Essential Phrases to Help Your FLUENCY in IELTS Speaking

Summary

This video from Keith at English Speaking Success offers essential phrases and strategies to improve fluency in IELTS speaking. Keith emphasizes the importance of coherence, using signposts, connectors, and fillers to organize speech effectively. He provides examples for starting answers, generalizing, and giving detailed examples, along with tips for paraphrasing, a critical skill for achieving higher IELTS band scores. The video also highlights common connectors like 'and', 'but', and 'so', and introduces creative fillers to buy time while answering difficult questions. Additionally, Keith shares a unique strategy for paraphrasing when you lack specific vocabulary.

Takeaways

• 😀 Coherence in speaking is crucial for IELTS success – ensure smooth flow and logical connections between sentences.
• 😀 Use clear and direct signposts to introduce answers, such as 'I’m going to tell you about…' to avoid confusion.
• 😀 For generalizing, use phrases like 'By and large,' 'Overall,' and 'I tend to think that' to express broad ideas.
• 😀 When giving examples, use varied expressions such as 'To name one example,' 'More specifically,' or 'In particular' to be more engaging.
• 😀 It's perfectly fine to use basic connectors like 'and,' 'but,' and 'so,' but also try alternatives like 'on top of that' or 'as a matter of fact.'
• 😀 Using fillers like 'um' or 'well' can help control the pace, but overusing them may affect fluency scores. Practice using complex fillers instead.
• 😀 Paraphrasing is essential for a band 7 or above – rephrase questions or describe unfamiliar words with alternative language.
• 😀 In case of difficulty describing something, avoid saying 'I don't know.' Instead, describe it using different words, like 'I don’t know the specific name, but it’s…'
• 😀 Effective paraphrasing and vocabulary use can show off your language skills and help you maintain a fluid response in the IELTS speaking test.
• 😀 To buy time and think, use fillers like 'Talking about my favorite sport, it has to be basketball' or 'Well, if I were to talk about it, I’d say…'

Q & A

What is the importance of coherence in IELTS speaking?

Coherence is crucial because it ensures that your ideas flow smoothly and are easily understood by the examiner. It helps connect your sentences logically, making your response more organized and clear.

What are signposts, and how do they help in IELTS speaking?

Signposts are phrases that guide the examiner through your answer. They help structure your response and make it easier to follow. Examples include phrases like 'To start with' or 'The person I want to talk about is...'

What are some good phrases to use at the beginning of your answer in part two of the IELTS speaking test?

You can use phrases like 'I'm going to tell you about...', 'I'd like to kick off by...', or 'To start with, let me tell you about...'. These phrases help to clearly introduce the topic you're going to discuss.

How can you generalize in IELTS speaking part three?

In part three, you might need to give general ideas or broad assumptions. Phrases like 'By and large, I'd say...', 'Overall, it seems to me that...', and 'I tend to think that...' are helpful for generalizing.

What is the role of examples in IELTS speaking, and how can they be introduced?

Examples help support your general statements and make your answer more specific. You can introduce examples using phrases like 'For example...', 'To share one example with you...', or 'More specifically...'.

What are some useful connectors to link sentences in IELTS speaking?

Common connectors include 'and', 'but', and 'so'. You can also use alternatives like 'on top of that', 'actually', or 'as a matter of fact' to add variety and improve your fluency.

How can fillers be used effectively in IELTS speaking?

Fillers like 'um', 'well', or 'you know' can help buy time while you think, but they should be used sparingly. More complex fillers such as 'That's hard to predict' or 'It's funny you should ask' are useful to gain time, especially in difficult questions.

What is paraphrasing, and why is it important in IELTS speaking?

Paraphrasing involves rephrasing the question or an idea using different words. It is crucial for achieving a higher band score, especially in band 7 or above, as it demonstrates flexibility with vocabulary and fluency.

What should you do if you don't know a specific word in IELTS speaking?

If you don't know a word, you should try to describe it using other words. For example, you can say 'I'm not sure what it's called, but it's similar to...' or 'It's a kind of...'. This helps you demonstrate effective paraphrasing.

How can using a range of phrases improve your IELTS speaking score?

Using a variety of phrases, such as signposts, connectors, and fillers, demonstrates your ability to speak naturally and coherently. It also helps you sound more fluent and capable of handling different types of questions in the speaking test.