Speaking with Confidence
Sound natural when you speak.
Learn to use fillers, ask for help and keep a conversation going naturally.
Look & say · Step 1
5 minGet ready
What is hardest about speaking English?
What do you say when you don't know a word?
Name 1 speaking goal.
Words to learn · Step 2
8 minNew words today
Let me think…
Buy time
"Let me think… maybe Monday."
Well…
Soft start
"Well, I'm not sure."
You know…
Friendly filler
"It's, you know, very nice."
Sorry, can you repeat?
Ask to say again
"Sorry, can you repeat that?"
What do you mean?
Ask to explain
"What do you mean exactly?"
Can you speak slower?
Ask to slow down
"Can you speak more slowly?"
What's the word for…?
Ask for a word
"What's the word for this in English?"
And you?
Ask back
"I'm fine, and you?"
I see / Got it
Show you understand
"Ah, I see!"
I agree
Same opinion
"Yes, I agree."
I'm not sure
Hedge politely
"I'm not sure, but maybe yes."
How do you say…?
Ask for translation
"How do you say 'mesa' in English?"
Activate · Personalise · Recycle
Use these words now
Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.
Let me think…
"For me, let me think… is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
What do you mean?
"For me, what do you mean? is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You know…
"For me, you know… is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Sounds & saying · Step 3
5 minFriendly intonation
Speak with energy. Go UP at questions, DOWN at statements. Smile — it changes your voice!
- • Sorry, can you repeat? ↗
- • Let me think… ↘
- • What do you mean? ↗
- • I see! ↘
Language focus · Step 4
10 minFillers and short sentences
Quick rule
Fillers and short sentences
Use short sentences and natural fillers ('Well…', 'You know…', 'Let me think…') to stay calm and buy time.
- Ask back to keep the conversation going.
Well, I think it's great.
Let me think… maybe yesterday.
Sorry, can you repeat?
What do you mean?
And you? What do you think?
Question 1.If you don't understand, say…
Question 2.To buy time say…
Question 3.To keep the talk going ask…
Question 4.If you don't know a word…
Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.
Quick check 1.Short sentences are…
Quick check 2.Fillers help you…
Reading · Step 5
7 minSpeaking tips
Speaking a new language is not about being perfect. 🎯 It is about communication. Use SHORT sentences, not long ones. Use FILLERS like 'Well…' or 'Let me think…' to stay calm. If you don't understand, ASK: 'Can you repeat?' If you don't know a word, ASK: 'How do you say…?' Always ASK BACK: 'And you?' This keeps the conversation alive. Remember: native speakers also pause and make mistakes! Confidence comes from PRACTICE, not perfection.
Question 1.Speaking is about…
Question 2.Sentences should be…
Question 3.Confidence comes from…
Q1.Native speakers never pause.
Q2.You should always ask back.
Listening · Step 6
10 minCoffee shop chat
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Liam
Hey, how was your weekend?
Sara
Well… let me think. It was busy. And you?
Liam
Pretty good. I went to a, you know, like a music event.
Sara
Sorry, can you repeat? A music event?
Liam
Yes, with a band. Outdoor. It was great.
Sara
Oh, I see! That sounds fun.
Liam
How do you say 'concierto' in English?
Sara
Concert! Yes, a concert.
Question 1.What did Liam go to?
Question 2.What did Sara say to slow Liam down?
Question 3.Liam asked for a word in…
Practice · Step 7
8 minChoose the word
Question 1.___ me think… maybe Tuesday.
Question 2.Sorry, can you ___?
Question 3.What's the ___ for this?
Question 4.I'm not ___, but maybe yes.
Q1.Ask back politely: And ___?
Q2.Ask for translation: How do you ___?
Survival English · Step 8
4 minSpeaking — fluency over accuracy
Task
Talk to your partner for 90 seconds about your weekend. Use at least 3 fillers and 1 'ask for help' phrase.
Strategy
Don't translate from your language. Use short sentences. Pause naturally. Ask back to share the time.
Example
Well… my weekend was nice. I went to, you know, a small market. I bought some, em… let me think… how do you say 'queso'? — Cheese! Yes, cheese. And you?
Writing · Step 9
5 minWrite a little
Your task
Write a short dialogue (8 lines) where one speaker uses 3 fillers and 2 'ask for help' phrases.
Show model answer
A: How was the trip? B: Well… let me think. It was, you know, very long. A: Sorry, can you repeat? B: I said it was very long. A: Ah, I see. B: How do you say 'agotado' in English? A: Exhausted! B: Yes! I was exhausted.
Speaking · Step 10
12 minTalk together
Pairs: 2-minute free chat. Goal: USE 5 confidence phrases. Tick them off as you go.
Useful phrases
- • Well… / You know…
- • Let me think…
- • Sorry, can you repeat?
- • How do you say…?
- • And you?
- AWhat did you do on Saturday?
- B_______________
- AI went to a flamenco show.
- B_______________
- AYes, it was amazing.
- B_______________
Homework · Step 11
Take-homePractice at home
Record yourself talking for 1 minute using 5 fillers.
Write a 10-line dialogue with confidence phrases.
Learn 12 speaking-clinic phrases.
Recap · Step 12
3 minWhat you learned
- 🗣️ You can use natural fillers when you speak.
- 🆘 You can ask for help politely.
- 🔁 You can ask back to keep a conversation going.
- 💪 You can sound calmer and more confident.