Needing time to think is not a weakness in English. Many careful students want to be sure of a sentence before they say it, and that takes a moment.
This page gives you ways to use that moment well. It also explains when one-to-one English tuition may help.
What does it feel like?
“I know what I want to say, but it takes a while to put it in English.” “By the time my sentence is ready, the conversation has moved on.” “I go silent and then the teacher answers for me.”
This is often the result of translating in your head, or of wanting the sentence to be perfect before it comes out.
Why does silence feel so long?
When you are the one thinking, a few seconds feel like a long time. To a listener, a short pause usually looks like someone who is considering the question.
Still, a long silence with no signal makes the listener wonder whether you understood. A short phrase tells them you are thinking, and it buys you a moment.
Five pause phrases you can use
Learn these and use them when you need time. Each one sounds natural in a spoken answer.
- “Let me think for a moment.”
- “That is an interesting question.”
- “I would say that…”
- “To begin with…”
- “Well, one reason is…”
The last three also start your answer, so the phrase and the answer flow together.
A worked example
Prompt: “What do you like doing at weekends?”
Without a pause phrase. Four seconds of silence, and then: “Play football.” The listener is unsure whether you understood the question.
With a pause phrase. “Well, one thing I enjoy is playing football with my cousins. We usually play in the field near my house. It helps me relax after a busy week.”
The second answer takes about the same time to prepare, but the pause phrase covers the wait and leads straight into the answer. The answer also has three short parts: what, where, why.
A prepare-and-speak routine
For any prompt, use four quick steps.
- Use a pause phrase to start the clock.
- Decide one main idea in a few words.
- Add one detail and one reason.
- Say it in short sentences.
Practise with simple topics, such as your school, your family or your weekend. Keep sentences short, because a clear short sentence is better than a long one that breaks halfway.
How can you practise alone?
Choose a prompt, set a timer for thirty seconds, and speak aloud. Record it and listen once. Notice where the silences were, then record again using a pause phrase.
The aim is to shorten the gap between the question and the first word. Repeat with new prompts each day for a few minutes, rather than one long session each week.
When might one-to-one tuition help?
If you practise alone and the pause still feels too long when someone is waiting, a patient listener can help. You can practise the routine with real follow-up questions.
In an online one-to-one lesson, there is one listener and no class waiting. The teacher can accept a pause, then build from your answer with follow-up questions at a speed you manage. Speaking assessed at school stays at school, and lessons help you prepare.
You can try a lesson through the one-hour trial class (from RM50). The fee is agreed before the trial, and afterwards you decide whether the teacher is a good fit.
Where to go next
For spoken tasks, see speaking and interview practice and managing preparation and speaking time. If shyness is also part of it, read English speaking practice for a quiet student.
To practise with a teacher, see online one-to-one English tuition.