===== Linking =====
**What it is:** Sounds connect between words in natural speech.  
**What it’s for:** Understand fast speech and speak more smoothly.  
**Example:** “want to” → “wanna” (informal speech)

===== Common linking cases =====
  * **Consonant + vowel:** “pick it” → /pɪkɪt/
  * **Vowel + vowel:** add /w/ or /j/: “go on” → /ɡəʊ wɒn/, “I am” → /aɪ jæm/
  * **/t/ /d/ reduction:** “next day” (t becomes softer)

===== Practice =====
  * Shadow 30 seconds of audio, focusing only on linking.
  * Repeat until it feels smooth.

===== Hard words (Glossary) =====
  * *connected speech* /kəˈnektɪd spiːtʃ/: nói nối âm (nói tự nhiên)
  * *smoothly* /ˈsmuːðli/: trôi chảy
  * *reduction* /rɪˈdʌkʃən/: sự giảm âm