IELTS VIP Podcast Episode 13: How Can I Improve my Fluency in the IELTS Speaking Test?

Summary

In this IELTS Advantage podcast, Chris addresses a VIP student's question on enhancing speaking fluency. He likens the brain to a computer, suggesting that multitasking, like opening too many tabs, slows performance. To improve fluency, he advises focusing on three main aspects: ideas, grammar, and vocabulary. By making grammar and vocabulary usage more automatic, reducing perfectionism, and being relaxed about ideas, students can significantly boost their fluency. Chris emphasizes that the IELTS speaking test is about effective communication, not the complexity of ideas, and recommends practicing grammar and vocabulary actively to achieve fluency.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The brain, like a computer, can slow down or crash when too many processes are open simultaneously, which is similar to what happens during the IELTS speaking test when one tries to focus on too many aspects like grammar, vocabulary, and ideas.
• 🚴‍♂️ To improve fluency, automate grammar and vocabulary use through practice, akin to riding a bike or tying shoelaces, which become second nature over time.
• 💡 Focusing on producing perfect sentences can hinder fluency; it's more important to communicate effectively rather than striving for linguistic perfection.
• 🌐 There's a balance between grammar, vocabulary, and fluency; improving the first two will naturally enhance the latter.
• 🤔 Overthinking ideas can reduce fluency; the IELTS speaking test is not about the content of ideas but the ability to communicate in English.
• 🗣️ Practicing using vocabulary actively, rather than passively learning or reading, helps in fluently incorporating it into speech.
• 🎯 The key to fluency is not about having impressive ideas but about the ability to answer questions and develop thoughts in a coherent manner.
• 💭 Reducing the cognitive load during the test by not overthinking can lead to more fluent responses.
• 🌟 Accepting that minor mistakes are part of the learning process can help in reducing hesitation and improving fluency.
• 🌱 Long-term solutions for fluency involve continuous practice and real-life application of language skills to make them more automatic.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the IELTS VIP podcast?

The main focus of the IELTS VIP podcast is to address questions from VIP students in depth to improve their IELTS preparation, specifically focusing on areas such as fluency in the speaking test.

Why do students often struggle with fluency during the IELTS speaking test?

Students struggle with fluency because they are trying to manage multiple cognitive processes simultaneously, such as thinking of ideas, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, which can overload their cognitive capacity and slow down their responses.

How does the analogy of a computer with too many open programs relate to the IELTS speaking test?

The analogy suggests that just like a computer slows down or crashes when too many programs are open, a student's brain can become overwhelmed during the IELTS speaking test if they are trying to process too many language elements at once.

What are the three principal things that students typically think about during the IELTS speaking test?

The three principal things students think about are ideas for the question, grammar, and vocabulary.

Why is it important to make language use automatic when preparing for the IELTS speaking test?

Making language use automatic is crucial because it reduces the cognitive load during the test, allowing students to focus more on communication and less on individual language elements like grammar and vocabulary.

How does the speaker suggest improving grammar and vocabulary for better fluency?

The speaker suggests improving grammar and vocabulary by practicing and using them until they become second nature, similar to how one learns to ride a bike or drive a car without consciously thinking about each step.

What role does perfectionism play in fluency issues during the IELTS speaking test?

Perfectionism can hinder fluency as students may overthink to produce perfect sentences, leading to hesitations and pauses. The speaker advises relaxing about grammar and vocabulary mistakes to focus more on fluency.

Why should students not focus too much on the content of their ideas during the IELTS speaking test?

Students should not focus too much on the content of their ideas because the speaking test assesses communication skills, not the depth or correctness of the ideas. The focus should be on effective communication rather than impressing with ideas.

How can students reduce the number of fluency errors they make in the short term?

In the short term, students can reduce fluency errors by relaxing about making grammar and vocabulary mistakes and not overthinking their ideas.

What long-term strategies does the speaker recommend to improve fluency in the IELTS speaking test?

