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Worried About Awkward Pauses in English? Try These 3 Simple Tips

If you’ve ever gone blank in the middle of a conversation and been unsure of what to say next, you know how uncomfortable those long pauses can be. But don’t worry because it happens to everyone! In this video, I share three practical tips to help you ignore those awkward silences so you can keep speaking English and enjoying having conversations.

What you’ll learn:

1⃣ Practice Improvisation:

Fluency comes from being comfortable with the unexpected. Set a timer for 30 seconds, pick a random topic, and just speak! The goal isn’t to be perfect, it’s to get used to talking without a script. Over time, this spontaneous speaking practice will make it easier for you to find the words you’re looking for in your real-life English conversations.

2⃣ Use Phrases to Give Yourself Time to Think:

Sometimes, you just need a moment to think, and that’s okay! Using phrases like, “Hmm, let me think about that,” gives you a natural way to pause while keeping the conversation going. These are phrases fluent English speakers use all the time! They’ll make a big difference in your confidence. Try it out.

3⃣ Focus on Progress, Not Perfection:

Remember! Nobody speaks perfectly all the time—not even fluent English speakers. When you try to avoid pauses and mistakes in every conversation it can actually make you feel blocked. Try focusing on improving one small thing each time you speak. Then you can stress less about mistakes and enjoy your conversations.

Take action:

Which tip will you try first? Let me know in the comments!

And if you’re looking for more speaking support, check out my Voice Message Speaking Practice for real conversations and personalized feedback to help you speak English more naturally. 🥰

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