One effective way to practice sounding more relaxed like native speakers is to mimic and imitate native speakers by listening to a lot of authentic spoken English, such as podcasts, TV shows, and movies. By actively listening and repeating phrases and intonations, you can start internalizing the natural rhythm and flow of conversational English.

Focusing on natural speech flow involves paying attention to pauses, intonation, and stress patterns in sentences. This can be improved through regular practice and by engaging in conversations with native speakers or language exchange partners.

Reducing formalities in your speech can also contribute to sounding more relaxed. Native speakers often use contractions, colloquialisms, and informal language in everyday conversations. By becoming comfortable with using contractions (e.g. “I’m,” “you’re,” “won’t”), slang, and idiomatic expressions, you can sound more natural and less stiff when speaking.

Additionally, practicing contractions and linking words together can help you sound more fluent and seamless in your speech. Linking words together smoothly, such as when saying “gonna” instead of “going to” or “wanna” instead of “want to,” can make your speech sound more natural and less choppy.

Overall, immersing yourself in authentic English content, focusing on natural speech flow, reducing formalities, and practicing contractions and linking words will help you sound less tense and more like a native speaker in everyday settings, leading to more fluid and engaging conversations.