Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B1 - Lesson 3
Organizing Ideas in a Short Talk
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use a simple structure and special discourse markers to organize your ideas for a clear, coherent short talk.
Structuring a Short Talk: A Model Answer
When you need to speak for a longer time (30-60 seconds), you can't just connect random sentences. You need to organize your ideas1. A clear structure makes you easier to understand and sound more fluent and intelligent.
Question: "What do you think is the best thing about living in Battambang?"
(Introduction) → "In my opinion,3 the best thing about living in Battambang is the peaceful atmosphere.
(Body Point 1) → First of all,4 it's not as crowded or noisy as Phnom Penh, so it's much more relaxing.
(Body Point 2) → Another reason is5 that the people are very friendly. For example, my neighbors are always kind and say hello.
(Conclusion) → So, to sum up,6 I think it's a great place to live because it's peaceful and the people are friendly."
Your Storytelling Toolkit (Discourse Markers)
- Organize ideas: To structure your thoughts in a clear, logical way: រៀបចំគំនិត ↩
- Discourse Marker: A word or phrase that organizes your speech and guides the listener: ពាក្យរៀបចំការនិយាយ
- In my opinion...: A phrase to introduce your main point or belief: តាមគំនិតរបស់ខ្ញុំ... ↩
- First of all... / Secondly...: Phrases to introduce your first and second reasons or points: ជាដំបូង... / ទីពីរ... ↩
- Another reason is...: A phrase to add another supporting point: ហេតុផលមួយទៀតគឺ... ↩
- In conclusion... / To sum up...: Phrases to signal that you are at the end of your talk and will summarize your main idea: សរុបសេចក្តីមក... ↩
Intonation & Pausing for Structure
Discourse markers are powerful signals to your listener. To make them effective, you must pause after them. This creates "chunks" of information that are easy to digest.
- Say the discourse marker with a clear, falling intonation, then pause briefly before continuing.
- Listen: "First of all, ↘ [pause] the city is not too crowded."
- Listen: "In conclusion, ↘ [pause] I believe it's a wonderful place."
The P.R.E.P. Method for Short Talks
If you need to give a short, organized talk, you can use this simple and memorable method.
P - Point: State your main point or opinion clearly.
"I think everyone should learn to cook."
R - Reason: Give a reason why you believe this.
"This is because it is a very useful life skill."
E - Example: Give a specific example to support your reason.
"For example, if you can cook, you can save money and eat more healthily."
P - Point: Restate your main point to conclude.
"So, that's why I believe cooking is an essential skill for everyone."
Practice Organizing Your Ideas
Activity 1: Organize the Ideas
Here are the jumbled ideas for a talk about "Why is exercise important?". Label each sentence with the correct discourse marker: (In my opinion / First of all / Another reason is / To sum up).
- ______, it helps you to stay healthy and strong.
- ______, I think exercise is very important for everyone.
- ______, it is good for your mental health and can reduce stress.
- ______, exercise is essential for both your body and your mind.
(Answers: 2. In my opinion, 1. First of all, 3. Another reason is, 4. To sum up)
Activity 2: Use the P.R.E.P. Method
Work with a partner. Choose one of these topics: "Why is it important to learn English?" OR "What is the best holiday in Cambodia?". Use the P.R.E.P. method to brainstorm keywords for your talk. Then, give your short talk to your partner.
Your Fluency Mission
This week in Battambang, your mission is to give one organized short talk.
Choose a topic you are interested in. It can be about your favorite movie, your future plans, or your opinion on something. Use the P.R.E.P. method to plan your ideas. Practice it, and then deliver your short talk to a friend or classmate.