Presenting Confidently and Clearly in a Non-native Language
by Matt Abrahams
For most of us, presenting confidently and clearly in our native language is hard enough, but communicating in another language is marked by unique challenges and opportunities for growth. What follows is specific advice that can help all non-native speakers…
Matt's favorite ELL podcasts
Ada Aka
03/18/2025
mimic (verb)
Definition: to copy or imitate someone or something
Example from the episode: “That being said, if we look at more constrained, very high internal validity or lab environments with words and word lists, the memory dynamics actually mimic how people remember in everyday life as well.”
Example sentence: “He tries to mimic his favorite singer’s voice.”
slogan (noun)
Definition: a short phrase used to advertise or represent a brand or idea
Example from the episode: “There we find that alignment and fit between a brand's personality and values, perhaps, as well as the message that this little multi-phrase or a singular sentence slogan gives and how those two fit with one another seems to be one of the more important factors.”
Example sentence: “Our club has a fun slogan that we love.”
complex (adjective)
Definition: made up of many parts or difficult to understand
Example from the episode: “And then methodologically, I'm a researcher, so one of the advantages of words and word lists is that over the years, what we have found is everyday experiences and memories are quite complex.”
Example sentence: “The instructions for the game are complex.”
building block (idiom)
Definition: a basic part that helps create something larger or more important
Example from the episode: “We can say that words are the building blocks of how we perceive the environment that's around us.”
Example sentence: “Small ideas can be the building blocks of a big plan.”
Dan Heath
03/11/2025
simulate (verb)
Definition: to copy or imitate a process or behavior
Example from the episode: “You tell a story of some customer who got an extraordinary service experience as another employee hearing that story, you're able to simulate: ‘What if it had been me doing that?’”
Example sentence: “The computer program can simulate a weather system.”
inertia (noun)
Definition: the tendency to keep doing what you're already doing, even if you need to change
Example from the episode: “You talk about how we can break free from the inertia that keeps us doing the same things we've always done.”
Example sentence: “Habits can have inertia, making it hard for us to change them.”
disproportionate (adjective)
Definition: not matching in size, amount, or degree
Example from the episode: “Leverage points are an absolute core theme of the book, and they are defined as places where a little bit of effort yields a disproportionate return.”
Example sentence: “The price of the snack was disproportionate to its small size.”
shift the curve (idiom)
Definition: to change a situation or trend in a significant and positive way
Example from the episode: “If we can get to the bottom of what makes them so satisfied, so purposeful, maybe we'll learn things that would help shift the curve for everyone.”
Example sentence: “Exercising regularly can shift the curve of your health.”
Miro Kazakof
03/04/2025
numb (verb)
Definition: to feel unable to react or feel emotions due to shock or distress
Example from the episode: “When it comes to communication and persuasion, numbers can be your friend, but you don't want to use numbers in a way that numb your audience.”
Example sentence: “The team was numb after losing the championship game.”
magnitude (noun)
Definition: a measure of how big or powerful something is
Example from the episode: “That context for that data helped me appreciate the magnitude.”
Example sentence: “The science project measured the magnitude of sound.”
neat (adjective)
Definition: clever, impressive, or well-executed
Example from the episode: “And what's neat is it can basically be anyone.”
Example sentence: “She came up with a neat solution to the problem.”
pet peeves (idiom)
Definition: things that particularly irritate or annoy someone
Example from the episode: “So I assume you're like me and you have some pet peeves or concerns.”
Example sentence: “One of her pet peeves is people chewing loudly.”
Whitney Johnson
03/04/2025
chart (verb)
Definition: to make a picture or graph that shows information
Example from the episode: “Together, these three episodes will help you chart your career path and find your job fit.”
Example sentence: “He likes to chart his running distances.”
payoff (noun)
Definition: the reward or result you get from doing something
Example from the episode: “But the reason you do it, the payoff is that you believe that right now your life may be over one, up one, over one, up one, and it might be perfectly fine.”
Example sentence: “His effort led to a clear payoff in his grades.”
neural (adjective)
Definition: related to the nerves or the brain
Example from the episode: “It's a decision where you've got these very thick neural pathways, these comfortable routines, these super highways of habit, and you are making the decision that you are going to rewire your brain.”