Long-term strategies include improving awareness and active use of grammar and vocabulary, and practicing to make their use automatic, as well as accepting that some mistakes are natural and focusing on fluency over absolute accuracy.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Improving Fluency in IELTS Speaking: The Brain as a Computer Analogy

The speaker, Chris from IELTS Advantage, introduces a podcast episode focused on helping VIP students improve their fluency in the IELTS speaking test. A common issue raised by students is the struggle with fluency due to excessive focus on grammar and vocabulary, leading to self-corrections and hesitations. Chris uses the analogy of a computer to explain how overloading the brain with too many tasks, like thinking about grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and even考官's reactions, can slow down or 'crash' performance. He suggests that students need to streamline their thought processes during the test to enhance fluency.

05:01

📚 Balancing Grammar, Vocabulary, and Fluency in IELTS Preparation

Chris emphasizes that many students mistakenly believe they have a fluency problem when it's actually a matter of grammar or vocabulary. He advises that improving grammar and vocabulary proficiency is key to enhancing fluency. The speaker also touches on the idea of moving vocabulary from passive to active use through practice. Furthermore, he addresses the issue of perfectionism, suggesting that striving for perfect sentences can hinder fluency. Chris notes that different teaching approaches to English can lead to varying levels of fluency, with some educational systems producing more fluent speakers despite potentially lower accuracy.

10:03

🌟 Overcoming Perfectionism and the Importance of Communication in IELTS Speaking

In the final paragraph, Chris discusses the importance of not overthinking ideas during the IELTS speaking test. He suggests that students should speak as naturally as they would in a conversation with a friend, rather than trying to impress with complex or extensive answers. The focus should be on effective communication rather than the depth of content. Chris reiterates that the IELTS speaking test assesses pronunciation, fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and coherence, not the creativity or complexity of ideas. He concludes by encouraging students to relax, reduce the cognitive load during the test, and improve their language proficiency through practical use rather than just studying from books.

Keywords

💡Fluency

Fluency in the context of the video refers to the smooth and effortless ability to speak without hesitation or self-correction. It is a key aspect of the IELTS speaking test, where students are assessed on their ability to communicate effectively. The video emphasizes that fluency is often hindered by overthinking grammar, vocabulary, and the desire to produce perfect sentences, which can lead to audible pauses and hesitations. The speaker suggests that improving fluency involves making grammar and vocabulary more automatic, reducing perfectionism, and focusing on effective communication rather than impressive ideas.

💡Grammar Mistakes

Grammar mistakes are errors in the structure of sentences that can occur when speaking a language. In the video, the speaker notes that students often become overly concerned with avoiding grammar mistakes during the IELTS speaking test, which can negatively impact their fluency. The video suggests that instead of striving for perfect grammar, students should aim to make their use of grammar more automatic through practice, allowing them to speak more fluently.

💡Vocabulary Mistakes

Vocabulary mistakes involve the incorrect use of words or the inability to recall the right word at the right time. The video discusses how students might know a word but struggle to use it in speech, which can affect fluency. The speaker advises moving words from passive to active vocabulary through regular use and practice, which can help in reducing vocabulary-related fluency issues.

💡Self-Correct

Self-correct refers to the act of correcting one's own speech during a conversation. In the video, self-correcting is mentioned as a behavior that can disrupt fluency in the IELTS speaking test. The speaker suggests that students work on making their grammar and vocabulary more automatic to reduce the need for self-correction and improve fluency.

💡IELTS Speaking Test

The IELTS Speaking Test is a component of the International English Language Testing System, which assesses a candidate's English speaking abilities. The video focuses on strategies to improve performance in this test, particularly in the area of fluency. The speaker provides insights and tips on how to manage the cognitive load during the test to enhance fluency and reduce errors.

💡Brain as a Computer

The analogy of the brain as a computer is used in the video to explain how cognitive overload can hinder performance. When too many 'tabs' or 'programs' are open in the brain, similar to a computer, it can slow down or 'crash'. This metaphor is used to illustrate how thinking about too many aspects of language use simultaneously can reduce fluency in the IELTS speaking test.

