{"id":649,"date":"2026-06-29T22:29:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imcenglish.com\/?p=649"},"modified":"2026-07-02T14:28:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T06:28:03","slug":"authentic-english-spoken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imcenglish.com\/en\/%e9%81%93%e5%9c%b0%e8%8b%b1%e6%96%87%e5%8f%a3%e8%aa%9e\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Authentic English Phrases to Stop Sounding Like a Textbook"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You have spent years studying grammar. You know how to conjugate verbs and pass exams. But when you open your mouth to speak with a colleague or a client, you feel like a robot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am fine, thank you. And you?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the classic “textbook trap.” You are technically correct, but you don’t sound like you<\/em>. You sound like a recording from a 1995 English CD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my years of one-on-one coaching<\/a>, I\u2019ve seen this time and again with Taiwanese professionals. You have the knowledge; you just lack the \u9053\u5730\u82f1\u6587\u53e3\u8a9e<\/strong> (natural English spoken phrases) that bridge the gap between “knowing English” and “using English.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 15 phrases that will immediately make you sound more natural, confident, and professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Social Starters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. How\u2019s it going?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Instead of:<\/strong> “How are you?”
While “How are you?” is perfectly fine, “How’s it going?” is the bread and butter of modern English. It\u2019s slightly more relaxed and much more common in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n