Example sentence: “The brain uses neural messages to send information.”
pay somebody’s dues (idiom)
Definition: to work hard and prove you deserve success
Example from the episode: “When you hear a person saying things like, ‘I've paid my dues’, ‘I could do this in my sleep.’”
Example sentence: “Every star performer paid their dues before shining.”
Matt Lieberman
02/25/2025
assert (verb)
Definition: to state something confidently and firmly
Example from the episode: “In your work, you assert that our brains are fundamentally social.”
Example sentence: “She asserted her opinion during the meeting.”
pioneer (noun)
Definition: someone who is one of the first to explore or develop something new
Example from the episode: “He is a pioneer in the study of how the human brain processes social information, particularly in understanding how people think about others and themselves.”
Example sentence: “She is a pioneer in computer technology.”
innate (adjective)
Definition: something you are born with, not learned or acquired
Example from the episode: “So while it's innate to being human, the ability to actually take somebody else's perspective, we actually have to really work to make sure that we're doing that, and we have to ask questions and interact.”
Example sentence: “Animals have an innate ability to find food.”
get out of somebody’s head (idiom)
Definition: to stop thinking about someone or something
Example from the episode: “Getting out of our own head, literally, makes a big difference for effective communication.”
Example sentence: “I can't seem to get that song out of my head.”
Dorie Clark
02/20/2025
harness (verb)
Definition: to use something available for a particular purpose
Example from the episode: “But you've just helped give me, because I suffer from this significantly in my life, you can actually harness that.”
Example sentence: “We can harness the wind's power to generate electricity.”
reputation (noun)
Definition: what others think or say about a person, a company, or a thing based on their past actions or qualities
Example from the episode: “That's really all it is, because having a good reputation generally is a useful thing in business and in life.”
Example sentence: “His rude behavior damaged his reputation.”
mindful (adjective)
Definition: paying careful attention to something or thinking about others and their feelings
Example from the episode: “And to your point, Matt, about leverage, one of the things that I always like to be mindful of is it's hard out there.”
Example sentence: “She's mindful about spending her savings wisely.”
boil down (idiom)
Definition: to simplify something to its most basic parts
Example from the episode: “And I like to actually just kind of boil it down and make it simple.”
Example sentence: “Their argument boils down to a simple misunderstanding.”
Chris Lipp
02/18/2025
deliberate (verb)
Definition: to think about or discuss something very carefully before making a decision
Example from the episode: “But one of the studies conducted at Stanford, they took two people, one person deliberating on making a decision, like, should we do this, pluses and minuses?”
Example sentence: “The committee will deliberate and decide next week.”
antithesis (noun)
Definition: the complete opposite of something or someone
Example from the episode: “One of the things that, and this is the very first thing I talk about in my book, The Science of Personal Power, is the blame is the antithesis of personal power.”
Example sentence: “The new policy is the antithesis of our previous goals.”
abstract (adjective)
Definition: not concrete or definite, often related to ideas or concepts that are complex
Example from the episode: “So research suggests that abstract language is actually more powerful.”
Example sentence: “The concept of time can be abstract.”
dodge the bullet (idiom)
Definition: to narrowly avoid a difficult or dangerous situation
Example from the episode: “If we do the opposite, let's say we try to dodge the bullet, something bad happens, you know, in work, they say, associate yourself with wins and distance yourself from failures.”
Example sentence: “I dodged the bullet by catching the mistake before it was too late.”
Guy Kawasaki
02/11/2025
flunk (verb)
Definition: to fail a test or a school subject
Example from the episode: “But you will flunk the glance test because if there's four images, like dolphin, there's a picture of a seagull, there's a picture of Steve Jobs, and there's a picture of the sunset. Oh, what were you saying again?”
Example sentence: “She was worried she would flunk the course.”
buildup (noun)
Definition: the preparation or development leading up to something
Example from the episode: “A lot of people take a long time. There's a lot of buildup and I think that's really important.”
Example sentence: “The movie had a slow buildup to an exciting ending.”
viable (adjective)
Definition: possible or capable of being done successfully
Example from the episode: “And I would make the case that if you think you need more than 10 slides to convince someone you have a viable business, that means you don't have a viable business.”
Example sentence: “We need to find a viable solution to this problem.”
switch gear (idiom)
Definition: to change direction or approach in your thinking or actions
Example from the episode: “I want to switch our gears here and talk about a form of storytelling, which is pitching”
Example sentence: “After lunch, they switched gears and started brainstorming ideas.”
