And Why That’s Not the Real Problem)

When I started learning Portuguese, as I’ve mentioned in other articles, I was extremely motivated.

I used everything I could: apps, videos, music, lyrics… anything that would help.

When I started looking for videos, at first, I chose a video by an American teaching English to Brazilians (I still remember him, Gavin 😀)

It was great for me. He had such a strong American accent when speaking Portuguese that I understood practically everything he said. I felt brilliant 😍

At the beginning it was perfect.

It gave me confidence and I leant some useful things (even though he was teaching English he explained expressions in Portuguese) But he spoke slowly, and of course, him not being a native Brazilian, it was much easier… but no good as a preparation for the real thing!

When I started listening to natives it was a shock.

I remember thinking “OMG I’m so bad, they speak so fast, I’ll never understand this”.

My favourite sentence became:
“Pode falar mais devagar, por favor?”
(Can you speak more slowly, please?)
I knew that one by heart 🩷

And yes, people would slow down… for a couple of sentences.
Then, naturally, they’d speed up again.
And you know what? They were right to.

It’s their language. It wasn’t for them to adapt to me. it was for me to adapt to them.

So, I started thinking about how to do that.
I tested strategies. I changed the way I listened. I changed what I practised...

And, little by little, I did understand.

(Although I admit… I sometimes came back to Gavin just to flatter my ego 😁)

Does the above situation strike a chord? 🔔

Many learners tell me this, often with frustration or even anger:

“Native speakers don’t make any effort.”
“They speak too fast.”
“They don’t adapt their English for me.”
“They could speak more simply… but they don’t.”

And I understand that feeling completely.

You’re doing the hard work of learning another language.
You’re concentrating.
You’re trying to follow.
And meanwhile, the native speaker just… keeps going.

It feels unfair.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth… and also the good news:

👉 Native speakers are not the problem.

Why Native Speakers Rarely Adapt (And It’s Not Rudeness) 😝

Most native speakers:
• are not trained teachers
• don’t know what’s “easy” or “hard” in their own language
• don’t consciously choose grammar or vocabulary
• speak automatically

They’re not thinking:

“Ah yes, I’ll simplify my sentence structure now.”

They’re thinking:

“I’m chatting / explaining / reacting.”

Even when they try to adapt, what they usually change is:
• speed (a bit)
• volume (sometimes 😅)
• repetition

But they don’t change:
• idioms
• rhythm
• cultural references
• natural phrasing

Because they can’t. At least not consistently.

The Real Problem: How Learners Are Trained ✍️

Here’s the part most people don’t talk about.

Learners are often trained to understand learner English, not real English.

That means:
• carefully articulated sentences
• neutral accents
• predictable vocabulary
• no interruptions
• no overlaps
• no unfinished sentences

So, when real English appears, the messy, fast, overlapping kind, everything suddenly feels much harder.

Not because your English is bad…
…but because your training didn’t match reality.

Why “Can You Speak More Slowly?” Isn’t a Long-Term Solution

Of course, it’s okay to ask.
Of course, people should make an effort.

But if your fluency depends on others adapting to you, progress will always feel fragile.

Real confidence comes when:
• English stays understandable even when it’s fast
• you can follow the idea, not every word
• you stop needing “perfect conditions”

That’s when English starts to feel solid.

What Actually Helps (Instead of Expecting Adaptation)

The solution isn’t asking native speakers to change.

It’s changing how you train your listening and speaking.

That means:
• listening to natural, unscripted English
• exposing yourself to different accents
• learning to follow meaning, not words
• accepting partial understanding without panic
• responding even when you didn’t catch everything

This is a skill. Not a talent.

A Mindset Shift That Changes Everything 🧠

Instead of thinking:

“They should adapt to me.”

Try:

“How can I adapt to real English?”

This shift is powerful.
It puts control back in your hands. 🫵
And it’s exactly what allows learners to move from classroom English to real-life English.

Final Thought ✨

Native speakers don’t adapt their English. Not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know how.

The goal of learning English is not to make the world easier.
It’s to become comfortable in the real one.

And once you train for that reality, English becomes far less intimidating… and far more enjoyable.

👉 Want help understanding real, natural English without needing people to slow down or simplify?

I help learners train their listening and speaking for real conversations, not textbook dialogues.

If you want to learn English with me, I’m Liz Aldam, an English teacher with more than twenty years of experience, having worked with companies like Yamaha, Faurecia, and others. I live in the Val-d’Oise region in France and I teach online.

📲 Click the WhatsApp icon below and contact me 😊