Speaking Fillers (IELTS Speaking Practice)
Using speaking fillers in IELTS Speaking Practice enables the candidate to have some valuable time to think about what they are going to say rather than just rushing in and making lots of mistakes!
Most of the time, while talking to our friends or colleagues, we forget words while giving a response to someone. In IELTS Speaking Practice such situations, we use fillers to continue smooth and effective communication. A filler word is an apparently meaningless word, phrase, or sound that marks a pause or hesitation in speech. Fillers are also called ‘Discourse Makers’. Let’s learn some filler words that can be used in communication.
a) To be honest
b) Well
c) I hadn’t thought about that before. Give me a moment to think, please
d)It’s difficult to say
e) It’s funny you should ask that
Following phrases and idioms can be used as fillers.
1. Wow
This is an expression of surprise or happiness that comes out unexpectedly.
E.g. Wow! You have amazing artistic skills.
2. Actually/basically
It is used while explaining concepts or facts from the initial stage.
E.g. Actually, Mr. Ram is our very first client.
3. You know/you see/I know/I see
It is used for creating familiarity between the concept and the listener.
E.g. You know, they are working for the last 20 years for our organization.
4. I mean/you mean
It is used to confirm the understanding of something.
E.g. You mean, the event is postponed?
5. Come on
It is used to motivate people.
E.g. Come on guys, this is the moment for which we were waiting.
6. Well/By the way
This filler indicates that the subject of discussion is going to change on a certain step.
E.g. The event was really awesome. By the way, when are our lectures starting?
7. Believe me
It is used to convince someone regarding something.
E.g. Believe me, I will complete this assignment.
8. How shall I put it?
This phrase indicates that the speaker wants to convey something but the words are becoming shorter and unorganized in his/her mind.
E.g. This concept is very challenging to put down, how shall I put it?
9. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
This is a very popular phrase used when a speaker is not able to recollect the very well-known word.
E.g. The name of that cricketer is on the tip of my tongue.
10. Now, let me think.
This phrase asks for a small gap of a few seconds for a speaker to think about certain things.
E.g. How did we allocate this activity, let me think?