Fluency strategies
Speak more fluently: chunking, circumlocution when you forget a word, fillers that buy time, self-correction and fluency practice routines.
In this lesson you will
- Use chunks and fillers to maintain flow
- Use circumlocution when you lack a word
- Build daily fluency habits
Learn
Chunks: fluent speakers use ready-made phrases (as far as I’m concerned, the thing is, it’s worth bearing in mind that). Learn phrases, not single words.
Time-buying fillers: Let me think… ; How can I put this? ; What I’m trying to say is… ; It’s on the tip of my tongue… — better than long silence or ‘erm’ repeated.
Circumlocution: describe the word you can’t remember: It’s a kind of…, It’s the thing you use to…, It’s similar to… but…, The opposite of… The conversation keeps moving.
Fluency routines: 4-3-2 (tell the same story in 4, then 3, then 2 minutes), shadowing (repeat audio in real time), self-talk (describe what you’re doing), and recording and reviewing yourself weekly.
Examples
- It’s a kind of tool you use to open bottles — a corkscrew!
- How can I put this? It wasn’t exactly a success.
- It’s on the tip of my tongue… the person who designs buildings — an architect.
- As far as I’m concerned, the main issue is time.
Vocabulary
fluency
speaking smoothly without long pauses
chunk
a phrase learned as one unit
circumlocution
describing a word you can’t remember
shadowing
repeating audio at the same time as the speaker
on the tip of my tongue
almost remembered
Practice
If you forget “umbrella”, you could say…
Speaking
Do the 4-3-2 activity: tell the story of a memorable day in 4 minutes, then 3, then 2. Notice how your fluency improves.
Writing
Write a personal fluency plan (120–150 words): three daily habits, the chunks you’ll learn this week, and how you’ll measure progress.
Lesson quiz
Circumlocution helps when…
Review
Key points
- Learn chunks.
- Time-buying fillers.
- Circumlocution.
- 4-3-2, shadowing, self-talk, recording.
What you learned
- ✓ I keep conversations flowing.
- ✓ I talk around missing words.
- ✓ I have a fluency routine.