Register is simply the level of formality with which you speak.
The key to sounding more like a native speaker is to adjust your register to the situation you’re in – not sounding too informal when you’re delivering a presentation at university or at work, and not sounding too formal when you’re having a friendly chat down the pub.
If I said ‘Did you receive my email?’, I’d be most likely talking to a work colleague, and if I said ‘How is it going?’, I’d probably be talking to a friend of mine.
You can focus on identifying the words used in different contexts next time you’re doing a listening exercise.
Watch a TV show featuring friends and listen for words they use in informal conversations between themselves.
Watch the news to listen for more formal words and expressions.
Find a formal speech by a politician to listen for words connected to a very formal register.
Watch a YouTube tutorial if you’re looking for something more chatty and conversational.
Learning a new language is akin to working out for your brain.
Studies indicate that language learning helps form new connections between neurons and strengthens nervous system links, a process known as neuroplasticity. These cognitive exercises like keeping in mind the register of your speech not only aid us in language acquisition but also contribute to personal growth and improved self-confidence.
As you overcome language learning challenges and achieve milestones, you develop resilience and a sense of accomplishment helping you form a growth mindset and encouraging you to step outside your comfort zone more often.