💡Perfectionism

Perfectionism is the pursuit of flawlessness and is highlighted in the video as a barrier to fluency. Students who are overly concerned with producing perfect sentences can end up with more hesitations and pauses. The speaker encourages students to relax about making minor mistakes and focus on the overall fluency and effectiveness of their communication.

💡Active Vocabulary

Active vocabulary consists of words that a speaker can use spontaneously and confidently in speech. The video emphasizes the importance of moving words from passive to active vocabulary through regular practice. This is crucial for improving fluency, as it allows students to use words without having to search for them during the IELTS speaking test.

💡Idea Generation

Idea generation refers to the process of coming up with thoughts or concepts in response to a question or topic. The video points out that some students struggle with fluency because they are trying to think of impressive or perfect ideas during the IELTS speaking test. The speaker advises that the test is not about the content of the ideas but rather the ability to communicate effectively, so students should focus on fluency over the depth of ideas.

💡Coherence

Coherence in speaking refers to the logical and clear progression of ideas in a conversation. While the video acknowledges that coherence is a part of the IELTS speaking test, it distinguishes it from the need for impressive ideas. Coherence is about answering the question and developing answers in a way that is understandable, rather than providing complex or extensive information.

Highlights

The podcast focuses on helping IELTS VIP students improve their speaking fluency by addressing common issues like grammar and vocabulary mistakes.

An analogy is made comparing the brain to a computer that can slow down or crash when overloaded with too many processes, similar to the cognitive load during the IELTS speaking test.

The importance of managing cognitive load during the IELTS speaking test is emphasized to improve fluency.

Students are advised to focus on three main aspects影响IELTS speaking fluency: ideas, grammar, and vocabulary.

The need to make grammar and vocabulary use more automatic, akin to riding a bike or tying shoelaces, is discussed to reduce cognitive load.

The podcast suggests that many students actually suffer from grammar or vocabulary issues, not fluency issues per se.

The balance between improving grammar and vocabulary is highlighted as key to enhancing fluency.

The concept of moving vocabulary from passive to active use is introduced to improve speaking fluency.

Perfectionism is identified as a barrier to fluency, with advice to relax about making minor mistakes.

The idea that fluency is more important than absolute accuracy in the IELTS speaking test is presented.

The notion that the speaking test is not an ideas test is clarified, urging students to focus on communication rather than impressive ideas.

Advice is given to speak to the examiner as one would to a friend to reduce the pressure of coming up with perfect ideas.

The importance of not overthinking ideas during the test is stressed, as it does not contribute to fluency scores.

Long-term solutions for improving fluency include becoming proficient with grammar and vocabulary through regular use.

The podcast concludes with a summary of strategies for both short-term and long-term fluency improvement.

An invitation for students to seek further help on the website is extended for those looking to enhance their IELTS speaking skills.

