Hey there! This is TOP episode 295. Fluency Test.
You read English. You understand English. But when it’s time to speak—your mind just freezes, and the words don’t come out. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve been exactly where you are. I’m Ola Mierniczak, and this is the Teacher Ola Podcast. I’m here to help you finally speak out loud—the words, the ideas, the English that have been stuck in your head for too long. This isn’t about perfect grammar or fancy vocabulary. This is about your voice. Your words. Your real English.
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Today we’re doing something completely different, but still connected with vocabulary. With making your passive knowledge active so that you can without overthinking say thighs. Just like that. With ease and calm.
Before we jump in, just two quick reminders:
One. Free Webinar Replay – My live session on unlocking your spoken English is still available to watch—but only for a few more days. Head to teacherola.com/video and catch it before it’s gone.
Two. If your mind is full of English but the words just won’t come when you need them—there’s a reason. You’ve been learning passively. Quietly. Alone. And that’s not how speaking happens.
SIOL is different.
It’s not just a course. It’s a turning point.
Because inside SIOL, you won’t just learn English—you’ll use it. You’ll speak, make mistakes, get stuck, laugh, and try again—with real people who get it. With my full support. In a club that makes you feel like you finally belong.
No long lectures. No pressure. No awkward silence. I’m telling you not a minute is wasted inside the club.
Doors close on 9 June. Go to siol.pl and grab your spot before they do.
Your English is ready. Let’s get it talking.
Let me ask you something.
Have you ever read an article in English and understood almost everything? Watched a series with subtitles—and followed along just fine?
But then… someone asks you a simple question, and your brain just freezes.
And you think: “Wait—I know this stuff. Why can’t I say it?”
If that sounds like you… this episode might make you uncomfortable. But in the best possible way.
Because I know exactly what’s going on inside your head. And I know one thing for sure—you don’t need more English. You need to use the English you already have.
So today, I’m going to give you a little test. No grammar. No books. Just you, your brain, and your voice.
Let’s see how much you really know.
Here’s the truth you might not want to hear:
You already know enough English to express 80% of your thoughts. You’ve read the articles. You’ve done the exercises. You’ve watched YouTube videos. Maybe you even did a few grammar courses.
But when it comes to real situations—when someone’s talking to you, looking at you, waiting for your answer— your English disappears.
And it’s not your fault.
It’s because your brain is full of passive vocabulary. Words you understand. Words you recognize. Words you’ve seen in subtitles a hundred times.
But they’re just sitting there, like books on a shelf. And what you need is active vocabulary—the words you can grab and use, right now, under pressure.
So, let’s do a test together.
I’ll say a sentence in Polish and give you a little pause. Try to translate it into English. Out loud. No writing, no overthinking. Just speak.
Ready?
One. Mam to na końcu języka.
It’s on the tip of my tongue.
Two. Właśnie miałem to powiedzieć!
I was just about to say that!
Three. Mogłeś mi po prostu powiedzieć.
You could’ve just told me.
Four. Szkoda, że nie zapytałeś wcześniej.
It’s a shame you didn’t ask earlier.
Five. Właśnie miałem do ciebie dzwonić.
I was just about to call you.
Six. Zaraz do ciebie wrócę z odpowiedzią.
I’ll get back to you on that.
Seven. Przepraszam, nie chciałem przerywać.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.
Eight. Wiesz może, gdzie ona jest?
Do you happen to know where she is?
Nine. To nie do końca moja bajka.
It’s not really my thing.
Ten. Skończyło się na tym, że zostałem cały wieczór.
I ended up staying the whole evening.
So? How did it go?
You knew those phrases, didn’t you? You’ve heard them, you’ve read them.
But when it came to saying them—alone, without help—your brain maybe froze. You paused. You hesitated. Maybe you felt silly.
That’s not because your English is bad. It’s because you haven’t used it. You’ve just collected it.
That’s the real reason you struggle. And here’s what no one tells you: the only listen to me, the only way to activate your English is to use it out loud.
Not silently. Not in your head. Not alone. But in real conversations. With people. With mistakes. With pauses. With laughs.
Because that’s how speech is born.
Your brain doesn’t work like a dictionary. It doesn’t care how many words you’ve memorized. It cares about what you’ve practiced saying. Out loud. With others.
This is what we do in my English course—and especially in my Speaking Club.
It’s about you and another person—speaking. Reacting. Stumbling. Trying again. Making mistakes. Trying yet again.
That’s how confidence is built. That’s how language becomes part of you. Not something you “learn.” But something you live.
And here’s the thing…
We open the doors only a few times a year. And the doors are closing in just five days—on June 9th.
This round is starting soon. And if you’re listening to this episode… it means it’s for you.
So please—don’t wait another year. Don’t say “maybe later.”
Go to www.siol.pl. That’s S-I-O-L dot P-L.
Join us. Say the things you’ve always wanted to say. Sound like yourself in English. Not perfect. Not robotic. Just you.
You don’t need another course. You don’t need another app. You need real, human conversation.
You need space to speak. To try. To hear your voice in English.
And that space is waiting for you—at siol.pl.
I’ll see you inside.
Now it’s time to practice! Listen to the seme sentences once again and repeat them out loud. Let’s go!
It’s on the tip of my tongue.
I was just about to say that!
You could’ve just told me.
It’s a shame you didn’t ask earlier.
I was just about to call you.
I’ll get back to you on that.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.
Do you happen to know where she is?
It’s not really my thing.
I ended up staying the whole evening.
That’s it for today!
If you enjoyed this little translation challenge, share it with someone who’s learning English too.
Also—three quick things before you go:
One. Grab your free worksheet at teacherola.com/295. It’s a perfect way to review today’s episode.
Two. Watch the free webinar replay at teacherola.com/video. It’s packed with ideas to help you unlock your spoken English—and it’s only available for a few more days.
Three. Join the SIOL course before 9 June! If you understand English at about B1 level or higher but still struggle to speak, this course is for you. Let’s fix that together—join the new round now at siol.pl. Ne group start the class on the 10th June. Make sure you sign up till the 9th.
That’s all for now—thank you so much for listening! I’ll see you in the next episode. Stay fearless, take care, and say it out loud! I’m your teacher, Teacher Ola, and you’ve been listening to the Teacher Ola Podcast! Bye for now!