Vanessa’s third tip for speaking more naturally is to listen to a short story and then retell it in your own words. She explains that the activity takes some time—perhaps 15 or 30 minutes—but can help learners practise both comprehension and speaking. The method has two connected parts: first write a brief retelling, then speak the story aloud without simply reading the original transcript.
For the writing stage, listen to a short story, perhaps around two minutes long. In a notebook, write what happened using your own words. Include whatever details and vocabulary you remember; the goal is to recall the story, not reproduce every sentence perfectly. Then listen to the original again and compare it with your written version. This helps you notice which details you remembered, which words you missed, and how the original phrased the ideas.
The second part is an oral retelling. Listen to the story once more, then speak out loud using your own words. Vanessa suggests recording yourself on a phone if you want to compare your retelling with the original. Listen back to your recording and notice differences: words you missed, expressions you could add, or places where the original used a more natural phrase. Use those observations to refine your English and practise the expression in a new sentence of your own.
The routine is therefore: listen, write a short retelling, listen to the story again, compare, retell aloud, optionally record yourself, and review the differences. It is not a test of perfect memory or accent imitation; the useful work comes from recalling meaning and noticing language choices. A two-minute story is enough to start, and learners can keep the exercise manageable by writing only the main events. Vanessa also points viewers to a guide with other speaking tips and learning resources. Try this with a brief story, then choose one useful expression from the original and use it in a new context.