Speaking: Fluency & Coherence B2
Paraphrasing & Reformulating Effectively
Listen to the examples here.
Your Paraphrasing Toolbox 🧰
When you get stuck on a word, you don't have to stop! You have options. Here are three key techniques to use.
The simplest way. Swap a word for one with a similar meaning (a synonym), or express the opposite idea (with an antonym).
Original: "The report was very comprehensive."
→ Paraphrase: "The report was very thorough."
→ Or: "The report wasn't missing anything."
Change the grammar. For example, switch from a verb to a noun.
Original: "We must solve this problem quickly."
→ Paraphrase: "We must find a quick solution to this problem."
If you forget a noun, don't panic. Just describe what it is. Click below to see how.
What if I forget the word "telescope"?
You can say: "It's that thing you use for looking at the stars."
What if I forget the word "colleague"?
You can say: "She's a person who I work with."
Paraphrasing in Action: A Scenario
Listen to this conversation. Ben looks confused, so Sothea paraphrases to clarify her meaning.
Useful Signposting Phrases
💡 Signaling Your Paraphrase (Click to hear)
Use a "signpost" phrase to tell your listener that you are about to rephrase your idea. This makes your speech much more coherent.
When you get stuck and need to restart:
- "Sorry, let me start again..."
- "What I'm trying to say is..."
- "Let me put that differently..."
When you are clarifying for your listener:
- "In other words,..."
- "To put it another way,..."
- "Basically,..."
Practice Your Skills 🎯
Activity 1: Choose the Best Paraphrase (Self-Check)
Read the statement and choose the best response. Click "Check Answers" when done.
1. Original Sentence: "The journey to Mondulkiri was arduous."
2. You are telling a story about cooking and you forget the word "spatula." What is the best way to keep your fluency?
Key Vocabulary
- Paraphrase To repeat something using different words to make the meaning clearer.
- Reformulate To change the structure of what you are saying to express it in a new way.
- Synonym A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.
- Clarify To make something easier to understand.
- Coherent Logical and consistent; easy to understand.
Your Mission: The "Forbidden Word" Game ⭐
Your mission is to practice the most important paraphrasing skill: describing a word you have forgotten.
- Choose a simple topic, like "Describe your bedroom."
- Give yourself a challenge: You cannot use three key nouns. For example, forbid yourself from using the words: bed, window, wardrobe.
- Record yourself speaking for 60 seconds. You will be forced to paraphrase!
- Instead of 'bed', you might say: "...the big piece of furniture that I sleep on..."
- Instead of 'window', you could say: "...the opening in the wall made of glass that lets the sunlight in..."
- This game trains the skill of reformulating in real time, making you a more flexible and fluent speaker.