Kelly McGonigal
02/04/2025
tame (verb)
Definition: to bring something under control or to make it less intense
Example from the episode: “Yet, there are things we can do to tame and reframe our anxiety.”
Example sentence: “She had to tame her fears before the big presentation.”
willpower (noun)
Definition: the strength to control your actions and resist temptations
Example from the episode: “She is also the best-selling author of The Willpower Instinct, The Upside of Stress, and her latest book is The Joy of Movement: How exercise helps us find happiness, hope, connection, and courage.”
Example sentence: “He needed willpower to study instead of watching TV.”
compelling (adjective)
Definition: very interesting or convincing, making you want to pay attention or believe it
Example from the episode: “We're opening up our archive to bring you a best-of episode where I speak with Kelly McGonigal, who not only provides actionable ways to feel more calm and confident in our communication, but she shares insights into how backward mapping can help craft compelling content.”
Example sentence: “The movie had a compelling story that kept us interested.”
at stake (idiom)
Definition: something important is at risk or could be lost
Example from the episode: “I have anxiety in moments that matter where I recognize that something is at stake and I want to contribute or I want to do my best.”
Example sentence: “His reputation is at stake if the project fails.”
Catherine Fisher
02/04/2025
accelerate (verb)
Definition: to make something happen faster or to increase speed
Example from the episode: “I look forward to our LinkedIn live conversation about how we can all advance and accelerate our careers.”
Example sentence: “We need to accelerate the project's timeline.”
momentum (noun)
Definition: the strength or force that keeps something moving or growing
Example from the episode: “Any thoughts on how we can keep the momentum going as we look to develop and catalyze our careers?”
Example sentence: “The project lost momentum without leadership.”
seasoned (adjective)
Definition: having a lot of experience in something
Example from the episode: “Catherine is a seasoned career expert at LinkedIn, where she educates and inspires people on how to think about and grow their careers.”
Example sentence: “She is a seasoned traveler who has visited many countries.”
jump to the conclusion (idiom)
Definition: to decide something is true without having all the facts or evidence
Example from the episode: “I think that what some people do is jump to the conclusion that they need to switch companies.”
Example sentence: “The teacher warned us not to jump to conclusions based on rumors.”
Cassie Holmes
01/28/2025
clarify (verb)
Definition: to make something clear or easier to understand
Example from the episode: “And it is so helpful because what it does is it clarifies where you should be investing your efforts.”
Example sentence: “She tried to clarify the rules.”
barrage (noun)
Definition: a large and fast amount of something
Example from the episode: “Then you can use that as that filter of, you know, the barrage of incoming requests.”
Example sentence: “He received a barrage of emails today.”
lofty (adjective)
Definition: grand or impressive
Example from the episode: “It's an interesting thing to ask about because it sounds so lofty of like, what is your ultimate goal in life?”
Example sentence: “She has lofty goals for her career.”
take something on (idiom)
Definition: to accept a responsibility, challenge, or task
Example from the episode: “Can you do this? Can you show up for this? Will you take this on?”
Example sentence: “I will take on the project next week.”
Arthur Brooks
01/28/2025
displace (verb)
Definition: to move something from its usual place or position, often causing it to be removed or replaced
Example from the episode: “It's when everybody put social media on their screens, on their phones, and that started to displace real friendships.”
Example sentence: “The storm may displace many families from their homes.”
quest (noun)
Definition: a long and difficult journey or search for something important or valuable, often involving challenges to overcome
Example from the episode: “I think that I started off my quest for understanding happiness kind of going in the wrong direction, because what I was trying to do was to figure out how to feel happy.”
Example sentence: “His quest for a healthier lifestyle started last year.”
constituent (adjective)
Definition: being a part of something larger or making up a whole
Example from the episode: “So it sounds like each of us can look at those constituent parts in our own lives and help us invest our effort and direction to perhaps getting closer to that feeling of happiness.”
Example sentence: “The researcher studied the constituent factors affecting the results.”
stake a claim (idiom)
Definition: to officially say that you own something or have a right to it, often by marking the area or announcing it
Example from the episode: “You need something that you're willing to stake a claim on it.”
Example sentence: “He was ready to stake a claim to his idea in the meeting.”
