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Hong Kong people take pride in speaking English well. But when native speakers strike up a conversation, many have a rude awakening. They freeze, nod along or avoid the conversation entirely, blaming native speakers for speaking “too fast”.

But the problem may not be speed. Native speakers simply speak as they normally do. They might slow down if someone is clearly struggling, but few can produce the slow, clear speech many learners have come to expect from school.

As someone who has taught English, I do believe slow, clear speech has its place. It helps learners be understood, especially if their accent is still strong. That may explain why listening materials pronounce every syllable so crisply, and why local teachers and even NETs (native English teachers) tend to reinforce that habit.

Still, that’s not how English works in the real world. At natural speed, sounds drop out and words run together. “Next door” becomes “nex-door”, and “cup of tea” turns into “cup-uh-tea”. Students who grow up hearing only perfectly articulated English never really learn to process how the language moves.

Over the years, I’ve come across students who sound native at full speed. Some went to international schools; others came from top local ones. Children are especially good at picking this up, though that ability fades with age. But with the right kind of input early on, they can develop an ear for natural speech.