Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B1 - Lesson 2: Using a Wider Range of Connectors (although, while, as well as)

Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B1

Using a Wider Range of Connectors

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use more advanced connectors like "although," "while," and "as well as" to express more complex relationships between ideas.

Upgrading Your Connecting Words 🔗

At the A2 level, you learned basic connectors like "and" and "but". To improve your fluency at B1, you can upgrade these words to show more complex relationships between your ideas.

but ➡️ although / even though

"Although it was raining, we still went to the park." (Shows a surprising contrast)

but ➡️ while

"My brother likes watching football, while I prefer reading." (Directly contrasts two things)

and ➡️ as well as

"She speaks Khmer and English, as well as a little French." (A more formal way to add information)

Grammar & Pronunciation Tips

🗣️ Pausing with Clauses

When you start a sentence with a connector like "Although" or "While", you create an introductory clause. It is very important to make a short pause after this clause.

• Although I was very tired, [pause] I finished all of my homework.
• While my sister loves pop music, [pause] I prefer rock music.

This pause makes your long, complex sentence much easier for the listener to understand.

💡 Sentence Position of Connectors

"Although" / "Even though"

These can start a sentence or be in the middle. Starting the sentence emphasizes the contrast.

• Although it was expensive, I bought the phone.
• I bought the phone although it was expensive.

"While"

This is usually used in the middle of a sentence to directly compare two things.

• He is very tall, while his brother is quite short.

"as well as"

This phrase is used to add another item to a list, often for emphasis.

• We packed snacks and drinks, as well as our swimming clothes.

Practice Your Connectors 🎯

Activity 1: Choose the Best Connector

Read the sentence and choose the best connecting word.

1. (As well as / Although / While) he is very rich, he is not very happy.
2. My father likes to wake up early, (while / as well as / although) my mother prefers to sleep in.
3. The restaurant serves delicious noodles (while / although / as well as) fantastic coffee.

Activity 2: Rewrite the Sentence

Combine the two simple sentences into one longer, more fluent sentence using the B1 connector in parentheses.

• I like living in Siem Reap. It is sometimes too quiet for me. (Although)
  → Although I like living in Siem Reap, it is sometimes too quiet for me.
• The university has a great library. It has a modern sports center. (as well as)
  → The university has a great library as well as a modern sports center.

Your Fluency Toolkit

• Connector | ឈ្នាប់
  A word or phrase that joins ideas, phrases, or sentences together.
• although / even though | ទោះបីជា / ថ្វីបើ
  Used to show a surprising contrast, like "but".
• while | ខណៈពេលដែល
  Used to directly contrast two different people or situations.
• as well as | ក៏ដូចជា
  A more formal way to say "and" or "also".

Your Fluency Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to upgrade your connectors. Try to use one of the B1 connectors from this lesson in a real conversation or in your writing.

For example, instead of saying "I like coffee, but my friend likes tea," try saying, "I like coffee, while my friend likes tea."