Hal Hershfield
01/21/2025
inflict (verb)
Definition: to cause something unpleasant or painful to happen to someone or something
Example from the episode: “Would I inflict pain on a loved one?”
Example sentence: “The storm can inflict damage on houses.”
procrastination (noun)
Definition: when you delay or put off doing something that you should do, often choosing to do something less important instead
Example from the episode: “Procrastination is a great example of thinking about the future, but doing it at a very surface level.”
Example sentence: “She struggles with procrastination every time she studies.”
empirical (adjective)
Definition: based on observation or experience rather than just ideas or theories
Example from the episode: “I have not examined that in an empirical way.”
Example sentence: “The study is based on empirical evidence.”
grease the wheels (idiom)
Definition: to make things run more smoothly or efficiently, often by helping or giving support where it's needed
Example from the episode: “So I'll have them write a letter to themselves 10 years ago to almost grease the wheels, because it's a weird thing to do this, and I fully recognize, you know, this is slightly uncomfortable.”
Example sentence: “Good communication can grease the wheels in a team.”
Laurie Santos
01/21/2025
encompass (verb)
Definition: to include or cover
Example from the episode: “And I like these two definitions because they encompass both the like affective part of happiness and the kind of cognitive part of happiness, the way you feel your life is going and the way you think your life is going.”
Example sentence: “The park will encompass several nature trails.”
notion (noun)
Definition: a general idea, thought, or belief about something
Example from the episode: “You mentioned the notion of negative emotions, and I think a lot of people just want to be happy that this negative stuff should be put away, not exist, and et cetera.”
Example sentence: “The teacher explained the notion of gravity.”
instructive (adjective)
Definition: providing useful information or teaching something
Example from the episode: “She's also the host of the very instructive The Happiness Lab podcast.”
Example sentence: “She found the lecture to be instructive and helpful.”
set the table (idiom)
Definition: to get things ready for a discussion or meeting
Example from the episode: “So to set the table, can you share for us your definition of happiness and perhaps distinguish it from fulfillment and satisfaction?”
Example sentence: “We need to set the table for a new conversation about change.”
Anthony Fauci
01/14/2025
alienate (verb)
Definition: to make someone feel alone or unwanted, often by being unfriendly or distant
Example from the episode: “How do you effectively address misinformation without amplifying it or alienating those who espouse it?”
Example sentence: “They worked hard to not alienate their customers.”
caveat (noun)
Definition: a warning or a condition that you should keep in mind before doing something
Example from the episode: “Right, so give a caveat up front that what you're saying is based on the best knowledge of the moment, but things will change.”
Example sentence: “She gave a caveat about the possible risks.”
crisp (adjective)
Definition: clear, sharp, and well-defined
Example from the episode: “The best way to navigate the most challenging communication situations we face is to be crisp, concise, and clear on the needs of our audience.”
Example sentence: “He gave a crisp answer to the question.”
bake into (idiom)
Definition: to include something as a basic part of a plan or idea, making it an important or necessary element
Example from the episode: “So if you know what your audience is, I mean, there are two issues that are, I think, baked into your question.”
Example sentence: “Let’s bake our ideas into the final plan.”
10 Lessons From 2024
01/07/2025
solidify (verb)
Definition: to make something become more definite and clear
Example from the episode: “I hope this helps you to solidify your learnings and practice so you can evolve your communication skills and approach.”
Example sentence: “Her speech helped to solidify our team's goals.”
ritual (noun)
Definition: a set of actions or ceremonies that are done in a specific way
Example from the episode: “And so right as you walk in, there's a series of tiny little lockers, and there's a ritual where everyone takes out their phone, opens up the locker. Inside the locker is a plug so you can charge it.”
Example sentence: “She has a bedtime ritual to help her sleep.”
contextual (adjective)
Definition: related to or depending on the surrounding situation or background
Example from the episode: “I loved Bob Cialdini's notion of pre-suasion, which refers to subtly directing people's attention to contextual cues, like website images or Zoom backgrounds, that prime people in the direction of our persuasive goal.”
Example sentence: “The teacher provided contextual examples for better learning.”
get a hold of something (idiom)
Definition: to understand or grasp a situation, idea, or object
Example from the episode: “People are thinking like, what the hell does that mean? I don't know what it is. How do I get a hold of it?”
Example sentence: “It took him a while to get a hold of the concept.”