Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B2
Speaking with More Spontaneity & Less Hesitation
The Truth About Spontaneous Speech 💡
Even native speakers hesitate! The goal is not to eliminate pauses, but to make your hesitation sound natural. Instead of long, silent pauses or "uhhh," you can use phrases that give you time to think while keeping the conversation moving.
Scenario: An Unexpected Question
Notice how Dara uses specific techniques to answer an unexpected question from Thida without long, awkward pauses.
Two Powerful Techniques 🛠️
Instead of a silent pause or "ummm," use a full phrase to signal that you are thinking. This keeps you connected to the listener.
- "That's a good/interesting question."
- "Let me see..." / "Let me think about that."
- "Well, to be honest..."
- "Off the top of my head, I'd say..."
For impromptu opinion questions, having a simple structure in mind helps you organize your thoughts instantly.
- P - Point: State your main point.
- R - Reason: Give a clear reason for your point.
- E - Example: Provide a specific example.
- P - Point: Restate your main point to conclude.
Common Hesitation Traps 🧠
Common Traps & How to Escape
Trap 1: Translating in your head. This is the biggest cause of slow speech.
Escape: Practice thinking directly in English. When you're on your moto, think "That's a big building," not the Khmer and then translating. Build the habit of direct thought.
Trap 2: Searching for the "perfect" word. Getting stuck on one word kills fluency.
Escape: Paraphrase! Use simpler words or describe the word you can't find. Saying "the thing you use to clean your teeth" is more fluent than a 5-second pause trying to remember "toothbrush."
Practice Your Spontaneity 🎯
Practice Quiz: What's the Best Strategy?
1. Your teacher asks, "What are the advantages of online learning?" You need a moment to think. What is the best way to begin?
A) Say "Ummmm..."
B) Say nothing while you think.
C) Say, "That's a really relevant question. Let me see..."
→ Answer: C. This filler phrase is polite and gives you valuable seconds to structure your thoughts.
2. You're using PREP to answer, "Is social media good for society?" You've stated your Point ("It has good and bad sides") and your Reason ("it connects people but can spread misinformation"). What's next?
A) Give an example.
B) Repeat your reason.
C) State your point again.
→ Answer: A. After a reason, a specific example is the next logical step in the PREP method.
Key Vocabulary
- Spontaneity The quality of being natural and unplanned in speech.
- Coherence The quality of being logical, consistent, and easy to understand.
- Hesitation A pause before or during speech.
- Impromptu Done without being planned or rehearsed.
- Filler Phrase A phrase used to cover a pause while a speaker thinks.
Your Mission: The Impromptu Challenge ⭐
Your mission this week is to practice thinking on your feet.
- Find a list of "ESL discussion questions" online.
- Choose one question randomly (e.g., "Should plastic bags be banned?").
- Set a 60-second timer and record yourself answering the question immediately.
- Your Goal: Start with a "thinking time" phrase, try to use the PREP structure, and don't stop speaking until the timer ends. The goal is to practice producing spontaneous, flowing speech. Do this once a day to build confidence!