Transcripts

hi everyone Chris here from IELTS

advantage with another podcast IELTS VIP

podcast so what we do in this podcast is

we have a group of VIP students who we

work with and every week we ask them can

you give me a question so that I can go

very very deep on answering that

question so that's exactly what we're

going to do in this podcast one of our

VIP members asked this question how can

I improve my fluency in the speaking

test and they mentioned that they make

lots of grammar mistakes and lots of

vocabulary mistakes and then they have

to self-correct or think about what

they're doing and they're not lowers

their fluency so this is a very very

good question because it affects a huge

number of you and and I have a way of

helping students and that has really

really worked in the past which I'm

gonna share with you today so what I

want you to think of is imagine your

brain is like a computer

imagine your your laptop or your your

desktop computer at home what happens

when you open your laptop and you to

many programs open at the same time or

you open up your browser and there's too

many tabs open at the same time what

happens to your computer's performance

well you probably notice this when you

open there's too many things happening

especially if you've got and a cheaper

computer that doesn't have great

performances it slows down or it

completely crashes and this is because

they're just too many processes going on

at the same time and this is exactly

what happens in the IELTS speaking test

to your brain so think about how many

things that you are thinking about how

many processes that are going on in your

brain when you were doing the IELTS

speaking test so some of the things that

you might be thinking of our ideas for

the question how to give a grammatically

correct answer so thinking about

different sentence structures and

grammar grammatical mistakes that you

might be making also you might be

thinking of vocabulary and you might be

thinking of meaning and collocations

all these things related to vocabulary

and you might be thinking all sorts of

other things like thinking about your

pronunciation I'm thinking about your

fluency or just thinking about like ah

this this question is really difficult

or I'm about to fail this test or the

examiner is not being nice to me or a

multitude of things that might be going

through your head so what you need to do

is you need to the same way that you

would fix a problem with your computer

if there are too many tabs open or too

many programs open you need to to close

a lot of these things time and so that

there's three principal things that most

students think about in the IELTS

speaking test our ideas so thinking what

the ideas for the question grammar and

vocabulary so you're not going to stop

thinking about ideas or stop thinking

about grammar or stop thinking about

vocabulary but you need to make it more

automatic in the same way that remember

when you were first learning how to ride

a bike you probably really had to think

about it and really have to process all

that information route consciously but

now when you get on a bike you never

forget it is just a process same with

tying your shoelaces when you were a

little boy or little girl you had to you

know think about exactly where the ties

and the loops were going and really

think and concentrate on what you're

doing now you just tie them without even

thinking same as if you're learning how

to drive a car when you're first

learning how to drive a car you might be

like thinking about the mirrors and

thinking about the signal and looking

around you and thinking about the pedals

and the gears and you're consciously

having to think about all of these

things and when you do that you stall

the car or you make mistakes but after

you've been driving a few years it

becomes automatic so this is the

approach that you need to to take for

learning vocabulary and grammar and

using vocabulary and grammar so in order

to improve your fluency you need to

improve your grammar and your vocabulary

until you improve your grammar and

vocabulary you're going to have those

fluency problems because you're going to

be thinking of the correct grammar

structure or thinking about like is that

a countable or uncountable 9 or is that

the definite article or indefinite

article or verb subject agreement how

does that work in that you're just

thinking of too many things whereas when

I'm speaking now as a native English

speaker I don't think about these things

at all not because I'm some sort of

genius or things like or anything like

that it's because that I just used the

language so many times and received it

and produced it so many times that it

becomes second nature to me so a lot of

people will talk about I have a fluency

problem when in reality they don't have

a fluency problem they have a grammar or

vocabulary problem so there's always a

balance between grammar and vocabulary

the the more you improve your grammar

and vocabulary the the better your

fluency is going to become so for many

of you you don't need to work on your on

your fluency as such you need to work on

your grammar and your vocabulary and

improve that and for vocabulary

especially move things from your passive

vocabulary into your active vocabulary

the vocabulary that you can use what you

often hear with students in in the IELTS

test if they have problems with fluency

related to vocabulary is oh I I knew the

word but I just it was on the tip of my

tongue like I could I couldn't use the

word and and that really comes down into

practice and using those words rather

than just learning lists of words or

just reading or listening to it to those

new words so those are the first two

things grammar and vocabulary improving

your awareness and your ability to use

them is going to improve your fluency

related to that is also perfectionism

and a lot of people have a big problem

with fluency not because their grammar

is bad or not because their vocabulary

is bad but because they are trying to

produce the perfect sentence so they're

trying to think of the perfect grammar

structure the perfect sentence the

perfect word the perfect collocation and

a lot of this is related to

then being taught in school that your

