Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B1 - Lesson 4: Using Fillers More Effectively (well, you know)

Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B1

Using Fillers More Effectively

Listen to the examples here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use different filler phrases to make your speech sound more natural and fluent when you need a moment to think.

From "Umm..." to Eloquent Pauses 💬

Every speaker, including native speakers, needs time to think. Hesitation is natural. Instead of a long pause or "ummm," fluent speakers use filler phrases to hold their turn and sound more natural.

A Hesitant Answer

"What is my favorite thing about Cambodia? Uhhh... the food... no... umm... the people."

A More Fluent Answer

"What's my favorite thing about Cambodia? Well, that's a great question. Actually, while I love the food, I think my favorite thing is the people. You know, everyone is just so friendly here."

Your Fluency Toolkit 🛠️ (Click 🔊)

Here are some effective fillers to add to your speaking. Click 🔊 to hear them.

Well,...

To start an answer or show you are thinking.

Actually,...

To introduce a surprising or more accurate fact.

You know,...

To check for shared understanding or just to pause.

I mean...

To clarify or correct what you just said.

Let me see...

A clear way to show you are thinking.

It's like...

Informal filler, use carefully (similar to 'like').

How to Use Fillers Effectively

🗣️ The Sound of Thinking

Filler phrases have a special "thinking intonation." You don't say them quickly. You draw out the sound to show you are considering your answer.

• "Well..." is often stretched out: "Weeeeell, I think it's a good idea."
• "You know? ↗" often has a slight rising intonation at the end.
• "I mean... ↘︎" often has a flat or slightly falling intonation before you clarify.

💡 A Time and a Place for Fillers

Good Times to Use Fillers:

• At the beginning of a difficult question ("Well, that's a tough question...").
• When you need to correct yourself ("I'll meet you on Tuesday... I mean, Wednesday.").
• To soften an opinion ("It was, you know, a little boring.").

Warning: Overusing fillers, especially "like" and "you know," can make you sound unconfident in formal situations like a job interview. The goal is to replace "um" and "uh" with better fillers like "Well..." and "Actually...". Use them, but don't overuse them!

Practice Using Fillers 🎯

Activity 1: Choose the Best Filler (Self-Check)

Read the sentences. Click the best filler for the context. Your choice will turn green (correct) or red (incorrect).

Activity 2: Thinking on Your Feet

Work with a partner or practice alone. Ask (or answer) a difficult opinion question. Try to answer without "um" or "uh", using at least two filler phrases from the toolkit.

Example Questions: What is the most beautiful place in Cambodia and why? If you could have any superpower, what would it be? What's the best way to learn English quickly?

Key Vocabulary

• Hesitation | ការស្ទាក់ស្ទើរ
  A pause in speaking, often because you are thinking.
• Filler Phrase | ពាក្យបំពេញចន្លោះ
  A word or phrase used to fill a pause while thinking (e.g., "Well...", "You know...").
• Fluent | fluent
  Able to speak a language easily and smoothly.
• Coherence | ភាពស៊ីសង្វាក់គ្នា
  Being logical and consistent; easy to understand.
• Natural | ធម្មជាតិ
  Sounding normal and relaxed, not forced.

Your Fluency Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to upgrade your pauses.

In your next English conversation, when you need a moment to think, consciously stop yourself from saying "uh" or "um". Instead, take a breath and use "Well..." or "Let me see...". This simple change will make you sound much more fluent and confident.