“Stop trying to sound like the Queen,” Anfisa Salnikova laughs. “Most native speakers don’t.” That’s the kind of no-nonsense advice that fuels her popular blog Saucy English by Anfisa Salnikova, where she breaks down real-world English with sass, psychology, and style.
With her background as both a psychologist and polyglot, Anfisa’s mission isn’t to make learners speak “correctly”—it’s to make them speak authentically.
Mimic the Music, Not the Words
One of Anfisa’s top tips is to focus on the rhythm of English, not just the vocabulary. “English has music—intonation, contractions, pauses. Listen to how people sound,” she says. “That’s what makes someone say, ‘Wow, you sound fluent.’”
Her lessons emphasize things like dropping the “g” in “going,” using contractions like “I’m” instead of “I am,” and mastering filler words like “well,” “like,” and “you know.” These little things, she says, are what make language feel native.
Stop Translating, Start Feeling
Many learners try to mentally translate from their native tongue. But Anfisa warns this is a trap. “Languages have different emotional maps,” she says. “A Russian ‘yes’ and an American ‘yeah totally!’ don’t feel the same—even if they mean the same.”
She trains her students to “feel first, speak second.” That means connecting with what they want to express emotionally, and letting the English follow naturally. Her drills include emotional prompts like, “Say yes like your crush just asked you out” or “Say no like your ex just texted you at 2 a.m.”
Saucy Phrases That Seal the Deal
To spice things up, Anfisa shares her go-to “saucy phrases” that natives love:
– “That tracks” (when something makes sense)
– “Big yikes” (for something embarrassing)
– “Can’t relate” (to dismiss something with humor)
By mastering these culturally loaded expressions, learners tap into the vibe of English. “It’s about being understood and felt,” she says.
You Don’t Need to Sound American—You Need to Sound Alive
In the end, Anfisa’s advice is both liberating and empowering: “Don’t chase perfection. Chase connection. Speak like you mean it.”
Her signature phrase? “Saucy English isn’t flawless—it’s fearless.”