grammar must be perfect that your

vocabulary must be perfect it's always

interesting when you when you teach in

different countries some countries will

and the in general their students will

be very very very fluent and then you go

to another country and the students are

not so fluent but their accuracy is much

much better and I think this is related

to to perfectionism on how you've been

taught English if you've been taught

English in a very new grammar first

vocabulary first way where it's all

about grammar and vocabulary and being

perfect and never making mistakes then

your fluency generally will suffer but

if you've grown up in a country where

they teach you that you know mistakes

are okay everybody makes mistakes then

your fluency is generally much better so

the second part of improving your

fluency would be relaxed about grammar

and vocabulary mistakes of course we

want to eliminate as many mistakes as

possible and reduce the number of

mistakes that were making but in order

to get like for most of you listening to

this bond seven bond eight someone even

who's at a bond eight level is making

quite a few small grammar mistakes and a

few vocabulary mistakes

nobody even a benign person a lot of

bond nine and people who are getting

benign in the speaking test or making

little slips with grammar and little

slips of vocabulary however if you try

and produce a hundred percent accuracy

at all times

then you you're reducing your chances of

getting a 7 or above for fluency because

there is that relationship you'll often

get students who are speaking and mmm

thinking about the sentence and then

saying something else now mmm you know

these audible hesitations these audible

pauses that's just an audible signal

that they are thinking about the perfect

sentence so don't let perfectionism

creep in the third area that we talked

about that I mentioned was ideas trying

to think of ideas many of the students

who I work with and it's always

surprising when some of them I'm doing

like mock speaking test with them

and their fluency is quite poor because

there when I look at their grammar and

vocabulary when we're working on the

writing the grammar and vocabulary is

great

so one thing I noticed was a lot of

students didn't have a grammar and

vocabulary problem that wasn't lowering

their fluency what was lowering their

fluency was just thinking of ideas they

were trying to think of impressive ideas

or they were trying to think of a you

know an idea that would really answer

the question perfectly and on the

speaking test there are no marks or

ideas its pronunciation nothing to do

with ideas grammar nothing to do with

ideas vocabulary nothing to do with

ideas fluency nothing to do with ideas

and coherence reentrant means that you

do have to answer the question and you

do have to develop your your answers but

it doesn't mean that there are certain

ideas which will get you a high score so

remember that the speaking test is a

speaking test it's not an ideas test

it's not a knowledge test and so for

many of you you can reduce reduce the

number of fluency errors that you're

making and improve your fluency

immediately by just relaxing about ideas

and like a really easy way to do that is

to speak to the examiner in the same way

that you would speak to a friend or a

colleague or something like that like a

good example is you'll ask a student

like where did you grow up or tell me

about your home time in the speaking

test and they'll say they'll tell you

about the history of their hometown the

architecture in their home time the

transport system in their hometown like

would you ever say that to a friend or a

colleague or a teacher who says where

are you from you probably just say on

from blah blah blah and give a little

bit of extra detail and that would be it

you don't need to give an answer it's

not a I got like a PhD thesis or a

master's thesis it's not that that kind

of a test it is a speaking test they

want to know can you speak properly can

you communicate effectively in English

and it's not a a test of knowledge or

your IQ or

anything like that so in summary if you

want to improve your fluency you need to

shut down as many of these programs as

many of these tabs in your brain as

possible and free up that that RAM and

that will allow you to speak fluently so

in summary what you need to do is work

on your grammar and vocabulary the more

proficient you are the more comfortable

you are with the language the less or

the fewer and fluency mistakes you're

going to make because you're not

thinking of all of the words you're not

thinking of the grammar structures

you're not thinking about the different

choices that you have with words and

grammar and the second thing is to

eliminate perfectionism as much as

possible and accept the fact that you

will make little mistakes and focus more

on fluency rather than accuracy on the

third thing is be totally relaxed when

it comes to ideas there's no correct

answer there's no band 9 answer there's

no there's none of that there's no

answer that the examiners are looking

for they're just looking for your

ability to communicate effectively in

English and they're thinking about

grammar vocabulary pronunciation and

fluency and coherence those are the only

things are thinking about not how

amazing your ideas are so those are both

short-term and long-term solutions and

in the short term relaxed about making

grammar mistakes for Cavalieri mistakes

and ideas a long term improve your

awareness of grammar and vocabulary and

you use the grammar and vocabulary and

you know don't study it in a book is a

hundred percent you can't study grammar

and vocabulary you know in black and

white on the page and then but never

actually use it do study the grammar do

study the vocabulary review it often but

use it often as well and and that will

really help you improve your fluency

hopefully Jim were impressed by those

ideas and that you'll use them in the

future and the students that I work with

those those ideas and those techniques

have really really helped them improve

their scores and improve their

fluency as well so if you need any more

help feel free to go to our website

alton vantage calm and that's it for now

thank you very much guys bye-bye