Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B1 - Lesson 5
Developing Longer Turns
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use a clear structure to speak about a topic for a longer time (e.g., one minute) with good fluency and coherence.
Structuring a One-MinuteTalk
To speak for a longer turn1, you need a clear structure. This helps you organize your ideas and helps your listener to follow you. Let's look at a structured answer to the question: "Describe a place you have visited that you really liked."
(Introduction) → "I'd like to talk about2 Kep province, on the coast of Cambodia. I really enjoyed it for a couple of reasons.
(Main Body Point 1) → The main reason3 I liked it was the peaceful atmosphere. By that, I mean4 it's very different from a busy city. For example, you can just sit by the sea and listen to the waves, which is very relaxing.
(Main Body Point 2) → Another thing I loved was the food, especially the fresh seafood. You can buy crabs directly from the market and have them cooked right there. I remember5 eating the most delicious crab with Kampot pepper.
(Conclusion) → So, all in all,6 if you're looking for a beautiful, relaxing place with amazing food, I would definitely recommend7 visiting Kep."
Your Fluency Toolkit
- a longer turn: Speaking for an extended time (e.g., 1-2 minutes) in a conversation or talk: ការនិយាយវេនវែង ↩
- I'd like to talk about...: A formal phrase to introduce your topic: ខ្ញុំចង់និយាយអំពី... ↩
- The main reason is...: A phrase to introduce your most important point: ហេតុផលចម្បងគឺ... ↩
- By that, I mean...: A phrase used to explain your previous point more clearly: អ្វីដែលខ្ញុំចង់និយាយគឺ... ↩
- I remember...: A phrase to introduce a personal memory or example: ខ្ញុំចាំថា... ↩
- All in all,...: A phrase used to start a summary or conclusion: សរុបមក... ↩
- I would recommend...: A phrase used to give advice or a strong suggestion: ខ្ញុំសូមណែនាំ... ↩
Pacing and Pausing
In a longer talk, your pacing (your speed of speaking) is very important. You shouldn't speak at the same speed the whole time.
- Slow down and pause when you introduce a new main point. This gives the listener time to follow your structure. (e.g., "The main reason I liked it was... [pause] ...the peaceful atmosphere.")
- You can speak a little faster when you are giving an exciting example or detail.
Varying your pace makes your speech more engaging and easier to listen to.
The "P.E.E." Method for Body Paragraphs
A great way to build the main body of your talk is with the "P.E.E." method for each idea.
P - Point: State your main point or idea.
"Another thing I loved was the food."
E - Explain: Explain what you mean in more detail.
"By that, I mean the seafood was incredibly fresh."
E - Example: Give a specific, personal example to support your point.
"For example, I remember eating delicious crab with Kampot pepper."
Using P.E.E. for each main idea will make your talk detailed, organized, and easy to follow.
Practice Your Talk
Activity 1: Deconstruct the Talk
Look at the model answer about Kep. Can you find the "P.E.E." structure in the two main body points?
(Answer: Yes. For Point 1, P=peaceful atmosphere, E=different from city, E=listen to waves. For Point 2, P=the food, E=fresh seafood, E=crab market example.)
Activity 2: Plan Your Talk
Work with a partner. Choose one of these topics: "Describe your favorite holiday" OR "Describe an important person in your life". Use the P.E.E. method to brainstorm and structure two body points for your talk.
Activity 3: One-Minute Presentation
Using your notes from Activity 2, give a one-minute talk to your partner. Remember to have an introduction, two main points, and a conclusion. Your partner should listen for the structure.
Your Fluency Mission
This week in Battambang, your mission is to prepare and practice one short, structured talk.
Choose a topic you are passionate about (your favorite movie, your future dream, why Battambang is a great place to live). Use the P.E.E. method to structure your ideas. Practice it until you can speak for one full minute. Recording yourself is the best way to check your fluency, pacing, and structure.