Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B1
Using Fillers More Effectively
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.
Your Fluency Toolkit 🛠️
Here are some effective fillers to add to your speaking.
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
Using fillers strategically makes you sound fluent. But be careful!
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.").
Practice Using Fillers 🎯
Activity 1: Choose the Best Filler
Read the sentences and choose the best filler for the context.
- I really like living in Battambang. ______, it can be a bit too quiet sometimes. (Well / Actually)
"Actually" introduces a contrast. - A: "What's your favorite movie?" B: "______, let me think. I guess I'd say The Avengers." (Well / I mean)
"Well" is a perfect opener for a thoughtful answer. - I don't eat meat, so I never order beef or pork. ______, I don't eat chicken either. (You know / I mean)
"I mean" clarifies and adds more detail.
Activity 2: Thinking on Your Feet
Work with a partner. Ask your partner a difficult opinion question. The partner must 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?
Key Vocabulary
- Hesitation A pause in speaking, often because you are thinking.
- Filler Phrase A word or phrase used to fill a pause while thinking (e.g., "Well...", "You know...").
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.